How To Lace Skateboarding Shoes? 11 Easy Methods

The only thing harder than lacing your skate shoes may be finding out how to lace them in the first place! This article gives you clear, step-by-step instructions on how to lace skateboarding shoes so that you can get out there and start shredding!

What Is Lacing In Skateboarding Shoes?

Lacing is a method used to tie your shoes. The lacing you use can determine the comfort and support you feel from your skate shoes. Whether you prefer a standard crisscross or something more intricate, there are many different ways to lace your shoes without sacrificing functionality.

Ways To Lace Skateboarding Shoes?

If you have ever laced skateboarding shoes, you know what a challenge it can be to get the last row of laces tight enough to stay in place and yet loose enough to be comfortable when skating. Some skateboarders use special tools to tighten their laces, but you don’t need one of those fancy tools; instead, try this technique on how to lace skateboarding shoes properly. In most cases, your feet won’t hurt after long hours of skating anymore!

If you’re looking for a new way to lace up, check out some of our favorite methods below.

Method 1: Straight Bar Lacing

This is the basic lacing style for skateboarding shoes. It’s pretty straightforward. You can use it on all sneakers, including sports shoes, workout shoes, and skateboarding shoes.

Steps:

Start by feeding the laces into the holes on each side of the shoe, starting from the bottom hole. Do this for both sides of the shoe, making sure both laces are fed through in the same direction.
Bring both laces together at the third row of holes without crossing them over each other. This creates a complete straight bar across your shoe and is the basic way to lace up skating shoes.

Method 2: Cross Bar Lacing

Cross Bar Lacing has a pair of crisscrossing strings that meet in the middle of your shoe, making a cross.

Follow along with the order below to get this look.

Steps

Start at the top of your shoe and lace through the first two eyelets from the inside out.
Take the laces and run them up and under one side of the shoe, across the top, and down the other, creating an X-shape.
Run the laces back to the next set of eyelets on either side of your shoes, then pull them through from the outside in.
Run both laces straight down to the bottom eyelets and tie a knot as normal.

Method 3: Loopback Lacing

A loopback lacing method is a good way to lock your foot into place. This is a great option if you’re concerned about keeping your shoes tightly fastened while skateboarding.

Lay your shoe flat.

Run the shoelace through the second top hole from the bottom on both sides. Make sure that you pull the lace through so that it’s even on both sides of the shoe.

Make an “X” across the front of the shoe. Run your shoelace across the front of the shoe and then back up through the other side’s second top hole from the bottom, creating an “X” shape across your shoe.

Cross over to create a double-cross pattern. Run your shoelace from one side to another, creating an “X” shape again with each side of your laces. Keep doing this until you reach the top of your shoe.

Method 4: Surgeon’s Knot

Cross the laces over each other, creating an X.
tie a regular knot by looping one end of the lace around the other.
Loop one end of the lace through the hole you just made.
Repeat steps 1-3 with your other lace.
Pull on both ends of each string to tighten the knot.

Method 5: Heel Lock Lacing

Use a flat lace, not around one. Flat laces stay tied better than round ones, and they don’t loosen as much. This is especially important for skateboarding shoes, which take a lot of abuse.
Start with your standard crisscross pattern, but stop before the second to last set of eyelets (or whatever you find works best for you). You’ll leave an extra-long loop of lace hanging on one side at the end of this step.

Method 6: Toe Cap Lacing

Start with your standard crisscross pattern, but stop before the second to last set of eyelets on one side. You’ll leave an extra-long loop of lace hanging on that side at the end of this step.
Repeat the crisscross pattern normally, except for the final diagonal run across the top that would normally cross through the loops you left dangling in the first step. Instead, run it through those loops again and pull tight!

Method 7: Eyelet Laddering

Start the lace at the top of the shoe and feed it down through the second set of holes from the top (as you would with a typical lacing).
Feed the lace down through one hole, then another.
Repeat Step 2 for all eyelets so that the lace travels in a straight line across each row of holes, with only a single pair of holes skipped between rows.
Pull evenly on both ends of the lace until you have finished tightening or loosening your shoes to your desired comfort level!

