Tie a simple knot, then wrap them about the top of the boot and finish off with a square knot. Then stuff the remainder in the top of the boot. With this sort of laces, the square knot is more secure, but can be pulled apart pretty easily.
I like wrapping the excess laces around my shin and calf, it gives a bit of extra support. The one downside I get though is in a boot with an un-padded upper like these, the laces cut in a bit if I wrap them tight enough for extra support, or they shift around anyway and come loose. I'm surprised so few (if any) boot manufacturers ever get the idea to put a few grommets or loops along the back and sides of the boot, aligned with Achilles tendon to keep them from sliding up on the calf when you wrap the extra that way. Not really a dig on these Wellco's, it's something that bugs me about any similar boot. And for a desert/jungle design, hardware to wrap around the calf with the extra lacing and keep it put would be a good way to add extra lateral support to the ankle, prevent sprains etc. that a heavier padded upper (that is unsuitable for hot weather) would normally provide.
I'll have to see how well they retain my heel once I get some insoles at Wally-world on my lunch break this afternoon, then put them together tonight. Heel retention is my beef with any boot. I have trouble getting enough heel retention in most anything, from a ski-boot, to tennis shoes, unless I really crank down on the laces that cross over my superior extensor retinaculum area (Where the top of the foot curves into the beginning of the shin) to the point I'm cutting off circulation, but even though my foot isn't a wide, dropping a half-size is usualy too small in all the other dimensions. I must have really thin flat feet.
However, while I wouldn't want to hike in them as-is, they were already passably comfortable without the insoles already, a good sign.
I actually found the boots to be surprisingly warm for summer/desert boots. I did chores outside in the single digit weather we're having last night in them. I guess that's because they're keeping my feet dry with the vents and the extra toe-space, and a dry foot in an uninsulated boot will be warmer than a damp one in a well-insulated snow boot.
And with jeans or pants covering the uppers, they look passably like regular shoes too, which is also great. Mrs. Dual stopped her eye-rolling once she saw me walking around in them.
