7 Awe-Inspiring Converse Lace Patterns That Add Style & Spring to Your Step

Converse manufacturers some of the most recognizable sneakers in the world, such as the Chuck Taylor All-Star and the One Star Pro. 

They’re iconic skate shoes, but they’re also renowned for their casual look – as they work with just about any outfit. 

You can try out different lace patterns to add extra style and comfort to your Converse sneakers. Most people aren’t aware, but how you lace your shoes dramatically impacts how they look, feel, and perform. 

For instance, if you want to add extra visual flair to your high tops, you could lace an intricate pattern into them, like a lightning bolt, snake, or bow tie. 

Other lacing patterns space things out to relieve tension in specific areas of the foot, which is ideal for those with heel spurs and plantar fasciitis. 

Do you know any lacing patterns other than the traditional criss-cross method?

You might be missing out on many new styles that you can try without spending a dime. That’s why we put together this list of 7 astonishing Converse lace patterns that anyone can learn.      

1. Sawblade Lacing 

Do you love your Converse Chuck Taylors even though you ordered one size too large?

Then you’ll love the sawblade lacing technique. Not only does it look cool, but it tightens the alignment on the sides of the shoe for a better fit. 

• As a result, this lacing method can modify the fit of a shoe that’s too big. 
• It also provides a unique look where one-half of the laces are tucked diagonally behind straight bar laces. 

Here’s how to lace it up:

• Start by running one lace straight across on the outside and in through the bottom eyelets. 
• Run the left lace straight up on the inside to hide it, and then straight across on the eyelet above. 
• The right lace runs diagonally on the inside to the left and then straight across on the outside. 
• Repeat the process until one end reaches the eyelet on the top-left. 
• Run the end across on the inside and out through the top-right eyelet. 

To make your shoes fit better, align the laces that run diagonally with the side of your shoe that feels loose. Whenever you tighten the shoe, the diagonal ends will pull the side of the shoe inwards, cinching the fit.  

2. Gap Lacing 

If you have heel spurs, plantar fasciitis, or frequent foot pain, the gap lacing method is what you need. 

With it, you can skip over the sets of eyelets that rest above the most sensitive areas of your feet. You may want to skip eyelets toward the front of the shoe where your toes are, in the middle, or the back toward the heel. 

Either way, this lacing method will likely relieve the tension in those sensitive areas to provide a more comfortable fit for your Converse sneakers. Here’s what you need to do:

• Run the laces straight across on the outside and in through both bottom eyelets. 
• For each set of eyelets, hold the ends up and ‘cross them over’ through the opposite eyelets. 
• Leave gaps wherever you don’t want the shoe to get too tight. 
• Keep running the laces up the shoe, creating crossovers at key points, until the lacing is complete. 

As you can see, this is a very straightforward method that’s easy to do. For this reason, it also comes in handy if you’re in a rush to get out the door and don’t want to waste too much time lacing your shoes. 

3. The Non-Lace

This lacing pattern is unique in that it effectively hides the laces in the shoe’s middle. It’s a cool look that will have your friends guessing how you achieved it.

It’s ideal if you enjoy slipping in and out of your shoes without having to retie them each time. It also provides a very loose fit, which can be a good or bad thing, depending on your preferences.

If tight shoes make your feet sore, this could be your ideal lacing method. Another lacing method is recommended if you prefer a more snug fit and don’t want your shoes flying off your feet while running. 

Here’s how to do the non-lace:

• Start by running the laces straight across on the inside and out through both of the bottom eyelets. 
• Run both ends on the inside all the way up until you reach the top of the shoe. 

While it may appear complicated, it’s actually quite simple. Instead of running the laces through the eyelets, you just run them all the way up the sides instead. 

Since you aren’t using much lace length, you’ll have longer loose ends than normal. To remedy this, you can either choose to use shorter shoelaces, or you can tuck the loose ends underneath the horizontal lace on the bottom of the shoe.   

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4. DNA Lacing 

You’ll enjoy the DNA lacing method if you prefer a tighter fit that will lead to less wear and tear. 

What’s that?

It gets its name from the fact that the laces form a double helix, much like the structure of human DNA. 

