Alternative Lacing Styles

[PorkChopSandwiches]

I've recently discovered that I have lace bite bumps and they are starting to cause me pain. Not really bad, but I know if I don't do anything about it, then it is just going to get worse. I can't afford new skates, and I really like my skates, so I sat down with them to see if I could figure out a solution.

And I came up with a crazy way to tie them that locked my heel down better than ever before, took the pressure off my bumps and still allowed for some forward flex. I skated a game with them tied this way last night, and it was amazing. I won't ever skate with normally tied laces again!

I am including a pic! Hopefully you can figure out what is going on here. I'm creating a heel lock at the 3rd and 4th eyelet, then skip the 2nd and instead come up through the top eyelet. From there I go back down and put the ends through the heel locks, crank it tight and then tie. Skipping the 2nd eyelet creates a deeper "V" in the laces for more flex. It sounds like a pain in the butt to tie, but once you have it, it's actually pretty easy to loosen and get your skates on/off.

Just thought I'd share! If anyone else laces their skates weird, tell us what you do!

I went to this site for inspiration:
http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/lacing.htm

Edits: Not all skates will work with skipping the second eyelet. Basically, you want to put the heel lock right at the transition where the leg meets the foot, so just put it there. So it could be at the 2-3 eyelets, rather than the 3-4 eyelets (or maybe even at the 4-5 eyelets if you have big skates?)
Also, it's a little weird to have the bow tie lower down, and you'll end up with a lot of extra lace. I just put the extra lace in a loose triple knot and tuck them under my hockey socks, since I wear them over my tongue anyway.

Beth Ive tried your lacing
but i cant really comment right now
me and the boys have been playing
all niiiiight ....

 

[intangible]

Has anyone tried zipper lacing? I find that hockey laces tend to be quite long in general. I'm going to try it out tonight on an ODR.

Zipper lacing is hard as hell to tighten. It holds nicely, but imagine the arduous process of tightening and loosening before/after every game.

http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/zipperlacing.htm

I used to do a runner's tie (the one Beth describes) back before I had 20Ks with the independent locking system. It did work nicely, though I absolutely love the Reebok locking system.

 

[SacredPetra]

I tried the zipper lacing in just a couple eyelets and it was awful to tighten. I took it out after two skates because I could never get then tight enough with it.

 

[pelts35.com]

http://www.chooseoptionb.com/

 

[g04tm4n]

Thanks for this. I am going to give it a try tomorrow, have been struggling with my skates.

I must say, the only thing I miss about my Reebok skates is the lace locking system.

 

[gosinger]

I must say, the only thing I miss about my Reebok skates is the lace locking system.

You can also get just the lock (don't remember if from rbk or third party), just screw it into the eyelet and you're golden

 

[Ozz]

Looking at some of these, I'm glad a traditional style suits me just fine. I just know which eyelets need to be tighter (or less tight) than the others and I'm good. Some of these are impressive in their insanity though. I've never heard of most of them.

 

[g04tm4n]

You can also get just the lock (don't remember if from rbk or third party), just screw it into the eyelet and you're golden

Thanks. That would have been useful, but it sounds like it will be one of the "$10 for the item, $60 for the shipping" things for me.

 

[sparkycircuit]

I recently got a pair of ice hockey skates (moved from Florida to a state with actual winter and ice rinks, so I decided to give ice hockey a try in favor of roller), and this lace method helped a lot. Never had locking problems with my roller hockey skates, was having a rough time with the new ice hockey ones (strange, since they're both Bauers, though admittedly different boot styles), and this lacing method has made a HUGE difference. Thanks!

 

[g04tm4n]

Looking at some of these, I'm glad a traditional style suits me just fine. I just know which eyelets need to be tighter (or less tight) than the others and I'm good. Some of these are impressive in their insanity though. I've never heard of most of them.

I would have never thought of doing this if not for this thread, but it is helping me, until I get my new skates at least.

 

[damack]

I've recently discovered that I have lace bite bumps and they are starting to cause me pain. Not really bad, but I know if I don't do anything about it, then it is just going to get worse. I can't afford new skates, and I really like my skates, so I sat down with them to see if I could figure out a solution.

And I came up with a crazy way to tie them that locked my heel down better than ever before, took the pressure off my bumps and still allowed for some forward flex. I skated a game with them tied this way last night, and it was amazing. I won't ever skate with normally tied laces again!

I am including a pic! Hopefully you can figure out what is going on here. I'm creating a heel lock at the 3rd and 4th eyelet, then skip the 2nd and instead come up through the top eyelet. From there I go back down and put the ends through the heel locks, crank it tight and then tie. Skipping the 2nd eyelet creates a deeper "V" in the laces for more flex. It sounds like a pain in the butt to tie, but once you have it, it's actually pretty easy to loosen and get your skates on/off.

Just thought I'd share! If anyone else laces their skates weird, tell us what you do!

