Have you ever wondered how to lace shoes so they slip on without tying them? It’s a simple trick that can save you time and effort, and it’s perfect for kids, adults, and everyone in between. In this article, we’ll show you how to do it step-by-step with pictures. Once you’ve mastered this technique, you’ll never have to tie your shoes again!
To start, you’ll need a pair of shoes with laces. Any type of shoe will work, but sneakers and athletic shoes are the most common. Once you have your shoes, follow these steps:
1. **Cross the laces over each other.** Start by crossing the right lace over the left lace, then bring the left lace back over the right lace. This will create a “figure 8” pattern.
2. **Pull the laces tight.** Once you have the laces crossed, pull them tight so that there is no slack in the laces.
The Double Overhand Knot
The double overhand is a classic and widely-used lacing method that provides a secure hold while allowing for easy on and off. Follow these steps to master the double overhand knot:
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Cross the laces: Take the right lace and cross it over the left lace.
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Form a loop: Bring the right lace behind the left lace and form a loop.
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Insert the left lace: Bring the left lace through the loop you just created.
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Tighten the knot: Pull both laces to tighten the knot.
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Repeat: Cross the left lace over the right lace, form a loop, insert the right lace, and tighten the knot again.
Step Description 1 Cross the right lace over the left 2 Form a loop with the right lace 3 Insert the left lace through the loop 4 Pull both laces to tighten the knot 5 Repeat steps 1-4 on the other side -
Tuck the laces: Once the laces are tightened, tuck them into the shoe to prevent them from getting caught or tangled.
The Cross Lace Method
The Cross-Lace technique is the most prevalent shoe-lacing approach, and many people are familiar with it. It offers a snug and adjustable fit, making it appropriate for various shoe types and foot shapes. Here’s a thorough guide on how to lace your shoes using the Cross-Lace method:
Step 1: Prepare the Laces
Take the laces that came with your shoes or choose a pair that is the correct length for the number of lace holes on your shoes.
Step 2: Start from the Bottom
Insert the left lace through the bottom left eyelet from the outside and the right lace through the bottom right eyelet from the inside. Make sure the laces are not crossed at this point.
Step 3: Create the First Cross
Take the lace on the right and pass it over the lace on the left, forming an “X” pattern. Insert the right lace through the next available eyelet on the same side, which would be the second eyelet from the bottom.
Step 4: Continue with the Crosses
Repeat step 3 by taking the left lace over the right lace and inserting it through the next eyelet on the same side. Continue lacing this way, alternating the laces and creating “X” patterns as you move up the shoe.
Step 5: Tighten and Adjust
Once you reach the top eyelets, pull on both laces simultaneously to tighten the fit. Adjust the laces as needed to ensure a snug but not overly constricting fit.
| Eyelet Number | Lace Path |
|---|---|
| Bottom Left | Left lace from outside |
| Bottom Right | Right lace from inside |
| Second Left | Right lace over left, through eyelet |
| Second Right | Left lace over right, through eyelet |
The Parallel Lacing Technique
The parallel lacing technique is a simple and effective way to lace your shoes so that they slip on easily. It is perfect for shoes that you wear frequently and want to be able to put on and take off quickly. Here are the steps:
- Start by threading the laces through the bottom two eyelets of the shoe, from the inside out.
- Cross the laces over each other and thread them through the next two eyelets, from the outside in.
- Repeat steps 2 and 3 until you reach the top of the shoe.
- Tie the laces together in a standard bow.
There are a few variations on the parallel lacing technique. One variation is to cross the laces over each other twice before threading them through the next two eyelets. This creates a more secure lacing pattern that is less likely to come undone.
Another variation is to use a double knot to tie the laces together. This creates a more secure knot that is less likely to slip.
The parallel lacing technique is a versatile lacing method that can be used on a variety of shoes. It is a simple and effective way to lace your shoes so that they slip on easily.
