5 original laces for shoes and 3 strong knots for tying shoelaces

When buying shoes with lacing, we rarely make changes to the designer’s vision and don’t think that the type of lacing on sneakers or oxfords can be changed at our discretion. Laziness or just a lack of intriguing options deprive you of the opportunity to make your shoes look new, fresh, and we are ready to correct this omission!

Top functional and decorative lacing

You will not believe that some craftsmen crank with laces: sometimes shoes with extravagant and non-trivial lacing pull more on contemporary art than some exhibits in galleries. But this does not mean that a simpler weave is not able to surprise you, because, as statistics show, in all of our shoes in 99% of cases only one type of lacing is used.

• Cross

This type has almost completely taken over the market and is used for lacing everything: from classic men's shoes to athletic shoes and even skates. Why did it happen that way? It’s hard to say, because there are other equally simple ways to tie shoes. But for some reason, to do this cross-wise in modern mass production is simply accepted, which means that we will consider this type as the default option.

But even in such a basic model, you can do some work: you can decide whether you will thread the laces from the wrong side or from the front.

So, pull the cord through the holes at the very bottom so that both sides have the same length, then thread each end alternately through the opposite hole above, observing the type of threading (wrong or front).

Tip

It is important to follow the order: the chaotic weave does not look very beautiful, so decide which end will be on the bottom and which will overlap it, and repeat the same or mirror lacing on another boot. Also, an alternation of the upper and lower ends will be an interesting move: the one that was on top, during the next threading, moves back and vice versa, creating a spiral effect.

• Straight

This lacing is so concise and elegant that it will certainly fall in love with all connoisseurs of classic shoes, because it is on it that its charms are revealed in full force. Let it be created not so fast and easy as a cross, and pulling the laces will take a little more time in the morning, but its aristocratic chic is worth it.

Pull the cord through the holes at the bottom of the front so that the laces on both sides are approximately the same length. Now you need to pass each end into the hole above: left to the next, and right through one. Opposite each end there are loose eyelets into which you now need to thread the cord from the front so that they form two parallel lines. So shoes need to be tied to the very top.

Tip

Direct lacing is rarely used on sneakers and sneakers because of minor inconveniences with tightening the laces, but if sports shoes are supposed to be used not for sports, but for everyday wear, then even on it you can make lacing in this way.

• Diagonal

Such lacing, being not the most common, looks fresh on both classic boots and sneakers, especially in the mirrored version - it remains to understand how to correctly carry out the process of its creation.

First you need to thread the lace through the lower holes so that on one side it enters from the inside, and on the other from the outside. The ends on both sides should be the same length. The end that goes from the inside now needs to be threaded into the hole opposite, but this time from the front.Conversely, the end that was threaded from the outside is now threaded into the hole opposite from the wrong side. Further lacing continues according to this scheme to the upper holes.

Tip

If you are looking for a way to lace up skates, then it is better to abandon beauty in favor of functionality. The laces on skates need to be tightened quite strongly, especially in the area where the legs are lifted, in order to ensure proper fixation, ensuring stability and safe riding. The bottom and top of the lacing on the skates can be tied up not so tight: from below it is simply unlikely to succeed, and from above, pulling can provoke a violation of the blood supply to the foot.

• Military lacing

We don’t know how much military lacing looks beautiful on sneakers, sneakers and classic shoes, but it is very appropriate to use such weaving on berets and boots if you know how to tie it correctly.

Again we stretch the lace of the front side so that both laces are approximately the same length. After overlapping them, thread the tips into the next opposite holes on the wrong side. Now thread both ends into the next holes in your row so that the laces go out from the inside. It remains to repeat the operation until both shoes are laced.

• Lattice

Looking for something original, beautiful and catchy eye? Then try repeating the grille on your favorite pair of shoes. On sneakers and sneakers this way, perhaps, looks the most advantageous, but they can refresh the classics if you carefully make the weaving. And although to master this method of lacing will not be as easy and fast as a cross, a little effort is worth the result that you will see.

Pull the lace through the lower eyelets so that the ends extend from the front and are more or less the same length. Overlap the ends and pass each from the front side into the opposite upper hole, but not the next in a row, but through one. Now each end should take a step back in its row: extend both ends into the lower free hole. Now the cross maneuver and step back must be repeated again.

Tip

This method will look best on shoes with 6 grommets in each row, although 4 is the minimum amount.

The technical side of the issue

Lacing sneakers or shoes is not enough: you need to tie laces as well. If you think that you are doing it right, then you should try one of these methods on yourself. We bet that you can tie the shoelaces very quickly and so that they are untied only when you need it!

• Two loops

After the initial knot, twist the ends of the lace in opposite directions, creating loops, grasp each of the loops with your opposite hand and pull one through the other, tightly tying the knot. After a short practice, you can tie the shoelaces in less than a couple of seconds!

• Surgeon's node

To prevent the shoelaces from being untied, resort to the use of serious knots when lacing. It’s not so easy to master such a lacing, and even with time it will hardly be possible to keep within 2 seconds, but the bow on the laces will remain tightly tightened as much as you need it. It is best to understand how to tie such a knot by following the steps in the diagram.

• Double Sliding Knot

If you are still looking for a reliable knot that you can tie more quickly, then learn how to make such a knot. After creating two loops, cross them, bend the ends of the loops in opposite directions, pass through the bottom and tighten in the desired direction. After a little practice, you will cross, thread and tighten in no time!

There is more than one way of tying shoelaces on shoes, and although this knowledge will not change your life drastically, it can add variety to your image and also save time on tying shoelaces!