Patent ID: 7293373

Claim:
A method of using a boot, the boot having a boot body, a plurality of lace guides coupled to the boot body, at least one lace guided by the lace guides, and at least one lace lock cooperating with the at least one lace and engaging the at least one lace so that the at least one lace is holdable toward a tightening direction to tighten the boot body about a wearer, the at least one lace adapted to have an end portion extending from the at least one lace lock after the at least one lace has been tightened, wherein an amount of slack lace provided by the end portion of the at least one lace upon disengaging the at least one lace from the at least one lock may be insufficient to permit easy removal of the boot from the wearer, the method comprising: removing the at least one lace from at least one lace guide to create a length of slack in the at least one lace to aid in permitting removal of the foot from the boot; and drawing the lace through at least one of the other lace guides in a loosening direction.