How to Lace Dunks in 9 Creative, Fun, & Fantastic Ways: Your Style, Your Way

Do you want to make your Nike Dunks look even more stylish? 

• Try lacing them in a different way, and you can achieve stunning patterns and designs that will alter the look of your Dunks. 
• Beyond adding intrigue, certain lacing styles have practical value, such as freeing up your toes if your shoes fit a little too tight at the tip. 

We’re all taught the importance of tying our shoes from a very young age, but little to no insight is provided on the impact the lacing style has on comfort and support. 

Because of this, most people aren’t aware that there are different ways to tie their sneakers – causing them to miss out on all the benefits of other lacing methods. 

We think that’s a shame because we want you to get the most value out of your high-end SB Dunks (and your shoelaces, too). 

That’s why we put together this guide that will teach you how to lace dunks in 9 unique ways. Read on to discover how to add style, sophistication, and comfort, all by altering your lacing method.  

1. Skip Lacing 

Do you have a high midfoot? If so, you may experience foot pain or under pronation when you wear your Dunks laced with the traditional criss-cross method. 

The remedy?

Skip a few eyelets when lacing your Dunks, especially in the areas where you want more room. 

If you’re having discomfort in the arch of your foot, skip the eyelet above it when lacing your shoe. That can go a long way toward preventing pain, under pronation, and other foot problems. 

It’s up to you how many eyelets you want to skip, but bear in mind that skipping too many will make your shoes too loose – and they may fall off. 

To find the right balance, experiment by skipping an eyelet and then trying on your shoes to see how it feels. Keep playing around until you find a setup that gets rid of your discomfort yet keeps your feet secure inside your shoes. 

2. V-Lacing 

Traditional criss-cross lacing forms Xs in your laces, and left-right lacing transforms them into Vs that alternately point left and right. 

It’s a solid decorative look that’s sure to draw attention, as everyone will want to know what you did to achieve it. Here are the steps you need to take to achieve it:

• Start by going straight across at the bottom – with a catch. You need to feed the left end out through the bottom-left eyelet and the right end in through the bottom-right eyelet.
• Going up, cross the ends of each lace and feed them through the eyelets directly above (don’t skip one). 
• At the top, run both laces under the sides and then out through the top eyelets. 

That’s all it takes to achieve this super cool-looking lace style, which you can easily use as an alternative to the standard criss-cross method. 

3. Locomotive Lacing 

Do you have trouble with your Nike Dunks staying on your feet while running or walking at a brisk pace?

Then you’ll benefit from the train track lacing style, as it’s notorious for providing an extremely tight hold on the foot. 

Not only that, but it looks super cool, as the laces do end up resembling train tracks. Here’s what you need to do:

• Start by threading the laces through the bottom eyelet from left to right. 
• Run both ends across on the outside and then back on the inside through the already occupied eyelets (double lacing). 
• Continue this process until the lacing is complete. 

Since you’re doubling up each eyelet, this style holds very tight. Also, you’ll want to use thinner laces (like our rope laces) to achieve this look.

Why is that?

It’s because you’ll have to run the lace through each eyelet twice, which means thicker laces won’t fit. 

4. Horizontal Lacing 

In this technique, your laces run straight across in horizontal lines. It provides an appealing symmetrical look that will make your Dunks look entirely different. 

The kicker?

This lacing style will also relieve pressure from the upper ridge of the foot. So if you’ve been struggling with nagging pain in that region, straight bars is the lacing method to use. Here’s how to do it:

• Run your laces through the bottom two eyelets from left to right.
• Both ends should now be running through the right side of the shoe. 
• Each lace skips an eyelet and then runs right to left, forming two more straight lines.
• Repeat the process on each side until the lacing is complete. 

It’s a simple lacing method that won’t take you very long to learn, plus it looks great and provides support for the upper foot. 

Note: This technique only works on Nike Dunks that have an even number of eyelets. Most Dunks have 8 eyelets, so this should work. Yet, if your Dunks have 7 eyelets, you’ll need to vary this technique. 

For Dunks with 7 eyelets, the process starts the same as above until you reach the top. You’ll have two laces that you need to thread through one eyelet, which presents a problem. 

To solve this, on the 6th eyelet, you’ll need to run one lace across on the outside and then back on the inside again, tucking the excess shoelace underneath. 

5. ‘Hashtag’ Lacing 

Are you constantly using hashtags on Twitter and Instagram? Then you’ll likely get a kick out of lacing your shoes to resemble a hashtag. 

It’s another method that’s purely visual, as it doesn’t offer much in the way of comfort or support. 

