How to lace Jordan 1s

A pair of predominately white Jordan 1s featuring suede grey and red panels and details.
Credit: SNS


A pair of predominately white Jordan 1s featuring suede grey and red panels and details.
Credit: SNS

Looking for tips on how to lace Jordan 1 sneakers? It can be tricky to figure out the best lacing technique, especially if it's your first time unboxing them. However, with our step-by-step instructions, you can achieve a secure fit and a stylish look in no time at all.

Our guide covers the classic cross-over approach as well as alternative techniques such as a loosely crossed style and straight bars, as we understand that everyone has their preferences when it comes to lacing their best sneakers. Therefore, we've made sure to cover a range of different approaches to help you find a style that matches your preference.

Whether you're a sneakerhead or a casual wearer, knowing how best to lace Jordans can make all the difference in terms of comfort and style. So, follow our guide below to get your best Air Jordans, from the old-school "Green Glow" Highs to more advanced Zoom CMFT 2s, ready to wear.

How to lace Jordan 1

To achieve a similar look to Nike's official photos, we recommend the following method of lacing your Jordan 1 Highs. The technique also works for some of the best Jordan 1 Lows and Mids, you'd simply finish the process a little earlier than you would with a pair of high-tops.

Someone in black trousers wearing a pair of Jordan 1s in red, black, and white on some stairs.
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Credit: Paul Volkmer

Step 1: Begin by threading the two ends of your shoelace underneath the initial eyelets of your shoe.

Step 3: Start weaving the two ends in a crisscross pattern, threading them from the inside to the outside. Make sure the tips (aglets) go over the upper part and pass through each eyelet with each crossing.

Top Tip: We'd recommend you keep your laces flat and free of any dirt as you progress. Additionally, keep tightening the laces as you move up.

Step 5: Continue this sequence until you arrive at approximately the sixth eyelet for most Jordan 1 Highs. At this point, you can either pass the laces under the tongue tabs or leave them loose over the top.

Step 6: Finish off the pattern, but make sure you leave around 2" of lace on either side once you've threaded it through the remaining eyelets.

Step 7: Tighten the laces until all the slack is removed, then tie the two ends across the tongues, or behind the tongues, whichever you prefer.

A pair of white and red Jordan 1s with black laces and inner lining.
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Credit: Marco Breier

After following these steps for your second sneaker, your Jordans will be good to go, ready for you to wear once more. Additionally, if you're interested in expanding your Jordan collection, don't forget to explore our list of the best places to purchase Jordans.

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 the original look as seen on these "Black White" 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.

Air Jordan 1 High "Black White" product image of black leather high-tops featuring white heels, toe boxes, and other accents.
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Credit: Nike

When it comes to colour, personal preference once again plays a significant role, and it can differ depending on the colourway you own. When considering the "Green Glow" release, for instance, which is widely regarded as some of the best Jordan 1s available, you could go with black, white, or turquoise laces.

Air Jordan 1 Low "Green Glow" product image of a white and black pair of low-tops with turquoise Swooshes and branding on the tongues.
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Credit: Nike

However, that's not to say you can't mismatch with a completely different colour, like these bright LitLaces, if you want to add your unique twist to your footwear. It just comes down to your style.

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

Air Jordan 1 halfway up laces image of a black and blue sneaker with black laces that stop midway up.
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Credit: Laces Out

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

Air Jordan 1 loosely crossed laces image of a pair of white sneakers with blue overlays and white sneakers loosely crossed.
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Credit: DNA Show

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

Air Jordan 1 straight bar laces image of a white and blue sneakers with straight laces over the tongues.
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Credit: DNA Show

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.

With all that covered, we hope you can now lace up your new Jordans with ease. Stay tuned for more guides like this on RealKit.

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