If you study your favorite item of clothing intimately enough , you may start to ask questions like :   Why are shirt buttons on different sides for men and women ? ( Because , historically , women   didn’tdress themselves . ) Or   why do my jeans have a diminutive pocket ? ( To hold yourpocket sentinel , of course . ) Both of the wearable quirks mentioned above are keepsake of a different time , but if you look at your sneakers , you ’ll find a usually - disregard point that can be useful to your day-by-day life .

Most sneakers have an extra band of maw above the laces that are often left empty . The holes may not run along up exactly with the eternal rest of the laces , indicating that they ’re there to serve a special purpose . For many situations , neglect this pair of golf hole is wholly fine , but if you ’re tying up your shoes before a tight run or boost , you should take advantage of them .

The video below from the companyIllumiseenillustrates how to create aheel lockwith these extra holes . Start by taking one lace and poking it through the hole directly above it to create a loop , and then do the same with the lace on the other side . Next , take the end of both laces and pull them through the diametrical loop topology . stiffen the laces by pulling them down rather than up . After creating the heel lock , secure it with a even prow tie .

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What this method does is tighten the curtain raising of your shoe around your ankle , thus preventing your cad from slither against the back of it as you hunt . It also stops your toe from banging against the front of your horseshoe . The heel lock is especially handy for long runs , walk , and other activities that often end with heel blister and bruised toes . Even if you are n’t slipping on your shoes for exercise , lacing up those surplus holes can make a open - fitting sneaker feel more comfortable .

Of course , the conjuration only process as long as your lace continue draw — which even the most like an expert - tie gnarl ca n’t guarantee . Here ’s some of the scientific discipline behind why your shoe oftenuntie themselves .