How to Lace Running Shoes for Wide Feet
It is said the wearer of the shoe knows where it pinches most, and the same applies when you wear a loose shoe. A tight or loose shoe is the last thing you want to hit the road with, whether you are doing a workout or traveling.
The type of shoe you purchase can be a significant determinant on the comfort you will find in wearing it, but the way you tie the laces also plays a role as well. Most probably, the shoe comes with the laces tied in a zigzag form, but this does not mean you have to put it on as is. You always have the choice to reset it to fit just perfectly, depending on your type of feet.
Many people with wide feet find it tough when it comes to finding comfortable shoes. However, this does not have to be the case, especially with so many available options. If this is the case for you, here are some ideas on how to lace running shoes for wide feet.
Things you should understand
First, you need to know a few things before moving on to lacing your shoe. These include the eyelets—the holes that you insert the laces through to tighten them.
- Over—is the method of putting the laces inwards from the outside of the shoe
- Under—this is inserting your laces in the eyelets from inside outwards
How to lace your shoes
Using certain techniques can help reduce the pressure on your foot by creating spaces known as windows in the pattern you use for lacing. These windows can be created anywhere you choose to, as you do not have to use all the eyelets in lacing your shoes.
If your foot is wide for the shoe, you can run the laces only to the sides from the middle of the foot. Then finish with a crisscross over every eyelet before tying up the laces on the front of your foot.
You can also use a different pattern to create more space for the ball of your foot. This method begins by placing the lace over one of the eyelets near your toe. Then fasten it through one side to enter each under the other the consecutive lace catcher down. Repeat with each end over the next eyelet. Crisscross the laces to finish tying off.
You can also use the heel lock technique, which helps prevent the foot from sliding forward if you are descending a steep slope. Start with surgeon’s knot, and then create a window at the shoe’s top. Next, pass the laces again through either side.
Now, tie a surgeon’s knot close to the speed lace section; then move the lace up and cross the laces over the second eyelet. Fit the shoe in tightly, by using another surgeon’s knot before tying off.
If your foot is wide and less comfortable whenever you put on your shoe, try the parallel lace method to make the fit looser. This technique involves alternating the eyelets as you insert the laces up.
In this case, you start by adjusting the laces to the bottom lace catcher, then on one side, skip the second eyelet and insert the lace in the third one. Then put the other end of the lace into the second eyelet, and skip the third hole to put in the fourth one.
Alternate the eyelets like that up the entire length of the lace catchers that you have on the shoe. This comes in very handy in making the shoe fit, yet leaving enough room for your wide foot.
Conclusion
If there is one thing that can cause you discomfort and disrupt your concentration in whatever you are doing, it is putting on a tight shoe. Tight shoes are always a significant challenge for people with wide feet.
However, lacing your shoes in the right way can help deal with this problem. This goes a long way if you have several lacing options since the eyelets in shoes are not always similar in number. Look for a method works best for you and go for that for a looser shoe. The right lacing is a fantastic way to ensure your comfort with your preferred shoes.