Shoelaces for Chucks

About Shoelaces for Chucks

Before chucks were manufactured in a variety of colors besides black or white, chucks wearers would often substitute different colored shoe laces to customize their chucks. The laces could reflect team colors or just the desire to have a different look.

The style of the shoelaces shipped with chucks has also changed over the years. Up through the eighties, the shoelaces shipped with chucks were made with an all cotton flat tube design. This allowed chucks wearers some options in the comfort and look of their shoes, as the laces could be stretched for a narrower lace look with plenty of length to tie the knot, or left at standard width for a looser fit. The laces were 54 inches long for the standard eight eyelet high top and 52 inches long for the standard seven eyelet low cut. The laces were at least 3/8 inches wide, and many were up to 7/16 inches wide.

In the early nineties, the Converse company started shipping chucks with a narrower (5/16") flat single layer shoelace, and in an apparent cost cutting decision, made all the laces 52 inches, an acceptable length for seven eyelet low cuts, but two inches shorter than the standard length for eight eyelet high tops. The new style laces made it more difficult for many high top wearers to lace up through the eighth eyelet, because you had barely enough lace to tie the knot. This was because the new flat laces did not have the same stretchability as the tubular laces, and the length of the single layer laces was an inch shorter on each side. If you have ever laced up a vintage pair of chucks, you should be aware of the difference between the original, stretchable laces and the flat single braid laces provided by Converse. Since the company has been producing their shoes in Asia, they have returned to shipping laces that are at least 54" or more (up to 60") with new pairs of eight eyelet high tops, but still with the single braid lace.

Lace Up In Style

Luckily, The ChucksConnection has been able to locate shoelaces that match the classic tubular style of the original with the same stretchability and length that chucks wearers enjoyed before the nineties. The main different these days is that shoelaces are now mostly made with polyester or polyester blends instead of cotton. The classic shoelace is our most popular model and looks great on all pairs of chucks or other athletic shoes. We have been able to locate tubular flat athletic laces in a wide variety of colors. For bargain hunters, we also carry the flat ribbed single layer style, although only in a few colors. You should be able to find a lace length that works for you. For example, a 54" lace allows you to laces through all eight eyelet pairs and make a normal sized knot, without a lot of excess lace when you are done. But if you prefer extra long laces for your high tops, you should order 63" laces.

Flat athletic chucks shoelaces are available in four different lengths:

1. 45 Inch Flat Athletic Chucks Shoelaces for chucks with seven eyelet pairs (low cuts, smaller sized high tops, or roll down high tops that will be permanently folded over)
2. 54 Inch Flat Athletic Chucks Shoelaces for chucks with eight eyelet pairs (standard sized high tops or large size low cuts)
3. 63 Inch Flat Athletic Chucks Shoelaces for chucks with nine eyelet pairs (largest sized high tops or for extra lace length on standard sized high tops)
4. 72 Inch Flat Athletic Chucks Shoelaces for knee high chucks with 12 eyelet pairs used in different configurations.

Flat Athletic Chucks Shoelaces are available in twenty-seven different colors: black, brown, burgundy, cardinal red, grey, kelly green, light gold, lilac, natural, navy blue, neon lime, neon orange, neon pink, neon yellow, old gold, orange, pink, purple, rainbow, royal blue, red, rust, sky blue, tan, teal, white and yellow. All 27 colors are available in 45", 54" and 63" lengths. 72" Classic Chucks Shoelaces are available red, white, black, navy blue, old gold, royal blue, brown, cardinal red, neon lime, neon yellow, neon orange, and neon pink. Why not order a few pairs to to provide your chucks with that classic look and ease of lacing again, or to give your chucks a new look with different colored laces?

