Ghillie brogues - why the dislike and resentment..?

[figheadair]

I can't provide a definitive answer to the OP. Personally, l'm not not a fan and prefer a full brogue.

[Troglodyte]

I can't provide a definitive answer to the OP. Personally, l'm not not a fan and prefer a full brogue.

I am somewhat with you there...

Although they are showing age and use, my old Sanders' army-style full brogue get worn, I guess, 90 per cent of my kilt-wearing time. The distinctive grain and heavy sole sets tham apart from other makes, and they seem tough enough to kick down doors, should the need arise.

But, once in a while, mood or occasion sees me shod a-la-ghillie...

[Father Bill]

Okay, so… I own a pair that were given to me and never have been worn. Should I ever choose to wear them some evening, then rather than lacing them up to my… whatever, as has been sktated here, what’s the recommended lacing method?

[EagleJCS]

Okay, so… I own a pair that were given to me and never have been worn. Should I ever choose to wear them some evening, then rather than lacing them up to my… whatever, as has been stated here, what’s the recommended lacing method?

Some time ago (2 Jan 2012) I posted how I tie my ghillies, and reposted it here (post #7) 22 Nov 2016. I'm not sure where I learned it now, but it seems to follow what most of those in the know appear to do.


"I wrote this up a long time ago in this thread (post #12, copied & pasted here, and edited just a bit):

'I wear the long-laced ghillies when piping (part of the band uniform). Here's how I do it:

Start out as if you were tying a regular shoe, including the initial half-hitch (wrap one lace over the other). (First snug the laces down to tighten the shoe).

Twist (cross the laces over one another) three times and snug the twists down. This should make a short 'line' in the middle front of your ankle, just above the top of the shoe where the top of the shoe's tongue would normally be.

Bring the laces around each side of your ankle at an angle just above the ankle bone (probably 5-10 degrees from horizontal).

Tie another half-hitch in the back, and three more twists, snugged down to make a short line up the back of the leg.

Bring the laces back around each side of your leg, this time parallel to the floor. Tie off as you would tie your regular shoe laces (a half-hitch and the bows). You can tie them off directly in front or just off to the side. I tend to tie mine around 10 o'clock (left leg) and 2 o'clock (right leg), with the knot ending up pretty much in line with the middle of the flashes. (The front edge of the flashes are just to the outside of the center line of my shinbone. The back edge is then just forward of the midline of my calf.)

This should result in a knot no higher than about 2" or so above the top of the shoe, just above the ankle bone.

I double-knot the bows to make sure they don't come undone when I'm marching. I also try to get the bows and tassels hanging at about the same height, just brushing the top edge of the shoe. That way neither are dragging the ground. As I'm sure you've experienced, it's sometimes difficult to untie shoe laces once they've gotten wet and dried again - the knot tends to tighten up some.' "


Hope you can follow that clearly enough.