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Straight (Bar) Lacing
Often referred to as "Fashion Lacing" or "Lydiard Lacing"
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This variation of Straight Lacing eliminates the underlying diagonals, which looks neater plus relieves pressure on
the top ridge of the foot.
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Faint sections are underneath
This pic of red "Chuck Taylors" with Straight (Bar) Lacing was sent to me by Tayler K.
More Lacing Photos |
Lacing Technique:
1. The lace runs straight across the bottom (grey section) and the ends are fed into both bottom eyelets.
2. One end of the lace (yellow end) runs straight up the right side, emerges and runs straight across the second
set of eyelets.
3. Both ends now run straight up the left side, each skipping one eyelet before emerging two eyelets higher up.
4. Continue running both ends across the shoe, then straight up two eyelets at a time, until one end reaches the top.
5. The other end then runs straight across the second last set of eyelets, then straight up to the top.
Features:
Comfortable
Even number of eyelet pairs = Neat look
Odd number of eyelet pairs = Messy look
Comparative Length = 81%
Laced area uses less (about −19%)
Shorter laces needed (about −9%)
Lengthens lace ends (about +17%)
More details
NOTE:
Straight (Bar) Lacing only works correctly on shoes with even numbers of eyelet pairs (eg. 6 pairs =
12 eyelets). This is because an even number of passes across the shoe is needed for the lace ends to meet and to
be tied together. Shoes with an odd number of eyelet pairs (eg. 7 pairs = 14 eyelets) finish with the lace
ends diagonally opposite each other at the top of the shoe.
Despite this limitation, Straight (Bar) Lacing is very popular. It's therefore not surprising that
people have developed all sorts of ways to get it to work on shoes with odd numbers of eyelet pairs (eg. the grey
Puma sneakers at left).
See below for some other workarounds. |
Sports / Military Advice:
Like other straight lacing methods, Straight (Bar) Lacing has an additional benefit for sporting or military
use: The upper horizontal sections of shoelace can be quickly cut through with a knife or scissors in order to more
easily remove a boot from a broken, sprained or otherwise injured ankle or foot. I've been told that Straight
(Bar) Lacing is the method of choice for the Canadian Armed Forces on shoes and ankle boots (though not on
combat boots).
Note that most military forces have regulations for just about everything, so I'd recommend that military personnel
check before they adopt this, or any other, possible non-regulation lacing method! |
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Odd Workarounds
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As mentioned above, Straight (Bar) Lacing only works correctly on shoes with even numbers of eyelet
pairs. On shoes with odd numbers of eyelet pairs, the ends don't meet at the top, instead ending up
diagonally across from each other. Here's several common workarounds, using a shoe with seven pairs of eyelets
as an example.
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Ends Don't Meet
Firstly, you can accept the fact that the lace ends don't meet and simply tuck them into the shoe.
For a tighter fit, you could also knot each lace end so that they don't pull through the eyelets, then tuck them in.
However, those knots can feel uncomfortable.
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Skip One Eyelet Pair
Another solution is to simply not use either the top or the bottom pair of eyelets. Using only an even number of
eyelet pairs avoids the odd limitation.
It's also possible to skip a pair of eyelets somewhere in the middle, which breaks the lacing into two sections.
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One Diagonal
Use a single diagonal crossover at either the top or bottom of the lacing. At the top, it's less noticeable due to
the bows & shoelace ends. At the bottom, you can also run the diagonal around the inside of the tongue, making it
invisible at the expense of some slight discomfort.
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One Crossover
Instead of trying to hide a single diagonal, this alternative makes a feature out of a single crossover, similar
to the look of Over Under Lacing. Once again, this crossover can be added at the top, bottom or somewhere in the
middle of the lacing.
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Cut and Tie Off
Similar to the single diagonal shown above, the shoelace can be cut and the ends tied off on opposite sides of the
shoe. In this diagram, the knotted ends are hidden underneath the bottom left eyelet and the second from bottom
right eyelet.
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Double Overlap
This unusual solution works by doubling up the laces through the second from bottom pair of eyelets. Because it's
near the bottom of the shoe, any difficulty with tightening this section is not so noticeable as the shoe doesn't
need to open wide at that point.
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Across & Back
The second from bottom straight section runs across left-to-right (on top), then right-to-left (underneath),
passing under itself on the left side. The underlying section is fairly well hidden by the straight section on
top.
This is the preferred method for dress shoes with three pairs of eyelets, with the lacing running across & back
under the middle pair of eyelets.
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Twice Through Top Eyelet
Lace the shoe normally, then at the top of the shoe, feed both ends out through the same top eyelet (in this case,
the top-left). Feed one end across and through the opposite eyelet (in this case, the top-right), then back again
to meet the other end in the middle. This double-crossover is fairly well hidden once the laces are knotted.
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This list of workarounds is by no means complete. Once you accept that there's no perfect solution and that you
must compromise in some way, it's up to you what you throw into the lacing to get it to work, whether it be a
visible crossover or gap, or something invisible that may be uncomfortable.
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This page last updated: 27-Nov-2008. Copyright © 2003-2008 by
Ian W. Fieggen. All rights reserved.
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