Ian's Shoelace Site – Loop Back Lacing (lug version)

A lug version of Loop Back Lacing. Each side loops back on itself down the middle, rather like when two springs become intertwined. However, those loop-backs tend to shift off-centre.

Four pairs of lugs

Pairs

5

4

3

2

Flip

⇄

Lacing diagram Copyright (c) 2023 by Ian Fieggen

Step

To activate controls, please enable JavaScript

Lacing Technique

• Begin straight across the bottom (grey section) and up through both bottom lugs.

• Run the left (blue) end all the way straight up through each lug on the left side of the shoe, leaving some slack between each lug and the next highest lug.

• Run the right (yellow) lace up the right side of the shoe, at each lug looping around the left (blue) loop in the middle of the shoe and back again before feeding up through the next higher lug.

Features

Decorative look

Laces wear more

Centreline shifts

“Shortens” ends

Notes

Loop Back lacing looks best on shoes with thick, round shoelaces, especially light colored laces on dark colored shoes. These accentuate the fact that the laces loop back on themselves rather than crossing over each other.

Lug Loop Back Lacing Gallery

Hover over any image to view details

For enlargements, please enable JavaScript

More shoe lacing photos

Contribute a photo (via e-mail)

Shoelace Lengths for Lug Loop Back Lacing

Pairs of eyelets	Approximate length needed		“Shortens” ends by
8 pairs	148 cm	58 in	–1.8 cm	–0.7 in
7 pairs	135 cm	53 in	–1.5 cm	–0.6 in
6 pairs	123 cm	49 in	–1.3 cm	–0.5 in
5 pairs	111 cm	44 in	–1.0 cm	–0.4 in
4 pairs	99 cm	39 in	–0.8 cm	–0.3 in
3 pairs	86 cm	34 in	–0.5 cm	–0.2 in
2 pairs	74 cm	29 in	–0.3 cm	–0.1 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

• Longer shoelaces needed than those for basic Lug Criss Cross Lacing.

• If the original shoelaces are re-used, this method effectively shortens the ends.

More details about length comparisons.

Rate This Lacing Method

Please only vote once – multiple votes are removed daily

5 stars (excellent)		• Select rating, then click button to submit. • Or, view results without rating this method.
4 stars (good)
3 stars (average)
2 stars (bad)
1 star (awful)