The ChucksConnection also carries other styles of laces, to meet your fashion or lifestyle needs:

• Reversible Laces in Two Colors. Lace up your chucks in two colors, or in one color with a border in a second color. These options are available to you now with new reversible laces. These flat sports laces come in six color combinations: Red/White, Black/White, Red/Black, Pink/White, Grey/White, and Carolina Blue/White. Reversible laces are available in 45 inch (for seven eyelet chucks) and 54 inch (for eight eyelet chucks) lengths. View a photo gallery of reversible laces.
• Narrow Round Laces. If you want to lace up your chucks with thinner looking laces, narrow round laces are for you. Their solid design gives them great strength, even though they are smaller in width than standard shoelaces. Many new models of athletic shoes now come with this style of shoelace. Narrow round laces are 54 inches in length and available in eleven different colors: white, black, navy blue, red, royal blue, tan, brown, neon lime, neon orange, yellow, and neon yellow. View a photo gallery of narrow round laces.
• Fat (Extra Wide) Laces. These laces are 5/8" to 7/8" wide and give you that extra wide look that is currently popular. Wide laces are available in white, black, maroon, navy blue, grey, charcoal grey, neon lime, neon orange, neon pink, neon yellow, orange, royal blue, sky blue, yellow, red, brown, light gold, gold, Kelly green, hunter green, pink, purple, teal, and red, white and blue and come in lengths of 45 inches (for seven eyelet chucks) and 54 inches (for eight eyelet chucks). View a photo gallery of wide laces 1, wide laces 2, wide laces 3, or wide neon laces.
• Red White, and Blue Laces. These laces feature a patriotic weave of the American flag colors. The laces are available in 45", 54", 63" lengths in standard laces, and 45" and 54" lengths in wide laces. View a photo gallery of Red, White and Blue Shoelaces.
• Retro Shoelaces. Retro shoelaces give your chucks the look of the 1950s or 1960s again. Retro shoelaces are 1/2 inch wide and fit in between standard flat athletic laces and fat laces in width. View a photo gallery of retro shoelaces on low cut chucks.
• Skate Laces for Knee High Chucks. These extra long laces are flat narrow athletic laces. Their width is 1/4 inch, and they come in 84" and 96" lengths. Skate laces are available in black, white, or tan. View a photo gallery of skate laces for knee high chucks.
• Special Print Shoelaces for Chucks. These laces have prints like black and white checkers or red stars on a silver background. They are thin and 3/4" wide. They can be worn like flat laces, or rolled up for a thinner look. Unlike mall stores or kiosks, you can get these in standard 45" and 54" lengths from The ChucksConnection. View a photo gallery of black and white checkered laces or red star print laces.

Ideas Photo Gallery

Click on the thumbnails below to see a variety of color combinations. Of course your own imagination can come up with many more possibilities.

Lacing Tips for Chucks

1. When lacing your chucks, take the time to straighten out the laces so they are not twisted. They will last a lot longer, look better, and stay more securely tied.
2. When lacing your chucks, adjust the tongue so that it is centered under both rows of eyelets. Your fit will be a lot more comfortable.
3. The great lacing question: Do you lace with the string starting over or under the bottom set of eyelets?
   • Over is the classic lacing style, as seen in the original box photos.
   • Under is a newer style as seen in some of the recent advertising.
   • Some wearers like the straight across lacing method, often used for advertising sometimes, and as seen in this photo. This lacing method does not secure the shoe as well as the cross eyelet lacing method.
   • Other wearers like custom and even more original variations on lacing. See below for descriptions on how to lace up your chucks in new ways.
4. If you have trouble lacing up through the top eyelets, it could be that your laces aren't long enough. Shoes with seven pairs of eyelets should have 45" long laces, shoes with eight pairs of eyelets should have 54" laces, and shoes with nine pairs of eyelets should have 63" long laces. You can purchase classic flat tubular laces through this website in as a wide variety of colors and styles as well as standard width, narrow, extra wide, and oval laces.

To order laces from our online store, click here. Return to top of page.

Lacing Tips If the Tongue of Your Shoes Keeps Slipping

For many wearers of chucks, one of both of your tongues may slip out of place during wear. If this bothers you for looks or comfort try these suggestions:

• Make sure that the tongue is centered when you lace up, and that the outside edges of the tongue are underneath the eyelets on both sides.
• Make sure that the tongue does not have a crease in it when you lace up. Take the time to straighten out any creases before you lace up.
• Make sure that the laces on the second eyelet are snugged up tight. Often tongue slippage occurs because the lace is loose towards the bottom.
• If the above tips still don't solve the problem, you might want to consider making two parallel slits in the center of the tongue, about 3/8 of an inch apart and 1/2 inch long, midway between the fifth and sixth eyelet pairs. Mark carefully with a pencil before making any cuts. Place the tongue on a piece of wood or other object you can safely cut on. Use an exacto knife or single-edged razor blade to make the cut. Then when you lace up, insert the lower of the two laces into one slit and out the other. This will help hold the tongue in place

To order laces from our online store, click here. Return to top of page.

