Shoelaces

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Black shoelace Shoelaces 20050719 001.jpg
Black shoelace

Shoelaces, also called shoestrings (US English) or bootlaces (UK English), are a system commonly used to secure shoes, boots, and other footwear. They typically consist of a pair of strings or cords, one for each shoe, finished off at both ends with stiff sections, known as aglets. Each shoelace typically passes through a series of holes, eyelets, loops or hooks on either side of the shoe. Loosening the lacing allows the shoe to open wide enough for the foot to be inserted or removed. Tightening the lacing and tying off the ends secures the foot firmly within the shoe. The laces can be tied in different shapes, most commonly a simple bow.

Contents

Shoelace construction

Traditional shoelaces were made of leather, cotton, jute, hemp, or other materials used in the manufacture of rope. Modern shoelaces often incorporate various synthetic fibers, which are generally more slippery and thus more prone to coming undone than those made from traditional fibers. On the other hand, smooth synthetic shoelaces generally have a less rough appearance, suffer less wear from friction, and are less susceptible to rotting from moisture. Specialized fibers like flame resistant nomex are applied in safety boots for firefighters.

There are also various elasticized shoelaces:

  1. Traditional "elastic" laces look identical to normal laces, and can simply be tied and untied as normal. They may also come with a permanent clip so they can be fastened invisibly.
  2. "Knotty" laces have a series of "fat" sections, which restrict movement through eyelets. These can be used to adjust tension throughout the lacing area. These laces can be tied or the ends can be left loose.
  3. "Twirly" laces are like a tight elastic helix, which can simply be pulled tight without requiring a knot.

Elastic laces both make the lacing more comfortable, as well as allowing the shoe to be slipped on and off without tying or untying, which makes them a popular choice for children, the elderly and athletes.

Three shoelaces tipped with three different aglets: copper, plastic, and brass Three Different Aglets.jpg
Three shoelaces tipped with three different aglets: copper, plastic, and brass

The stiff section at each end of the shoelace, which both keeps the twine from unraveling and also makes it easier to hold the lace and feed it through the eyelets, is called an aglet, also spelled aiglet.

Shoelaces with a flat cross-section are generally easier to hold and stay tied more securely than those with a round cross-section due to the increased surface area for friction. [1] Very wide flat laces are often called "fat laces". Leather shoelaces with a square cross-section, which are very common on boat shoes, are notoriously prone to coming undone.

Shoelaces can be coated, either in the factory or with aftermarket products, to increase friction and help them stay tied.

Shoelace tying

Basic shoe-tying knot Shoelace knot.svg
Basic shoe-tying knot
A knot squashes the cord and this stops the lace end passing through the knot Red shoelace.jpg
A knot squashes the cord and this stops the lace end passing through the knot

When a shoelace is secured with a knot, the lace is crimped, or squashed. Primarily this is what stops the lace from coming undone. In effect, the lace is narrower inside the knot than it is on the loose end, and the loose end cannot make itself smaller and slide though the knot. Generally, a flat tubular lace will stay tied more easily than a round lace with a core because the flat lace can be more crimped within the knot. Most laces, however, are round and have core of cotton yarn, especially boot laces. For these to stay tied securely, the core on the inside of the lace must be soft and compressible. A secondary factor of laces coming undone is the knot itself slipping. This is due to a lack of friction. Cotton laces have a rough surface and will make a more reliable knot compared to polyester (the most common yarn used in shoelaces). In addition, a lace can be smooth or have a coarse surface, which will also affect performance. Finishing processes are available, including waxing and silicone treatments, which enhance friction and stop knot slippage. These are important design factors in the manufacture of hiking-boot laces.

Common bow

Shoelaces are typically tied off at the top of the shoe using a simple bow knot. Besides securing the shoe, this also takes up the length of shoelace exposed after tightening. The common bow consists of two half-knots tied one on top of the other, with the second half-knot looped in order to allow quick untying. When required, the knot can be readily loosened by pulling one or both of the loose ends.

