Double Back Lacing
This method looks interesting plus holds very firmly, but is terribly awkward to tighten. The lacing first runs down the shoe, then doubles back up the shoe. There's two variations: One with hidden verticals at the bottom, the other with a visible crossover.
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Lacing Technique
• Begin straight across on the outside (grey section) and in through the second-from-top set of eyelets.
• Cross the ends and feed in through the second-lower set of eyelets (skip past one set of eyelets).
• Continue down the shoe two sets of eyelets at a time.
• At the bottom, run each lace end vertically between the bottom and second-from-bottom eyelets. (For variation 2, the ends run diagonally).
• Double back and work back up the shoe, criss-crossing through the vacant sets of eyelets.
Variations
1 For longer ends / neater look, the laces run vertically up the inside between the bottom and second-from-bottom eyelets.
2 For shorter ends / messier look, the laces cross diagonally between the bottom and second-from-bottom eyelets.
Features
Stays very tight
Terribly awkward
6% longer ends (approx.)
Double Back Lacing Gallery

PUMA Alexander McQueen Deck Los with Double Back Lacing.
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Double Back Lacing Video
Shoelace Lengths for Double Back Lacing
Pairs of eyelets: | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
Length needed: | (N/A) | 63 cm 25 inch |
75 cm 30 inch |
87 cm 34 inch |
99 cm 39 inch |
111 cm 44 inch |
123 cm 48 inch |
Lengths available: | 27" | 27" | 36" | 40" | 45" | 45" |
NOTE: These are approximate shoelace lengths for using this lacing on an average sized sneaker. For more accurate lengths, use the Shoelace Length Calculator.
Comparative Length
Shorter shoelaces needed than those for basic Criss Cross Lacing.
Longer ends if existing shoelaces are re-used (+6% on average).
Double Back Lacing Feedback
"Before going to your website my shoelaces were outrageously big (52cm) and i was always tripping over them. I tried tying the Double Back Lacing and now my shoelaces are 45cm when they are untied, and only 15 cm with an Ian knot."
– Brendan K., Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Nov-2004
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