How to Lace Skate Shoes: Tips & Techniques

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Whether you’re passionate about skateboarding or a weekend warrior, you already understand how important it is to have the proper equipment such as protective gear. This includes having a high-quality pair of skate shoes and once you have the best pair for you, learning how to lace them. 

You probably haven’t given much thought to tying shoes since you first learned as a kid, but when it comes to skating, the way you lace your shoes can make quite the difference for your ride. It can also be a fun and stylish away to upgrade your look. In this guide, we’re going to cover several tips and techniques for lacing up your skate shoes, and why some methods might work better or look better than others. 

Do I really need skate shoes?

You may be tempted to skate around with any old pair of sneakers, especially if you’re just starting out and hoping to save money on gear. You probably find yourself asking, “Do I really need skate shoes?” Our answer is wholeheartedly yes. While you could technically get away with using most pairs of sneakers for some light cruising, the right pair of shoes can help you get the most out of your experience, especially if you’re hoping to learn tricks down the road. 

To keep it simple, skate shoes were designed for skateboarding, just like how running shoes were designed for maximum performance while running. Would you attempt to run your best mile in a pair of chunky basketball high tops? Probably not. 

Most pairs of skate shoes have wider footprints for increased surface area contact with the board and a thin, flat sole to ensure maximum board feel and grip. Many styles offer additional features such as heel protection, arch support, lace hole protection, durability features, and more. 

Why does lacing matter?

You’ve finally got the right kind of skate shoes, so why worry about lacing?

For starters, you need to make sure that your laces won’t come undone while you’re in action. Taking the time to ensure your laces are properly tied helps your skate shoes stay on, keeps your laces out of the way, and prevents them from getting tangled in your gear. Lacing your skate shoes correctly also helps to protect the laces, keeping them up and away from the ground. 

Skate shoes are also laced differently than regular shoes for their appearance. Some methods are selected purely for aesthetic reasons rather than function but are another creative way to add some flair to your look and rock that skater style! Lacing skate shoes can be considered an art form, so don’t get too frustrated if it takes a bit of practice for you to get the hang of it. 

Ways to Lace Skate Shoes

Straight Lacing or Bar Lacing

Straight lacing, or bar lacing, is one of the most popular methods for lacing skate shoes, especially among hobbyists. With this method, as the name suggests, the laces appear like stripes going up the shoes with a single bar in the middle. 

To use this method, insert the lace into the bottom eyelet from the top, and move through the rest of the row, pulling each end through and under. 

Take the left side and insert it through the next eyelet on the left, making sure the right side is inserted through the eyelet on the right. 

Then, pull the left lace and insert it into the eyelet you just pulled the right lace through. Repeat on the right side, going across to the left. Continue this pattern until you reach the top. 

Tie the ends in a bow or knot behind the tongue to keep them secure and out of the way. 

Criss Cross Lacing

If you know how to lace a regular shoe, you’re already familiar with criss cross lacing, which involves crossing the laces over each other to create an “X” shape. To use this method, start by inserting the laces into the eyelets at the bottom of the shoe and work your way up to the top by threading outside in. 

Once you get to the top of the shoe, tie the lace behind the tongue.

Zipper Lacing

Similar to knitting, the zipper lacing method requires looping the lace at each eyelet. Start by creating an anchor knot at the end of the lace. Thread the other end through the right bottom eyelet, then pull until the knot secures the lace under that eyelet. 

Pull the loose end straight across, push the lace through the eyelet, then pull back across the opposite side and go up through the next eyelet. Go straight across and repeat until you reach the top. 

Army Lacing

Start with the eyelets at the bottom of the shoe, near the toes. Take the right side of the lace and thread it up through the right eyelet, and thread the left side of the lace up through the left eyelet. 

Take the right side of the shoelace and thread it through the next upper right eyelet. Do the same for the left side.

Criss cross the laces and bring the left side of the shoelace across to the third right eyelet. Do the same for the other side. At each pair of eyelets, alternate between a crossover on the inside of the eyelets and the out and repeat until lacing is complete.