60 Cool Ways to Lace Shoes (Super Unique Ones)

Are you looking for cool ways to lace shoes? Then, we've got you. Here are 60 easy and creative methods you can try right now. The best part? You don’t need special tools or fancy skills. Just your current shoes and a few minutes.

Let’s begin!

60 cool ways to lace shoes

There are 60 best ways to lace your shoes. Some styles focus on comfort, like Over-Under and Gap Lacing, which reduce pressure or friction. Others, like Straight Bar or Spider Web, create a fresh design.

Criss-Cross Lacing

Criss-Cross lacing is one of the most common cool ways to lace shoes because it is simple. You already know this one. It’s what most shoes come with by default, and it gives a classic, reliable fit.

Here are the steps:

1. Thread both lace ends through the bottom eyelets from the inside

2. Cross the laces and insert them into the next set of eyelets

3. Keep crossing and moving up until you reach the top

4. Tie a regular knot to finish

Over-Under Lacing

Over-Under lacing is a great way to lace your shoes if you want less friction. It feels different from the start. The laces slide more easily.

1. Thread the lace through the bottom eyelets from the outside

2. Cross and go under the next eyelets

3. Then go over the next row

4. Keep alternating over and under as you move up

5. Tie at the top

Straight Bar Lacing

Straight Bar lacing is one of the coolest ways to lace your shoes when you want a clean and flat design. It gives your sneakers or dress shoes a polished look. Plus, it feels great too because it spreads pressure evenly.

Here’s what to do:

1. Insert both lace ends down into the bottom eyelets

2. Take one lace up inside and out through the next eyelet

3. Go straight across and repeat on the other side

4. Alternate the inside paths until the top

5. Tie your knot or tuck it in

Straight European Lacing

Straight European is a shoe lacing method that gives a straight look on top. It’s slightly easier to tighten than standard bar lacing and still looks just as clean. Simply follow these steps:

1. Insert both lace ends down through the bottom eyelets

2. Take one side up two eyelets inside and bring it out

3. Cross it over to the opposite eyelet

4. Alternate sides as you repeat the pattern

5. Tie at the top

Hidden Knot Lacing

Hidden Knot lacing is one of the best lacing styles. Go for it when you want your shoes to look neat with no visible knot. It’s a smart option for photos, events, or any moment you want clean lines and zero distractions.

1. Start by lacing your shoes using the Straight Bar method

2. When you reach the top, do not tie the knot outside

3. Instead, tuck both lace ends inside the shoe

4. Tie the knot inside and adjust it to sit flat

5. Cover with the tongue for a smooth finish

End-Shortening Lacing

End-Shortening lacing is a top-notch shoe lacing method that hides extra lace length without trimming anything.

1. Thread the lace into the bottom eyelets from underneath

2. Create zigzag paths inside the shoe to use more lace

3. Only bring lace ends out where needed

4. Continue until you reach the top

5. Finish with short lace ends and tie

Gap Lacing

Gap lacing is one of the smartest ways to lace shoes. It’s a lifesaver if you deal with wide feet, high arches, or sore spots that just need some relief.

Steps:

1. Begin with your usual lacing style

2. Skip the eyelets around the pressure point

3. Resume lacing in the row above the gap

4. Repeat on both sides for balance

5. Tie as usual

Lock Lacing

Lock lacing is a practical lacing style that keeps your heel locked in place to prevent slipping. You’ll feel the difference instantly, especially during running or long walks.

1. Lace normally until you reach the top two eyelets

2. Loop each lace back into the top eyelet on the same side

3. Now cross the lace ends and tuck through the loops

4. Pull tight to lock your heel in

5. Tie your knot to finish

Double Back Lacing

Double Back lacing is great way to tie shoes. It adds extra grip and a bold, layered look. It gives your foot a secure feel as well.

Here’s what to do:

1. Begin with regular criss-cross lacing

2. After each cross, loop the lace under itself before moving on

3. Then cross to the next eyelet

4. Repeat this step all the way up

5. Tie at the top as usual

Ladder Lacing

Ladder lacing is one of the coolest ways to lace shoes when you want straight bars with a bold design. It gives structure and looks amazing on boots or high-tops where you want to show off your lacing.

1. Lace across the bottom eyelets from underneath

2. Bring each lace straight up to the next eyelet on the same side

3. Cross the laces over and go straight across again

4. Repeat this ladder pattern up the shoe

5. Tie the ends at the top

Loop-Back Lacing

Loop-Back lacing is a fun and stylish way to tie your shoes with decorative loops in the middle.

1. Start with criss-cross lacing at the bottom

2. In the middle section, loop each lace back into the same side

3. Then resume crossing to the other side

4. Keep the loops even on both sides

5. Tie at the top

Bow Tie Lacing

Bow Tie lacing forms bow-like shapes across the shoe using diagonal and vertical lace paths. It gives your shoes a playful, creative look that’s great for casual wear.