The Ian Knot
The Ian Knot, also known as the “surgeon’s knot,” is a strong and adjustable knot that is popular for tying surgical sutures. It can also be used to lace shoes in a way that allows them to be slipped on and off easily. Here are the steps on how to tie the Ian Knot:
Materials:
| Item | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Shoelaces | 1 pair |
Instructions:
1. Start by crossing the right shoelace over the left shoelace and forming a loop with the right shoelace on the top.
2. Bring the left shoelace up from the bottom and through the loop from right to left.
3. Pull the left shoelace to tighten the knot.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 on the other side of the laces, creating a second identical knot.
5. Pull both knots together to tighten the laces.
6. Make sure the laces are tied securely, but not too tightly. The laces should be loose enough to allow you to slip your feet into the shoes easily.
7. Pull on the ends of the laces to lengthen them if necessary. The ends should be long enough to allow you to tie a bow, but short enough not to drag on the ground.
The Surgeon’s Knot
The surgeon’s knot is a strong and secure knot that is often used to tie surgical sutures. It is also known as the double overhand knot or the reef knot. To tie the surgeon’s knot:
1. Cross the two ends of the cord or thread over each other, forming a loop on one side.
2. Bring the left end of the cord or thread back over the right end, and then through the loop that you created in step 1.
3. Pull the ends of the cord or thread tight to create a secure knot.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to create a second knot.
5. To lace shoes with the surgeon’s knot, follow these steps:
| Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
| 1 | Start by threading the laces through the top two eyelets, one on each side of the shoe. |
| 2 | Cross the laces over each other and thread them through the next two eyelets. |
| 3 | Tie the laces into the surgeon’s knot. |
| 4 | Continue lacing the shoes, alternating crossing the laces over each other and threading them through the next two eyelets. |
| 5 | Once you reach the top of the shoe, tie the laces into a bow. |
The Heel Lock Lacing
This method is ideal for shoes that have a snug fit around the heel, but tend to slip off the front of the foot. Follow these steps:
- Lace the shoes normally up to the second-to-last hole.
- Cross the laces as usual, but instead of passing the right lace through the left eyelet, pass it over the lace and under the eyelet.
- Bring the right lace back across and thread it through the right eyelet.
- Repeat steps 2 and 3 with the left lace.
- Tighten the laces securely.
- To create a more secure heel lock, repeat steps 2-5 with the laces criss-crossed over the lace you skipped in step 1.
| Normal Lacing | Heel Lock Lacing |
|---|---|
 |
 |
Once you’ve mastered the basic Heel Lock Lacing method, you can customize it to fit your shoes and foot shape. For example, if your shoes are particularly loose around the heel, you can repeat steps 2-5 multiple times to create a more secure lock.
The Bow Tie Knot
The bow tie knot is a classic and versatile shoelace tying method that provides a secure fit and allows for easy slip-on and slip-off. To tie the bow tie knot, follow these steps:
1. Cross the laces and make two loops
Cross the laces over each other, forming an X shape. Take the right lace and bring it under the left lace, creating a loop on the left side.
2. Cross the other lace and make a loop
Take the left lace and bring it under the right lace, creating a loop on the right side.
3. Cross the loops and pull tight
Cross the loops over each other, with the left loop going over the right loop. Pull the ends of the laces tight to form a small knot.
4. Make a bow
Take one lace in each hand and loop them over each other, creating a bow.
5. Thread the laces through the loops
Take one lace and thread it through the left loop on the bow. Then, take the other lace and thread it through the right loop on the bow.
6. Pull the laces tight
Pull the laces tight to secure the bow.
7. Adjust the knot and tuck in the laces
Adjust the knot to the desired tightness and tuck in the excess laces by passing them under the knot. This will prevent the laces from fraying or getting in the way.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Cross the laces and make two loops |
| 2 | Cross the other lace and make a loop |
| 3 | Cross the loops and pull tight |
| 4 | Make a bow |
| 5 | Thread the laces through the loops |
| 6 | Pull the laces tight |
| 7 | Adjust the knot and tuck in the laces |
The Slip Knot
The slip knot is a simple and effective way to lace your shoes so that they slip on and off easily. It is also a very secure knot, so you don’t have to worry about your shoes coming untied.
