Ian's Shoelace Site – Loop Back Lacing

Each side loops back on itself down the middle, rather like when two springs become intertwined. However, those loop-backs tend to shift off-centre.

Diagram for 8 pairs of eyelets

Pairs

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

Lacing diagram Copyright (c) 2020 by Ian Fieggen

Step

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Lacing Technique

• Begin straight across on the inside (grey section) and out through the bottom eyelets.

• At each eyelet pair, the ends are given a half twist in the middle of the shoe before looping back and returning to the outside.

• The ends are fed under the sides and out through the next higher set of eyelets.

• Repeat until lacing is completed.

Features

Decorative look

Laces wear more

Centreline shifts

4% shorter ends (approx.)

Notes

• Loop Back lacing looks best on shoes with thick, round shoelaces, especially light colored laces on dark colored shoes. These accentuate the fact that the laces loop back on themselves rather than simply crossing over each other.

• When combined with Half & Half Lacing, the result is a different color on each side of the shoe. Note that the division doesn't have to run neatly down the middle of the shoe. It can instead be run at an angle, as demonstrated in the 6th photo below.

Loop Back Lacing Gallery

Grey Alifes with Loop Back Lacing

PUMA Frankenclydes with Loop Back Lacing

The cover of my book, “Laces”, came pre-laced with Loop Back Lacing!

Grey Vans skate shoes with black & white trim and white Loop Back Lacing (from Ryan L)

Multi-colored Gola by eBoy Echoparks with pink Loop Back Lacing (from Gola)

Tan Timberland boots with white trim and brown Loop Back Lacing (from Moritz K)

White sneakers with black trim and green, yellow & red combination of Half & Half Lacing and Loop Back Lacing (from Piotrek R)

Red Converse Chuck Taylors with white & black trim and white combination of Over Under Lacing and Loop Back Lacing (from Kimmo K)

Brown Converse Star Players with white & tartan trim and brown & yellow combination of Knotted Lacing and Loop Back Lacing (from Moritz K)

Black & white PUMA sneakers with red & white combination of Half & Half Lacing and Loop Back Lacing (from Remington C)

Black Keep sneakers with white & multi-colored trim and white Loop Back Lacing (from Brian K)

Blue Oxfords with black trim and red Loop Back Lacing (from Walter P)

Grey sneakers with yellow trim and yellow Loop Back Lacing (from Leonardo L)

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More photos of Loop Back Lacing

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Shoelace Lengths for Loop Back Lacing

Pairs of eyelets:	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Length needed:	71 cm 28 inch	82 cm 32 inch	93 cm 37 inch	104 cm 41 inch	115 cm 45 inch	126 cm 50 inch	137 cm 54 inch
Lengths available:	27"	36"	36"	40"	45"	54"	54"

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

Longer shoelaces needed than those for basic Criss Cross Lacing.

Shorter ends if existing shoelaces are re-used (−4% on average).

More details.

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