Comfy shoes/boots and laces that don't come undone

[Bert45]

My apologies if this is teaching your grandmother to suck eggs.
Your shoes or boots were comfortable for the first hour or so, but then they began to pinch across the toes. What do you do? Relace your shoes/boots missing out the lowest two eyelets (one on each side). This means there is no pressure across that area, so if your shoes/boots were big enough to begin with, they should not pinch any more. If they pinched when you first put them on wearing thick socks, you should not have bought them.
Do your laces keep coming undone? What do you do? Do you tie the loops in a knot? How easy is it to undo that knot when the laces are wet or if you bite your nails? (STOP biting your nails!) No, don't tie the loops in a knot, tuck them under the crossovers lower down. Laces come undone because of the loops flopping around as you walk; stop that happening and your laces won't come undone. And the laces can be undone simply by pulling on the loose ends (the ones with the aiglets on) in the way you would usually undo the laces.

 

[Former member 49149]

Another trick with laces: ai was taught do a double loop after the first one, and the lace never ever slackens. There might be a name for that kind of knot...

 

[Bert45]

Another trick with laces: ai was taught do a double loop after the first one, and the lace never ever slackens. There might be a name for that kind of knot...

I don't understand that. I think I'd have to watch a video on YouTube.

 

[NavyBlue]

Do your laces keep coming undone? What do you do?

Hi,

Consider "Ian's secure knot". I have used it for years and never seen it getting undone. Also very easy to adjust, and to undo. Just try it!

https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/secureknot.htm

 

[trecile]

I can recommend these bubble shoelaces - they stay tied!

 

[Scott Sweeney]

My apologies if this is teaching your grandmother to suck eggs.
Your shoes or boots were comfortable for the first hour or so, but then they began to pinch across the toes. What do you do? Relace your shoes/boots missing out the lowest two eyelets (one on each side). This means there is no pressure across that area, so if your shoes/boots were big enough to begin with, they should not pinch any more. If they pinched when you first put them on wearing thick socks, you should not have bought them.
Do your laces keep coming undone? What do you do? Do you tie the loops in a knot? How easy is it to undo that knot when the laces are wet or if you bite your nails? (STOP biting your nails!) No, don't tie the loops in a knot, tuck them under the crossovers lower down. Laces come undone because of the loops flopping around as you walk; stop that happening and your laces won't come undone. And the laces can be undone simply by pulling on the loose ends (the ones with the aiglets on) in the way you would usually undo the laces.

I have no idea what boot/shoe you have but are the laces round? Don't skip first eyelets allow lace to be loose and knot at the second eyelet. If you don't use the top lacing hook you take the risk of your loop catching the lacing hook on the other boot...and down you will go. Draw your bow tight and double knot.

 

[YYC on the go]

Hi,

Consider "Ian's secure knot". I have used it for years and never seen it getting undone. Also very easy to adjust, and to undo. Just try it!

https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/secureknot.htm

Wow! fantastic site. I always have loose heels in shoes and have tried only a couple of these lacing techniques. Thanks for sharing.

Hi,

Consider "Ian's secure knot". I have used it for years and never seen it getting undone. Also very easy to adjust, and to undo. Just try it!

https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/secureknot.htm

 

[C clearly]

Your shoes or boots were comfortable for the first hour or so, but then they began to pinch across the toes. What do you do?

Get bigger shoes or boots.

 

[mattythedog]

I don't understand that. I think I'd have to watch a video on YouTube.

Kirkie might mean bring the first loop around a second time. It’s not a double knot, but a second loop around while doing the first loop knot. Never comes undone except when you pull both bitter ends of the laces just like regular shoe knot. I use it on work, hiking and combat boots and bicycle shoes

 

[Former member 49149]

Hi,

Consider "Ian's secure knot". I have used it for years and never seen it getting undone. Also very easy to adjust, and to undo. Just try it!

https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/secureknot.htm

Exactly what I do!

 

[Bert45]

I have no idea what boot/shoe you have but are the laces round? Don't skip first eyelets allow lace to be loose and knot at the second eyelet. If you don't use the top lacing hook you take the risk of your loop catching the lacing hook on the other boot...and down you will go. Draw your bow tight and double knot.

You can read about this very instance here: https://mediationkc.com/2018/04/27/april-26-danger-on-the-camino-then-and-now/. However, if you follow my advice and tuck the loops under the crossovers lower down the shoe/boot, your loops will be out of harm's way. A double knot has to be undone (obvs) whereas with my method the normal bow knot is undone by simply pulling the aiglet ends. At my age and with my embonpoint, bending over to undo laces is an effort. If you're young and slim, you may enjoy bending over to undo a double knot, but, if it's pulled tight, it can be difficult to undo it.

 

[Bert45]

Exactly what I do!

With my method, you don't have to watch a video or learn anything new. If you've been tying your laces the usual way for 20 years or more, it may be a hard habit to break. Also Ian left the free (aiglet) ends of his laces very long – long enough to tread on. While it may be possible to avoid this by making the loops longer to begin with, with my method you just tie the bow in the usual way, pull the loops long enough so the free ends are short enough not to reach the ground, then tuck the loops under the crossovers. My knot will only come undone if you are walking through rough grass with brambles, when a prickle can catch on a loop and pull it free. It is hard to imagine how this can happen, but it does, very occasionally.

