When we are about four or five years old (maybe a bit older, maybe a bit younger) we focus a lot of our mental energy on shoe laces and the tying thereof. Then when we do it once, twice, or three times our confidence in our newfound ability grows. Soon we forget what all the fuss was about and move onto the mechanics of bigger and better things, like bicycles. Very few of us ever pay any serious attention to shoe laces again. We may re-lace shoes when we buy them, but we probably do it automatically, without giving any thought to form, function and usability.
Some people do spend time thinking about shoe laces: About their diversity and usefulness outside of the shoe, about the aesthetics of lace tying, and about the mathematics governing lacing techniques. It is not exactly a science, but it is pretty close.
Did you know that mathematically, it is possible to tie an average shoe with 6 pairs of eyelets in 2 trillion ways? It is true, but not all 2 trillion ways are practical. On his shoelace site, Ian Fieggen says that we need to institute some sensible constraints to find the true number of techniques. Some of the constraints that he suggests include:
• Laces should pass through each eyelet once.
• Each eyelet should contribute to pulling the shoe together.
• The pattern formed should be stable.
• The laces should not be difficult to tighten or loosen.
• In the end, the result should be visually pleasing.
He cites Polster’s calculation, which puts the number of practical lacing techniques at 43,200. Fieggen includes 33 on his website. He also has shoe lace comparisons, ratings and interesting news stories involving shoe laces.
According to Fieggen’s site some of the most popular techniques include:
• Zipper lacing, named because they look like a giant zip when all tied up. This method holds the laces firmly in place, and is ideal for lacing skates (roller and ice). A drawback is that they are awkward to tighten, but they make up for it aesthetically. Their rating is 4.4 stars, with 11.8 votes per week.
• Straight (easy) lacing, which is straight bar lacing made simple, where one end of the lace runs from the bottom to the top, while the other end traverses all of the eyelets. While this method is neat and easy, it can only be used for shoes with even pairs of eyelets. The main disadvantage is that the ends shift, resulting in uneven lengths on either side. This method rates 4.5 stars, with 23.8 votes per week.
• Lattice lacing is great for shoes with a wide gap, such as boots and some sneakers, and comes in two variations: One for short laces and one for long laces. Lattice lacing scores highly for decoration but can be difficult to tighten. Rates 4.6 stars, with 24.2 votes per week.
The most common method is the Criss Cross or zig zag, or traditional method. It is the one I use. It is also the one all my nearest and dearest use. Quite simply, your laces criss cross their way up your shoe until you tie them in a neat bow at the top. It only rates 3.7 stars though, and gets only 8.7 votes per week.
Fieggen addresses a lot of lace related issues, not only lacing techniques. If you struggle with untidy bows, he can show you how to neaten them. If your knots keep coming undone, he demonstrates methods to keep them tight. But he is not the only one. The Net abounds with sites dedicated to the humble shoe lace. Whatever your bother, a simple two-word search will see you right. Type “shoe laces” and broaden your world.
Recommended site:
http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/lacing.htm
Sandra wrote this article for the online marketers Phineas Products quality shoe hanger manufacturers one of the leading manufacturers of shoe hangers and shoe related products in the UK.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sandy_Cosser
http://EzineArticles.com/?More-To-Shoe-Laces-Than-Tying-A-Bow&id=1096907
One Comment
I really hoped this post said more about different ways to tie my shoe laces, but instead it just says to go to another website. I used to tie mine in a granny knot style until I learned that a square knot style is better.