When tying the half-knots, a right-over-left half-knot followed by a left-over-right half-knot (or vice versa) forms a square or reef knot, a fairly effective knot for the purpose of tying shoelaces. However, tying two consecutive right-over-left half-knots (or two consecutive left-over-right half-knots) forms the infamous granny knot, which is much less secure. [2] Most people who use it will find themselves regularly retying their shoelaces. [3]

If the loops lie across the shoe (left to right), the knot is probably a square knot. If they lie along the shoe (heel to toe), the knot is probably a granny knot.

Other more secure knots

Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot used on a pair of safety boots ELTEN 765841 - RENZO Mid ESD S3.jpg
Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot used on a pair of safety boots

There are several more secure alternatives to the common shoelace bow, with names such as Turquoise Turtle Shoelace Knot, or Shoemaker's Knot, Better Bow Shoelace Knot, Surgeon's Shoelace Knot, and Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot, [4] or double slip knot. One such knot has been patented in 1999 under the title "Shoelace tying system". [5] These are all variations of the same concept of looping the top part of the knot twice instead of once, which results in a finished bow of almost identical appearance but with the laces wrapped twice around the middle. This double-wrap holds the shoelaces more securely tied while still allowing them to be untied with a (slightly firmer) pull on the loose end(s). Possibly the simplest, also neat and quite effective, is after tying a common bow to tie a half-hitch with one or other loose end around its adjacent half bow, close to the knot; it is untied by pulling on the other (unhitched) free end.

Length

The proper length of a shoelace, fitting it to a shoe, varies according to the type of lacing used, as well as the type of lace. However, at a rough reference the following guide can be used. [6]

No of holesLength (cm)
245
365
475–85
585–90
6100
7110
8120
9
10130
11
12150
13
14180
15
16200

Shoe lacing

An Oxford shoe with straight lacing Acorn captoes side.JPG
An Oxford shoe with straight lacing
Shoe Lacing Methods

This is the process of running the shoelaces through the holes, eyelets, loops, or hooks to hold together the sides of the shoe with many common lacing methods. [7] There are, in fact, almost two trillion ways to lace a shoe with six pairs of eyelets. [8]

Common lacing methods

Straight-bar lacing

Straight-bar lacing appears horizontal and parallel when viewed from the exterior. Formal shoes usually demand straight-bar lacing to preserve their clean, neat look. [9] This is especially true for dress shoes using a closed lacing system such as Oxfords, because the central shoelace crossovers of criss-cross lacing prevent the sides of the shoe from coming together in the middle.

Criss-cross lacing

Chuck Taylor All-Stars with criss-cross lacing A classic Black pair of Converse All Stars resting on the Black & White Ed. Shoebox (1998-2002).JPG
Chuck Taylor All-Stars with criss-cross lacing

The most common lacing method, [10] termed criss-cross lacing, is also one of the strongest and most efficient. [11] However, they are reserved for more casual footwear, such as sneakers and boots. Derby shoes can be straight-bar laced or criss-cross laced. [12]

Other lacing methods

Many shoe lacing methods have been developed with specific functional benefits, such as being faster or easier to tighten or loosen, binding more tightly, being more comfortable, using up more lace or less lace, adjusting fit, preventing slippage, and suiting specific types of shoes. One such method, patented in 2003 as "Double helix shoe lacing process", runs in a double helix pattern and results in less friction and faster and easier tightening and loosening. [13] Another method, called "Rinlers Instant Lace Up", use additional accessories for instant tightening and loosening. [14]

A pair of Etnies shoes with checkerboard laces Black Etnies shoes with checkerboard laces.jpg
A pair of Etnies shoes with checkerboard laces

Many other lacing methods have been developed purely for appearance, often at the expense of functionality. One of the most popular decorative methods, checkerboard lacing, is very difficult to tighten or loosen without destroying the pattern. Shoes with checkerboard lacing are generally treated as "slip-ons".