To tie the slip knot, follow these steps:
- Start with the two ends of the lace running parallel to each other.
- Make a small loop with one end of the lace.
- Pass the other end of the lace through the loop you just made.
- Pull the two ends of the lace tight.
- You now have a slip knot.
- To tighten the knot, pull on the two ends of the lace.
- To loosen the knot, pull on the loop.
- To untie the knot, simply pull on the loop until the knot comes undone.
Here is a table summarizing the steps for tying the slip knot:
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Start with the two ends of the lace running parallel to each other. |
| 2 | Make a small loop with one end of the lace. |
| 3 | Pass the other end of the lace through the loop you just made. |
| 4 | Pull the two ends of the lace tight. |
| 5 | You now have a slip knot. |
| 6 | To tighten the knot, pull on the two ends of the lace. |
| 7 | To loosen the knot, pull on the loop. |
| 8 | To untie the knot, simply pull on the loop until the knot comes undone. |
The Square Knot
The square knot is the most common way to lace shoes, but it can be difficult to get tight enough to keep your shoes on securely. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to lace your shoes so they slip on:
- Start by threading the laces through the bottom two eyelets on one side of the shoe.
- Cross the laces over each other and then thread them through the next two eyelets on the other side of the shoe.
- Repeat steps 1 and 2 until you reach the top of the shoe.
- Tie the laces together in a square knot.
- To tighten the knot, pull on the ends of the laces evenly.
- To loosen the knot, pull on the loops of the laces.
- Once the knot is tight enough, tuck the ends of the laces into the shoe.
Here’s a table with a summary of the steps:
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Thread the laces through the bottom two eyelets on one side of the shoe. |
| 2 | Cross the laces over each other and then thread them through the next two eyelets on the other side of the shoe. |
| 3 | Repeat steps 1 and 2 until you reach the top of the shoe. |
| 4 | Tie the laces together in a square knot. |
| 5 | To tighten the knot, pull on the ends of the laces evenly. |
| 6 | To loosen the knot, pull on the loops of the laces. |
| 7 | Once the knot is tight enough, tuck the ends of the laces into the shoe. |
How To Lace Shoes So They Slip On
Tying your shoes is a breeze with this clever lacing technique. With just a few simple steps, you can lace up your shoes in a way that makes them easy to slip on and off, even without untying them. Here’s how it works:
- Thread the laces through the bottom two eyelets, as you normally would.
- Bring the laces up and cross them over, then loop them through the next two eyelets on the opposite side.
- Tie a basic overhand knot, but don’t pull it too tight.
- Bring the laces back down and cross them over, then loop them through the next two eyelets on the same side.
- Repeat steps 3 and 4 until all the eyelets are laced.
- To slip on the shoes, simply pull on the laces and the shoes will open up wide. To take off the shoes, just push on the laces and the shoes will fall off.
Benefits of Lacing Shoes This Way
There are several benefits to lacing shoes this way, including:
- It’s easy and quick to do.
- It makes it easy to slip on and off your shoes, even without bending over.
- It’s a secure way to lace your shoes, so you don’t have to worry about them coming untied.
- It’s a versatile lacing method that can be used on any type of shoe with laces.
People Also Ask About How To Lace Shoes So They Slip On
Can You Lace Any Shoe This Way?
Yes, you can lace any shoe with laces this way, regardless of the type of shoe or the number of eyelets.
Does This Method Work With Boot Laces?
Yes, this method can also be used with boot laces. Just be sure to use laces that are long enough to reach all the way through the eyelets.
How Do You Tighten The Laces?
To tighten the laces, simply pull on the ends of the laces until the shoes fit snugly. You may need to adjust the tightness of the laces depending on the type of shoe and the desired fit.
