Just like everyone is different, our feet are just as unique. The contours of our arches even change from left to right. So why do we tie our laces the same way every time we do up our shoes?
Here are 8 lacing techniques designed to help your unique foot get the comfort and support it deserves.
High Arches: The goal here is to alleviate tightness and add comfort to the fit.
- Lace the shoe normally with a criss-cross
- Thread the shoelace only through the sides
- Tie up the shoe through the next two eyelets or more
Shoes Feel Too Tight:The laces will be evenly distributed for added comfort.
- Lace the shoelaces in parallel fashion
- Thread by feeding shoelaces underneath every other eyelet
- Tie up the shoe as usual
Heel Slipping:The ankle gets more support, but the whole shoe isn't too tight.
- Lace the shoes as usual until the second-to-last hole
- Go straight up into the last one
- Thread the shoelace through the loop onto the other side
- Tie up the shoe as usual
Black Toe Nails and Toe Pain:The toe cap will be lifted, meaning the toes have more space.
- Lace the shoelace from the big toe to the top at the other side
- Thread the other side of the shoelace at each bottom diagonally and at the top parallel to the next hole
- Tie up the shoe as usual
Wide Forefoot:The forefoot gets more space in the toe box.
- Begin by threading the shoelace only through the sides
- From the mid foot onward, start tying with a criss-cross
Narrow Foot:Tightens the shoe more than the usual techniques to keep it snug.
- Begin by lacing the shoes normally with a criss-cross
- Next, skip an eyelet and thread the shoelace in cross-cross fashion
- Lastly, lace the usual criss-cross pattern and tie up the shoe
High Midfoot:The pressure is minimized on the side of your foot.
- Lave the shoe normally with a cross cross
- Thread the shoelace only through the sides
- After the point where bruising has occurred, start tying with the criss-cross again
Wide Feet (see our shoe width chart):Loosens the entire shoe and gives the foot more space.
- Lace the shoe normally with a criss-cross
- Thread the shoe in crss-cross fashion every other eyelet
- Tie up the shoe as usual
