Review: Castle Brook Paralace Boot Laces

Review: Castle Brook Paralace Boot Laces

Castle Brook Paralaces in situ.

Castle Brook got in touch with us about reviewing one of their rugged boot laces recently. Touted as "the toughest bootlace on the market", we knew we had to check them out. We're Rugged Innovations, after all. We don't mess around with no sucker swag! We took Castle Brook's laces for a bumpy ride in the high Sierra mountains to see what they're made of.

Actually, it turns out their website already tells us what they're made of. The laces are made of seven nylon strands wrapped in a 550 lb. test Nylon Kernmantle sheath. The aglets are made of poloyefin, which is the same material as Frodo Baggins' sword sheath. The construction is solid and feels like it can weather a storm. They're like mini climbing ropes.

The first order of business was to determine if the laces were up to snuff. I got the 60" Shadow Black Paralaces and put them on a pair of waterproof Merrell boots. What better test of gear's mettle than a hot summer day hiking and multipitch trad climbing up in Donner Pass, CA!

On the road. 

My climbing partner and I got lost on the way to the route and had a bit of an epic. You don't realize how diverse an ecosystem of mosquitoes, gnats, and flies can be until you're miles away from your car, irreversibly lost in a dank alpine forest. We tromped around in the woods like a bunch of Smurfs and finally ended up at the climb. The laces held up just great against nature, the elements, and an increasingly frustrated wearer (me). The paralaces didn't cut or even scratch when bumped against sharp rocks, stumps, or fallen logs. Excellent! We put the laces through as much abuse as we could handle.

We're pretty pleased with these laces so far. They are rugged, strong, don't stretch or hold a shape after being tied up, and look badass. At $7.99 direct from their website, the value on these laces is incredible. We'll keep putting miles on these boots and let you know if anything comes up, but I have a feeling the Castle Brook Paralaces will last for years and years.

Be safe.

Ariel Castro
Rugged Innovations