Abstract: A speed closure (100) for footwear (10) comprises an elastic instep strap (110) having ends (111, 112) on opposite sides of the wearer's foot. The ends of the strap terminate in pulleys (114, 115) interleaved between the tongue (28) and respective ones of the flaps of the shoe for independent, sliding movement therebetween. A foldable fastening tab (120) is moveably attached to the tongue of the shoe. A tensioning line (140) having ends joined to form a continuous loop is threaded in an ordered sequence through eyelets (34) in the flaps, eyelets (127) in the tab, and the line pulleys, such that the line does not pass through any pulley more than once, and through any eyelet more than twice, and such that the line does not cross over itself. A cowl (150) is disposed over the instep of the shoe to cover portions of the instep opening of the shoe, the tongue, and the tab. The cowl has a top edge (151) and sides that lap past the flaps and attach to respective sides of the shoe.