# How do you start lacing your shoes? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 22, 2016, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-start-lacing-your-shoes/743861 "2016-01-22T05:21:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-start-lacing-your-shoes/743861/1 "2016-01-22T05:21:14Z")
When you first start lacing up a pair of shoes, do you start with the very first lace (closest to toe) [over](http://thumb1.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/3079196/280440278/stock-photo-chlumcany-czech-republic-march-black-low-converse-shoes-280440278.jpg) or [under](http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/21400000/Converse-Shoes-all-star-converse-21419139-500-436.jpg) the eyelets? ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-start-lacing-your-shoes/743861/2 "2016-01-22T08:23:08Z")
Under. Over just looks weird. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-start-lacing-your-shoes/743861/3 "2016-01-22T09:11:31Z")
Over to close the eyelet rows for greater protection. That’s in the case of work boots and safety shoes. The laces will also protect the leather from abrasion. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-start-lacing-your-shoes/743861/4 "2016-01-22T11:13:30Z")
I can’t remember the last time I actually had to lace a pair of shoes. I don’t think I’d even know how - I’d have to check out a YouTube tutorial. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-start-lacing-your-shoes/743861/5 "2016-01-22T15:48:22Z")
So the bottom lace forms a visible "bar"across from one eyelet to the other. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-start-lacing-your-shoes/743861/6 "2016-01-22T16:02:39Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > I can’t remember the last time I actually had to lace a pair of shoes. I don’t think I’d even know how - I’d have to check out a YouTube tutorial. Aw, you have “special” velcro shoes, don’t you tiger?😉 ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-start-lacing-your-shoes/743861/7 "2016-01-22T16:05:07Z")
Over. It just looks neater to me. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-start-lacing-your-shoes/743861/8 "2016-01-22T16:18:00Z")
> [@Mudshark](#): > > Under. Over just looks weird. Opposite for me. Over. Under looks weird. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-start-lacing-your-shoes/743861/9 "2016-01-22T16:21:14Z")
I had to double-check, as I actually misunderstood the question slightly, but my answer is still the same, but I don’t think it’s a matter of preference, as I can’t remember the last time I’ve relaced my shoes. But the ones I do have in the closest are all in their default state, and all (okay it’s only 3 pairs of shoes) have it over. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-start-lacing-your-shoes/743861/10 "2016-01-22T16:30:47Z")
Whichever way the laces are started when I first take them out of the box. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-start-lacing-your-shoes/743861/11 "2016-01-22T16:39:22Z")
Over. This is like the damn toilet paper roll question, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![biqu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7feea3/32.png) [@biqu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biqu)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-start-lacing-your-shoes/743861/12 "2016-01-22T18:35:41Z")
[one of each](http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/doublehelixlacing.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-start-lacing-your-shoes/743861/13 "2016-01-22T22:38:50Z")
> [@Mudshark](#): > > Under. Over just looks weird. Grin! Over, because under just looks weird! “Weird” is obviously relative! ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-start-lacing-your-shoes/743861/14 "2016-01-22T22:49:41Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Aw, you have “special” velcro shoes, don’t you tiger?😉 I wish! More like they just come already laced or partially laced. I guess there are people who replace the laces at some point before they replace the shoe, but I’ve never needed to do that. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-start-lacing-your-shoes/743861/15 "2016-01-22T22:51:27Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > I can’t remember the last time I actually had to lace a pair of shoes. I don’t think I’d even know how - I’d have to check out a YouTube tutorial. Yeah, this. My sneakers are the only laced shoes I have, and they came prelaced. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-start-lacing-your-shoes/743861/16 "2016-01-22T23:29:18Z")
Other. I do not have any shows with laces. But if I did – I like my laces like I like my toilet paper roll: over. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2016, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-start-lacing-your-shoes/743861/17 "2016-01-23T14:09:17Z")
Over, always. It’s what I was taught, and the way I always see them started when I get the shoes from the store. Every other eyelet goes under/over, but not the first ones. > [@Rigamarole](#): > > I can’t remember the last time I actually had to lace a pair of shoes. I don’t think I’d even know how - I’d have to check out a YouTube tutorial. Interesting. I’ve never gotten a pair of shoes that was all the way laced. And I have had shoes long enough that the aglets come off and I need to get new laces to look presentable. Plus, I also have fairly big feet (size 14W or 15), yet shoe manufacturers seem to use the same lace length in all shoes. So I’ve had to buy longer ones just to be able to tie them decently. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2016, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-start-lacing-your-shoes/743861/18 "2016-01-23T15:24:07Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > I can’t remember the last time I actually had to lace a pair of shoes. I don’t think I’d even know how - I’d have to check out a YouTube tutorial. Crochet forces me to remember how to tie knots, but I’m in this boat as well. I have a pair of pull-on sneakers with spandex instead of laces, a couple pairs of flats, and a pair of boots. I haven’t laced a shoe in 5 years! ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2016, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-start-lacing-your-shoes/743861/19 "2016-01-23T15:50:11Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > I have a pair of pull-on sneakers with spandex instead of laces, a couple pairs of flats, and a pair of boots. I haven’t laced a shoe in 5 years! A while ago I bought a pair of Keens that came with elastic no-tie laces. I liked them so much I bought a bunch of Lock Laces and put them on all my shoes (well, except my dress shoes of course). They’re awesome! Everything’s a slip-on now. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2016, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-start-lacing-your-shoes/743861/20 "2016-01-23T18:11:55Z")
Under…and “right over left” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-start-lacing-your-shoes/743861.md?page=2)