Slip Into Comfort: How To Lace Shoes so They Slip On

If you struggle to get your shoes on and off daily, you're not alone.

Whether you have limited mobility or dexterity, need to take your shoes off frequently, hate the slow airport screening process, or are constantly on the go, constantly fighting with your footwear can be frustrating.

But what if there was a way to easily slip your shoes on and off without having to untie and retie them every time?

Keep reading to discover two simple methods to lace your shoes so they can be easily slipped on and off.

By the end, you’ll be pain-free, hailed at your job for keeping client carpets clean (not to mention honoring cultural and religious customs), breezing through the airport check-in process, and have a life hack to share with friends that are always on the go.

What’s the Solution?

The problem with shoes is that their construction makes them difficult to put on. They're either too tight, too stiff, or too narrow. You get the picture. Goldilocks cannot find the perfect shoes either, so she makes due, then struggles with them daily.

Much like Goldilocks, our daily struggle becomes a real issue when we are in a hurry or are taking our shoes on and off frequently. And, if we are someone with limited mobility, the struggle is compounded.

An easy solution to this problem is to try different methods for lacing your shoes. By trying different lacing methods and techniques, you can find a solution that works best for you and makes it easier to put on your shoes.

Method 1: Modified Zipper

Start by lacing your shoes as you usually would, leaving the top two eyelets unthreaded.
Take the laces and thread them through the top eyelets from the outside in.
Tie a knot at the top of the laces, ensuring it is tight enough to hold them in place but not so tight that slipping your foot in and out of the shoe is difficult.
To loosen the shoe's fit, you can loosen the knot and pull on the laces to create more slack.
To tighten the shoe's fit, simply pull on the laces until the shoe fits securely.

Method 2: Modified Straight Lace (also Called Bar Lace)

Start by unlacing your shoes completely. You'll need to remove all existing laces to start with a clean slate.
Take one of the laces and thread it through the bottom set of eyelets on your shoe (inside out), starting on one side and going all the way across to the other side (outside in).
Repeat this process with the other lace, threading it through the eyelets directly above the ones you just threaded.
Tie a knot at the top of each lace to secure them in place. This will help to keep the laces from coming undone as you slip your foot in and out of the shoe.
Once you have both laces tied, you can try on your shoes to see if they slip on easily. If they don't, you may need to adjust the laces to make them looser. To do this, simply untie the knots at the top of the laces and pull on the laces to loosen them up. Then re-tie the knots and try on your shoes again.

Tips from Our Editors

These methods work best for shoes with four or more eyelets. U-laces may be an excellent option for shoes with three or fewer eyelets.
You can use lace anchors instead of tying knots for those with limited mobility or dexterity.
A more durable option for hiking shoes is a slip-on with an adjustable anchor, like speed shoestrings.

On a Final Note

Lacing your shoes, so they slip on easily is a simple process that can save you time and effort. Whether you’re in the airport often and want to speed up the security screening process or have an injury that makes tying your shoes difficult or painful, one of the above methods will help.

With a bit of practice, you'll be able to lace your shoes in a way that makes them easy to slip on and off while still providing a secure and comfortable fit.