Pro-Keds reach a 'whole new level of comfort' just by changing how you lace them. A connoisseur reveals the correct 'tightening method' that won't loosen or hurt #PR
Thanks to you, our previous article, 'Top 5 Best Insoles,' has received a tremendous response. We received many comments saying, 'The comfort changed drastically for just a few hundred yen!' but today, I will teach you a method that brings about an equally dramatic change for '0 yen'.
That method is 'how to lace your shoes (shoelaces)'.
Are you wearing them just as they were when you bought them? In fact, canvas sneakers like PRO-Keds can look like 'cheap gym shoes' or 'vintage dress shoes' depending on how you lace them.
This time, I have carefully selected three methods that I especially recommend for PRO-Keds from among the many ways to tie them.
1. Before changing your insoles, first untie your 'laces'
Feet hurting, heels slipping, looking frumpy. The cause is often not the performance of the shoe, but the 'tightening method.' Before buying insoles, let's first untie all the laces you have and reset them.
2. Are you actually losing out? The trap of the 'overlap' that 90% of people use
When you buy sneakers, they come with the laces already threaded, right? That is called 'overlap,' which is the most common way to tie them, crossing the laces from top to bottom.
Pros: Hard to loosen, strong hold.
Cons: Tight, easy to hurt the instep. Looks like 'gym shoes'.
PRO-Keds' selling point is 'simplicity.' With overlap, the crossing of the laces (the X marks) stands out too much, which can ruin the minimalist design.
3. '3 carefully selected lacing methods' recommended by PRO-Keds enthusiasts
So, what should you change to? I have prepared three correct answers based on your purpose.
① 【Best for looks】 Parallel (straight bar lacing)
~Sneakers transform into leather shoes~
What kind of lacing is it? It is the most dress-like lacing method where the laces are lined up horizontally (in a straight line). Because the laces cross on the underside, only 'horizontal lines' are visible from the front.
Benefits for PRO-Keds: The orderly horizontal laces on the simple canvas of the Royal America. This alone gives it the dignity of 'high-end deck shoes.' Also, because it presses against the surface, there is less pressure, and your feet are less likely to swell even during long hours of desk work.
② 【Best for adjustment】 Underlap
~Saving Japanese people with high insteps and wide feet~
What kind of lacing is it? The opposite of overlap; you thread the laces 'from bottom to top' to cross them.
Benefits for PRO-Keds: Compared to the overlap method, the laces move smoothly, making adjustments when putting them on or taking them off overwhelmingly easier. Also, because they provide a fit that lifts from underneath, they are less likely to feel constricting even for those with 'high insteps'. If your feet tend to swell by the evening, this is the only choice.
③ [Ultimate Functionality] Sawtooth Lacing
~A clever lacing method that balances 'looks' and 'hold'~
What kind of lacing is it? When viewed from the front, it looks like a 'parallel (straight bar)' style, but the laces run diagonally on the inside, and when viewed from the side, it looks like 'saw teeth'.
Benefits for PRO-Keds: This is a lacing method that maintains the elegant look of the parallel style while overcoming its only weakness: the difficulty of tightening the laces. The diagonally running laces act like a pulley, allowing you to easily and firmly tighten them just by pulling. For those who feel that 'the size is a bit too big and my feet slide around' or 'I want the parallel look but don't want to sacrifice the fit,' this hybrid lacing method is the ultimate correct answer.
4. Which one is best after all? The 'Final Answer' for PRO-Keds
Here is the optimal solution I propose for PRO-Keds.
Basically, please use the 'parallel (straight bar)' style.
The reason is simple. It makes PRO-Keds look the coolest. The classic two-stripe design and the clean, straight-bar laces. This combination is the golden ratio for adult sneakers.
5. Summary: In just 5 minutes, your favorite shoes will be reborn
Graduate from the 'overlap' style they came with.
The formal attire for PRO-Keds is the beautifully aligned 'parallel' style.
This weekend, try untying your shoelaces and re-lacing them. Just by doing that, your stride on your Monday commute, and the feet you see in the mirror, should feel dramatically lighter.
Now, by mastering the 'insoles' and the 'tightening method (laces),' the potential of your PRO-Keds has been maximized. But humans are greedy. Even after being this particular about the laces, aren't you thinking this somewhere in your heart?
'In the first place, isn't it a hassle to tie the laces every time?' 'It would be great if I could just open and close them with a zipper like boots.'
Actually, there is a 'forbidden custom part' that makes such an unreasonable wish come true. It's not something flimsy like rubber laces. It is a reinforced leather unit that, just by attaching it to the lace holes of your PRO-Keds, transforms your sneakers into 'front-zip boots'.
Next time, the ultimate DIY to ditch your shoelaces. '[Modification] No more tying shoelaces. The parts to customize PRO-Keds into a 'center-zip specification' are amazing. Mode-style look, sneaker-like comfort.'. I will introduce an adult model-kit-like customization where your favorite shoes transform into something else for just a few thousand yen.