Lacing Jordan 1 sneakers can be tricky, but this step-by-step guide makes it easy to achieve both a secure fit and a stylish look. Whether you prefer classic cross-over lacing, loose styles, or straight bars, you're in the right place to elevate your comfort and style. Follow our guide to get your best Air Jordans, from classic designs to the Zoom CMFT 2s, ready to wear in no time.
How to lace a Jordan 1: Step-by-step
To achieve the signature look of Nike's official photos, follow this method to lace your Jordan 1 Highs. This technique also works for Jordan 1 Lows and Mids; simply stop earlier with those styles.
Step 1: Begin by threading both ends of your shoelace underneath the first pair of eyelets from the inside out.
Step 2: Cross the lace ends and thread them through the next set of eyelets from the inside out, creating a crisscross pattern. Ensure the tips (aglets) go over the upper part and pass through each eyelet smoothly.
Top Tip: Keep your laces flat and clean as you lace up. Tighten the laces slightly with each step to maintain a neat appearance.
Step 3: Continue crisscrossing the laces up the shoe, threading from the inside out. Maintain an even and tight pattern as you progress.
Step 4: When you reach the sixth eyelet (for Jordan 1 High), decide whether to thread the laces under the tongue tabs for a secure fit or leave them loose over the top for a relaxed look.
Step 5: Finish lacing through the remaining eyelets, leaving about 2 inches of lace on either side once you've reached the top.
Step 6: Tighten the laces to remove any slack. You can tie the ends across the tongue for a classic look or tuck them behind the tongue for a cleaner appearance.
Final Touch: Repeat the process for your second sneaker. Once completed, your Jordans will be perfectly laced and ready to wear.
What type of shoelaces should you use?
The choice of whether to use flat or round laces comes down to personal preference. However, it's worth bearing in mind that Jordan 1s typically come with flat laces as standard. So, if you want to maintain an original look, as demonstrated by these popular "Metallic Gold" Highs, for example, then we'd recommend sticking with the flat laces.
For optimal results, use laces around 72 inches in length to ensure you have enough of the shoelace left to reach the top of your sneakers.
When it comes to color, personal preference once again plays a significant role, and it can differ depending on the colorway you own. When considering the "Chinese New Year" release, for instance, which is widely regarded as some of the best Jordan 1s available, you could go with green, red, or even sail.
However, that's not to say you can't mismatch with a completely different color, like these bright LitLaces, if you want to add your unique twist to your footwear. It just comes down to your style.
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Are there other ways to lace Jordan 1s?
While our step-by-step guide details one of the most common ways of lacing a pair of Jordan 1s, it isn't the only method out there.
Halfway up laced and unlaced
This technique is another widely adopted approach for lacing Jordan 1s, particularly for high-top sneakers. While the fundamental steps remain unchanged from the previous method, there is one notable distinction: when you reach the eyelets near the shoe's collar, you deviate from threading the laces through them.
Instead, you have two choices depending on your preference: you can either lace the shoes at the front, around the middle section, or tie them behind the tongues. Once you've done that, your shoes are ready to go.
Loosely crossed
Here's another lacing method that shares some similarities with the initial technique but creates a completely distinct visual effect.
This approach starts by threading the laces through the even-numbered eyelets until they reach the top, resulting in a relaxed and loosely fitted look. This style is aptly named "loose crossed" as a result. When using this method, it's common to secure the laces in place by tying them together over the sneakers.
Straight bars
The final lacing technique for Jordan 1 sneakers provides a distinct departure from the first method. Rather than using a criss-cross pattern, the laces are threaded straight across the tongues, creating a bar-like appearance.
To achieve this style, begin on the outside and weave the laces through each eyelet in a snake-like motion until reaching the top, where you can tie them together
That said, it's worth mentioning that there are numerous lacing techniques to explore, so we encourage you to experiment and discover the one that complements your style when you're lacing up one of the best Nike shoes ever released.
We hope you can now lace up your new Jordans with ease. Stay tuned for more guides like this at RealKit.