History

It is as difficult to determine the exact history of shoelaces as it is for shoes. Archaeological records of footwear are rare because shoes were generally made of materials that deteriorated readily. The Armenian Areni-1 shoe, which has been dated to around 3500 BC, is a simple leather shoe with leather "shoelaces" passing through slotted "eyelets" cut into the hide. The more complex shoes worn by Ötzi the Iceman, who lived around 3300 BC, were bound with "shoelaces" made of lime bark string. Most forms of the upper-class Roman calceus were bound with wide straps fitted into hooks or eyelets down the front and then knotted decoratively.

As for shoelaces in the sense that we know them in modern times, the Museum of London has documented examples of medieval footwear dating from as far back as the 12th century, which clearly show the lacing passing through a series of hooks or eyelets down the front or side of the shoe and being tied in a knot rather than hanging loose. [15] Indeed, the code of the Knights Templar banned the wearing of shoelaces as a vanity that was "abominable and pagan". [16]

Myths

A popular myth states that Gurkha soldiers, fighting for Britain, crawled along the ground, feeling the laces of the soldiers they encountered. British soldiers employed straight- or bar-lacing, while Japanese troops employed a criss-cross pattern. Criss-cross laces could therefore mean the difference between life and death. The importance of correct lacing was thus emphasized to British troops. Whether true or not, there is an account of Gurkha soldiers checking the boots and laces of soldiers they encounter in the dark to find if they are friend or foe. [17]

Shoelace accessories

A deubre on a Nike Air Force 1 sneaker. Deubre.png
A deubré on a Nike Air Force 1 sneaker.

There are many shoelace accessories. There are hooks to help lace shoelaces tightly. They are especially useful for skates where tight lacing is important. Shoelace covers protect the laces, especially in wrestling. Shoelace charms are decorative, as are colored shoelaces. Some laces are colored using expensive dyes, other, more "personal" colors, are drawn-on with permanent markers. Some dress codes (especially high schools) will specifically exclude color laces and charms. Lace-locks hold laces together, eliminating the need for tying. There are shoelace tags, sometimes called deubré, with two holes or slots through which the shoelace is passed. These are worn on the section of shoelace closest to the toes, in other words the last lace, so that the image or writing on the tag is visible (as can be seen at right).

Photos of shoelaces

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bowline</span> Simple knot used to form a fixed loop at the end of a rope

The bowline is an ancient and simple knot used to form a fixed loop at the end of a rope. It has the virtues of being both easy to tie and untie; most notably, it is easy to untie after being subjected to a load. The bowline is sometimes referred to as king of the knots because of its importance. Along with the sheet bend and the clove hitch, the bowline is often considered one of the most essential knots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Constrictor knot</span> Binding hitch knot

The constrictor knot is one of the most effective binding knots. Simple and secure, it is a harsh knot that can be difficult or impossible to untie once tightened. It is made similarly to a clove hitch but with one end passed under the other, forming an overhand knot under a riding turn. The double constrictor knot is an even more robust variation that features two riding turns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clove hitch</span> Type of knot

The clove hitch is an ancient type of knot, made of two successive single hitches tied around an object. It is most effectively used to secure a middle section of rope to an object it crosses over, such as a line on a fencepost. It can also be used as an ordinary hitch, or as a binding knot, but it is not particularly secure in either application. It is considered one of the most important knots, alongside the bowline and the sheet bend.

Although the name clove hitch is given by Falconer in his Dictionary of 1769, the knot is much older, having been tied in ratlines at least as early as the first quarter of the sixteenth century. This is shown in early sculpture and paintings. A round turn is taken with the ratline and then a hitch is added below. The forward end is always the first to be made fast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trucker's hitch</span> Type of knot

The trucker's hitch is a compound knot commonly used for securing loads on trucks or trailers. The general arrangement, using loops and turns in the rope itself to form a crude block and tackle, has long been used to tension lines and is known by multiple names. Knot author Geoffrey Budworth claims the knot can be traced back to the days when carters and hawkers used horse-drawn conveyances to move their wares from place to place.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Figure-eight knot</span> Type of stopper knot used in sailing and climbing

The figure-eight knot or figure-of-eight knot is a type of stopper knot. It is very important in both sailing and rock climbing as a method of stopping ropes from running out of retaining devices. Like the overhand knot, which will jam under strain, often requiring the rope to be cut, the figure-eight will also jam, but is usually more easily undone than the overhand knot.

