How to Lace Skate Shoes for Comfort and Longer-Lasting Laces (2026)

Why Lacing Matters for Skating

How you lace your skate shoes affects comfort, board feel and how long your laces survive. Ollies and kickflips scrape the side of the shoe across grip tape, which saws through exposed laces, especially near the toe. The right lacing pattern can hide laces where they're most vulnerable and give you the snug fit you want. Here are five methods, plus tricks to make laces last. Need new shoes? See skate shoes.

Lacing Methods at a Glance

1. Criss-Cross Lacing

1. Thread the lace straight across the bottom eyelets, from the outside in, so both ends come up evenly.
2. Cross the ends and thread each one up through the next eyelet on the opposite side.
3. Repeat to the top and tie.

Secure and familiar, but the crosses sit on top where grip tape can catch them.

2. Bar (Straight) Lacing

1. Thread the lace straight across the bottom eyelets from the outside in.
2. Take one end straight up inside the shoe and come out at the next eyelet on the same side, then cross it straight over to the opposite eyelet.
3. Take the other end up two eyelets on the inside and straight across.
4. Continue alternating until both ends reach the top.

Laces run horizontally across the top and diagonally underneath, so less lace is exposed on the outside of the shoe.

3. Skip the Bottom Eyelet

Leave the lowest one or two eyelets on your ollie side empty and start lacing higher up. Less lace sits near the toe, where most grip-tape wear happens.

4. Hidden Knot

1. Lace with bar or criss-cross as usual.
2. Instead of tying a bow on top, tie a small knot and tuck the ends inside the shoe, or tie the bow on the inside of the tongue.

A clean look with nothing dangling, though it takes longer to loosen.

5. Loose Top Lacing

Lace snugly through the lower and middle eyelets for board feel, then leave the top one or two eyelets looser or unused for ankle movement. Many skaters prefer this feel.

Make Your Laces Last Longer

• Thicker laces: round or thick flat laces last longer than thin ones.
• Waxed laces: slide better and resist fraying.
• Protected eyelets: some skate shoes hide the lowest eyelets inside the upper.
• Shoe Goo or a lace protector: add a layer over the toe area of the ollie side.
• Keep spares: a spare pair in your bag saves a session.

How Tight Should Skate Shoes Be?

Snug enough that your heel doesn't lift and your foot doesn't slide, but not so tight that it pinches or limits ankle flex. A secure fit helps you feel the board, which helps with tricks; see how to ollie and how to kickflip.

Choosing Laces

Keep a spare pair in your bag, and consider lace protectors or shoes with hidden lace loops if you shred laces every week.

Common Mistakes

More skate tips: beginner skateboard tricks and how to clean grip tape.

Frequently Asked Questions