How to Lace Vans: 6 Easy Ways (Step-by-Step, 2026)

Vans shoes come with simple flat cotton laces, but the way you lace them changes everything – from how snug the fit feels to how clean the shoe looks. Whether you want the classic criss-cross, a flat bar lace for a minimalist skate look, or a no-tie setup for slip-on convenience, this guide covers six methods with clear step-by-step instructions for each.

No photos needed – each method below is written out precisely enough to follow by feel. Pick the one that fits your style and your model.

Method 1: Standard Criss-Cross (the Classic)

This is how Vans ships their shoes. It works on every model and gives a secure, even fit. Most people do a loose version of this without thinking – here is the correct over-under technique that locks better and stays tied longer.

Steps

1. Thread the lace straight through the bottom two eyelets (one end per side) so equal lengths hang out. This is your anchor.
2. Take the right end and cross it over the left end, then push it up through the next left eyelet from underneath.
3. Take the left end and cross it over the right end, then push it up through the next right eyelet from underneath.
4. Repeat the over-under alternation up through every eyelet pair.
5. At the top, tie normally. The over-under pattern creates diagonal lace crosses that grip the tongue and hold tension evenly.

Best for: Vans Authentic, Era, and any low-top model where comfort and security matter more than aesthetics.

Method 2: Bar Lacing / Straight Lacing (the Skate Look)

Bar lacing – also called straight or ladder lacing – is the most popular custom lace style for Vans Old Skool and Sk8-Hi. It creates clean horizontal bars instead of diagonals, which is what you see on most skate shop display pairs. It also puts less pressure on the top of the foot, which some people find more comfortable.

Steps

1. Thread the lace straight across the bottom two eyelets (inside-out, so the lace ends come up through the eyelets). Both ends should come out on top.
2. Take the left end and feed it straight up on the outside (along the left edge of the shoe) and push it through the next left eyelet from outside to inside.
3. Take that same end and run it straight across inside the shoe to the right side, then push it up through the corresponding right eyelet from inside to outside. You now have a horizontal bar on the outside of the shoe.
4. Take the right end and feed it straight up on the outside to the next right eyelet, in from outside to inside.
5. Run it straight across inside to the left, push up through the left eyelet.
6. Keep alternating sides – one end at a time, always running horizontally across the inside and surfacing as a clean bar on the outside.
7. At the top two eyelets, tuck the ends under the last bar to hide them, or tie a knot and tuck it inside the shoe.

Best for: Vans Old Skool, Sk8-Hi, Half Cab. White or solid-color laces show the bars most clearly.

Method 3: Lace Swap – No-Tie Elastic Laces

Elastic no-tie laces turn any laced Vans into a quick pull-on. They are especially useful for skaters who want a snug fit without stopping to retie, and for anyone with the older-style thin Vans laces that tend to come undone.

Steps

1. Remove the original laces completely.
2. Thread the elastic lace using standard criss-cross from the bottom eyelet up.
3. At the top, the elastic lace system usually has a small plastic lock or barrel – slide it down the laces to hold tension, then trim any excess and tuck the ends into the shoe.
4. Adjust the barrel until the fit feels snug but not tight when you slide your foot in.

If you are replacing Vans laces entirely, flat 3/8-inch (10mm) cotton laces are the closest match to the originals. A good option: flat thin sneaker replacement laces on Amazon.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission if you purchase through them, at no extra cost to you.

Method 4: Hidden Knot Lacing

The hidden knot method keeps the bow tucked underneath the tongue of the shoe for a completely clean look on top. It is a favorite for Vans Era and Authentic worn as casual fashion shoes.

Steps

1. Lace the shoe using standard criss-cross all the way to the second-to-last eyelet pair, leaving longer ends than usual (about 18-20 inches of slack).
2. Instead of bringing the laces through the last top eyelets from underneath, thread them down through from the top so both ends come out underneath the tongue flap.
3. Tie your normal bow underneath the tongue.
4. Tuck the bow under the tongue of the shoe so it sits flat against the foot. The top of the shoe shows clean laces only, no bow.

