How to Lace Vans Shoes

Vans skate shoes can be laced up in a variety of ways, including the basic cross-lacing, or the clean-looking bar-style of lacing. You can learn both methods, as well as some basic tips for lacing up your Vans and taking care of them.

Method 1
Bar-Lacing Vans
1
Count the number of eyelet pairs on your shoe. Vans with an even number of eyelets can be cross-laced. if your shoes have an odd number, the basic principle will still apply but you will have to adjust your technique somewhat.^[1]
2
Insert each end of the shoelace downward through one of the bottom two eyelets. The shoelace should now form a bar across the bottom with the laces going inwards. Keep the left lace on the left side and the right lace on the right side.
3
Feed the right lace underneath the shoe so that it pops out of the second eyelet on the right side. Hiding the inner lacing is what gives this technique its unique look.
- Whether you go by your right or the shoe's right doesn't matter. Make sure you stay consistent and the end result will be the same.
4
Feed the left lace underneath the shoe. It should pop up out of the third eyelet on the left side. You should now have an empty eyelet on the left side between the original bar and the emerging lace.
5
Cross the right lace over to the left side and insert it downward through the second eyelet. You should now have two bars in your lacing and both laces should be on the left side.
6
Cross the lace emerging from the third eyelet to the right side. Insert it downwards through the third eyelet. You should now have three bars in your lacing and each lace should be on a different side of the shoe.

7
Continue repeating this pattern. Feed the left lace underneath the shoe so that it pops up out of the fifth eyelet on the left side. Then, feed the right lace underneath the shoe so that it pops up out of the sixth eyelet on the right side. Cross each lace over to the corresponding eyelet on the other side to form new bars.
- If your shoes have more than six eyelet pairs, repeat as necessary, continuing to reverse sides after every two bars are completed.

Method 2
Cross-Lacing Vans

1
Insert each end of the shoelace downward through the bottom eyelets. Push both ends of the shoelaces through the eyelets closest to the toe of the sneaker. The shoelace should now form a bar across the bottom with the laces going inwards. Pull the ends of the laces up over the bar and then downward toward the toe.^[2]
2
Cross the right lace over to the left side. Insert it down through the second eyelet going up the shoe. The right lace should now be crossing the tongue of the shoe with left lace emerging from between the bar and the cross-lace. Pull the crossed lace to the left (away from the shoe) to get it out of the way.
- It's usually easiest to do this with the shoes off and the sneaker facing you. Whether you go by your right or the shoe's right doesn't matter. Just stay consistent and the end result will be the same.
3
Cross the left lace over to the right side. Insert it downward through the second eyelet up on that side, just as you did on the other side. You should now have a bar and two cross-laces in your lacing. Pull the newly-crossed lace to the right (away from the shoe) to get it out of the way.

4
Continue lacing in this pattern. Start by crossing the lace on the right-hand side over to the left side and downward through the eyelet, making sure that the other lace now emerges from between two crossings. Pull the newly-crossed lace to the left to get it out of the way, then cross the left lace over to the right side. Repeat until the shoe is completely laced.
- Lacing the shoes this way ensures that cross-laces going in one direction always dominate the cross-laces going in the other. When the time comes to lace your other shoe, be sure to reverse the process so that your laces mirror each other.

Method 3
Lacing Basics

1
Keep your shoelaces from twisting. The straight, flat-laced look is classic Vans, so don't let your laces get sloppy or it won't look right. If you want your vans to look crisp and new, keep the laces as straight as possible.
- Every time you pull your laces through the eyelets, make sure to flatten them out and keep them from twisting up.^[3] Go slowly.
- Don't over-tighten the laces, which can cause them to bunch up and look uneven, if they're actually pretty straight.
2
Take your shoes off and turn them to face you. It's a lot easier to lace up your sneakers when they're on the ground, with the toe facing you, instead of the other way around. If you want them to look right, take them off and turn them around.
3
Use thick white laces. Vans white laces are usually the best laces for Vans, but any variety of white sneaker lace would be fine. In general, skate laces are pretty puffy and white, whereas some basketball laces can be really thin and cylindrical, or other sneaker laces can be kind of lighter.
- You can use any color, of course, but new white laces are the most commonly associated with Vans.
4
Change your laces regularly. Having a fresh set of laces always looks cool. It's a good idea to change your laces every couple of weeks, especially if you're skating regularly and breaking laces, or scuffing them up.

Change up the way you lace your shoes. To get the most life out of your shoes, it's a good idea to alternate between the styles you use when you lace your shoes, so that they won't wear from repeated lacings.

If you bar-lace your shoes, cross-lace them every now and then to keep them looking new
If you cross-laces your Vans, change the direction of the crosses, so that the right side isn't always over the left, or vice versa. This will help to keep the shoes from wearing unevenly.