1. Cross the laces diagonally for the first eyelets

2. Pull them back using inside verticals

3. Repeat this pattern to create bow shapes

4. Adjust spacing as needed

5. Tie your knot at the top

Invisible Lacing

Invisible lacing is one of the coolest ways to tie shoes if you want a clean look. It gives your shoes a smooth style that looks modern and minimal.

1. Run the laces mostly through the inside of the shoe

2. Bring them out only at key points to hold your foot

3. Skip unnecessary eyelets to hide more lace

4. Tuck the knot inside the shoe

5. Adjust the tongue to cover everything

Spider Web Lacing

Spider Web lacing is an awesome shoe lacing style that creates a woven web pattern across the top of your shoe.

1. Anchor one lace straight across the bottom

2. Use a second lace to weave over and under like a web

3. Build the pattern upward, keeping it even

4. Tighten gently to avoid pressure points

5. Tie or tuck the lace ends

Width Adjuster Lacing

1. Use a standard lacing method to start

2. Leave some eyelets loose or skip them for wide areas

3. Pull tighter in narrow areas for a closer fit

4. Keep adjusting until both sides feel even

5. Tie normally when you’re done

High Arch Relief

High Arch Relief lacing is one of the most comfortable ways to lace shoes. It gives your feet space to breathe and helps avoid tightness that can cause pain after walking or running.

Just do this:

1. Start lacing normally from the bottom eyelets

2. When you reach the middle of the shoe, skip one or two eyelets over the arch

3. Resume lacing above the skipped area

4. Tie your laces as usual

5. Adjust until the fit feels right and pressure-free

Cross-Lock for Instep

1. Lace normally until you reach the middle of the shoe

2. At that point, create one extra cross by looping the laces twice before pulling through

3. Continue lacing normally above the lock

4. Pull tight to secure the midfoot

5. Finish with a regular knot

Zipper Lacing

1. Start from the bottom eyelets and bring each lace end up diagonally

2. Skip one eyelet on each side to create a longer zigzag path

3. Continue weaving the laces in the same pattern

4. Keep your lines even for a zipper-like shape

5. Tie neatly at the top

Diagonal Lacing

Diagonal lacing is a stylish and cool way to lace your shoes with an angled, asymmetric design. It looks different from every angle and works best on casual sneakers or fashion shoes.

1. Begin by threading the lace through the bottom eyelets

2. Cross one lace diagonally up several eyelets higher

3. Repeat with the other lace on the opposite side

4. Follow the pattern until you reach the top

5. Tie and adjust for comfort

Parallel Crosses

1. Insert both lace ends through the bottom eyelets

2. Cross each lace twice side by side before threading into the next eyelets

3. Keep both crosses parallel as you move upward

4. Repeat until the top

5. Tie at the end and adjust spacing

Checkerboard Lacing

1. Start with one color for the base, weaving horizontally

2. Take the second lace and weave vertically through the gaps

3. Keep alternating over and under to form the checkerboard

4. Adjust spacing to keep it even

5. Tie or tuck both lace ends inside

Diamond Lacing

1. Thread the lace across the bottom eyelets

2. Cross the laces diagonally two eyelets up

3. Then bring them back down through the lower ones to form diamonds

4. Repeat the pattern upward

5. Tie at the top

Star Lacing

1. Start by crossing the lace ends diagonally through the first eyelets

2. Bring them back across to create overlapping lines

3. Continue crossing to form a star shape in the center

4. Adjust the pattern until the star is clear

5. Tie at the top or tuck ends inside

Honeycomb Lacing

1. Begin lacing across the bottom eyelets

2. Weave each lace up and over in hexagonal loops

3. Make sure each loop connects cleanly to form honeycomb shapes

4. Continue this pattern to the top

5. Tie or tuck in the laces

Double Lace

1. Use two separate laces and thread them through the same eyelets

2. Follow a simple criss-cross pattern with both at once

3. Keep them flat and smooth for a layered look

4. Adjust spacing evenly

5. Tie both laces together at the top

Lattice Lacing

1. Start with laces threaded across the bottom eyelets

2. Cross diagonally two or three eyelets up, skipping some space

3. Weave the laces over and under each other as you go

4. Maintain even spacing for the lattice look

5. Tie or tuck ends inside

Cross Lace

1. Start by threading the lace across the bottom

2. Cross both ends diagonally to the next eyelets

3. Keep the crosses big and even

4. Repeat until you reach the top

5. Tie your knot neatly

Wave Lacing

1. Thread the lace into the bottom eyelets

2. Instead of straight crosses, weave the lace loosely to create curves

3. Repeat the same flow on the other side

4. Adjust until the waves look balanced

5. Tie lightly to keep the shape

Bow Accent Lacing

1. Lace up normally for the first few eyelets

2. In the middle, create small loops by tying mini bows

3. Continue lacing above them

4. Make sure the bows are even on both sides

5. Tie your final knot at the top

Spiral Lacing

• Begin from one side of the shoe and lace diagonally upward

• Bring the lace around in a spiral pattern to the other side

• Continue until you reach the top

• Make sure the spiral stays even

• Tie or tuck in the lace end

Side Lacing

Here’s how to lace your shoes using the side lacing method:

1. Begin by threading the lace through the bottom eyelets, starting on one side

2. Run the lace straight across to the other side and enter the next higher eyelet

3. Continue lacing only on the chosen side, leaving the opposite eyelets empty

4. Keep working your way upward to the top of the shoe

5. Finish with a neat knot or tuck the ends inside for a clean finish

Vertical Weave

Vertical weave is one of the most structured ways to lace shoes with vertical loops and flat horizontal bars. This method gives your shoes a grid-like, layered look.

Follow these steps to create the vertical weave lacing style:

1. Start by lacing across the bottom eyelets from the inside

2. Take both lace ends vertically into the next eyelet on the same side

3. After each vertical move, lace straight across to the other side

4. Repeat the vertical then horizontal pattern until you reach the top

5. Finish with a knot and adjust for even spacing

Criss-and-Weave

Here’s how to lace your shoes with the criss-and-weave method:

1. Start with a basic criss-cross lace for the first few eyelets

2. In the middle section, weave each lace under and over itself to create a looped texture

3. After the weaving section, return to criss-cross lacing

4. Make sure both sides look even

5. Tie your shoes at the top and adjust the loops if needed

Contour Lace

Steps to create the contour lace design on your shoes:

1. Thread both lace ends through the bottom eyelets

2. Instead of crossing, move each lace straight up on its own side

3. Only use the outer eyelets to trace the contour of the shoe

4. Continue the pattern upward on both sides

5. Tie at the top or tuck inside for a seamless look

Multi-Color Split

Here’s how to lace your shoes using two colors for a split effect:

1. Use two laces in different colors

2. Lace the first color from the bottom to halfway up the shoe

3. Start the second color from the middle and finish at the top

4. Make sure the two sections meet cleanly in the center

5. Tie both lace ends at the top to keep the split visible

Fringe Lace Ends

Fringe lace ends are a creative way to lace your shoes when you want decorative ends that swing or wrap.

1. Lace your shoes using any pattern you like

2. Leave several inches of lace hanging at the top

3. Tie loose knots or braid the ends to form fringe

4. You can let the fringe hang freely or wrap around your ankle

5. Adjust length and knot tightness to suit your vibe

Micro Braid Sections

1. Start by lacing your shoes normally

2. Between two sets of eyelets, braid a small section of each lace

3. Use three to five turns for a neat braid

4. Resume normal lacing after the braid

5. Repeat on both sides for balance

Kite Lacing

1. Thread your lace through the bottom eyelets

2. Cross each end diagonally to higher eyelets two rows up

3. Then bring them back down to lower eyelets to form kite shapes

4. Continue the up and down pattern to the top

5. Tie your laces or tuck them inside

Serpentine Lacing

Here’s how to lace your shoes using the serpentine technique:

1. Start with one lace end and thread it into the bottom eyelet

2. Weave that single lace back and forth across the shoe in a wave pattern

3. Continue the path upward without switching laces

4. Keep the curve smooth and spacing consistent

5. Tie the single end at the top or tuck it in

Checkerboard Ladder Mix

1. Use one lace to create a horizontal ladder across the shoe

2. Take a second lace and weave vertically through the rungs

3. Alternate over and under to build the checkerboard effect

4. Maintain tight spacing for a sharp grid look

5. Tie both laces together at the top or tuck neatly inside

Inset Loop Lace

1. Start with standard criss-cross lacing

2. Between each eyelet pair, form a small loop by feeding the lace halfway before crossing

3. Keep loops even in size and spacing

4. Continue the pattern all the way up

5. Finish with a tight knot at the top

Grid Mesh Lacing

How to lace your shoes with a tight grid mesh pattern:

1. Use one lace for vertical weaving, threading it straight up each side

2. Take a second lace and weave horizontally, over and under the verticals

3. Keep the spacing tight for a true mesh look

4. Adjust the pattern evenly across both shoes

5. Tie or tuck in both lace ends when complete

Heart Shape Lacing

How to create a heart design with your shoe laces:

1. Begin lacing diagonally from the bottom

2. Curve the laces back into lower eyelets to form half-hearts

3. Mirror the curves on both sides for full heart shapes

4. You can repeat this once or twice depending on your shoe size

5. Finish with a clean knot

Braided Lace Sections

1. Lace the shoe normally through the lower eyelets

2. At the midsection, braid the laces together tightly for two to three inches

3. Separate and continue lacing normally above the braid

4. Keep the braid centered and even

5. Tie a knot that fits the style

Inset Color Blocks

1. Lace the shoe normally using your main lace color

2. At selected eyelets, insert a second lace through just two holes

3. Leave the contrast lace flat and visible

4. Repeat in multiple areas for a bold block effect

5. Tie your main laces as usual

Infinity Lacing

1. Thread your lace through the bottom eyelets

2. Form a figure-eight loop by moving diagonally then crossing back

3. Repeat the same shape up the shoe

4. Keep the loops even and flowing

5. Tie your knot to lock the style in place

Criss-Star Hybrid

1. Lace the bottom half using a criss-cross method

2. In the midsection, switch to overlapping star-style lines

3. Return to criss-cross lacing for the top section

4. Keep the star pattern centered

5. Tie or tuck the ends neatly

Staircase Lacing

• Start lacing on one side, moving diagonally upward

• Instead of crossing, go straight across the shoe to form the step

• Keep rising one level at a time, maintaining the step shape

• Repeat the design to the top

• Tie and adjust for fit

Celtic Knot Motif

1. Start with a regular criss-cross at the bottom

2. Weave the laces under and over each other in looped layers

3. Mirror the path to keep the knot shapes centered

4. Repeat this knot-like weaving up the shoe

5. Tie off or tuck the ends depending on the look you want

Reverse Pattern

Steps to create a reverse lacing pattern on your shoes:

1. Begin lacing normally with a criss-cross style

2. At the midpoint, reverse the crossing direction

3. This creates a mirrored pattern from top to bottom

4. Match the loop angles for visual balance

5. Tie the knot at the top as usual

Checker and Skip

1. Use one lace horizontally and another vertically

2. Weave the second lace over and under the first

3. Leave certain eyelets or weave points empty to form gaps

4. Repeat the skip pattern at equal intervals

5. Tie both laces at the top or tuck them inside

Double Ladder

Use this method to lace your shoes with a double ladder effect:

1. Start both laces straight across at the bottom

2. Lace one up one side, then the other up the opposite

3. Weave both horizontally into “rungs” side by side

4. Maintain spacing and tension throughout

5. Tie off both ends together or separately

Swirl Center

1. Begin at the bottom and weave each lace diagonally

2. Gradually angle the laces inward as you move up

3. Cross them near the center to build the swirl

4. Finish with a knot at the center top eyelets

5. Adjust spacing to keep the spiral smooth

Braided Center Ribbon

1. Start by lacing normally up to the middle

2. Braid both lace ends together in the center zone

3. Once the braid is done, separate the laces and continue criss-crossing to the top

4. Keep the braid tight and centered

5. Tie the ends together in a clean knot

Grid and Vertical Bars

1. Use one lace to run vertically up each side

2. Take a second lace and weave it horizontally like a grid

3. Alternate the weave for a layered texture

4. Align bars with gaps for clarity

5. Tie both laces at the top or tuck neatly

Zig and Bar Hybrid

1. Use one lace to form standard horizontal bars

2. With the second lace, create diagonal zigzag paths across those bars

3. Weave over and under as needed to build the pattern

4. Keep spacing consistent for best visual balance

5. Tie off or tuck ends based on the finish you want

Dual Color Mirror

1. Choose two laces in different colors

2. Lace one color up the left side and one up the right

3. Match the pattern and spacing exactly on both sides

4. Let the two colors meet in the middle

5. Tie both laces together at the top for a finished look

Interior Lace Display

Follow these steps to lace your shoes with interior lace display:

1. Thread the working lace through internal eyelets for support

2. Use a second lace on the outer eyelets for decoration

3. Weave the outer lace into patterns like straight bars or diamonds

4. Leave the inner lace tied and secure

5. Tuck or show off the outer lace as needed

Asymmetric Pattern

1. Choose two different lacing styles

2. Use one style on the left shoe and a different one on the right

3. Keep spacing and tightness consistent

4. Use matching lace colors or mix them

5. Tie both shoes comfortably but let the contrast stay visible

Layered Lace Overlay

Steps to add a layered lace design to your shoes:

1. Lace the thicker lace first using any base pattern

2. Take a thinner lace and layer it over the same eyelets

3. Create accents like loops, zigzags, or mini braids

4. Make sure both laces stay flat

5. Tie both together or separately for your final look

Conclusion

Now you’ve seen 60 cool ways to lace shoes. So go ahead, try a few. Change them up. Mix styles. You’ll be surprised how something as simple as lacing can totally upgrade your shoes.

Your sneakers don’t need to be new. They just need a new lacing style!