 

[NavyBlue]

If you're young and slim, you may enjoy bending over to undo a double knot, but, if it's pulled tight, it can be difficult to undo it.

One of the beauties of Ian's secure knot : you undo it by pulling one, or both, loose ends. So it doesn't behave like a "double knot".

And another one : you adjust the length of the loops by pulling the loops, to lengthen them, or the loose ends to shorten them.

 

[Bert45]

One of the beauties of Ian's secure knot : you undo it by pulling one, or both, loose ends.

It's one of the beauties of my method, too.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I've read that flat lace knots hold best.

 

[Scott Sweeney]

You can read about this very instance here: https://mediationkc.com/2018/04/27/april-26-danger-on-the-camino-then-and-now/. However, if you follow my advice and tuck the loops under the crossovers lower down the shoe/boot, your loops will be out of harm's way. A double knot has to be undone (obvs) whereas with my method the normal bow knot is undone by simply pulling the aiglet ends. At my age and with my embonpoint, bending over to undo laces is an effort. If you're young and slim, you may enjoy bending over to undo a double knot, but, if it's pulled tight, it can be difficult to undo it.

To each their own. I am 70 and have been long walking since 2008 and depending on boot or lace I will double knot.

You can read about this very instance here: https://mediationkc.com/2018/04/27/april-26-danger-on-the-camino-then-and-now/. However, if you follow my advice and tuck the loops under the crossovers lower down the shoe/boot, your loops will be out of harm's way. A double knot has to be undone (obvs) whereas with my method the normal bow knot is undone by simply pulling the aiglet ends. At my age and with my embonpoint, bending over to undo laces is an effort. If you're young and slim, you may enjoy bending over to undo a double knot, but, if it's pulled tight, it can be difficult to undo it.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

I now use shock cords in all of my hiking shoes and trail runners - they never come undone.
Even some of my leather "dress" shoes have them.
They give the appearance of being a grown up and the convenience of slip ons, never pinch and don't require adjustment.
Plus I can find my feet in the dark

 

[Former member 49149]

With my method, you don't have to watch a video or learn anything new. If you've been tying your laces the usual way for 20 years or more, it may be a hard habit to break. Also Ian left the free (aiglet) ends of his laces very long – long enough to tread on. While it may be possible to avoid this by making the loops longer to begin with, with my method you just tie the bow in the usual way, pull the loops long enough so the free ends are short enough not to reach the ground, then tuck the loops under the crossovers. My knot will only come undone if you are walking through rough grass with brambles, when a prickle can catch on a loop and pull it free. It is hard to imagine how this can happen, but it does, very occasionally.

I learned how to do it long before the notion of watching a video appeared on the scene. It has never failed me. But then, I rarely have occasion to walk through rough grass with brambles, unless I want to pick the brambles to make jam...

 

[CWBuff]

Another trick with laces: ai was taught do a double loop after the first one, and the lace never ever slackens. There might be a name for that kind of knot...

I believe it's called THE SURGEON'S KNOTT

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

This post is not directly related to the topic but is on the subject of shoe laces. Do you worry that someone may leave the albergue with your shoes and leave their too small ones behind for you? Get creative with your lacing and an accidental pilfering of your footwear is unlikely. Google for
two color shoe laces YouTube

 

[LakeMcD]

I’ve heard it referred to as a hockey knot

 

[Richard Smith]

>> tuck them under the crossovers lower down.

This is good advice when riding a bike, especially on the chain wheel side (RHS).
But I tuck the loops and the loose ends in. Keeps them all out of the chain wheel.

 

[Bert45]

This is good advice when riding a bike, especially on the chain wheel side (RHS).
But I tuck the loops and the loose ends in. Keeps them all out of the chain wheel.

That's how I first discovered the sense of tucking the loops out of the way. I was riding along when a loop somehow went over the cotter pin. That stopped my foot going round. The loops were very long with those trainers. So I tucked them under the crossovers and realised that the knots were not coming undone.

 

[Bert45]

I believe it's called THE SURGEON'S KNOTT

Knot really. A swift google tells me that the surgeon's knot is a modification of the reef knot.

 

[rickyt]

I now use shock cords in all of my hiking shoes and trail runners - they never come undone.
Even some of my leather "dress" shoes have them.
They give the appearance of being a grown up and the convenience of slip ons, never pinch and don't require adjustment.
Plus I can find my feet in the dark

View attachment 127614

Hi Jeff, would you happen to have a link for where to purchase shock cords like that? I have tried some in the past but mine were a bit different. I am curious about the ones you have pictured. Thanks!

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Hi Jeff, would you happen to have a link for where to purchase shock cords like that? I have tried some in the past but mine were a bit different. I am curious about the ones you have pictured. Thanks!

Can't remember which particular eBay trader it was but these are similar:

Elastic laces

 

[rickyt]

Can't remember which particular eBay trader it was but these are similar:

Elastic laces

Great, thank you!