How To Tie A Shoe

Pattern library / 8 patterns

Sport-Specific Lacing

Some footwear has lacing rules of its own. Hockey skates, ski boots, climbing shoes, dance shoes and cycling shoes all have specific conventions worth knowing before you improvise.

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The footwear

Sport footwear often mixes eyelets, hooks, buckles, BOA dials and internal lacing. Where a shoe has a mechanical closure, lacing usually supplements it rather than replacing it.

The laces

Waxed skate laces resist ice and hold tension without creeping. Climbing shoes use thin round laces that fit deep-set eyelets. Dance shoes use ribbon or narrow flat cotton. Match the lace to the eyelet, not to the look.

All 8 patterns

schematic

Hockey Skate Lacing

Medium9 eyelet pairs

Hockey skate lacing runs loose over the toe box, tight through the ankle, and eases at the top so the ankle can still flex forward into a stride.

Best for: Ankle support on ice

Steps

  1. Lace the toe rows loosely; the toes should be able to move.
  2. Cinch the three rows over the ankle hard.
  3. Ease off tension for the top two hooks.
  4. Tie at the top; do not wrap the lace around the boot.

Tip
Wrapping the lace around a skate boot is banned in many leagues and cuts ankle mobility.

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schematic

Figure Skate Lacing

Medium9 eyelet pairs

Figure skate lacing uses a surgeon's knot at the ankle break to lock the boot, with looser lacing above so the skater can bend into the knee.

Best for: Locked ankle, free knee bend

Steps

  1. Lace the foot rows to a firm, even tension.
  2. Tie a surgeon's knot at the ankle break.
  3. Lace the hooks above at reduced tension.
  4. Tie a bow and tuck the ends.

Tip
New boots need re-lacing several times during break-in as the leather packs down.

schematic

Ski Boot Liner Lacing

Easy5 eyelet pairs

Ski boot liner lacing tensions the inner boot only, holding the heel down inside the shell so the buckles do not have to do that job.

Best for: Inner boot fit

Steps

  1. Lace the liner with even, moderate tension.
  2. Concentrate tension over the instep to hold the heel.
  3. Tie a flat knot that will not press against the shell.
  4. Fit the liner into the shell and buckle normally.

Tip
A liner laced tightly at the instep often removes the need to over-buckle the shell.

schematic

Climbing Shoe Lacing

Medium5 eyelet pairs

Climbing shoe lacing runs tightest over the toe box, which is the opposite of almost every other sport, because edging performance depends on the toes being held rigid.

Best for: Precise forefoot fit on the wall

Steps

  1. Cinch the lowest two rows very tight over the toes.
  2. Reduce tension progressively toward the ankle.
  3. Tie a flat knot that will not catch in a crack.
  4. Tuck the ends under the lace runs.

Tip
Tuck the bow. A lace loop caught on a foothold at height is a genuine hazard.

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schematic

Dance Shoe Ribbon Lacing

Medium3 eyelet pairs

Dance shoe lacing uses ribbon crossed over the instep and around the ankle, tied with a flat knot on the inside of the ankle where it will not be visible or press on the bone.

Best for: Ballet and character shoes

Steps

  1. Cross the ribbons over the instep.
  2. Wrap them around the ankle in opposite directions.
  3. Cross at the back and bring both to the inside ankle.
  4. Tie a flat knot and tuck the ends under the wraps.

Tip
The knot always goes on the inside of the ankle. This is a convention, not a preference.

schematic

Wrestling & Boxing Boot Lacing

Easy8 eyelet pairs

Wrestling and boxing boot lacing ties low and tucks every end, because a loose lace in competition stops the bout and in most rules costs the athlete a warning.

Best for: Laces that cannot come undone mid-bout

Steps

  1. Lace the boot in a normal criss-cross.
  2. Tie a double knot at the mid-shaft.
  3. Tuck both tails fully under the lacing.
  4. Tape over the laces if the rules permit.

Tip
Most combat sports rules require laces taped or tucked. Check your federation's rules.

schematic

Cycling Shoe Lacing

Easy5 eyelet pairs

Cycling shoe lacing spreads tension as evenly as possible across a shoe with a rigid sole, because a stiff sole cannot flex to relieve a hot spot the way a running shoe does.

Best for: Even pressure over a stiff sole

Steps

  1. Use over-under crossings so the lace slides and equalises.
  2. Keep tension light and even; do not cinch any single row.
  3. Tie a flat bow and tuck it.
  4. Re-check tension after 20 minutes of riding.

Tip
Feet swell noticeably on long rides. Lace for hour three, not for the first ten minutes.

schematic

Golf Shoe Lacing

Easy6 eyelet pairs

Golf shoe lacing locks the midfoot so the foot does not slide laterally during the swing, while leaving the forefoot free to spread through the follow-through.

Best for: Stability through a rotational swing

Steps

  1. Lace the forefoot lightly.
  2. Cinch the midfoot rows firmly.
  3. Add a heel lock at the top eyelet.
  4. Retie at the turn; feet swell over 18 holes.

Tip
Lateral slide in the shoe costs distance. A heel lock is worth more than most people expect.

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Gear that goes with these patterns

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Questions about sport-specific lacing

How many sport-specific lacing patterns are there?
This library documents 8 distinct patterns for this category. Across the whole site there are 104 named lacing patterns and knots.
Which pattern should I start with?
Start with the first pattern listed, Hockey Skate Lacing. Hockey skate lacing runs loose over the toe box, tight through the ankle, and eases at the top so the ankle can still flex forward into a stride.
What shoelaces do these patterns need?
Waxed skate laces resist ice and hold tension without creeping. Climbing shoes use thin round laces that fit deep-set eyelets. Dance shoes use ribbon or narrow flat cotton. Match the lace to the eyelet, not to the look.
Will a different lacing pattern really change how the shoe fits?
Yes, within limits. Lacing moves where pressure lands and how firmly the heel is held, which resolves most minor fit complaints. It cannot make a shoe that is the wrong length or width fit correctly.

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