The look is both decorative and practical, as the design reduces friction in the shoe, making tightening and loosening it far easier and less damaging. 

The laces pull at an angle when you tighten them, causing there to be less friction between the laces and shoe flaps. It also prevents the laces from overlapping each other. Here’s how to do it:

• Start straight across at the bottom, but there’s a catch. Run the left end out through the bottom-left and the right end in through the bottom-right. 
• Run the right end up on the inside diagonally and out through the next set of eyelets. 
• The left end does the same thing on the other side, going up diagonally and out through the next set of eyelets.
• Repeat the process until you reach the top of the shoe and the lacing is complete. 

This Converse lace pattern provides an awe-inspiring ‘spiral’ look that takes on a 3D look. It’s a great way to make your shoes look cool while extending their lifespan, so it’s a lacing method everyone should learn. 

5. Crossfire Lacing

The crossfire is one of the coolest ways to lace Converse shoes and also one of the most complicated. 

Yet, if you’re going for impressive visuals, you’ll want to spend the time it takes to master this method. 

While it looks incredible, it’s a bit tricky to tighten. For this reason, it scores low on the practicality side of things. Despite this, it’s one of the coolest and most unique looks you can lace into your shoes so that it can be worth it. 

Pro tip: This method works best for low-top sneakers because it is tricky to tighten. It’s not recommended for high-top sneakers, but you can still do it if you want to. 

The pattern is essentially three large Xs in the back, with two small Xs in front. Here are the steps you need to take to achieve the crossfire look:

• Go straight across on the outside and in through the bottom eyelets. 
• On the inside, cross the ends and then skip three sets of eyelets. 
• Cross the ends on the outside this time, and run the laces through the set of eyelets directly below. 
• Repeat this pattern of three up on the inside and one down on the outside until you reach the top. 

The main thing you have to get used to here is skipping sets of eyelets on the inside. Once you get that down, you shouldn’t have any trouble lacing the crossfire. While it is a bit difficult to tighten/loosen, it’s easier if you tighten the shoe with the top X and loosen it with the bottom X.   

6. Cold War Lacing 

Next is a special pattern taught to CIA operatives during the Cold War to use for ‘covert signaling.’ 

They would arrange the crossovers on their laces in specific ways to send messages to other operatives in the field. Pretty neat, huh?

You can use this method, even if you aren’t a government spy. It looks cool and provides a tight fit, which is a plus. Here’s how to lace it:

• Go straight across on the outside and in through both bottom eyelets. 
• Cross the ends on the inside, and feed them out through the higher set of eyelets.
• Run the left end diagonally on the inside and then straight through the outside. 
• You do the same for the right end but at a much steeper angle. 
• Alternate both methods on the left and right until the lacing is complete. 

That’s all it takes to lace your shoes like a CIA spy. 

7. Zoned Lacing 

Lastly, this technique involves separating the laces into two ‘zones’, with empty space in between. It’s an excellent, highly customizable method, as you can use various lacing methods to achieve each ‘zone.’ 

To do it, you need two pairs of shoelaces for each shoe. 

It will help you regulate the comfort of your shoe, as you can tighten and loosen each zone independently from one another. 

That means you can leave the top or bottom a little looser if you have sensitivity or foot pain in those areas. Here’s how to do it:

• Start with two pairs of shoelaces, with one pair half the length of the original pair. 
• Go straight across on the outside and out through the inside on the bottom. 
• At each eyelet, cross the ends, feed them through the inside, and pull them out through the next set of eyelets above. Repeat until you reach the middle of the shoe. 
• Leave the next set of eyelets empty and lace in the second pair of laces above. 
• Repeat the same lacing technique as before until you reach the top. 

For each zone, you can use different lacing techniques. For example, you could make Cold War lacing on the bottom and DNA lacing on top. 

Final Thoughts: Lace Converse Shoes In a Variety of Ways

Those are seven stylish and practical Converse lace patterns you can use at any time. While learning new lace patterns may seem intimidating at first, it’s really not that difficult. 

Once you lace your shoes a certain way more than a few times, it will become second nature. 

What’s your favorite way to lace your Converse sneakers? We’d love to hear from you so drop us a line! 

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