Loosely Lacing Sambas (Standard)
Thread each end of the lace down through the bottom eyelets. Hold the lace at the end, or the “aglet.” Thread one end down (away from you) through one of the bottom holes, or “eyelets.” Pull the lace until it’s about halfway through. Then, thread the other end down through the matching eyelet on the other side. Once the ends are through, tug on both ends of the laces, adjusting them until both sides of the lace are the same length. This style of lacing gives your shoes a more traditional look and a loose, casual fit.
Cross the right lace down through the next eyelet on the left. With the toe of the shoe facing you, grab the lace on the right-hand side. Bring it to the left-hand row of eyelets and thread it down through the eyelet that’s second to the bottom. If you like, you might also choose to thread the aglets up toward you while you lace. It won’t make a huge difference in the fit, but it will slightly change the look.
Cross the left-hand lace over and down through the right eyelet. Now, cross the lace that’s on the bottom left side over the lace you just threaded toward the right-hand side of the shoe. Thread it down through the right-hand eyelet that’s second from the bottom. Or, bring this lace under the right-hand lace, if you like. Again, it’s just a small visual difference. If you do, though, make sure to follow this pattern all the way up the shoe.
Continue lacing up the shoe to the top eyelets. Work your way up the shoe this way. Take the lace on the right-hand side and thread it down through the next available eyelet on the opposite side of the shoe. Then, take the lace on the left-hand side and bring it over the lace you just crossed, then thread it down into the next available eyelet on the other side. This makes a criss-cross pattern all the way up the shoe. Near the midpoint, thread the laces through the loop in the center of the tongue, if your Sambas have this. Make sure the laces follow this pattern the whole way! The lace going up and to the right will always cross over the lace going up and to the left.
Bar Lacing Sambas
Thread each end of the lace down through the bottom eyelets. Hold the lace at one end, known as the “aglet.” Thread that end down (away from you) through one of the bottom holes, or “eyelets.” Pull the lace until it’s about halfway through. Then, thread the other end down through the matching eyelet on the other side. Once the ends are through, tug on both ends of the laces, adjusting them until both sides of the lace are the same length. This method makes for an even looser, but less secure, fit. It’s also known as straight lacing. This style works best for shoes with an even number of eyelets on each side. Many Sambas have an odd number of eyelets, so just stop lacing before the top eyelet.
Thread the left lace up and through the next aglet. Hold the shoe so that the toe is facing you. Take the left-hand side of the lace, bring it up to the very next eyelet on the left side of the shoe, and thread it through the eyelet so it comes up toward you.
Thread the right lace up through the eyelet third from the bottom. Now, do the same with the lace on the right side, except this time, skip an eyelet, so that the lace comes up and toward you through the right-hand eyelet that’s third from the bottom of the shoe. This leaves an empty eyelet on the right, which we’ll use in the next step.
Bring the left-hand lace straight across to the empty right eyelet. Grab the lace on the left side of the shoe and move it straight across the tongue. Thread it down (away from you) through the empty eyelet that’s second from the bottom on the right side of the shoe.
Bring the upper right-hand lace straight across to the left. Now, both laces emerge on the right side of the shoe. Take the lace closer to the top (the one that skipped a hole before) and bring it straight across the shoe, to the left side of the tongue. Then, thread it down and through the eyelet on the left side of the shoe.
Continue skipping eyelets and bringing the laces across. Keep lacing the shoe all the way up. Take the right-hand lace, bring it up and through the next available eyelet on the right, skipping the hole the other lace already threaded through. Then, bring this same lace across the shoe, then down and through the left-hand eyelet. After, take the lower lace on the left side of the shoe and bring it up and through the next available eyelet on the left, skipping the eyelet you just threaded the other end of the lace through, and so on.
Diamond Lacing Sambas
Thread each end of the lace up through the bottom eyelets. Hold the lace at one end, known as the “aglet.” Thread this end up (toward you) through one of the bottom holes, or “eyelets.” Pull the lace until it’s about halfway through. Then, thread the other end up through the matching eyelet on the other side. Once the ends are through, tug on both ends of the laces, adjusting them until both sides of the lace are the same length. This style offers both a secure fit and a neat, intricate look to your laces.
Bring the right lace to the left eyelet that’s third from the bottom. Hold the shoe with the toe pointing at you. Grab the lace on the right side and bring it across the shoe and up to the eyelet that’s third from the bottom. Thread the lace down (away from you) through this eyelet. Notice that you’re skipping a hole on the left side of the shoe. We’ll get to that in a moment!
Thread the same lace down through the eyelet below it. Take that same lace you just threaded (now on the left side of the shoe) and thread it up toward you through the eyelet just below it, so that it travels down toward the toe of the shoe.
Do the same action with the other end of the lace. Now, grab the lower lace on the left side and bring it across to the right side of the shoe. Thread it down through the eyelet that’s third from the bottom, then up through the eyelet that’s second from the bottom.
Thread the right-hand lace down through the next left-hand eyelet. Take the lace that’s now on the right of the shoe and bring it up and across to the left. Thread it down through the next available eyelet on the left of the shoe—the fourth from the bottom.
Thread the left-hand lace down through the next right-hand eyelet. Now you have two laces on the left-hand side. Take the lower lace and bring it across to the right side of the shoe. Thread it down through the next available eyelet on the right side—also the fourth from the bottom. You’ll see a diamond pattern starting to form over the tongue of the Sambas.
Thread both laces up through the eyelets just below them. Take the left-hand lace and bring it down to the left-hand eyelet that’s third from the bottom. Thread it up through this eyelet. Then, do the same for the right-hand lace with the right-hand eyelet that’s third from the bottom. Note that you’re threading these laces through eyelets that have already been threaded.
Cross the right-hand lace over to the left side of the shoe. Take the lace on the right side of the shoe and bring it over to the left side. Thread it down and through the next available eyelet on the left side, which will be the fifth from the bottom.
Cross the left-hand lace over to the right side of the shoe. Take the lower lace on the left side of the shoe and bring it over to the right side. Thread it down and through the next available eyelet on the right side, which will be the fifth from the bottom. Add a neat woven pattern by weaving this lace under and then over the 2 laces it crosses on the way to the other side.
Continue lacing this way up to the top of the shoe. Now, repeat the last 3 steps all the way up to the top eyelets. Thread either lace up through the eyelet just behind them, then across the shoe and down through the next available eyelet on the other side. Keep going until you thread the laces into the top eyelets. As you go, make sure you always cross the right lace over the shoe, then cross the left lace over that one to achieve the perfect diamond pattern.
Lacing Basics for Adidas Sambas
Keep the laces straight and untwisted. As you lace your shoes, make sure the laces aren’t twisting. Lace them so that they’re always flat on the tongue of the shoe and so that they “hug” the eyelets with their broad side rather than getting bunched up in the holes. This "hugging" style helps keep them secure and looking tidy.
Loosen the laces as you go. When you lace your shoes, pull the laces taught through the eyelets, but not tight. Otherwise, you might not even be able to get the shoes on, and you’ll have to redo them! As you work, gently pull on the rows of eyelets on either side to loosen the laces and give them a little slack.
Use wide, fabric laces for Sambas. Sambas usually come with perfect laces, but if you lose them or they become damaged, pick up a set of wide, flat, cotton laces. These are common, strong, and have the best grip to make sure your laces don’t come undone. Round or synthetic laces often slip or come untied.
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