The straight lace, or straight bar lace, is a stylish lacing method that can be used on casual shoes, athletic shoes, leather shoes, and dress shoes.
The straight lace method looks neat, and is easy to implement. This method also helps to keep your shoe tight and snug on your foot.
When completing the straight lace method it is paramount to make sure the laces are pulled evenly after threading the first eyelets.
Be sure to always connect the lace to the next eyelet by running it along the inside of the shoe, so the transition is not showing on the outside.
Continue reading to learn how to straight lace shoes.
How To Straight Lace Shoes
Total Time: 5 min
Cost: $0
Follow the steps below in order to properly straight lace shoes.
1. First eyelets
Eyelets are “small holes for the passage of lace” on a shoe.
Position your shoe so that the toe is pointing towards you. Take one side of the shoe lace, grabbing the aglet, and thread it through the first eyelet (the hole closest to you) from the top side. Repeat this for the other side of the shoe lace as well.
Your lace should now be threaded through the top of the first eyelets on either side of the shoe.
2. Even the Laces
Now that both sides of your shoes laces have made their way through the first eyelet, pull the laces on each side so that the lengths are even.
Tip: If your shoe laces are uneven after the first eyelet, it will cause problems later on and you will likely have to start all over again. Make sure that the laces are even after the first eyelet.
3. Use the Inside
Take the tip on the left side of the shoe lace and run it along the inside of the shoe towards the second eyelet. Make sure you thread it to the eyelet on the same side (left side) of the shoe. Thread the tip through the eyelet and pull through until completely taught.
Take the same tip and thread it through the adjacent eyelet on the other side of the shoe’s tongue from the top side. Pull until taught. This completes the second bar.
4. Alternate eyelets
Repeat step 3 on the right side of the shoe lace, except skip one eyelet on the way to the third eyelet, from the underside.
The shoe lace from the left side of the shoe will now be threaded through the hole on the right side. Take the tip of the right shoe lace, and run it along the inside of the shoe until you reach the third eyelet, skipping over the one eyelet that has now been threaded with the left shoe lace. Be sure to keep the lace on the inside.
Pull the lace through the third eyelet from the underside and thread it through to the adjacent side from the top. Pull until taught. Bar three is now complete.
5. Continue until completion
Continue alternating eyelets and lace tips as described in steps 3 and 4. Repeat these steps until the shoe is fully laced, and then completely repeat the entire process for the other shoe.
How To Bar Lace Shoes
Total Time: 5 min
Cost: $0
The ‘bar lace’ and ‘straight lace’ are identical ways to lace up your shoes. They are just referred to by different names depending on where in the world you are.
1. First eyelets
Eyelets are “small holes for the passage of lace” on a shoe.
Position your shoe so that the toe is pointing towards you. Take one side of the shoe lace, and thread it through the first eyelet (the hole closest to you) from the top side. Repeat this for the other side of the shoe lace as well.
Your lace should now be threaded through the top of the first eyelets on either side of the shoe, giving your your first laced bar.
2. Even the laces
Now that you’ve threaded the first bar, pull the laces on each side so that the lengths of the laces on each side are even.
Tip: If your shoe laces are uneven after the first eyelet, it will cause problems later on and you will likely have to start all over again. Make sure that the laces are even after the first eyelet.
3. Use the inside
Take the tip on the left side of the shoe lace and run it along the inside of the shoe towards the second eyelet. Make sure you thread it to the eyelet on the same side (left side) of the shoe. Thread the tip through the eyelet and pull through completely until taught.
Take the same tip and thread it through the adjacent eyelet on the other side of the shoe’s tongue, from the top side of the hole. Pull until taught. This completes the second bar.
4. Alternate eyelets
Repeat step 3 on the right side of the shoe lace, except skip one eyelet on the way to the third eyelet, keeping the lace inside the shoe at all times.
The shoe lace from the left side of the shoe will now be threaded through the hole on the right side from step 3.
Take the tip of the right shoe lace, and run it along the inside of the shoe until you reach the third eyelet, skipping over the one eyelet that has now been threaded with the left shoe lace.
Pull the lace through the third eyelet from the bottom and thread it through to the adjacent side from the top. Pull until taught. Bar three is now complete.
5. Continue until completion
Continue alternating eyelets and lace tips as described in steps 3 and 4. Repeat these steps until the shoe is fully laced with bars, and then completely repeat the entire process for the other shoe.
And always make sure you have washed your shoelaces whenever re-lacing your shoes. Follow our top articles to help make this happen.
Don’t forget to take care of your shoelaces with the same care.
FAQ
The three best ways to lace a shoe are:
- Straight lace method
- Criss cross method
- Heel locking method
Start by threading the lace from the underside through the eyelets on either side of the shoe. Pull the lace through until taught. Grab the tip of the left lace and run it along the insides to he second eyelet on the same side of the shoe. Thread the eyelet, cross over the the adjacent side’s eyelet, and complete the bar. Take the right shoe lace and run it along the inside of the shoe, past the next eyelet, and onto the third eyelet. Thread the eyelet and cross over the the adjacent side to thread. Pull until taught.
