Every hockey player needs a good pair of skates. In order to get the best performance and remain comfortable while playing hockey, it’s important that you lace your hockey skates properly. Hockey skates can’t be slipped on like a pair of shoes, they must be laced properly so you can stay steady on the ice.
There are a few different ways you can lace your hockey skates, such as under criss-cross lacing, over criss-cross lacing, and lock lacing, for example. The key is to make sure the hockey skates are tied up so they are snug, but not too tight to the point of causing pain. Each way involves starting at the bottom of the skate and lacing your way to the top.
On this page, we’re going to discuss some of the most common ways to lace a hockey skate. Each method is very simple but may need some practice to ensure it’s comfortable for your feet. Always make sure the hockey skate is tied up comfortably so it doesn’t affect how you skate on the ice. Keep reading to learn more about lacing your hockey skate.
Method 1: Under Criss-Cross Lacing
One of the most common methods for lacing hockey skates is the under lacing method. You may have even noticed that the majority of hockey players wear their skates this way. Since this is the classic lacing style, This is a great method to learn if it’s your first time lacing hockey skates. Here is what you need to do:
- Get your lace ready and start at the bottom of the skate.
- Start at the first eyelet on each side of the skate and start lacing from the outside to the inside.
- Continue working your way up the skate. For each eyelet, you will need to cross the ends of the lace.
- Always pull the lace through the inner section of the eyelets and cross over.
- On you have reached the top, tie the lace so your ankles are snug in the hockey skate.
Method 2: Over Criss-Cross Lacing
If you find that the under criss-cross lacing method results in a fit that’s too loose, you may want to try the over criss-cross lacing style. This style looks similar to the under method but fits tighter. Similar to the method we mentioned above, this style involves starting at the bottom of the skate and lacing outside to the inside.
However, what you will do differently with this style is feed the lace over the sides of the eyelets instead of through the inside. While the finished results will look similar to the under criss-cross lacing style, you will feel the difference when you are moving around the ice.
Method 3: Lock Lacing
The lock lacing technique was actually inspired by runners as a way to reduce slipping. While it’s not every player’s favorite style, there are some hockey players that can benefit from it. People who have experienced ankle injuries in the past while skating or are new to skating may prefer this style of lacing. Children and youth can also benefit from this style if their skates are too loose.
To achieve this, you will need to start by using either the under or the over criss-cross lacing technique. However, you won’t go all the way to the top. Simply do one of these methods until you reach the 2nd eyelets from the top.
Once your lace is through the second eyelets, don’t cross them again. Take the lace and pull it through the outside of the eyelet that is directly on top.
Method 4: Double Cross Lacing
There’s one more method that hockey players should know about before choosing what style works best for them. This is a very quick technique once you get the hang of it. It has become popular because it tightens the hockey skate to help reduce slipping.
Choose either the under or the over criss-cross technique and lace your hockey skates up to the top. Once you go for the final cross before tying the laces, this is when you need to switch up the steps. Instead of crossing them once, cross the laces twice. This will be much tighter than other techniques, so it may take longer to untie after the game.
Final Thoughts
Before you play a game of hockey, you need to make sure you have a good pair of skates. It’s also important that you tie them up correctly. If you tie the skates too loosely, it puts you at a greater risk of falling on the ice. To avoid injury, it’s important that you learn one or more of the lacing techniques we mentioned on this page.
Before attempting to learn method 3 or 4, we recommend learning the under or over criss-cross lacing technique first.