Still, it’s an impressive pattern to get down, and it’s sure to turn heads. People will have to do a double take to confirm that your shoes are indeed laced to resemble hashtags. Here are the steps you need to take to achieve this style:

• Begin by threading the laces through the bottom, straight across on the inside, and out through the bottom eyelets.
• Cross the ends, so they’re each facing a different direction. I.e., the right lace should face left, and vice-versa. 
• Thread each lace through the eyelet three spots above on the opposite side. I.e., the right lace threads through the eyelet that’s three eyelets higher on the left side. Repeat the same process for the left lace. 
• Run the ends down on the inside and thread them through one eyelet below. 
• Repeat the process until you reach the top of the shoe. Feed the ends under the sides and out through the eyelets on the top to complete. 

It may be a bit complicated, but once you get the steps down, it’s a powerful lacing style to have in your toolkit. 

6. Peak & Valley Lacing 

If you prefer a minimalist look but still want a tight, firm feel for your shoe, you need to incorporate the ‘peaks and valleys’ lacing technique. 

This is a reserved style that looks great, as the loops form ‘peaks and valleys’ around each other. 

It stands in stark contrast to ‘busier’ looks like the train tracks and waffle lacing styles. 

Here’s how to achieve it:

• Start by threading the laces straight across on the outside and in through the bottom eyelets. 
• Run the left lace straight up on the inside and then straight across on the outside through the adjacent eyelet – ‘peaking’ in the middle to resemble a hill. 
• Run the right lace up on the inside, and skip an eyelet, so it emerges two eyelets up.
• Run the right lace straight across on the outside, dipping in the middle to form a ‘valley’ that rests under the ‘hill’ you made earlier. 
• Repeat the process all the way up the shoe. 

It’s a decorative style that tightens up easily, so it’s a great style to use if you’re doing a bit of walking. 

7. Waffle Fries Lacing

This is another style that holds very tight, so it’s ideal if your Nike Dunks fit a little loose. 

Beyond that, it’s a fun and intricate pattern that resembles waffle fries, so it’s a plus if you’re a fan of those. 

Like the train tracks method, this technique is best suited for thinner, flatter shoelaces – as the laces have to run through each eyelet twice. 

Here’s how to ‘do the waffle’:

• Start by threading the laces straight across on the inside and out through the bottom eyelets. 
• Cross both ends on the outside and skip two eyelet spots above the laces. 
• Run them straight down on the inside and pull them out through the eyelets directly below. 
• Keep the pattern going up the entire shoe – two steps up, one step back. 

While the pattern looks complex, the steps are quite simple, so it shouldn’t take you long to get this technique down pat.  

8. Twister Lacing 

This one produces a truly gnarly pattern, with vertical knots instead of criss crosses. It will tighten up the shoe and provide ample support for your foot, too. 

Here’s how to achieve the style:

• Start by going straight across on the inside and out through the eyelets on the bottom.  
• Before you continue threading the laces through to the opposite side, give them one complete twist first. 
• Feed the ends through the sides and out through the next pair of eyelets. 
• Repeat the pattern until you reach the top of the shoe. 

For this technique, thicker laces tend to work better (like our leather laces), as they accentuate that the laces are twisted together instead of crossing over or laying on top of one another.

9. Roman Numeral Lacing 

The last style we’ll cover features a design that resembles Roman numerals, like ‘X’ and ‘I,’ which provide a neat decorative look. 

Here are the steps you need to take:

1. Run the laces straight across and out through the bottom eyelets. 
2. On the outside, cross the ends and feed them through the next set of eyelets. 
3. Run the left lace straight up on the inside and then out through the next eyelet above. Then run it straight across on the outside and in through the adjacent eyelet. 
4. Run both laces through the inside and skip an eyelet (emerge two eyelets up). 
5. Cross the ends again and repeat step 2. 
6. Run them straight up on the inside, skip an eyelet, and emerge two eyelets up. 
7. The bottom lace runs straight through the outside, in through the opposite eyelet, then straight up on the inside and out through the top. 

It’s a complicated technique (maybe the hardest on this list), but the end result is worth it. 

Final Takeaways: Lacing Dunks

Those are our top picks for unique ways to lace your Nike Dunks. 

If you’re going to re-lace your Nike Dunks, check out our luxury, premium rope, leather, and wax, velvet, diamond, glow in the dark, and other laces. 

They’re specifically designed to fit most major sneaker brands, and our premium materials make them last 3x longer than other brands, so don’t wait to try them out today.