Method 8: Zipper Lacing

Start with the normal crisscross pattern and tie off at the top.
Insert the ends of each lace through their partner’s opposite eyelet, and pull tight. This creates a zipper effect, as you can now tighten or loosen the shoe by just pulling on one end of the lace.

Method 9: Alternate Straight Lacing

Steps to Alternate Straight Lacing:

Step 1: Insert the shoelace into the bottom left eyelet.

Step 2: Go straight across to the right eyelet and down.

Step 3: Go straight across to the left eyelet and down. The lace will be on top of itself.

Step 4: Repeat Step 3 until you reach the top of your shoe.

Method 10: Over Lapping Straight Lacing

The Over Lapping Straight Lacing method is a variation of the Straight Bar lacing method.

Thread the top set of eyelets from the shoe’s exterior and pull the laces through to about halfway through the eyelet.
Enter the other end of the lace back through that same eyelet and pull it through to tighten it up against that first lace crossing.
Then take that first lace and thread it under, then over, then under again, going all the way around the shoe.
Continue like this all around until you reach the bottom laces.

Method 11: Angular Hooked Lacing

Start with the regular crisscross lacing, but leave the bottom row of eyelets empty.
Run the laces through the bottom eyelets to come out on either side of the top row.
Tie a surgeon’s knot (also called a hitch knot) on each side, as shown in the picture below.
Finish by tying a simple knot on each side to keep the laces.

Read Next:

Common Questions About How To Lace Skateboarding Shoes

How To Save Shoe Laces Skateboarding?

A shoelace will break every time you fall. If you fall three times a day skateboarding, you can expect to replace your shoelaces three times a month. Thus, the cost incurred in replacing the shoelaces three times a month will far exceed the cost of a new skateboard. Thus, it is cheaper to buy a new skateboard than a new pair of shoelaces.

How To Thread Shoe Laces Vans For Skateboarding?

You need to follow the steps to thread your shoelaces:

Get a piece of the shoelace that you have cut off.
Take a shoelace hole and create a hole in its middle with a small hole punch. Make this hole slightly smaller than the shoelace part, usually inside the shoe.
Take the end of the shoelace and put it through the hole.
Take the shoelace hole and put it through the eyelet of the shoe.
Tie a knot and cut off the extra shoelace.
Do this on the other shoe, and you will be done.

How Do You Lace Sk8 Vans?

It would help if you used a sewing machine to sew it. It’s much easier and quicker. If you don’t have a sewing machine, you can take it to a shoe repair shop.

What Is The Coolest Way To Lace Shoes?

The “coolest” way to lace shoes is probably the way that works best for you. However, you might want to create a more fashionable look. To create an “X” across the top of your foot, you will have to take the usually longer end of the shoelace and cross it over the shorter end of the laces. When you have laced the shoe up, you will be able to see the “X” you created on your foot.

How To Tie Skate Shoes The Cool Way?

The way you lace up your skates can help you avoid lace bites and increase the performance of your skate.

Here is a guide on how to tie up your skates.

Step 1: Start with the skates laced and tied normally.

Step 2: Make sure that the laces are positioned correctly in the bottom eyelets. The laces should move freely over the tongue of your skate.

Step 3: Feed one lace through the bottom eyelet on the opposite side of your skate.

Step 4: Feed that same lace through the top eyelet on its side of the skate.

Step 5: Tie off those laces normally and make sure that the laces are moving freely over the tongue of your skate.

Step 6: Repeat steps 2 to 5 on the other side of your skate.

Concluding About How To Lace Skateboarding Shoes

After lacing your skate shoes, bend down and check the tension in the shoe. Please stand up and jump around a bit to test them out. It is important to avoid tying the skate shoes too tight. When gripping the board, the last thing you want to feel is excessive pressure shooting up your ankles or pain in your feet. The discomfort could cause you to lose your balance while skating and hurt yourself or others with you.

Hopefully, you’ve found this article helpful and learned a lot of things when it comes to lacing skateboard shoes. The first time I laced a skate shoe, I had difficulty picking up the concept, but now when I laced them, they come out great.

How To Lace Skateboarding Shoes? 11 Easy Methods

What Is Lacing In Skateboarding Shoes?