5 Best Ways to Lace Hockey Skates for Optimal Fit and Performance

Hockey Skates Lacing Techniques

Lace up your hockey skates and get ready for a thrilling game on the ice! The way you lace your skates significantly impacts your performance, comfort, and overall skating experience. Whether you’re a seasoned player or just starting out, mastering the art of hockey skate lacing is crucial for optimal performance. This guide will provide you with step-by-step instructions on the best way to lace your hockey skates, ensuring a secure fit and enhanced skating capabilities.

Begin by loosening all the laces and placing the tongue of the skate firmly against the inside of the boot. Insert the left lace through the bottom eyelet on the left side of the skate and pull it tight. Continue lacing in an alternating crisscross pattern, ensuring the lace is snug but not overly tight. As you reach the top, thread the laces through the topmost eyelets, crossing them over and pulling them tight. This initial lacing provides a secure base and prevents the foot from sliding forward inside the skate.

Next, focus on the middle section of the skate. Start by pulling the laces tight at the bottom of the instep, creating a snug fit around the arch of your foot. Continue lacing upwards, employing a tighter lacing pattern than before. This ensures optimal support and stability, preventing ankle sprains and other injuries. Once you reach the top of the middle section, loop the laces around the hooks and pull them tight, creating a secure lock that keeps the foot firmly in place. Remember, the middle section should be the tightest part of your lacing, providing the necessary support for quick turns and rapid acceleration.

Step-by-Step Guide for Optimal Lacing

1. Prepare Your Skates

Before lacing, ensure that your skates are comfortable and fit securely. Begin by sitting on a bench or chair with your skates unlaced and off your feet. Insert your foot into the skate and adjust the toe cap so it sits snugly against your toes. Tighten the ankle strap just enough to hold your foot in place without restricting movement. Next, lace the eyelets closest to the toe by threading the laces through the holes and criss-crossing them to secure them. Pull the laces firmly but not too tightly to create a foundation for even distribution of pressure.

2. Lace the Forefoot and Midfoot

Starting from the second row of eyelets, continue lacing in a standard criss-cross pattern up to the midfoot. Focus on maintaining an equal tension throughout the laces. Avoid overtightening the laces, as this can restrict circulation and cause discomfort. Instead, aim for a snug fit that allows for some flexibility while providing support.

3. Lace the Ankle and Heel

For the ankle and heel area, opt for a “heel lock” lacing technique. This method involves looping the laces through the top two eyelets on either side and crossing them over the heel. Repeat this pattern with the next set of eyelets, creating a secure and comfortable hold around your ankle. Ensure the fit is snug but not constricting, allowing for some movement within the heel to prevent blisters.

4. Double Knot and Tug

After lacing all the eyelets, double knot the laces to ensure a secure fit. Then, gently tug on both laces simultaneously to evenly distribute the pressure throughout the boot. Avoid yanking on the laces excessively, as this can put unnecessary strain on the eyelets and cause them to break.

5. Check the Fit

With the skates fully laced, stand up and check the fit. There should be no excessive pressure or discomfort anywhere on your feet or ankles. If necessary, adjust the tightness of the laces by pulling them slightly looser or tighter until you achieve an optimal fit.

Tailoring Laces for Individual Foot Shape

The key to finding the perfect lace fit is understanding your foot shape. Narrow feet may require a tighter lace, while wider feet may need a looser one.

Here are some tips for tailoring laces to your specific needs:

1. Determine Your Foot Width

Stand on a piece of paper and trace both of your feet. Measure the widest part of each foot and compare the measurements.

2. Choose the Right Lace Length

Lace length is determined by the number of eyelets and the desired tightness. For a snug fit, choose a lace that is 36 inches long for skate sizes up to 9 and 42 inches long for skate sizes 10 and above.

3. Lace the Skates

Start by threading the lace through the bottom two eyelets. Cross the laces over and thread them through the next two eyelets. Continue lacing in this pattern, alternating crisscrossing and threading through the eyelets.

4. Adjust the Tightness

After the laces are threaded, pull them to tighten the skates. The fit should be snug, but not restrictive. If the skates are too tight, they can cause pain and discomfort.

5. Customizing the Lace Pattern

For additional support, consider using a customized lace pattern. Some common patterns include:

Pattern	Description
Straight Laced	Traditional pattern that provides even pressure distribution.
Heel Lock	Tightens the lace around the heel for extra support.
Toe Lock	Tightens the lace around the toe box for a secure fit.

Maximizing Ankle Stability and Mobility

Proper lacing techniques are crucial for optimizing performance and minimizing the risk of injuries. Here’s a detailed guide to lacing hockey skates for maximum ankle stability and mobility:

1. Use a High-Quality Lace

Choose a lace that is durable, low-stretch, and provides a secure hold.

2. Start with a Snug Fit

Lace the skates tightly enough to provide support without restricting mobility.

3. Cross-Lace the First Three Eyelets

This creates a strong “X” pattern that locks the heel in place and prevents unnecessary shifting.

4. Alternate Lacing Method

Continue lacing the remaining eyelets using an alternate pattern (over-under-over-under).

5. Tighten Evenly

Pull the laces evenly throughout the entire skate to ensure uniform pressure distribution.

6. Advanced Lacing Technique for Ankle Stability

For enhanced ankle stability, consider the following modified lacing pattern:

Modified Lacing Technique

Lace Through Eyelet	Lace Over
1 and 7	2
1 and 7	3
1 and 7	4
1 and 7	5
1 and 7	6
1 and 7	8

This pattern creates a tighter fit around the ankles, providing greater support and reducing the risk of ankle rolls.

