How to Lace Your Shoes Correctly?

The act of lacing your shoes is a crucial aspect of your running gear. It has a significant impact on both your running abilities and overall comfort. By making minor adjustments to your lacing technique, you can easily resolve common problems such as blisters and your heel slipping.

With different foot types and running styles, there are many ways to lace your shoes that are specifically designed for runners. Whether you're putting on a new pair of shoes or need to address heel slippage, our lacing technique guide can help you find the perfect fit.

It is important to bear in mind that although these suggestions may assist with minor concerns, it is always advisable to change a new pair or consult a healthcare expert if your issues persist.

Lacing Techniques to Address Common Issues

If you're experiencing discomfort or not performing well, there are several ways to lace your shoes that can provide a better fit and support for your feet and running technique.

Heel Lock Lacing

If you notice blisters on your heels or if the back of your shoes is wearing out quickly, it is likely that your heels are slipping.

Using a "heel lock" lacing technique prevents your heel from slipping out of the shoe and minimizes unnecessary foot movement inside the shoe. By doing so, this technique reduces friction, which can lead to blisters and premature wear and tear.

Tie your shoes in the customary criss-cross manner until the second-to-last hole.
Afterwards, pass the lace through the final hole in a way that it emerges inside the shoe, forming a loop between the last two holes.
Conclude by crossing the laces and inserting them through the loops you've made. Pull firmly to secure the shoe around your foot, and then proceed to tie your shoes as usual.

By employing this method, you can guarantee that your shoelaces remain secure and prevent any risk of your heel slipping out of your shoe.

Parallel Lacing

If you find that your shoes are causing discomfort on the top of your foot, you can try using a lacing technique known as the "parallel" or "straight bar" style. This method evenly distributes the laces, providing better comfort. If this doesn't solve the issue, it's important to ensure that your shoes are the correct fit for your foot size, width, and type. We suggest seeking assistance from a specialized Running Expert Store to receive guidance in this matter.

Tie the shoes by lacing them in a parallel manner, skipping every other eyelet with each lace and guiding the lace up alongside the eyelets to alleviate pressure.
Secure the shoe by tying it in the customary manner.

If adjusting the way you tie your shoes doesn't relieve the tightness, double-check that your shoes are suitable for your foot size, width, and pronation style.

Single Helix Lacing

If you frequently experience pain in your toes and notice the occurrence of black toenails, consider employing a lacing method that elevates the front area of your shoe, thereby providing additional room for your toes.

Start by threading the lace through the bottom eyelet on one side of the shoe, then diagonally across to the top eyelet on the opposite side.
Take the longer lace and weave it in a criss-cross pattern through all of the eyelets.
Finish by tying the lace at the top in the usual way.

Different lacing techniques for various foot shapes

To enhance the comfort and suitability of your shoes based on your unique foot shape, you have various shoelace techniques at your disposal.

High Arches

If you happen to possess high arches, you have the ability to modify the way you fasten your shoelaces in order to relieve the tension in the central area.

Begin by lacing your shoes in the usual way, forming a criss-cross pattern.
As you reach the middle section, only pass the shoelace through the eyelets on the sides.
Complete the criss-cross pattern by threading the lace through the last two eyelets and tie it as you normally would.

Wide Forefoot

If you have a broad forefoot, experiment with a lacing method that provides additional room in the toe area.

Start by inserting the shoelace exclusively through the edges.
As you reach the middle of the foot, commence fastening with a diagonal pattern.
Conclude by creating a diagonal pattern through the last holes.

Narrow Foot

If your foot is slender, it is important to ensure that your lacing technique cinches the shoe tightly.

Begin by tying the shoelaces in the usual criss-cross manner.
Then, proceed by leaving a hole and passing the lace through in a criss-cross pattern.
Finally, conclude by lacing the remaining section in the typical criss-cross style.

Overall Wide Feet

For individuals with generally broad feet, it is advisable to employ a lacing method that allows for a more relaxed fit throughout the shoe, thereby offering the foot additional room.

Start by lacing your shoes in the typical criss-cross pattern.
Next, weave the laces through the eyelets in a criss-cross manner, skipping every other one.
Finally, tie the laces as you normally would when you reach the end.

High Midfoot

To alleviate discomfort in the upper middle part of the foot, focus on reducing the pressure in that specific region.

Begin by lacing the shoe in the customary criss-cross manner.
Proceed to thread the shoelace solely through the edges.
Once you reach the area where bruising has taken place, resume tying with the crisscross technique.

It should be emphasized that modifying your lacing method may address certain problems. However, if your shoe does not match the contours of your foot or your pronation type, it cannot eliminate the issue. It is crucial to always ensure that you have both the appropriate shoe and lacing technique.