The Air Jordan 1 is one of the most-laced sneakers on earth, partly because its tall, eight-eyelet upper gives you room to experiment. Lacing changes both the fit and the whole vibe of the shoe. Here are five approaches that look clean.
1. Classic criss-cross
The standard factory lacing: cross the laces over each other up the shoe, threading through each eyelet from below. It is balanced, secure, and never wrong.
2. Bar (straight) lacing
Horizontal bars across the top with the crossovers hidden underneath. It gives a cleaner, more minimal front and is popular for showing off the panels on premium colorways.
3. Loose top eyelets
Lace normally but skip or loosely thread the top one or two eyelets. This is the everyday streetwear look — relaxed, a little slouchy, easy to slip on. It also relieves pressure on the top of the foot.
4. Loose and untied
Lace through most eyelets and leave the top undone, tongue out, laces tucked or hanging. This is the classic “just cop” AJ1 look you see on release day. Purely aesthetic, and polarizing — which is the point.
5. Skip lacing for wide feet
If the AJ1 feels tight across the top, skip an eyelet in the middle of the shoe to open up volume without losing heel lock. It is the most comfort-focused option.
A note on fit
Air Jordan 1s generally fit true to size for most people, with a snug toe box that loosens as the leather breaks in. How you lace them meaningfully changes comfort, so it is worth trying a couple of these before deciding they do not fit.