Lacing Tips If Your Shoes Don't Fit Right

Carol Frey, M.D., an orthopedist at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, recommends certain lacing techniques that can help you get a better fit.

• If the heels of your sneakers don't stay in place: When you lace your shoes, make sure that the area closest to the heel (top) is tied tightly; use less tension near the toes. When you have reached the next to last eyelet on each side, thread the lace through the top eyelet, making a small loop. Then, thread the opposite lace through its loop before tying it.
• If you have wide feet: Use two laces, one shorter than the other. Thread the shorter lace through the eyelets closest to the heel (top), and the longer one through the eyelets closest to the toes (bottom). The top lace should be tied more tightly than the bottom lace.
• If you have narrow heels and a wide forefoot or narrow feet: Use two laces, one shorter than the other. Thread the shorter lace through the eyelets closest to the toes (bottom), and the longer one through the eyelets closest to the heel (top). Frey suggests that the top lace should be tied more tightly than the bottom lace.

To order laces from our online store, click here. Return to top of page.

New Ways To Lace Up Chucks

1. The Straight Across Lacing Method (Advertisement Look)
   To make the description easier to understand, the pairs of eyelets are numbered from one to eight, top to bottom of the shoe. Start at the bottom like you normally do, by evenly dividing the lace between the two #8 eyelets. Make sure that the first lace across is over the eyelets. Instead of crossing it over the tongue of the shoe, first take the right part of the lace under the #7 right eyelet and bring it through then go across the shoe to the left #7 eyelet. Next take the left lace from under the #8 left eyelet and bring in underneath to the #6 left eyelet. Bring the lace through and across to the #6 right eyelet. As you are doing this, be sure to keep the lace flat, with no twists or wrinkles. Now continue with lace under the #7 left eyelet. Keeping it flat on the left inside of the shoe, take it to the #5 left eyelet and bring it through and over to the #5 right eyelet. The lace at the #6 right eyelet then is brought underneath to the #4 right eyelet and across to the #4 left eyelet. You keep alternating the laces until you reach the #1 pair at the top. (The right lace for eyelet #1 will come a single eyelet from right eyelet #2). The two top laces are now ready for tying. Be sure that the lace lengths and kept evenly throughout, so that there isn't any slack. Note that this method usually results in a loosely laced shoe. To tighten the laces, you will have to go systematically from bottom to top. If you don't want to even tie the shoe, you might consider using oval laces, which are designed to be worn without tying. To finish the top with another lace across, you would use the lace from the #1 left eyelet, and tuck in the right lace at the #2 eyelet. (If you are going to use this lacing method with no tie, you might consider making the right side of the lace about an inch or two longer when you start at eyelet pair #8. This will add some length to the lace half that ends up at the #1 left eyelet.)
2. The Stepladder Method.
   Start at the bottom like normal; put the lace through the bottom holes on both sides. But instead of bringing the lace on the right over to the second hole on the left, bring it (still on the outside of the shoe) to the next hole on the same side. Do the same with the lace on the left side. Then bring the right lace through on the inside of the shoe (but still on top of the tongue) and then through the second hole from the last on the left side. The lace has gone now through the second-from-the-bottom holes twice. Now just repeat it the same way, until you get to the top of the shoe.
   

   

   Left to right: the Straight Across lace, detail of the Straight Across lacing method, side view of a laced Straight Across method shoe, the "Stepladder" lace, the "I'm-All-A-Tangle" lace, and "I'm-All-A-Tangle" method completed halfway. Click on the thumbnails to see the larger jpeg.

