Double Back Lacing

Double Back Lacing (icon)

The lacing first runs down the shoe, then doubles back up the shoe. Looks interesting plus holds very firmly, but is awkward to tighten.

Eight pairs of eyelets, variation 1
Pairs
8
8
7
6
5
4
3
Flip
Step
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0

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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

Shoe lacing photo

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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 pairs134 cm53 in–0.5 cm–0.2 in
 “Lengthens”
ends by
7 pairs123 cm48 in+0.2 cm+0.1 in
6 pairs111 cm44 in+0.9 cm+0.4 in
5 pairs99 cm39 in+1.6 cm+0.6 in
4 pairs87 cm34 in+2.3 cm+0.9 in
3 pairs75 cm30 in+3.0 cm+1.2 in
2 pairs63 cm25 in+3.6 cm+1.4 in
Variation 2 – Crossover at bottom
Pairs of
eyelets
Approximate
length needed
“Shortens”
ends by
8 pairs142 cm56 in–4.1 cm–1.6 in
7 pairs130 cm51 in–3.4 cm–1.3 in
6 pairs118 cm47 in–2.7 cm–1.1 in
5 pairs106 cm42 in–2.1 cm–0.8 in
4 pairs94 cm37 in–1.4 cm–0.6 in
3 pairs82 cm32 in–0.7 cm–0.3 in
2 pairs70 cm28 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

If you'd also like to send feedback, please Contact Ian.

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This page last updated: 11-Nov-2023. Copyright © 2003-2023 by Ian W. Fieggen. All rights reserved.

Website created by Ian Fieggen (aka. “Professor Shoelace”), inventor of the Ian Knot.

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