Best for: Low-tops like the Vans Authentic or Era. Requires slightly longer laces than stock – see the Vans shoelace length guide for correct lengths by model.

Method 5: Display / Store Lacing (the Retail Look)

Walk into any Vans retailer and you will notice the display shoes have a distinctive neat look – the laces form a zigzag on the outside with each cross sitting flat and even. This is sometimes called “store lacing” or “display lacing.” It is purely cosmetic but looks sharp on a fresh pair.

Steps

1. Thread the lace straight across the bottom eyelet from outside to inside so both ends come out inside the shoe.
2. Bring both ends straight up inside the shoe to the next eyelet pair and push them out through the top (inside to outside).
3. Cross the right end over the left, then feed each end down into the opposite eyelet (outside to inside).
4. Inside the shoe, each end passes straight up to the next eyelet and pushes out again.
5. Repeat: cross on the outside, pass straight up inside. The result is flat diagonal crosses on the outside with no twisting.
6. Tuck or tie the ends inside when you reach the top.

Method 6: Slip-On and Checkerboard Styling Note

Vans Slip-On models have no laces at all – they use elastic side panels to hold the shoe on. If you have a Slip-On and the elastic has gone loose, replacement elastic panels are not a DIY fix; the canvas needs to be restitched at a cobbler.

For the iconic Vans checkerboard (Classic Slip-On or Era Checkerboard), the laces – when present on the laced version – are always white flat cotton, which sets off the black-and-white pattern cleanly. Bar lacing (Method 2 above) is the preferred choice for the checkerboard Era because the horizontal bars read as clean geometry that complements the pattern.

If you have comfort as a priority when choosing Vans, the Checkerboard Era with bar lacing and a gel insole is one of the better all-day wearers in the lineup.

What Lace Length Do You Need?

Getting the right lace length matters because Vans models vary significantly in the number of eyelets – and some methods like bar lacing use less lace than criss-cross.

Vans Model	Eyelets (each side)	Standard Lace Length
Vans Authentic	5	36 in (90 cm)
Vans Era	6	45 in (114 cm)
Vans Old Skool	7	45 in (114 cm)
Vans Sk8-Hi	8	54 in (137 cm)

For exact measurements per method and shoe size, see the full Vans shoelace length chart or the complete universal shoelace length chart. If you are unsure whether your Vans fit runs true to size, check the Vans sizing guide before ordering replacement laces in a longer length.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you lace Vans Old Skool?

The Vans Old Skool has 7 eyelet holes per side. You can lace it with standard criss-cross for a secure fit, or bar lacing (Method 2 above) for the clean horizontal-bar skate look the shoe is known for. The Old Skool takes a 45-inch lace for both methods.

How do you bar lace Vans?

Bar lacing on Vans starts with the lace running straight across the bottom pair of eyelets, then alternating: one end goes straight up along the outside edge, threads across the inside of the shoe, and surfaces as a clean horizontal bar on the opposite side. You repeat this pattern – always going up on the outside, across on the inside – until you reach the top. See Method 2 above for full step-by-step instructions.

What length laces come with Vans?

Vans ships their shoes with flat cotton laces in lengths matched to each model: approximately 36 inches for the Authentic (5 eyelets), 45 inches for the Era and Old Skool (6-7 eyelets), and 54 inches for the Sk8-Hi (8 eyelets). The exact length can vary slightly by size. If you are replacing laces, those are the stock lengths to match.

How do you lace Vans Sk8-Hi?

The Sk8-Hi is a high-top with 8 eyelets per side, so it needs a 54-inch lace. Bar lacing (Method 2) is especially popular on the Sk8-Hi because it keeps the ankle area looking clean as the laces go higher. You can also use standard criss-cross for maximum hold, which is useful for skating since the ankle support depends on the lace staying snug.

How do you lace Vans without tying them?

Swap the original laces for elastic no-tie laces (Method 3 above). Thread them using the same criss-cross path as regular laces, then secure them with the included barrel or lock at the top. You will get a snug fit without any bow to untie. Alternatively, the hidden knot method (Method 4) does not eliminate tying, but it hides the bow under the tongue so the shoe looks clean from the top.