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Straight (Easy) Lacing
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This is a simplified variation of Straight (Bar) Lacing where one end runs
straight from bottom to top whilst the other end steps through the eyelets.
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Faint sections are underneath
Mangolee sent me this pic of some Nikes with Straight (Easy) Lacing. |
Lacing Technique:
1. The lace runs straight across the bottom (grey section) and the ends are fed into both bottom eyelets.
2. One end of the lace (blue end) is fed straight up the left side all the way to, and emerges from, the top left
eyelet.
3. The other end (yellow end) runs straight up the right side, emerges and runs straight across the second set of
eyelets.
4. The same end (yellow end) works its way up and across back and forth through the remaining eyelets.
Features:
Even number of eyelet pairs = Neat look
Odd number of eyelet pairs = Messy look
End lengths shift
Comparative Length = 81%
Laced area uses less (about −19%)
Shorter laces needed (about −9%)
Lengthens lace ends (about +17%)
More details
NOTE:
Like some other versions of Straight Lacing, this method only works correctly on shoes with
even numbers of eyelet pairs (eg. 6 pairs = 12 eyelets). This is because an even number of passes across the
shoe is needed for the lace ends to meet and to be tied together. Shoes with an
odd number of eyelet pairs (eg. 7 pairs = 14 eyelets) finish with the lace ends diagonally opposite each other
at the top of the shoe.
Despite this limitation, Straight Lacing is
very popular. It's therefore not surprising that people have developed all sorts of ways to get it to work on
shoes with odd numbers of eyelet pairs (eg. the grey Puma sneaker at left).
See below for some other
workarounds. |
Sports / Military Advice:
Like other straight lacing methods, Straight (Easy) Lacing has an additional benefit for sporting or military use:
The upper horizontal sections of shoelace can be quickly cut through with a knife or scissors in order to more
easily remove a boot from a broken, sprained or otherwise injured ankle or foot.
Note that most military forces have regulations for just about everything, so I'd recommend that military personnel
check before they adopt this, or any other, possible non-regulation lacing method!
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Odd Workarounds
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As mentioned above, Straight (Easy) Lacing only works correctly on shoes with
even numbers of eyelet pairs. On shoes with
odd numbers of eyelet pairs, the ends don't meet at the top, instead ending up diagonally across from each
other. Here's several common workarounds, using a shoe with seven pairs of eyelets as an example.
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Ends Tucked In
Firstly, you can accept the fact that the lace ends don't meet and simply tuck them into the shoe.
For a tighter fit, you could also knot each lace end so that they don't pull through the eyelets, then tuck them in.
However, those knots can feel uncomfortable.
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Skip One Eyelet Pair
One solution is to simply not use either the top or the bottom pair of eyelets. Using only an even number of eyelet
pairs avoids the odd limitation.
It's also possible to skip a pair of eyelets somewhere in the middle, which breaks the lacing into two sections.
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One Diagonal
Use a single diagonal crossover somewhere in the lacing. At the top, it's less noticeable due to the bows &
shoelace ends. At the bottom, you can even run the diagonal around the inside of the tongue, making it invisible
at the expense of some slight discomfort. Near the middle of the lacing, a diagonal may be positioned to line up
with and run through a tongue centering loop (if the shoe has one).
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Across and Back
The second from bottom straight section runs across right-to-left (on top), then left-to-right (underneath),
passing under itself on the right side. The underlying section is fairly well hidden by the straight section on
top.
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Twice Through Top Eyelet
The end that runs straight up the left side (blue end) and the end that snakes left and right through all the
remaining eyelets (yellow end)
both emerge through the top left eyelet. One of those ends then runs straight across and out through the top
right eyelet.
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This list of workarounds is by no means complete. Once you accept that there's no perfect solution and that you
must compromise in some way, it's up to you what you throw into the lacing to get it to work, whether it be a
visible crossover or gap, or something invisible that may be uncomfortable.
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Recent Photos (sent by site visitors)
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Hover over any photo for details, or click to enlarge in the
Shoe Lacing Photos page.
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This page last updated: 19-Jan-2012. Copyright © 2004-2012 by
Ian W. Fieggen. All rights reserved.
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