How To Lace Chucks

“Are you serious,” you ask, “why would anyone read, let alone write an article on how to lace Chucks?” Well, it’s apparent you are not one of the enlightened throng who own a pair of Chucks, or else you would know there is a technique to lacing up these jewels for the feet. From a humble beginning in Malden, Massachusetts, the brainchild of Marquis M. Converse, the Converse All-Star shoe was born. In addition to having a talent for shoe design, Converse recognized an opportunity when he saw it, and used the growing popularity of basketball as inspiration to mass produce a superior athletic shoe. The Converse All-Star shoe was a success on the basketball court, but did not become the hardcourt shoe of choice until Chuck Taylor was hired as a shoe salesman. Taylor made alterations to the original design, and his name was added to the shoe, Chuck Taylor Converse All-Stars, and the rest is history.

Even though, Converse All-Stars are the best selling athletic shoe in history, the company went bankrupt and was bought by Nike in 2001. A precursor of things to come, in the 1990’s Converse made shoe lace changes that included, narrowing the width, lace composition going from thick stretchable cotton to polyester or polyester blends, and 52” length for both the seven eyelet low cut and eight eyelet high cut. The 52” lace length for the Chuck high cuts was 2” shorter than the original 54” length, which has made it more difficult for Chuck high cut wearers to lace up to the eighth eyelet.  But, Chuck wearers are an innovative bunch, and have come up with maneuvers to get around the 2”dilemma.  Read on to see how to lace Chucks.  

1. Before you begin lacing your Chucks, center shoe tongue beneath eyelet rows, and straighten removing any wrinkles or creases.
2. Thread laces through the bottom eyelets (eyelets nearest the shoe toe box). Make sure equal length of lace extends from both the right and left eyelets.
3. Now take one lace end and thread up and over and through the bottom of the second eyelet on the other side. Now repeat the same instructions for the other lace end. You should now see a crisscross or “x” formation. Make sure laces are cinched for comfortable and snug fit.
4. Repeat the second step up to the seventh eyelet for low cuts, and up to the eighth eyelet for high cuts.
5. If you run out of lace length before the last eyelet you may have to purchase the 54” original standard length lace, or opt out of lacing up the last set of eyelets.
6. After putting the shoe on give laces one last cinch to tighten, and tie in a signature bow. Now, you know how to lace Chucks.

So, yes seriously, this is an article about how to lace Chucks, and until you own a pair you won’t really understand the attention and care Chuck wearers give these prized shoes.