Who would have guessed that there are so many different ways to tie your shoes – crisscross, straight, at the heel, in a grid... Not only do the laces affect how the shoes fit you, but they also change their style. We are here to show you plenty of great ways to tie your shoes so you look your best, whether you're on the basketball court or in the boardroom.

We will start in the classic, simplest way.


1. Criss-Cross


Place the shoe in front of you so that the toe is pointing away from you. Start with the two foremost opposite holes and insert each end of the lace from the inside. Make sure that both ends of the shoelace are of equal length.

Work diagonally and insert the right end of the shoelace into the next left hole (from the top). Alternative method: You can insert the shoelace from the front of the shoe inward (instead of from the inside out), achieving a neater appearance.

Insert the left end of the shoelace into the following right hole.

Continue in the same way until the last or second to last hole

Make a bow, tighten it, and you're done

If you are looking for how to make a nice bow, click HERE

 

2. Heel securing method

 

If your heel is slipping in your shoes, this method can help you solve this problem.

Start tying your shoelaces just like with the criss-cross method, but stop before the last hole.

Take the shoelace on one side and insert it into the hole on the same side. Do the same with the second shoelace.

Insert the left shoelace into the loop you have now created on the right side.

The same goes for the second shoelace

Tie your shoes as you usually do, and enjoy a snug fit without slipping!

 

3. Grid method

The shoelace passes directly through the bottom part and both ends come out through the bottom eyelets.

The ends of the laces cross, leading diagonally upwards on the outer side and threading through the third eyelets from the bottom (skip two sets of eyelets).

Both ends lead directly up the inner side and exit through another set of eyelets on the shoe.

The ends of the laces cross, running diagonally down the outer side and threading through the third eyelets below on the shoe (skip two sets of eyelets).

Both ends lead directly up the inner side and exit through another set of eyelets on the shoe.

The ends of the laces cross, leading diagonally upwards along the outer side and then threading under the sides of the shoe to come out through the top set of eyelets (skip two sets of eyelets).

 

4. How to make a nice bow

Keep both ends of the laces straight. Cross the right end over the left, then pull the left end over the right and thread it through the loop. Tighten both ends securely.

Take the right shoelace and create a loop, holding its center with your finger. Pull the left lace over the right one and thread it from underneath in a circular motion.

Then thread the left lace through the small loop. Tighten firmly.

5. Method of equal tying

Insert one end of the shoelace into the top right eyelet (near the tip) and the other end into the bottom left eyelet (near the start of the shoe). In the left eye, only a short piece of the shoelace should remain – just enough to tie the shoelace at the end.

Use the right end of the shoelace and thread it through the opposite loop in a straight line.

Pull the lace out from the bottom and thread it again (again from the bottom) through the next eyelet.

Continue lacing the shoelace horizontally through the eyelets until you reach the last eyelet.

Tie both remaining ends of the shoelaces into a bow.

 

Final tips:

  • If the bow keeps untieing, try a double knot. After tying the first bow, make the second bow (with loop eyes). Or step c. 2 loops return back up and thread it again through the small hole before you tighten it firmly.

  • If the laces are slightly different in length, don't worry about it. Just tie them in the usual way.

  • If the laces are very different in length, start over and make sure that when you first thread them, the laces are of equal length.

These tips will help you keep your shoes tied and stylish all day long!