How to Care for Leather Laces and Keep Them Tied

Leather laces are the only laces that look better the longer you wear them, provided you look after them. They give a shoe a sturdy, luxurious finish that textile cannot match. Leather does behave differently from cotton or polyester, though. It ties differently, must not go in water and needs a little care now and then. This blog explains how to care for leather laces, how to tie them and which shoes they suit.

In short

• Never wash leather laces. Wipe them with a slightly damp cloth and let them dry at room temperature.
• A little leather balm keeps the leather supple and prevents drying out and cracking.
• Leather is smoother in the knot than textile. Pull the bow tight or tie a double bow.
• The leather laces at Veter.nl are flat, 8 mm wide and have metal aglets.
• They suit leather shoes, boots and sneakers with regular eyelets.

What makes leather laces different?

	Leather laces	Textile laces
Look	Sturdy, luxurious, full of character	Sporty or casual
In the knot	Smoother, pull the bow tight	More grip
Cleaning	Wipe with a damp cloth	Wash by hand
Care	Leather balm now and then	Not needed
In the rain	Let them dry at room temperature	Let them air dry

The leather laces at Veter.nl are flat and 8 mm wide. They have metal aglets and come in 120, 140 and 160 cm. Besides black, white, grey, navy and red, there are metallic versions in silver and gold.

How to care for leather laces, step by step

1. Take them out of the shoe: that way you can reach every part and see straight away where the leather is wearing.
2. Wipe them down: run a slightly damp cloth along the full length. Do not use soap and do not hold the lace under the tap.
3. Let them dry: lay them flat at room temperature. Not on the radiator and not in the sun. Leather that dries too quickly turns hard.
4. Feed the leather: rub in a very small amount of leather balm with a cloth and let it soak in. Then buff with a clean cloth, so the lace does not feel greasy.

You do not need to do this often. Two to three times a year is enough, or whenever you give your leather shoes some attention. Use the same products as for your shoes, such as the Jason Markk Leather Conditioning Balm. The full step-by-step plan for the shoe itself is in how to care for leather shoes.

If your leather laces have been caught in the rain, there is nothing to worry about. Pat them dry and leave them to finish drying in their own time. Do not put them in the washing machine. Why that goes wrong is explained in how to wash shoelaces.

How do you tie leather laces?

Leather is smoother and stiffer than a woven lace. A loosely tied bow therefore slips open sooner. Three habits keep it in place.

• Pull the first knot tight: the base of the bow has to sit firmly against the shoe before you make the loops.
• Tie the bow straight: a bow that lies across the shoe holds better than one that twists lengthways. The explanation is in laces keep coming undone.
• Tie a double bow: with new leather laces that are still stiff, that is the safest solution.

New leather laces feel stiff at first. After a few wears they become more supple and mould themselves to the lacing. When lacing, make sure the lace does not twist, so it lies nice and flat.

Which shoes do leather laces suit?

• Casual leather shoes and Derbys: leather on leather gives a calm, well-groomed look.
• Boots: a leather lace matches their rugged character. Choose 140 or 160 cm for taller models.
• Leather sneakers: a leather lace instantly makes a white or black sneaker look more luxurious. The metallic versions are real eye-catchers.

They are less suitable for formal dress shoes with small eyelets. There 8 mm is often too wide and a thin waxed lace is the better choice. See which laces for dress shoes. Leather laces are not a good choice for sports shoes either: there you want a lace that tightens smoothly and can cope with sweat.

How long do leather laces last?

A long time, as long as the leather stays supple. Leather does not tear from wear alone, but because it dries out and then breaks along a fold. That happens first at the eyelets and in the knot. If you see fine cracks there, it is time to feed the leather. If the lace is thin or torn in one spot, replace it. How the other materials behave is covered in what are shoelaces made of.

Frequently asked questions

Can leather laces cope with rain?

A shower does no harm. Let them dry at room temperature afterwards. Soaking them and drying them quickly near a heat source makes leather hard.

Can I use shoe polish on leather laces?

Better not. Colored shoe polish rubs off on your hands and on the tongue of your shoe. A colorless leather balm is better.

Why do leather laces have metal aglets?

A metal aglet clamps firmly around the leather and matches the luxurious finish. Read more about aglets in what is an aglet.

Which length of leather laces do I need?

The same length as for a regular lace. For 6 or 7 eyelets per side that is 120 cm, for 8 eyelets 140 cm. The table is in the shoelaces length guide.

Browse all colors of leather laces.