3. The "I'm-All-A-Tangle" Method.
   Start with a completely unlaced shoe. Instead of starting on the bottom like in most lacing styles, start from the top. This one is easy to do: just lace it like normal, starting at the top, except SKIP A HOLE EACH TIME. Once you get as far as you can, you'll notice that there's one more set of holes, and you just went through the holes behind them, so you can't go any farther while skipping holes. Just use the last holes like normal. Don't worry if there's still a lot of lace left when you reach the very bottom; it's supposed to be that way. Now go back UP the shoe, using the holes that you skipped while going down. This will result in a really original look.
4. The Triangle Method.
   This method is a cross between the standard lacing method and the straight across method. Start by taking the shoelace and placing it in the bottom left eyelet and across to the right bottom eyelet. Take the end of the left lace and run it inside the shoe to the top eyelet. Bring the lace through the eyelet and adjust it so you have about three or four inches of length extending out of the top left eyelet, the normal length you would have for tying the shoelace. Pull all of the slack onto the right lace. It will be considerably longer than normal. With the right lace begin taking it under and out of the second left eyelet from the bottom and then straight across to the next eyelet on the right upper. Be sure to keep the lace untwisted and flat as you bring it through the eyets. Repeat this process until you reach the second eyelet from the top on the right. At this point you simple guide the lace into the top right eyelet from inside the upper. There should be the same approximate shoelace length remaining that you have from the left eyelet. You may have to make some adjustments to fit your foot and to get the laces to lie flat correctly after putting on the shoe. This is easy to do. If so desired, you can alternate the triangle direction on your other shoe, by running the initial lacing on the right side of the upper instead of the left side. The triangle look is a great look for foldovers as well as high top and low cut chucks. It looks best if you start with a brand new pair of laces.

Left to right: Gray and Royal foldover laced up in the Triangle method, views 1 and 2. black high top laced up in alternating Triangle methods, views 1 and 3. Click on the thumbnails to see the larger jpeg.

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Shoelace Information and Ideas	About Shoelaces for Chucks	Lace Up In Style
	Other Styles of Shoelaces	Ideas Photo Gallery
Lacing Tips	Lacing Tips for Chucks	Lacing Tips If the Tongue of Your Shoes Keeps Slipping
	Lacing Tips If Your Shoes Don't Fit Right	New Ways To Lace Up Chucks
Flat Athletic Shoelaces Photo Galleries	Go to the Flat Athletic Shoelaces for Chucks Gallery 1	Go to the Flat Athletic Shoelaces for Chucks Gallery 2
	Go to the Flat Athletic Shoelaces for Chucks Gallery 3	Go to the Neon Shoelaces for Chucks Gallery
GoGo to the ChucksConnection Online Store Page for Ordering Flat Athletic Shoelaces--
Other Shoelace Styles Photo Galleries	Go to the Checkered Shoelaces Gallery	Go to the Narrow Shoelaces Gallery
	Go to the Red, White and Blue Shoelaces Gallery	Go to the Reversible Shoelaces Gallery
	Go to the Skate Laces for Knee High Chucks Gallery	Go to the Star Print Shoelaces Gallery
Go to the ChucksConnection Online Store Page for Ordering Special Weave, Narrow, Print or Reversible Shoelaces-
Go to the ChucksConnection Online Store Page for Ordering Shoelaces for Knee High Chucks-
Fat (Wide) and Retro Shoelace Photo Galleries	Go to the Fat (Wide) Shoelaces for Chucks, Gallery 1	Go to the Fat (Wide) Shoelaces for Chucks, Gallery 2
	Go to the Fat (Wide) Shoelaces for Chucks, Gallery 3	Go to the Fat (Wide) Neon Shoelaces for Chucks Gallery
	Go to the Retro Shoelaces on High Top Chucks Gallery	Go to the Retro Shoelaces on Low Cut Chucks Gallery
Go to the ChucksConnection Online Store Page for Ordering Fat (Wide) or Retro Shoelaces--

							To order a pair of core color high top or low cut chucks, click on the image of the shoe you want.
Black	Monochrome Black	Navy Blue	Pink	Red	Optical White	Natural White

To see the complete selection of seasonal Chuck Taylor high tops, low cut, or youth and infant models currently available, click on the image links.			Click on the image links to purchase flat athletic, fat or retro, novelty shoelaces like multi-color weave, narrow, graphic print, and reversible, or knee high shoelaces for your chucks. You can also order socks, tee-shirts or baseball caps to wear with your chucks, totebags to carry your gear, or books about chucks.
High Tops	Low Cut	Youth and Infant	Flat Athletic Shoelaces	Fat or Retro Shoelaces	Novelty Shoelaces	Knee High Shoelaces	Socks	T-Shirts	Baseball Caps	Totebags	Books