How To Lace Athletic Shoes

Sometimes even the right shoe doesn't seem to fit right. Fortunately, you may be able to accommodate a narrow heel, high/low arch, or wider foot by simply changing the way you lace your shoes. Try one of these lacing techniques to help your favorite athletic shoes deliver a secure, comfortable, and supportive fit.

• General Lacing Tips
• Narrow Heel or Foot
• Low Arches
• High Arches
• Wide Feet

General Lacing Tips

• Make sure your laces are loose before you slip into the shoes. Doing this maintains the integrity of the eyelets and heel.
• Tighten your laces from the bottom (toe end) to top (ankle end), tightening gradually at each set of eyelets.
• Remember that a shoe with more eyelets allows you to create a more custom fit with lacing.

Narrow Heel or Foot
	Follow a normal lacing pattern up to the last pair of holes. For narrow feet, buy shoes with eyelets that zig-zag up the placket. Tighten from the outer eyelets, pulling the body of the shoe towards the center. At the last hole, tighten the laces and thread into the last hole without criss-crossing. Do not pull the laces all the way through, but leave a loop on each side. Now cross the laces and thread them each through the loop on the other side before tightening and tying.
Low Arches
	See the "loop lacing" technique used for a narrow heel. Criss-cross lace shoes as normal halfway up the placket. Use loop lacing the rest of the way.
High Arches
	Begin lacing as normal, criss-crossing and stopping after the first set of holes. Thread your laces straight up each side, criss-crossing only before threading the last hole.
Wide Feet
	Thread laces through the first set of eyelets and then straight up each side without criss-crossing at all. Continue this way for two or three holes. Once you've passed the forefoot and can tighten without squeezing, begin criss-crossing and finish lacing as normal.

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