Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Evil shoelace conspiracy?
- Thread starter Doctor Q
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I own some actual fashion-y shoes that came with flat laces, but it's admittedly not common. They twist over time, which requires occasional time-consuming correction and probably explains why most such shoes go with round laces instead.
My running shoes have laces like these:
I tried some of those shoes last time I was shopping for running shoes. I found the laces deeply weird.
As far as more secure shoe knots, try a square knot (right over left, left over right), but use loops for the left-over-right bit. They're a little more awkward to tie, but they untie just like regular shoelace knots and they're way more secure.
As you might expect, there's a guy online who has dumped way too much time into this.
Ugh. Overkill unless you're wearing snowboard boots, in which case those are absolutely essential and laces are for suckers.
I actually quite like round laces. I think they look much nicer. On the downside they do tend to slip more and can, if you try and pull them really tight, cut your fingers! I double know all the time so the slipping thing is OK for me.
What gets me is how easy most laces seem to break. On my work shoes I have round black laces. They look pretty standard but something about these shoes (or the laces) makes the laces break really easily. I can just be pulling the laces through to get them balanced before even pulling them tight and *snap* lace breaks. I think the global lace conspiracy is making less strong laces on purpose to drive an upgrade cycle!
What gets me is how easy most laces seem to break. On my work shoes I have round black laces. They look pretty standard but something about these shoes (or the laces) makes the laces break really easily. I can just be pulling the laces through to get them balanced before even pulling them tight and *snap* lace breaks. I think the global lace conspiracy is making less strong laces on purpose to drive an upgrade cycle!
I've thought about it often and have unequivocally reached the same conclusion.
We must knot let them prevail!
We must knot let them prevail!
(Scotch tape will only last so long holding together the end of a shoe lace with the tip comes off!!!
Clear heatshrink! I make my own laces occasionally when I can't get the colour I want with the stuff.
Personally I double knot with all my shoes, it's become force of habit seeing as if I don't I'll inevitably fall on my face about once every couple of months, my balance and co-ordination is atrocious!
The boots I wear most often i leave tied up double knotted and just slip the laces on/off the ski hooks, much faster and they never come undone!
Among my family I'm infamous for my high rate of lace attrition I see though that it's not just me. It seems this conspiracy goes far deeper than we first suspected...
My running shoes have laces like these:
Yeah, sausage laces. Those are a bit extreme. You can get sausage laces where the "links" are internal and closer together/smaller. Works really well for all kinds of boots and I used to search far and wide to find them. Haven't had a need lately since my last two pairs came with flats.
I found this knot a couple years ago and haven't regretted tying my shoes this way ever since. I tend to slip into my everyday shoes because I prefer not to re-tie the knot each time... once went 6 months straight without having to re-tie with this knot:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Worlds-Best-Shoe-Knot/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Worlds-Best-Shoe-Knot/
I'm giving it a scientific test. I tied one shoe that way and I'll see if the knot outlasts the other shoe, as we'd expect. Then I'll switch which is which and test again.
While we wait for results, you can practice folding T-shirts as I learned to do in the wonderful Shirt Folding thread. Learning to tie your shoes and fold the laundry: the primary reasons for the MacRumors website!
I only have one pair of dress shoes but idk what type of shoe laces they come with...
I could go look but that would mean tearing my closet apart to get to them.
I could go look but that would mean tearing my closet apart to get to them.
hhmm what an odd thread. i tie my laces only one - then slip my feet in every single time.
As far as I'm concerned that would mean that they are not done up tightly enough. I like to know I'm wearing the shoe so have to tie them tightly every time.
well thats fair enough. here in australia the only time i wear shoes is when i play tennis, cricket or go out to something fancy.
otherwise im bare foot or in thongs (movies, dinner constitute thongs).
I can report that my laces remained stoutly tied throughout my journey to work I'd normally expect a retie or two.
So far, so good with stonyc's innovative new way.
So far, so good with stonyc's innovative new way.
Yep, same here bare foot or thongs.
I got tired of laces in primary school, upgraded to skate shoes for high school and all twas good.
EDIT: Thongs = Sandals in Aus