AKICIF: Shoe Laces

[rolanni]

Despite having sworn a Solemn Oath that my next pair of shoes would, by ghod, be slip-ons or have Velcro(tm) fastenings, I have committed another pair of lace-ups (what can I say? This pair of Rockports have finally given up the ghost after four years and thousands of miles; the next pair should do as well).

Now, I have a particular Gift with regard to shoe laces: I can't keep the damn' things tied. But. Someone, somewhere mentioned in my hearing that there are "sticky" sport laces, which very rarely come spontaneously untied.

Anybody know anything about such an item? Pointers to places where I can lay hands on them?

Comments

[tltrent.livejournal.com]

No idea where to get this item, but...having had the same problem all my life, I learned to double-tie them a few years ago. Tie once, then tie again. Never comes untied after that.

[schulman.livejournal.com]

There's a review on Cool Tools for elastic speed laces (http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/001058.php). A friend of mine who does triathlons tried them and thought they were decent. You might ask at your local running store (or wherever your local triathletes shop).

I have trouble keeping my laces tied too, but I've had better luck since I started using a hiker's knot (double loop around the first bight) instead of a simple bow.

[jerusha.livejournal.com]

That's what I was going to suggest - the hiker's knot (although I'd never heard it called that). The advantage is that, unlike double-knotting them, they still untie like standard shoelaces, but the double loop adds enough friction to reduce the spontaneous untying. Of course, if you untie your shoes by stepping on your lace ends, this won't solve your problem (although tucking your lace ends back into the laces might).

I learned this knot from, of all things, a Klutz book on knot tying, and I've used it for years with good results.

[windrose.livejournal.com]

Waxed laces. I use them in my skates and my boots. Waxed laces + a double or hiker's knot, and those puppies won't come untied.

[sraun]

Not what you're asking about, but might do? http://www.1800wheelchair.com/asp/view-product.asp?product_id=1347

[aitchellsee.livejournal.com]

I'd vaguely recalled seeing a link somewhere to a site with really good information about how to tie shoelaces securely, and sure enough there had been a Particle at Making Light back in 2004 on that subject, with a link to the same website I found just now by googling the topic:

http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/slipping.htm

It has color-coded diagrams of knots and everything...really worth a look!

HLC in NYC

[scaleslea.livejournal.com]

Icon love!

Doc

[aitchellsee.livejournal.com]

Thank'ee! (One of the beech trees in the Brooklyn Botanical Garden modeled for it)