3 types of shoelace materials you didn't notice

  What are shoelaces?

 

Shoelace is defined as a long and thin string/cord with an aglet at both the ends.
 
Initially shoelaces were made out of jute, cotton, leather and hemp but over a period of time various types of shoelace materials have evolved with the evolution in technology.

 

Today we use synthetic and fibre materials for  making long lasting shoelaces as they are durable and strong. 
It is designed to move easily through a series of eyelets, hooks or holes on either side of your shoes.
 
Shoes can be open wide by loosening the laces so that you can easily insert or remove your foot.On the other hand when the laces are tightened up it secures your feet into the shoes.

How long should shoelaces be?

The size of shoes or to be more specific the number of eyelets in your shoe decide the length of your shoelace.But it may also depend upon the lacing pattern as certain patterns need extra material than others. 

Selecting a shoelace of right length can be quite challenging because you can't tie a knot if it's too short,though long laces can be adjusted by tying double knots. 
 
The length increases with increase in the number of holes hence it should be long enough to go through all the eyelets present in your shoes.

 

But make sure that even after lacing your shoe,you are left with sufficient length (10 inches) to tie the knot.The standard length of shoelace is around 60-100 cm.

 

So, there are numerous types of shoelaces with varying lengths required for different shoe sizes and its design.    

 

Types of shoelace materials

 
There are so many types of shoelace material available in the market,which are categorised on the basis of shoelace pattern, colour and material.Some of them are described below:

1.Rawhide shoelace

 
The name "Rawhide" itself indicates that it is raw,meaning it has not gone through the tanning operation.Moccasin and boat shoes are typically complemented with rawhide laces.
 
As far as the durability of these laces are concerned its very difficult beat rawhide (all because of its strength). 
Although its classic look and strength makes it a perfect option for outdoorsy shoes. 
 
But it can be a bit bothering because the knots get undone quite frequently and it's difficult to tie it again. 

2.Flat waxed shoelace

 

The flat waxed shoe laces are very popular and can easily be seen on service boots.
 
Though it leaves a kind of sticky substance (wax) on your hand (while lacing up your footwear).But it is this wax which provides strength to your lace so that it can last long.
 
Surface of these waxed shoe laces may sometimes get brittle and become a reason for your frustration while lacing up.
 
Reason why we do not see simple laces on heavy duty boots is because they are not strong enough to survive the tension that is produced by the movement of the boot.
 
Flat waxed laces now come to the picture to fulfil the requirement of strength.Hence,there has not been a prime demand of rawhide in the market.

3.Textured polyester shoelace

 

Textured polyester shoelaces can easily be seen either on work shoes or boots as these have better durability than cotton.The durability of textured polyester laces makes it an ideal option for ice skating and skateboarding shoes.

 

These laces are less likely to tangle up,all because of the polyester material which makes it thick.Hence these do not pose any danger (laces getting tangled up with wheels) to the skaters while they are in motion.

 

Polyester material imparts water-resistance ability to the lace yet it gets dirty and requires cleaning.

It can last for a longer period of time only when proper caring is ensured by the owner.

Although these can be washed in a machine but in order to avoid frying of polyester and aglet they must be air-dried.

 

You will find very limited colour variation (white and very rarely black) of these textured polyester laces in the market as compared to the ones that are made out of  cotton.

 

 

4.Nylon shoelace

Nylon shoelaces are a bit more costly than any other types of shoelace mentioned here.But despite being expensive these are one of the most durable ones.

The laces are less likely to get tangled up and can easily be laced up (even when you are wearing gloves),all because of its thickness.That is why snow boots,hiking boots and even the military are employing these super strong laces. 

The plus point about these laces is that you don't have to worry about cleaning as they are dirt and water resistance.You just need to wipe them with a piece of cloth once in a while.

So,the performance of nylon laces won't let your investment down.

5.Cotton shoelace

 

Cotton shoelaces are very popular among the top brands of tennis and fashion shoes.These are available in a variety of colours like black,yellow glitter etc. but white colour is most widely used among all.

Majorly two types of shoelace profiles are popular among the

public-round and flat. The round cotton shoelaces are available in the market.But the shape of the lace doesn't have any effect on its performance although round shoelaces goes very well with leather shoes and flat shoelaces with sneakers.

