When we buy a pair of shoes we don’t care about the laces. Rather than look for the design, style, and durability of the shoe. But for a running shoelace and lacing hacks are very important. If the shoes don’t fit properly, one might need lacing hacks to try.
A proper lacing style provides us the comfort we want while running. First, you need to make sure whether your shoes are too big or too small for your feet. 7 running shoe lacing hacks are given below, including the specific problems they can solve.
7 Hacks to Make Your Running Shoes More Comfortable
To make your running shoes more comfortable these hacks will be helpful. Some people with duck feet face the problem of choosing the right running shoes. If you are one of them to choose the best running shoes for duck feet, then these techniques will help you wear the shoes comfortably.
Take a look and learn how you can make your shoes way more comfortable.
Hack no. 1: Heel-Lock lacing:
This lacing style is also called marathon loop lacing. If you face heel slipping and excessive movement of the foot inside the shoe, then either your shoe is oversize or you are not properly lacing your shoes. If you oversize then get the proper shoes.
But despite proper shoes, if you are facing these problems, then you may try heel lock. This hack will prevent the heel from slipping giving less space inside the shoe, thus limiting the excessive movement.
For this hack start lacing in a crisscross pattern up to the second to the last eyelet. Then thread both parts of the lace through the last eyelet, the lace coming out on the inside of the shoe creating a loop between the last two eyelets on the outside.
Then insert both sides of the lace in a crisscross pattern through the loop created in the last two eyelets and pull tightly as much as you need. Then tie the knot as usual.
Heel slipping is one of the problems with the shoes one might face. But this lacing style can put pressure on the top of your foot. So, if you are covering long-distance try not to tighten the laces too much.
Hack No. 2: Parallel/ Straight Bar Lacing:
If you feel that your shoe is very tight, then you may change the shoe size or apply a parallel or straight bar hack. The hack is very easy. Unlace the shoe and keep the lace in the bottom eyelet on the right and the left side. Start lacing the shoes in a parallel design.
That is by skipping every next eyelet for the other side of the lace and running the lace-up alongside the eyelets so that extra pressure of criss-cross design can be avoided. Continue lacing this way until you have reached the top of the shoe.
Hack No. 3: Diagonal Lacing For Toenail Pressure/ Black Toenails:
If you often feel pain in your toes and experience black toenails, then be sure that either your shoe does not fit your foot or your lacing is not proper. If your shoe is in a fit size, then you have to lace it in a way so that your toe gets more space.
If your big toe is feeling squeezed then you can try this style. It will reduce the pressure on your big toe. For this, you have to keep one part of the lace 10 cm longer than the other.
Start lacing with the shorter part from the eyelet at the big toe stretching it crosswise to the top eyelet on the opposite side. And with the longer side criss-cross across all the eyelets. At last tie the lace as per necessity. Look at the picture to have an eye visual.
Hack No. 4: High Instep Lacing For High Instep/ High Midfoot:
The arch of your foot is the area between your heel and the ball of your foot. One may have high arches. Having high arches means that you don’t have a flat foot and you have a high instep. Many a time because of pressure on high instep you may feel discomfort wearing running shoes.
Runners with high arches may feel pressure on the top of their feet with a normal lacing style. Then the possible relief is to lace in a way so that pressure could be avoided on your high instep. For this the process is:
Start lacing normally with a criss-cross pattern. Avoid criss-cross patterns on your high instep. In place of a criss-cross pattern laces the shoelace through the side eyelets until the high instep ends. Then again criss-cross lacing and tie the shoe normally.
Hack No. 5: Wide Forefoot Lacing:
If you have a wide forefoot, not an overall wide foot, then you have to keep the front part of the shoe loose and a little wider. Thus, the forefoot gets enough place and unnecessary pressure can be avoided. This one helps alleviate tightness.
A useful technique will be, Start lacing the shoelace through the side eyelets up to instep. From instep start criss-cross lacing to the final eyelets. Then tighten the shoe as per necessity.
Hack No. 6: Overall Wide Feet Lacing:
If you have an overall wide foot, then normally the foot requires more space. Try this style of lacing as this one provides more space for wide feet.
So proper lacing requires a technique that will give the foot enough space while keeping the whole shoe loose. Start criss-cross lacing normally from bottom to top. Skip skipping one eyelet after every criss-cross lacing. Tie the shoe as per your comfort.
Hack no. 7: Narrow Foot lacing:
There is one lacing hack for a narrow foot. If you have a narrow foot, that is from foot to toe to heel your foot is even, then you have to keep the same space through the shoe and there should be less space.
So, you have to start lacing the shoes in a criss-cross pattern and skip a middle eyelet then again criss-cross lacing up to the last eyelet. Then tie the shoe.
Final Thought
These are some lacing hacks to solve running shoe problems. If someone feels the need of adopting lacing hacks it means his/her shoes don’t fit properly. These hacks not only affect running and comfort but also prevent heel blisters, toe pain or black toenails, and many more.
In general, lacing hacks can solve many problems regarding running shoes. But you must remember that adopting lacing hacks can only fix some common foot problems the runners face.
If you are facing serious problems like continuous heel pain or ankle sprains then you must consult a medical professional. Make sure you always choose well-fitted shoes for your feet.
