Create an over under lacing pattern that eases tightening and loosening of the laces. If you have an even number of eyelet pairs, start by feeding the center of your lace down through the bottom two holes straight across the tongue. Cross the laces on the inside of the shoe and feed the laces up through the holes on either side of the tongue, forming an "X." Cross the laces on the outside of the shoe and push the laces down through the holes on either side of the tongue to form another "X" on the outside of the shoe. Continue until you reach the top holes and tie normally.

You should end with an "X" on the inside of the shoe. If you have an odd number of eyelet pairs, start with your laces straight across the bottom holes on the inside of the shoe and continue alternating to the top, again ending with an "X" on the inside of the shoe before tying normally.

If you are looking for a very neat, simple lacing look for your shoes, try this easy version of straight lacing so you end up with bars straight across your shoes without any of the typical "X" lacing visible. Straight lacing works best with an even number of eyelet pairs, and you will have to practice a bit to end up with even laces at the top of your shoe. Start by passing the lace down through the bottom two holes, straight across the shoe. You will need to leave more lace on the right than the left side. Pass the left side of the shoelace all the way up to the top eyelet hole on the left on the inside of the shoe and pull through. Pass the right side of the shoelace up through the second highest hold on the right side. Cross the lace straight across the shoe and push it down through the second highest hole on the left. Pass the lace under the shoe and pull it up through the third highest hole on the left side. Cross the lace straight across the shoe and down through the third highest hole on the right. Continue alternating with the same lace until you pull it up through the highest hole on the right. Tie with the lace you passed all the way up the left side.

Double helix lacing is fast and simple to do, and it reduces friction to increase the life of your laces. Start by crossing the middle of your lace straight across the bottom two eyelets of your shoes on either side of the tongue, with the right side going down into the bottom hole on the right and the left side of the lace passing up through the bottom hole on the left. Cross the lace on the right under the shoe and up through the second highest hole on the left. Cross the lace coming from the bottom left hole over the shoe and down through the second highest hole on the right. Continue alternating laces until you reach the top holes. All of the laces on the inside of the shoe should be angled in the same direction, while the laces on the outside of the shoe are all angled in the opposite direction.