The figure-eight or figure-of-eight knot is also called the Flemish knot. The name figure-of-eight knot appears in Lever's Sheet Anchor; or, a Key to Rigging. The word "of" is nowadays usually omitted. The knot is the sailor's common single-strand stopper knot and is tied in the ends of tackle falls and running rigging, unless the latter is fitted with monkey's tails. It is used about ship wherever a temporary stopper knot is required. The figure-eight is much easier to untie than the overhand, it does not have the same tendency to jam and so injure the fiber, and is larger, stronger, and equally secure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zeppelin bend</span> Bend knot

A zeppelin bend is an end-to-end joining knot formed by two symmetrically interlinked overhand knots. It is stable, secure, and highly resistant to jamming. It is also resistant to the effects of slack shaking and cyclic loading.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxford shoe</span> Type of shoe

An Oxford shoe is characterized by shoelace eyelets tabs that are attached under the vamp, a feature termed "closed lacing". This contrasts with Derbys, or bluchers, which have shoelace eyelets attached to the top of the vamp. Originally, Oxfords were plain, formal shoes, made of leather, but they evolved into a range of styles suitable for formal, uniform, or casual wear. On the basis of function and the dictates of fashion, Oxfords are now made from a variety of materials, including calf leather, faux and genuine patent leather, suede, and canvas. They are normally black or brown, and may be plain or patterned (brogue).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buntline hitch</span> Type of knot

The buntline hitch is a knot used for attaching a rope to an object. It is formed by passing the working end around an object, then making a clove hitch around the rope's standing part and taking care that the turns of the clove hitch progress towards the object rather than away from it. Secure and easily tied, the buntline hitch will jam when subjected to extreme loads. Given the knot's propensity to jam, it is often made in slipped form.

The buntline hitch, when bent to a yard, makes a more secure knot than two half hitches, but is more liable to jam. It differs from two half hitches in that the second half hitch is inside instead of outside the first one.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prusik knot</span> Type of knot

A Prusik is a friction hitch or knot used to attach a loop of cord around a rope, applied in climbing, canyoneering, mountaineering, caving, rope rescue, ziplining, and by arborists. The term Prusik is a name for both the loops of cord used to tie the hitch and the hitch itself, and the verb is "to prusik" or "prusiking". More casually, the term is used for any friction hitch or device that can grab a rope. Due to the pronunciation, the word is often misspelled Prussik, Prussick, or Prussic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Halter hitch</span> Type of knot

The halter hitch is a type of knot used to connect a rope to an object. As the name implies, an animal's lead rope, attached to its halter, may be tied to a post or hitching rail with this knot. The benefit of the halter hitch is that it can be easily released by pulling on one end of the rope, even if it is under tension. Some sources show the knot being finished with the free end running through the slipped loop to prevent it from working loose or being untied by a clever animal, still allowing easy but not instant untying.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bight (knot)</span>

In knot tying, a bight is a curved section or slack part between the two ends of a rope, string, or yarn. A knot that can be tied using only the bight of a rope, without access to the ends, is described as in the bight. The term "bight" is also used in a more specific way when describing Turk's head knots, indicating how many repetitions of braiding are made in the circuit of a given knot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deubré</span>

Deubré is a generic term, originating at Nike, Inc. and dating from the mid 1990s, for an ornamental shoelace tag, most commonly seen on sneakers. Typically, a deubré will have two holes through which a shoelace is threaded, like a bead on string. When the shoe is laced, the deubré is centered between the first two eyelets, with the shoelace passing through and behind the deubré.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ghillies (dance shoes)</span> Soft shoe for Irish and Scottish dancing

Ghillies are specially designed shoes used for several types of dance. They are soft shoes, similar to ballet shoes. They are used by women in Irish dance, by men and women in Scottish country dance, and by men and women in Scottish highland dance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drawstring</span>

A drawstring is a string, rope or lace used to "draw" fabric or other material. Ends of a drawstring are often terminated with a sheath called an aglet. The ends may be tied to hold the drawstring in place. Alternatively, it may be kept drawn using a cordlock. Typically, the drawstring is loose when not being used and tightened when needed during use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shoelace knot</span> Type of knot

The shoelace knot, or bow knot, is commonly used for tying shoelaces and bow ties.

