If you’ve ever found yourself staring down haplessly at your new Sk8-His, with a set of shoelaces in one hand while using the other to scratch your head in puzzlement, this how to lace vans guide is definitely for you.

Okay, in reality, this probably isn’t a situation you’ve ever had to contend with before, because when it comes to lacing our favourite shoes, 90 percent of us (not an official statistic) just leave them the way we found them when we first took them out of the box. However, paying a little more care and consideration to how you tie them can help elevate your footwear game to the next level.

Plus, if you want to keep your kicks fresh, you should be in the habit of putting your laces in the washing machine every now and again. Especially if they’re white. The grime that builds up on white laces can let your look down even if you’ve been liberal with the suede protector.

How To Lace Vans Sneakers

Vans has produced literally thousands of variations since they debuted in 1966, and while some of them haven’t stuck around for very long, there are four key lace-up models that have truly stood the test of time. Some of them are arguably among the the best sneakers of all time.

Here’s how to lace vans by shoe type, and remember, there are certain lacing methods that suit some models more than others.

How to Lace Vans Authentic

The Vans Authentic was the first shoe to be produced and sold by the legendary skate brand back in 1966. On its first day, it sold just 12 pairs, but today it’s one of the most popular trainers on the planet, and with good reason it’s a style classic and can be dressed up or down with ease.

The Authentic has a basic canvas construction with a low profile and a signature waffle-tread sole. It also only features five eyelet pairs, which are fairly close together, meaning short laces are all that are required here. The lacing system is also closed at the bottom like an Oxford shoe, meaning that when you tie them up, you’ll get a neat, tight fit.