A lacing system for tightening footwear, the footwear having opposing sides and a lace path extending between the opposing sides with a bottom end (Z 2) that is positioned near a toe box of the footwear, a top end (Z 1) that is positioned opposite the bottom end (Z 2), and a mid-portion that is roughly equidistant from the top end (Z 1) and the bottom end (Z 2), the lacing system comprising: a tensioning mechanism; a plurality of guide members that are coupled with the footwear; and a lace that is operationally coupled with the tensioning mechanism and routed about the footwear along the lace path via the plurality of guide members, the lace comprising a first portion and a second portion that are each operationally coupled with the tensioning mechanism so that operation of the tensioning mechanism simultaneously tensions both the first portion and the second portion, wherein the lace is routed along the lace path such that: the first portion is routed directly from the tensioning mechanism to the top end (Z 1) of the lace path and is routed therefrom toward the mid-portion of the lace path; and the second portion is routed directly from the tensioning mechanism to adjacent the mid-portion of the lace path and is routed therefrom toward the bottom end (Z 2) of the lace path such that tensioning of the first portion and the second portion of the lace immediately tensions the top end (Z 1) and the mid-portion of the lace path and thereby immediately tightens corresponding portions of the footwear; and when under tension, the lace does not cross itself or touch itself along the length of the lace path; and wherein: the lace is a unitary member with the first portion connected to the second portion between the mid-portion and the bottom end (Z 2) of the lace path. a tensioning mechanism; a plurality of guide members that are coupled with the footwear; and a lace that is operationally coupled with the tensioning mechanism and routed about the footwear along the lace path via the plurality of guide members, the lace comprising a first portion and a second portion that are each operationally coupled with the tensioning mechanism so that operation of the tensioning mechanism simultaneously tensions both the first portion and the second portion, wherein the lace is routed along the lace path such that: the first portion is routed directly from the tensioning mechanism to the top end (Z 1) of the lace path and is routed therefrom toward the mid-portion of the lace path; and the second portion is routed directly from the tensioning mechanism to adjacent the mid-portion of the lace path and is routed therefrom toward the bottom end (Z 2) of the lace path such that tensioning of the first portion and the second portion of the lace immediately tensions the top end (Z 1) and the mid-portion of the lace path and thereby immediately tightens corresponding portions of the footwear; and when under tension, the lace does not cross itself or touch itself along the length of the lace path; and wherein: the lace is a unitary member with the first portion connected to the second portion between the mid-portion and the bottom end (Z 2) of the lace path. the first portion is routed directly from the tensioning mechanism to the top end (Z 1) of the lace path and is routed therefrom toward the mid-portion of the lace path; and the second portion is routed directly from the tensioning mechanism to adjacent the mid-portion of the lace path and is routed therefrom toward the bottom end (Z 2) of the lace path such that tensioning of the first portion and the second portion of the lace immediately tensions the top end (Z 1) and the mid-portion of the lace path and thereby immediately tightens corresponding portions of the footwear; and when under tension, the lace does not cross itself or touch itself along the length of the lace path; and wherein: the lace is a unitary member with the first portion connected to the second portion between the mid-portion and the bottom end (Z 2) of the lace path.