Lock Laces are elastic, no-tie shoelaces manufactured and distributed by Positive Distribution LLC. The Lock Laces system consists of two elastic shoelaces that are fastened at the tongue of the shoe by two double-eyelet adjustable locking mechanisms and secured into place by two cord clips. Frank Sutton is the president and CEO of Positive Distribution LLC—which is the owner of the Lock Laces trademark, patent, and associated intellectual property.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">String (structure)</span> Flexible structure made from fibers twisted together

String is a long flexible structure made from fibers twisted together into a single strand, or from multiple such strands which are in turn twisted together. String is used to tie, bind, or hang other objects. It is also used as a material to make things, such as textiles, and in arts and crafts. String is a simple tool, and its use by humans is known to have been developed tens of thousands of years ago. In Mesoamerica, for example, string was invented some 20,000 to 30,000 years ago, and was made by twisting plant fibers together. String may also be a component in other tools, and in devices as diverse as weapons, musical instruments, and toys.

HICKIES, Inc is a footwear accessories company headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, producing a no-tie shoelace alternative which is currently sold in over 40 countries. The company was founded in 2011 by Gaston Frydlweski and Mariquel Waingarten. Frydlewski is CEO and Waingarten as chief marketing officer. The name HICKIES is from the cheeky term for a mark of affection. The founders believe the world needs more “marks of affection”, and they wanted to leave a mark of affection on everyone's footwear.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lapp knot</span> Knot

The Lapp knot is a type of bend. It has the same structure as the sheet bend, but the opposite ends are loaded. The slipped Lapp bend is also an exploding knot, which means that when pulling the quick release end it falls completely apart without further entanglement. It is as strong as or even stronger than the sheet bend, though much less common.

References

  1. ↑ Crowther, Ken. "It's not the knot". New Scientist . Reed Business Information . Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  2. ↑ Ashley, Clifford W. (1944). The Ashley Book of Knots . Doubleday. p.  75. ISBN   0-385-04025-3.
  3. ↑ "The 'Granny Knot'". Ian's Shoelace Site. Retrieved 2016-06-13.
  4. ↑ Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot
  5. ↑ "Shoelace tying system". Free Patents Online. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
  6. ↑ Royal Laces.
  7. ↑ Fieggen, Ian W., 47 Different Ways To Lace Shoes, Ian's Shoelace Site, retrieved 2016-06-13
  8. ↑ Fieggen, Ian W., 2 Trillion Lacing Methods?, Ian's Shoelace Site, retrieved 2006-09-25
  9. ↑ "How To Lace Formal Dress Shoes | ShoeTree Project". ShoeTree Project. 2018-02-05. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  10. ↑ "How to Lace Sneaker Creatively? Use These 24 Cool Ways!". Clarco. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
  11. ↑ Polster, Burkard (2002), "Mathematics: What is the best way to lace your shoes?", Nature , 420 (6915): 476, doi: 10.1038/420476a , PMID   12466832, S2CID   52871921
  12. ↑ "Ways To Lace Shoes – The Derby Shoe — Gentleman's Gazette". www.gentlemansgazette.com. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  13. ↑ "Double helix shoe lacing process". Free Patents Online. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
  14. ↑ "Rinlers Instant Lace Up". Archived from the original on 2012-06-22.
  15. ↑ Grew, F.; de Neegaard, M. (2006). Shoes and Pattens – Medieval Finds from Excavations in London. The Boydell Press. ISBN   1-84383-238-0.
  16. ↑ Jones, Dan (2017). The Templars: The Rise and Spectacular Fall of God's Holy Warriors. Viking. ISBN   978-0525428305.
  17. ↑ Fox, Larry (Lew) (2005-09-01), Sleep Johny Sleep at Cassino, WW2 People's War, Monte Cassino, Italy: BBC, A5458656, retrieved 2012-03-31
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