How to Lace Huaraches in 7 Distinctive, Luxurious Ways

The Nike Air Huarache is one of the most stylish and comfortable trainers on the market, which is apparent at first glance. 

They’re bold and provide fantastic support for your feet. In fact, they were one of the first running shoes to feature plush soles that conform to the shape of your feet. 

Yet, not everyone’s feet are the same – so you may have ill-fitting Huaraches that you think look amazing but hurt to wear. 

If that’s the case, or if you just want to try out a new look for your Huaraches, you should try out a new lacing pattern. 

It’s surprising how much lacing patterns are connected to foot health. For example, if you have heel spurs or plantar fasciitis, using lacing methods that are loose in critical areas will help relieve the pain. 

Other lacing methods are purely visual, such as patterns resembling waffle grids, hashtags, and bolts of lightning. 

The type of shoelace you use matters, too, especially if you want to achieve a snug, comfortable fit that achieves maximum style. Our LoopKing™ luxury leather, rope, waxed, and many other styles of laces are perfect for a Nike Air Huarache pair. 

So if you want to add some sick style, stick around to learn how to lace Huaraches in 7 outstanding ways.   

1. The Lightning Bolt 

If you want a terrific way to lace your shoes that you can achieve quickly, the lightning bolt is for you. 

One half of the lace runs diagonally from top to bottom, resembling a lightning bolt, while the other half zig-zags between it. 

It’s a standout look that’s great for drawing attention on first dates, at parties, and when hanging out with friends. 

Having said that, this style is a bit too loose for jogging/running, so it’s not recommended for that (see runner’s loop a bit further down the page for an adequate style). 

The loose fit is actually a good thing if you have wide feet, foot pain, or sensitivity in specific regions of your feet. Here’s how to lace up the lightning bolt:

• Run the lace straight across on the inside and out through the bottom outlets, so the laces face outside the shoe. 
• The left end runs from the bottom eyelet through the top-right eyelet diagonally. 
• Next is the tricky part; the right end will snake through the eyelets in a diagonal pattern. Start by running the right end diagonally up and in through the second eyelet on the left side. After that, run the lace straight up on the inside and out through the eyelet above. 
• This time, run the lace down and across on the outside through the eyelet beneath it on the right side. 
• Alternate between going up and over and down and over until the lacing is finished. 

The hardest part is getting the diagonal zig-zag pattern down, but once you do, you’re off to the races. You can lace this style in a minute or less with a little practice. 

2. Badge Lacing 

This technique provides an eccentric visual style replicating the chevrons you see on military and police uniforms. It looks cool and leaves a gap in the middle, relieving pressure on your foot. 

You can also alter where you choose to leave the gap to accommodate any sensitivity. 

This look is more formal and works well when you want to show that you mean business. You could be talking with a new client or heading out to a formal get-together/party. Here’s how to achieve the look:

• Run the lace straight across on the outside and through the bottom set of eyelets so that the laces face inside the shoe. 
• For the lower section, we’re going to use the traditional criss-cross method. All you do is cross the ends at each set of eyelets and pull them through the eyelet on the opposite side. 
• Once you get to just below the middle of the shoe (or wherever you want to leave a gap), stop the criss-cross method. Run the laces up on the inside of the shoe for as many eyelets as you want to skip. 
• For the upper section, you’re going to invert the pattern on the bottom. Cross the ends at each set of eyelets, and then feed them under the sides and out through the higher pair of eyelets. Repeat until you reach the top. 

It takes a little getting used to, but this method’s ‘cool factor’ is worth it. 

3. Train Tracks

The train tracks method looks neat and holds exceptionally tight, making it great for running/walking/hiking on paved trails. 

It gets its name from the fact that the pattern looks like a pair of train tracks, which is unique and stylish. This method ties so tight because the lace runs through each eyelet twice. 

As such, you’ll want to ensure you have a pair of laces long enough to pull off the technique. Since the method uses so much lace, you’ll have short loose ends to deal with, which can be a plus. 

It’s also a good idea to use thinner laces here, such as rope laces. That will ensure they can loop through each eyelet twice without getting stuck. Here’s how to lace up this method:

• Run the lace straight across the inside and through the bottom eyelets, so the laces face outside the shoe. 
• Each end goes straight up inside and out through the next set of eyelets above. 
• Next, continue straight across on the inside and out through the eyelets on the other side that are already occupied. 
• Repeat this process until you reach the top of the shoe. 

