Double Back Lacing

The lacing first runs down the shoe, then doubles back up the shoe. Looks interesting plus holds very firmly, but is awkward to tighten.
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Lacing Technique – Variation 1 – Hidden verticals at bottom
• Begin straight across on the outside (grey section) and in through the second-from-top set of eyelets.
• Cross the ends and feed in through the second-lower set of eyelets (skip past one set of eyelets).
• Continue down the shoe two sets of eyelets at a time.
• At the bottom, run each lace end vertically between the bottom and second-from-bottom eyelets.
• Double back and work back up the shoe, criss-crossing through the vacant sets of eyelets.
Variations
• Variation 1 has hidden verticals at the bottom.
• Variation 2 has a visible crossover at the bottom, which needs slightly longer shoelaces.
Features
Stays very tight
Terribly awkward
Variation 1 mostly “Lengthens” ends
Variation 2 “Shortens” ends
Double Back Lacing Gallery












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Double Back Lacing Video
Shoelace Lengths for Double Back Lacing
Variation 1 – Verticals at bottom | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Pairs of eyelets | Approximate length needed | “Shortens” ends by | ||
8 pairs | 134 cm | 53 in | –0.5 cm | –0.2 in |
“Lengthens” ends by | ||||
7 pairs | 123 cm | 48 in | +0.2 cm | +0.1 in |
6 pairs | 111 cm | 44 in | +0.9 cm | +0.4 in |
5 pairs | 99 cm | 39 in | +1.6 cm | +0.6 in |
4 pairs | 87 cm | 34 in | +2.3 cm | +0.9 in |
3 pairs | 75 cm | 30 in | +3.0 cm | +1.2 in |
2 pairs | 63 cm | 25 in | +3.6 cm | +1.4 in |
Variation 2 – Crossover at bottom | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Pairs of eyelets | Approximate length needed | “Shortens” ends by | ||
8 pairs | 142 cm | 56 in | –4.1 cm | –1.6 in |
7 pairs | 130 cm | 51 in | –3.4 cm | –1.3 in |
6 pairs | 118 cm | 47 in | –2.7 cm | –1.1 in |
5 pairs | 106 cm | 42 in | –2.1 cm | –0.8 in |
4 pairs | 94 cm | 37 in | –1.4 cm | –0.6 in |
3 pairs | 82 cm | 32 in | –0.7 cm | –0.3 in |
2 pairs | 70 cm | 28 in | – | – |
NOTE: These are approximate shoelace lengths for using this lacing on an average sized sneaker. For more accurate lengths, use the Shoelace Length Calculator.
Comparative Length
• Variation 1 mostly needs shorter shoelaces than those for basic Criss Cross Lacing, whereas Variation 2 needs longer shoelaces.
• If the original shoelaces are re-used, Variation 1 mostly lengthens the ends, whereas Variation 2 effectively shortens the ends.
More details about length comparisons.
Visitor Feedback
Before going to your website my shoelaces were outrageously big (52cm) and i was always tripping over them. I tried tying the Double Back Lacing and now my shoelaces are 45cm when they are untied, and only 15 cm with an Ian knot.
– Brendan K., Melbourne, Australia, Nov-2004
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