Customize Your Shoes With These Tricks

PROBLEM: "MY SHOE IS TOO TIGHT ALONG THE TOP OF MY FOOT."
Solution: Use parallel lacing to secure your foot without putting pressure on the top.

Technique:
Lace the first two eyelets on the big-toe side of the tongue (not the first eyelet on either side of the tongue like you normally would). Bring the lace from the first eyelet straight across to the first eyelet on the other side of the tongue and push it through. Pull it straight up the side, skipping one eyelet, and thread it through the third eyelet. Pull it straight across the tongue, and push it through the third eyelet on the opposite side. Repeat until all eyelets are laced and tied.


PROBLEM: "MY TOES FEEL CRAMPED."
Solution: Reduce forefoot constriction by using four shoelaces instead of two.

Technique:
Remove the laces and measure them. Buy two sets (four laces) half that length. On both shoes, use one lace for the bottom three eyelets and a second lace for the upper three eyelets. The end result will be two bows on each shoe, allowing you to tie the bottom laces looser to accommodate your wider forefoot.

More: Anatomy of a Running Shoe

PROBLEM: "MY HEEL SLIDES UP AND DOWN."

Solution: Create a more secure fit around the ankle without tightening the entire shoe.

Technique: Lace as normal until one eyelet remains on each side. Draw the lace straight up on the outside of the shoe and bring it through the last eyelet. This will create a loop. Repeat on the other side. Cross each lace over the tongue, thread it through the opposite loop, and tie. The loops help to cinch in the material around your ankle to prevent your heel from slipping without making the rest of your shoe any tighter.

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