A bit of a drawback is this pattern is a bit difficult to tighten. Since the eyelets are packed with so much lace, you really need to pull hard to get the shoe to tighten up. 

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4. Hashtag Lacing

Instead of using hashtags on social media, why not use them on your shoes? This technique resembles a hashtag symbol when complete, which both looks cool and is styling. 

This look is strictly decorative as it adds no practical features like a better fit or pain reduction. Still, it provides so much extra style that it doesn’t really matter. 

You’re sure to attract attention to your shoes with this lacing style, making it ideal for dates, parties, hangouts, and more. Here’s how to lace it up:

• Run the lace straight across the outside and in through the bottom eyelets so that the laces lay on the inside of the shoe. 
• Cross both ends of the lace, skip three sets of eyelets, and feed them through the opposite sides to form a giant X. 
• Run both ends of the lace down on the inside and out through the eyelets directly below. 
• Repeat the same pattern of three eyelets up and one eyelet down until you reach the top of the shoe. 

Like the train tracks method, this technique is harder to tighten. Instead of each eyelet being full, its difficulty comes from how spread out the laces are in this method. Yet, the visual flair is the goal here, and it knocks that factor out of the park. 

5. Runner’s Loop 

If you only learn how to lace Huaraches one way, the runner’s loop should be it. 

Why’s that?

It’s because the Nike Air Huarache was made as a running shoe, and the runner’s loop is the perfect lacing style/tying method for running long distances. 

It’s an old trick for adding extra tightening strength to your shoes, and you can use it for practically any lacing method. 

For the purposes of this guide, we’ll use the standard criss-cross method for the eyelets until the top of the shoe, where the runner’s loop comes into play. 

It will keep your feet firmly inside your shoes to prevent them from slipping around and forming blisters. It also will not come undone while running, reducing your risk of tripping or falling. Here’s how to tie a runner’s loop:

• Run the laces across on the inside and out through the bottom eyelets so that the laces face outside the shoe. 
• At each eyelet pair, cross the ends and run the lace through the eyelet on the opposite side (the right through the left eyelet and vice versa). 
• Once you reach the last eyelet pair, run the laces up on the outside and in through the top eyelets – creating small vertical loops. 
• Cross both ends and run them between the vertical loops on the set of eyelets below. 
• Return each end back to the middle to tie the shoe, tightening each set of verticals. 

This is the tightest and most secure way to tie your shoes, so be sure to use it before you set out on another long-distance run in your Huaraches. 

6. Deadstock Style 

Next is the deadstock knot, which is how shoes come tied from the manufacturer – hence the name. It’s a cool way to tie your shoes that replicates the special feeling you had when they were brand-new. 

The good news is it’s a simple technique to learn:

• Lace your shoes however you’d like until you reach the top. 
• Make an OK sign with your left hand. 
• Wrap the lace ends around your index and middle finger to form a large loop. 
• Feed the other part of the lace halfway through the loop. 
• Tighten the loop to finish the knot. 

That’s all it takes to achieve this cool-looking knot, so don’t hesitate to try it out.

7. Gapped Lacing

Last but not least, we have gapped lacing, which will relieve tension in critical areas of the foot. This is the ideal style if you have sensitive feet, bone spurs, or plantar fasciitis. 

It also looks fantastic, and you can try out two different lacing styles at once. For this guide, we’ll do two sections of the criss-cross method. Here’s how to lace it up:

• Start by running the lace across on the inside and out through the bottom eyelets so that the laces face the outside of the shoe. 
• Cross the ends at each set of eyelets, feed under the sides, and emerge through the next set of eyelets. Repeat until you reach the area where you want to leave a gap. 
• Run the ends straight up on the outside until you achieve a large enough gap. 
• Resume the criss-cross lacing until you reach the top. 

That’s all you have to do to leave intentional gaps in your lacing to give your feet a break. 

Final Thoughts: How to Lace Huaraches in 7 Distinctively Fashionable Ways

How you lace your shoes significantly impacts their visual appeal, comfort, and fit. If the standard criss-cross method isn’t cutting it for you anymore, try out any of the techniques you see above. 

And if you’d like some new premium, replacement laces, check out our gold-tipped selection.

Altering your lacing technique can relieve tension, add style, and make an ill-fitting shoe fit better. 

To make your Huaraches look and feel even better, don’t forget to use our luxury LoopKing™ laces. In particular, our leather and rope laces work perfectly for Huaraches, so don’t wait to order a pair today.