A small thing like a shoelace can make a big fiasco by breaking or tangling on a mistimed occasion. The process of shoelace replacement can be a bit trickier than you would expect. Though it is small, a shoelace have got a tremendous variety of colors, lengths, materials and styles in it, and it can easily be daunting for you while making a decision to buy shoelaces. Therefore, we would like to impart some tips here.
Materials
Though a shoelace may appear like a simple string, its construction is much more complicated than we think. While cotton is the most preferred material for making shoelaces, cotton laces are usually numerous tightly woven cotton strands so as to make it durable and strong. Other natural fibers like hemp or jute are also commonly used in shoelace-making. Natural fibers tend to grip each other better, so they stay tied for long and hence are durable.
Leather shoelaces too are very durable, but it depends on the particular construction that how long they stay tied. They tend to slip more easily. However the combination of leather and other material like Kevlar usually make better alternatives for work boots.
Synthetic materials are fast replacing natural ones in shoelaces. They are smoother, shinier and nicer to look at, and even more durable than natural fibers. Their drawback is they tend to slip easily and you may have to keep tying them many times in a day.
There are elastic shoelaces too, often popular for children’s shoes, mainly because most of them are used only for their bright colors rather than closing the shoe. Curly and Y-ties shoelaces are popular amongst elastic shoes.
Styles
There are mainly two styles in shoelaces – round and flat. Flat are more common, and are found in a wide array of shoes, like athletic as well as other casual shoes. Flat laces stay tied better.
Round shoelaces usually have a stylish look and so, often preferred for dress shoes, though some of them may work for athletic and work shoes too. They normally cannot stay tied for long because of their round shape.
Length
Finding just the right length of a shoelace is often a very confusing task. Getting too short or too long shoelaces is a common experience. But it can be overcome by a little preparation. Consider the length of your unbroken shoelace. If it was too long or too short, you have to find the length of your new shoelace according to it.
Aglets
The hard tips of shoelaces are called aglets. They do the job of keeping the strings of a shoelace together. Usually they are made of hard plastic or can also be made by melting the ends of shoelace strings together, if the material is synthetic. However, copper or brass aglets are also available. This may not be a big deal, but certain shoes can be added a style with decorative aglets.
Colors
There are innumerable colors available in shoelaces, other than the standard black and white. Colorful shoelaces can add fun to personality of people of various ages.
Take a look at an endless array of shoelaces on FeetUniqueShop.com. Pictures in this article are their courtesy.