A papermaking belt can have a reinforcing element with a surface and a plurality of discrete knuckles extending from portions of the surface. The plurality of discrete knuckles can be arranged in a pattern of repeat units, and each of the discrete knuckles within the repeat unit can have substantially the same shape and size. At least some of the discrete knuckles can be arranged in a plurality of rows of adjacent knuckles separated by a distance, including at least a first row and a second row. The distance between at least two adjacent discrete knuckles in the first row can be different than the distance between at least two adjacent discrete knuckles in the second row.