Sneaker Lacing Styles: Bar, Straight & No-Gap
How you lace a sneaker shapes how it looks and how it fits. This guide covers the three cleanest sneaker lacing styles, bar, straight and no-gap, plus two techniques for comfort and heel hold, with clear step-by-step instructions for each.
Shop sneaker laces →The five styles at a glance
Compare the look, difficulty and best use of each method before you start.
| Style | Look | Difficulty | Eyelets | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bar lacing | Flat horizontal bars | Medium | Even pairs | Clean low-tops |
| Straight (European) | Flat bars, hidden crossovers | Medium | Any number | Everyday sneakers |
| No-gap | Fully flat, gapless front | Advanced | Any number | Air Force 1-style finish |
| Over-under | Criss-cross | Easy | Any number | Comfort, easy on-off |
| Heel lock | Loop at the ankle | Easy | Needs top eyelet | Runners & trainers |
Why your lacing style matters
Laces sit at the centre of a sneaker's design, so they're one of the first details people notice. The factory criss-cross works, but its diagonals can make the front look busy. A straight or bar style gives a cleaner, more considered finish and is the simplest way to change how a sneaker looks.
The right method also solves common fit problems: heel slip, pressure across the top of the foot, and shoes that are hard to get on and off. The first three styles below are about the look and the last two are about fit. You can combine them, and a bar-laced front with a heel lock at the top is a popular choice.
Bar lacing
Bar lacing (also called straight-bar lacing) shows only flat horizontal bars on the front, with the vertical runs hidden inside the shoe. It's the classic clean-sneaker look and suits shoes with an even number of eyelet pairs.
- 1Run the lace straight across the bottom pair of eyelets, over the top, so both ends go into the shoe. Even up the ends.
- 2Take the left end up inside and out through the second eyelet on the left, then straight across and in through the second eyelet on the right.
- 3Take the right end up inside, skipping one eyelet, out through the third eyelet on the right, then straight across into the third on the left.
- 4Keep going. Each end runs up inside, skipping one eyelet, then straight across.
- 5At the top, bring each end straight up and out through the top eyelet on its own side, then tie off.
Straight (European) lacing
Straight lacing gives the same clean bars on the front, but the lace runs diagonally inside the shoe. That spreads the tension more evenly and works on any number of eyelets.
- 1Run the lace straight across the bottom pair of eyelets, over the top, so both ends go into the shoe. Even up the ends.
- 2Take one end diagonally up inside and out through the second eyelet on the opposite side, then straight across and in.
- 3Take the other end diagonally up inside and out through the third eyelet on the opposite side, then straight across and in.
- 4Keep going. Each end runs diagonally up inside, skipping one eyelet, then straight across. Finish with both ends out through the top eyelets and tie off.
No-gap lacing
No-gap lacing is the neatest version of the clean look: bars sitting close together, even tension on every row and the tongue lying flat. It's a finishing technique you apply on top of bar or straight lacing.
- 1Lace using bar or straight lacing, working one row at a time.
- 2After each bar, pull it snug and make sure the lace lies flat with no twists.
- 3Keep the tension the same on every row so the bars stay parallel and the eyelet rows stay evenly spaced.
- 4At the top, tuck the ends inside the shoe behind the tongue instead of tying a bow.
Over-under lacing
Over-under lacing reduces friction between the lace and the eyelets, so it tightens and loosens more easily. It's a good fix for sneakers that feel tight across the top of the foot, or that you like to slip on without untying.
- 1Thread straight across the bottom pair of eyelets and even up the ends.
- 2Cross the ends and feed them down through the next pair of eyelets (over).
- 3On the next row, cross them and feed them up from underneath (under).
- 4Keep alternating over and under to the top, then tie off.
Heel lock
A heel lock (also called a lace lock or runner's loop) secures the ankle so your heel stays in place, which helps prevent rubbing and blisters. Most running and training shoes have an extra top eyelet for exactly this.
- 1Lace as normal up to the second-from-top eyelet.
- 2Feed each end straight up into the top eyelet on the same side, leaving a small loop on each side.
- 3Pass each end through the loop on the opposite side.
- 4Pull both ends down firmly until the ankle feels secure, then tie your knot.
Match the style to your sneaker
A quick starting point for each type of sneaker.
Tips for a professional finish
Small details that make the biggest difference.
Choose the right laces
Sneakers use flat laces, and they're what make bar, straight and no-gap lacing look crisp. Flat laces sit wide and cover the tongue neatly. Pick a width that suits your eyelets and check the length before you order.