How to Lace Your Sneakers New York Style

There are numerous ways of lacing your sneakers. In fact, there are more than 40,000 paths for a shoelace to pass through two rows of six eyelets, according to mathematician Dr. Burkard Polster in a 2002 “New York Times” article. However, the most common and popular lacing techniques are standard American or New York, European and "shoe shop." The technique you use depends on your personal preference, as well as the length of your shoelaces. American/New York lacing is often the preferred method for comfort, because crossovers of the laces occur in the gaps on sides of the shoes and do not press on them.

Instructions

    • 1

      Run the shoelace across the bottom eyelets of the sneaker, inserting the ends of the lace through both bottom eyelets. The ends of the lace should be on top of the sneakers, with the lace centered so an even length extends from both sides.

    • 2

      Cross the ends over each other, and pass them under the opposite eyelets in the next row. Insert the lace ends through the eyelets and pull them out evenly.

    • 3

      Repeat Step 2 until both ends of the shoelace reach the top eyelets and extend out of them evenly.

    • 4

      Start tying the knot by passing the left lace over the right lace. Make a loop with the right lace. Circle the left lace in the back of your right loop, and pull you knot through the loop. This will make a reef knot, which -- according to “Runner’s World” magazine -- is the right way of tying sneakers for running and other physical activities.