 

Hence it all depends on the customer's preference or choice.

 

Cold water is used for cleaning of dirt and dust from cotton.Therefore the cotton laces (after being washed) must be placed in a well-ventilated and bright area for drying purpose.

Laces may get damaged (or even melt in the worst case) if not dried in proper temperature range.

 

These are considered as cheap shoelaces because of  the simple manufacturing process and availability of raw material. 

 

So,in case you accidentally damage your cotton shoelace then you must buy a new pair as it is cheap and widely available in most of the shops.

 

 

6.Spun polyester shoelace

 

This material is similar in many aspects to the textured polyester except that the laces of this material are more smoother and uniform than its counterpart.

 

The softness of spun polyester is such that it bulges downwards under its own weight but still it does not affect the durability of the lace. 

 

7.Elastic shoelace

 

Your feet can very easily make its way into the shoe without making any adjustment in the laces. It is only possible when your shoe is paired with elastic laces.The best method to convert your shoes into its no-tie version then you must use elastic laces.

 

Types of shoelace aglets

 

Aglet is a small cylindrical coating of hard material of plastic which is used on both the ends of a shoelace.The purpose of aglet is to keep the fibres of your shoelace from getting unravelled (by holding them tight) or you can say that it protects the edges from fraying.
 
If you want to change the lacing style of your shoes,aglet makes the process of braiding much easier.This is very much because of its narrow profile which helps the lace pass swiftly through the series of hooks,eyelets or holes on both sides of the shoe.

When you initially buy a shoe,what you will notice is that it comes with plastic aglet. There are wide range of aglets available in the market but you can make your own in the time of crisis.

Metal aglet

 

Once you attach these aglets to your laces,you may find this funny but your shoes might get damaged but aglets will remain intact.You can very easily find metal aglets on collectible stores in your locality.
 
The only problem with this aglet is that you cannot pass through metal detectors without being noticed.So, you have to inform the security in-charge about your shoelace, every single time you pass through the detector. 
 
Else you might land in a very uncomfortable situation.

How to make an aglet?

Constructing different types of shoelace aglets by yourself is totally a compelling experience and some of the methods are described below:

1.Melting the edge

 
This method works only when your lace is made from nylon or other synthetic material. You just have to hold the edge of your lace over a flame and let it burn a bit.
 
But all these activities must be performed in an open space so that there is not a single possibility of you inhaling fumes.
 
The functional value of this type of aglet dominated over its appearance. As it's definitely not going to look attractive at all but fulfills its purpose.
 
This type of aglet is so durable that once the aglet is made then you do not have to worry about burning it again.

2.Adhesive tape aglet

Take an adhesive tape and wrap it around the shoe lace tips to make the aglet.

But since it is a quick fix and takes just a couple of minutes,there is no chance that it will survive long and you definitely have to repeat the process again to create a new one.

You may need to change the tape again in case it comes out loose and attracts dust and dirt from the street,which not only deteriorates its appearance but also reduces the fastening ability of the tape. 

 

Although it is a quick and cheap technique,it should only be used in the time of crises as a temporary fix until you find a permanent solution.

3.Glue aglet

 

In order to save your shoelace from being frayed a superglue can also be used to coat the edges forming its aglet. This technique is a bit more reliable than adhesive tape and makes the appearance of aglet even better.
 
Don't forget that it still is a temporary fix as the coating may break any time under unfavourable conditions.
Restoring the aglet is a tricky business because first you need to take the previous layer off, else the aglet would get lumpy and then coat the edge with a new one.
It is another quick and temporary technique for making aglet but not recommended for the long run.

4.Threaded aglet

 

Wrapping a thread very carefully around the end of a shoelace helps you in creating a tight aglet. Even though it's visually appealing and cheap but requires your patience and time because it is difficult to keep the thread fixed in place. 

 

Frequent inspection is required to ensure its shape.

 

The knowledge of creating threaded aglets will be of prime importance if you are hiking or camping away in the jungles.

Conclusion

Apart from utilising it for the defined purpose these are also used for enhancement of your boot or shoes.
Several  types of shoelace materials and their utility have been described above so that next time you don’t commit any mistake while buying a new pair.
 
Which shoelace aglets do you think are the most fascinating one to make.Let us know in the comment box.