Five-step method
How to window lace running shoes
- Put the shoe on and identify the eyelet rows directly below and above the pressure point.
- Lace normally from the toe until you reach the row just below that spot.
- Instead of crossing, run each lace straight up on the same side for one or two eyelet rows.
- Resume the normal crisscross pattern above the open window.
- Even out the tension with your foot in the shoe, then walk or jog briefly to check the pressure.
What window lacing changes
Window lacing—sometimes called box lacing—removes the diagonal lace crossing from one section of the tongue. The two vertical segments create an open window over a high instep, a sensitive tendon, or another localized pressure point.
The shoe stays normally crossed above and below the window, so you can preserve overall hold while reducing pressure in one specific area.
Move the window to match the pressure
The diagram places the window in the middle of the shoe, but your pressure point may sit higher or lower. Start the vertical section one row below the uncomfortable spot and resume crossing one row above it.
Use a two-row window only when one row is not enough. A larger opening reduces the amount of upper tension in that part of the shoe.
When to stop adjusting the laces
- The pressure remains when the laces are visibly loose.
- You have swelling, bruising, or pain that continues after the shoe comes off.
- Your heel or midfoot becomes unstable when the window is open.
- The shoe upper is stretched tightly around the foot before you tie it.