You’ve just pulled a fresh pair of sneakers out of the box, or maybe you finally decided to wash those mud-caked trainers. Now you're staring at twenty empty eyelets and a pile of string. It feels like a puzzle you didn't ask to solve. Honestly, knowing how to put shoelaces into a shoe properly is one of those basic life skills that everyone assumes they know until they're actually sitting on the floor with two uneven lace ends and a twisted tongue. It's frustrating.
Most people just wing it. They shove the aglet—that little plastic tip at the end—through the first hole and hope for the best. But then the left side ends up four inches longer than the right. Or the lace twists inside the eyelet, creating a weird pressure point on the top of your foot that drives you crazy all day. There’s actually a science to this, and if you do it right, your shoes will actually feel more comfortable and stay tied longer.
The Standard Criss-Cross Method (And Why You're Probably Racing It)
This is the classic. It's the "over-under" pattern you see on 90% of shoes in the store. To start, you need to find the bottom two eyelets—the ones closest to the toe. Thread the lace through both so that the lace is lying across the bottom on the inside of the shoe. Now, pull both ends up. This is the most important part: make sure the ends are exactly the same length. If you mess this up now, you’ll be redoing the whole shoe in five minutes.
Cross the right lace over to the left side and feed it through the next eyelet up. Then take the left lace, cross it over the right, and feed it through the corresponding hole on the other side. Simple, right? Well, sort of. The trick to making it look "pro" is consistency. If the right-side lace always goes over the left-side lace, the pattern looks clean and intentional. If you just swap them randomly, the shoe looks messy. It’s a small detail, but it matters for that crisp, out-of-the-box look.
What About the "Lace Lock" or Runner's Loop?
If you’re a runner or someone who walks a lot, the standard criss-cross might not be enough. Have you ever noticed those extra two eyelets at the very top of your running shoes? The ones that seem way too high up? Those aren't a mistake. They are for a technique called the "Heel Lock" or "Runner's Loop."
✨ Don't miss: Green Emerald Day Massage: Why Your Body Actually Needs This Specific Therapy
To do this, lace your shoes normally until you get to the second-to-last hole. Instead of crossing over, pull the lace through the final hole on the same side. This creates a small loop on the outside of the shoe. Now, take the lace from the right side and thread it through the loop on the left. Do the same for the other side. When you pull them tight, it cinches the collar of the shoe around your ankle. It prevents your heel from slipping, which is the number one cause of blisters. Ian Fieggen, often called "Professor Shoelace," has documented over 50 different ways to do this, but the runner's loop is easily the most practical for daily comfort.
Straight Bar Lacing: For When You Want to Look Sharp
Maybe you aren't hitting the trails. Maybe you have a pair of Oxford dress shoes or some high-end leather sneakers like Common Projects. Criss-cross lacing looks too sporty for these. You want "Straight Bar" lacing. It looks like a series of parallel horizontal lines across the tongue, and it’s much cleaner.
- Start at the bottom. Feed the lace through the bottom eyelets from the top down. The "bar" should be on the outside.
- Take the left lace (underneath the leather) and feed it straight up to the next hole on the same side. Then pull it across to the right side.
- Take the right lace and skip a hole, feeding it up to the third eyelet on the right side. Then pull it across to the left.
- Continue this "stair-step" pattern.
It sounds complicated because it’s asymmetrical under the hood. One end of the lace travels further than the other, so you’ll actually need to start with one side much longer than the other to end up even at the top. It takes a bit of trial and error. But for formal wear? It’s the only way to go.
Common Mistakes That Ruin Your Laces
We’ve all seen it. The twisted lace. It’s the bane of a sneakerhead's existence. When you’re learning how to put shoelaces back in, you have to keep the lace flat. Every time you pass it through an eyelet, use your thumb and forefinger to "iron" it out. If it twists once at the bottom, every cross above it will be slightly off-center.
🔗 Read more: The Recipe Marble Pound Cake Secrets Professional Bakers Don't Usually Share
Another big one? Overtightening. You aren't tying a tourniquet. If the eyelets are touching each other, your shoes are probably too big. If they're spread four inches apart, the shoes are too small. You want a nice, even gap of about an inch or two. This allows the leather or mesh to flex with your foot as you walk.
Does Lace Material Matter?
Definitely. Flat cotton laces are the most common because they have high friction—they stay tied. Round synthetic laces, often found on boots, are more durable but tend to slip. If you find your laces coming undone every twenty minutes, it might not be your knot; it might be the material. Switching to a waxed cotton lace can solve this because the wax "bites" into the knot and holds it in place.
Dealing with the Tongue Slide
It’s annoying when the tongue of your shoe slides to the left or right after ten minutes of walking. Most shoes have a little loop or slit in the middle of the tongue. Use it! When you are halfway through lacing, thread both laces through that loop. It’s there specifically to anchor the tongue in the center. Don't skip it.
The "Over-Under" Efficiency Hack
If you’re in a rush, there’s a variation of the criss-cross called "Over-Under" lacing. Instead of every cross being on top, you alternate. One cross happens on the outside, the next happens on the inside. This reduces friction, making it way easier to tighten the whole shoe with one quick pull. It doesn't look quite as uniform, but for gym shoes that you’re taking on and off constantly, it’s a lifesaver.
💡 You might also like: Why the Man Black Hair Blue Eyes Combo is So Rare (and the Genetics Behind It)
The Aglet Dilemma
If the aglet (the plastic tip) is broken or missing, you’re going to have a hard time. Trying to shove a frayed lace through a small hole is like trying to thread a needle with a piece of cooked spaghetti. A quick pro tip: wrap a small piece of clear scotch tape tightly around the end. It mimics an aglet well enough to get the job done. Or, if you’re feeling fancy, use a lighter to slightly melt the tip of a synthetic lace and roll it between your fingers (carefully!) to create a hard point.
Actionable Steps for a Perfect Fit
To get the best result when re-lacing your shoes, follow this workflow:
- Remove the old laces entirely. Don't try to fix a mess; start fresh.
- Check the length. Measure your old laces if they fit well. Standard lengths are 45 inches for sneakers and 54-63 inches for high-tops.
- Insert your foot. Don't lace them while the shoe is empty. Putting your foot inside ensures you aren't pulling the laces too tight, which can distort the shoe's shape.
- Start from the toe and work up. Pull the slack out of each "rung" as you go. If you wait until the end to tighten them, the bottom will stay loose while the top pinches your ankle.
- Choose your knot. The "Ian Knot" is the fastest way to tie your shoes once they're laced, and it's surprisingly secure.
Properly lacing your shoes isn't just about aesthetics. It’s about foot health. If you have a high arch, you can actually skip a set of eyelets in the middle of the shoe to create a "window." This relieves pressure on the top of the foot (the dorsal bone) and can prevent numbness during long walks. Experimenting with these different patterns allows you to customize the fit of a mass-produced shoe to your specific foot shape.
Once you finish, walk around the house for a minute. You'll likely need to do one final adjustment. Tighten the middle, loosen the top, and make sure the tongue is centered. It takes an extra sixty seconds, but your feet will thank you for it by the end of the day.