I went to this site for inspiration:
http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/lacing.htm

Edits: Not all skates will work with skipping the second eyelet. Basically, you want to put the heel lock right at the transition where the leg meets the foot, so just put it there. So it could be at the 2-3 eyelets, rather than the 3-4 eyelets (or maybe even at the 4-5 eyelets if you have big skates?)
Also, it's a little weird to have the bow tie lower down, and you'll end up with a lot of extra lace. I just put the extra lace in a loose triple knot and tuck them under my hockey socks, since I wear them over my tongue anyway.

sorry to dig up an old thread, but i just wanted to say thanks! I perhaps bought the wrong skates (first pair, was looking at $$ first) and after a month or so my left foot was in pain. I was at the point where it looked like I was going to have to buy new skates, then I found this thread, tried your lacing method and it seems to have worked! I'll get out on the ice tomorrow, but the pain is significantly lessened while flexing my foot on the ground. I'll still need to be in the market for some new skates but this may have put off the abuse on my visa card for a bit.

 

[lilphill23]

Beth
Do you still use this method for tying your skates? If so could you show a pic from the front of the skates. Thanks

 

[matix218]

on my Easton S17 skates, in order to get the forward flex i need but also get enough support around the ankle I have had to experiment with the lacing.

I have found that the best mixture of support and forward flex for this specific boot (for my preference at least) is to skip the top eyelet completely and also skip the eyelet under the 2nd from the top. These skates are super high cut so the top eyelet is essentially useless anyway unless you want to have your foot feel like it is in a ski boot. Skipping the eyelet under the 2nd eyelet (which is now the top eyelet) just helps to lower the forward flex point (without sacrificing lateral stability). In other skates I have had (example, Vector Pro, Vector 10.0, U+ pro) simply dropping down 1 eyelet was all I needed but the Easton S17 is slightly stiffer and much higher cut so that is why I had to resort to an even more odd lacing method on these.

 

[Malarowski]

Beth
Do you still use this method for tying your skates? If so could you show a pic from the front of the skates. Thanks

I use the same method, will try to snap a picture when I get home.

 

[beth]

I keep forgetting that I took this picture for you. Here you go:

(I don't know if it's anymore helpful than the original one.)

 

[Leksand]

Vapors have a sharp angle to the eyelets as they go up the ankle whereas the Grafs have a smooth, shallow curve to them:

I honestly think the Vapors are made to have eyelets skipped, at least one, unless you like a lot of stiffness around the top of the boot (more lateral power at the expense of ankle mobility). Grafs give you ankle mobility laced all the way up. That's why I was surprised he was skipping eyelets...

Just want to add one observation related to kids / youth players: If your kid wears Vapors (and possibly other models as well - I would not know), try not using the top eyelets.

I just did for my 7 year old and I think his skating improved instantly. Not like night and day, but I really think I saw a difference. Maybe this is obvious to many at HFB, but it was not to me and I wish I had thought about this before. (Will try skipping top two eyelet pairs also just to see).

 

[BryzsCSteak]

Instead of crossing the laces, I go straight from the second to first eyelet which makes the laces form loops on each side. I then cross them and pull em through those loops, pulling them back first and then really tight. Works like a charm if you want a little more support for your ankle.

 

[VaughanBender72]

pull as hard as I can on the two laces.

 

[puckpilot]

I am including a pic! Hopefully you can figure out what is going on here. I'm creating a heel lock at the 3rd and 4th eyelet, then skip the 2nd and instead come up through the top eyelet. From there I go back down and put the ends through the heel locks, crank it tight and then tie. Skipping the 2nd eyelet creates a deeper "V" in the laces for more flex. It sounds like a pain in the butt to tie, but once you have it, it's actually pretty easy to loosen and get your skates on/off.

Just thought I'd share! If anyone else laces their skates weird, tell us what you do!

Sorry to excavate this ancient thread, but I tried this lacing method and it worked wonders with my new skates.

Even though the skates were probably the best fit possible without having to go into custom skates, I was having trouble with heel lock. I was trying extra padding, different insoles, different socks, and different lacing patters, when I came across this old thread.

With nothing to lose, I tried it out at home, and I knew pretty much right away it was going to work. Got on the ice, and even though it was only my fifth time skating on them, the skates suddenly felt like I'd been wearing them way longer.

My heels were locked in, and it got more lateral stability without sacrificing ankle flex. I usually don't tie the top eyelet and sacrifice a little stability, but it looks like not any more.

Beth, if you're still out there, thanks for this.

 

[ceg195]

Now that it's 2017; with Bauer's injected lacing system, you won't need any alternative lacing styles.

 

[puckpilot]

Now that it's 2017; with Bauer's injected lacing system, you won't need any alternative lacing styles.

The injected lacing system is only found on the absolute top models. I have the latest release from the Nexus line, the N9000s, second only to the 1N, and it still uses eyelets. It's the same for the Supreme and Vapor lines.

And even then, there's no guarantee that there won't be a need. Just because something new comes out, it doesn't mean it address all problems. Everyone's feet are different, so rarely is it that a skate fits a foot perfectly in every aspect. Different ways of lacing can address different issues.

 

[swoopster]

I guess I am old ( well I know I am ) and old school, but I have never laced my skates tight to the top in my 50 plus years in skates. That is true of the Bauer 180's I wear today. Never have used the top eyelet. I lace mine tight first five rows and from there just lightly pulled together, so that I get forward flexion.

In all the years I have played there is only on rule...keep all laces strait and flat with no twisting in them. A pair of laces will last me a whole season.