Enhancing Power and Control with Effective Lacing

1. Determine the Lacing Method

The criss-cross lacing method provides optimal support and durability for both power and control.

2. Start with a Hole

Insert the laces through the bottom hole on one side of the skate, leaving enough slack for adjustments.

3. Lace the First Section

Criss-cross the laces up the skate, gradually tightening each pair of holes. Avoid overtightening, as this can cause discomfort.

4. Lock the Heel

Once you reach the top eyelets, lace back down one pair of holes to create a secure heel lock. This stabilizes the heel and improves control.

5. Tie a Double Knot

Tie a double knot to ensure the laces stay secure during play.

6. Leave Space for Movement

Avoid lacing the skates too tightly, as this can restrict ankle movement and power generation.

7. Customize the Lacing

Adjust the lacing tension and skip holes to fine-tune the fit and support for your specific foot shape and skating style.

8. Expert Lacing Techniques for Enhanced Performance

Power Boost: Lace tightly from the bottom to the top of the skate, creating a high-pressure zone in the arch area for increased stability and power.
Ankle Flexibility: Skip a hole near the top of the skate to allow for greater ankle flexibility, ideal for players who rely on quick agility.
Enhanced Control: Lace the laces looser in the top eyelets, allowing the boot to flex more, providing better control and maneuverability.
Custom Comfort: Combine different lacing techniques to create a customized fit that prioritizes both power and comfort.

Lacing Method	Benefits
Traditional Criss-Cross	Provides optimal support and durability
Power Boost	Enhances stability and power
Ankle Flexibility	Allows for greater agility
Enhanced Control	Improves maneuverability
Custom Comfort	Prioritizes both power and comfort

Lacing Strategies for Different Playing Styles

The way you lace your hockey skates can have a significant impact on your performance on the ice. Different lacing strategies can provide different levels of support, comfort, and mobility, depending on your playing style.

1. Traditional Lacing

This is the most common lacing method, where the laces are crisscrossed over each other in a straight line from the bottom to the top of the skate.

2. Offset Lacing

This method is similar to traditional lacing, but the laces are offset from the center of the skate by one or two eyelets. This can provide more support to the outside of the foot.

3. Lock Lacing

This method involves crisscrossing the laces over each other, then looping them through the next eyelet on the opposite side. This creates a more secure fit and prevents the laces from coming undone.

4. Heel Lock Lacing

This method is designed to provide extra support to the heel. The laces are crisscrossed over each other, then looped around the heel before continuing up the skate.

5. Toe Lock Lacing

Similar to heel lock lacing, this method provides extra support to the toes. The laces are crisscrossed over each other, then looped around the toe before continuing up the skate.

6. Crossover Lacing

This method involves crossing the laces over each other multiple times, creating an X-shape pattern. This can provide more support and stability to the foot.

7. Surgeon’s Knot Lacing

This method is similar to traditional lacing, but the laces are tied in a surgeon’s knot at the top, which creates a more secure and durable knot.

8. Tie-Less Lacing

This method involves using a special lace that wraps around the skate and is tightened with a buckle or Velcro strap. This eliminates the need for traditional laces.

9. Lace Tightness

How tightly you lace your skates will also depend on your playing style and personal preference. Some players prefer a tight fit for maximum support, while others prefer a looser fit for more mobility.

Here’s a general guide to lace tightness for different playing styles:

Playing Style	Lace Tightness
Forwards	Medium-tight to tight
Defensemen	Tight to very tight
Goalies	Loose to medium-tight

Ultimately, the best way to lace your hockey skates is the way that feels most comfortable and provides the most support and mobility for your playing style.

Heel Lock

Create a secure fit around the heel by snugly lacing the bottom 3-4 eyelets. This prevents heel slippage and provides stability during skating.

Midfoot Support

Tighten the laces evenly through the midfoot eyelets to ensure optimal support and power transfer. It prevents the arch from collapsing and provides a responsive feel.

Ankle Flexion

Lace the top 2-3 eyelets more loosely to allow for natural ankle flexion. This enables effortless stride execution and reduces the risk of ankle sprains.


Hockey Laces	Round or oval-shaped laces with a waxy coating. They stay tied securely and provide excellent friction.
Crossover Lacing	Lace each eyelet in an alternating criss-cross pattern, creating a secure yet flexible fit.
Double Back Lacing	Thread the laces through each eyelet twice, resulting in a tighter and more durable lace.
Heel Lock Lacing	Create a heel lock by lacing the bottom 3-4 eyelets tightly and securely, preventing heel slippage.
Midfoot Support Lacing	Tighten the laces evenly through the midfoot eyelets to ensure optimal support and power transfer.
Ankle Flexion Lacing	Lace the top 2-3 eyelets more loosely to allow for natural ankle flexion, facilitating stride execution.

The Ultimate Guide to Lacing Hockey Skates

Lacing hockey skates properly is essential for both comfort and performance. The right lacing technique can help to prevent blisters, pressure points, and even injuries. There are several different ways to lace hockey skates, but the following method is considered the most effective:

Start by threading the laces through the bottom two eyelets on each side of the skate.
Cross the laces over each other and pull them tight.
Continue lacing up the skate, crossing the laces over each other and pulling them tight as you go.
When you reach the top of the skate, tie the laces securely.

This lacing method helps to distribute the pressure evenly across the foot and ankle, and it also helps to keep the heel in place. It is important to lace the skates snugly, but not too tightly. If the skates are too tight, they can cut off circulation and cause discomfort. If the skates are too loose, they will not provide adequate support and could lead to injuries.