What Are No Tie Shoelaces? [5 Reasons You Need Them]


What Are No Tie Shoelaces

When I was a kid, I used to have Velcro strap shoes. These were helpful when I didn’t know how to tie my shoes yet.  Finally, I learned how to tie my shoes, and they have been coming loose ever since : ).

No-tie shoelaces are normally elastic laces that have a spring-loaded fastener. You press down on the fastener tab, pull the laces, and let go of the tab to secure the laces in place. This takes the trouble out of tying your shoes.

I have had many types of shoes but some of my favorite shoes are the ones I could just slip on and go. At home, when I go out of the house for a second, it’s always nice to have a pair of shoes or flip-flops I can just slide on. Let’s find out some of the reasons people get no-tie shoelaces. 



Types of No-Tie Shoelaces

Depending on your needs and the style you’re looking for, there are a variety of no-tie shoelaces that you can choose from.

Most people really enjoy their new no-tie shoelaces, although you need to be careful when purchasing to buy the best type for your needs. Some are less durable, while others work well for longer periods. 


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Elastic with Adjustable Fastener

If you want a versatile shoelace that you can easily loosen and tighten, making putting on and taking off your shoes easier, then these are the laces for you. 

They have elastic laces that stretch as you walk, run, or do various activities and can keep your feet fairly secure. 

They have a spring fastener with tabs you can press to loosen your laces or secure them tightly.

They come with an end clip to hold the laces in place for a clean look. Once you get these laces, you’ll need to cut them to length and place the end piece on.

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Silicon Straps 

If you want an easy way to slip on and off your shoes, then these are the laces for you. Once installed, you never have to touch them again, making your shoe-wearing experience less time-consuming.

They are made of silicone and are stretchable. They have a T-shaped end that inserts into the eyelets to secure them in place.

These types of no-tie shoelaces are great for adding style to your shoes.

They work great for kids and older adults who may have difficulty using their fingers and hands.  

These work great for casual activities and not as well for vigorous ones.


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Non-Adjustable Elastic with Fastener

If you are interested in never tying your shoelaces ever again, then you may be interested in these types of laces. Once installed, these laces will remain the same, so cutting them at the right spot is important. 

They have elastic laces that stretch as you walk, run, or do various activities and can keep your feet fairly secure depending on how tight you first secure them.

They come with a metal buckle that secures the laces together. These types of shoelaces are great for a clean-looking style. 

These laces are likely good for casual activities but not for vigorous ones.


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Knotted Elastic Shoelace

If you are interested in an elastic shoelace that doesn’t have a fastener, these are the ones to get. They are adjustable and stay in place fairly well. 

I bought a pair and love using them on my shoes. (see article here)

These elastic laces have stretchy knots that secure the lace at the eyelets and give extra flexibility if you need it. They seem to work well with both casual and rigorous activities. 

They might look a bit strange to some, but you can customize the fit and feel of your shoe over and over, so you’re not locked into one level of tightness.  

Just slip your foot in or out of your shoe, and there is no need to touch your laces, which makes these laces great for just about anyone. 


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Curly Shoelaces

These curly shoelaces for kids are a great way to help children learn to put on their own shoes and take them off again. 

They may be difficult to install but work well once in place to keep shoes securely on children’s feet.

Children enjoy choosing a color shoelace that makes their shoes stand out from the crowd.


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Elastomer Straps

These are similar to silicon straps but are made of thermoplastic elastomer. They are unique in that they loop around the eyelets and secure to themselves. 

It is good for casual activities but may not work well under more rigorous activities.  

The clean look and flexibility of these straps will appeal to shoe owners looking for a unique style.


Why People Use No Tie Shoelaces

Why Do People Buy No Tie Shoelaces

People want to use no-tie shoelaces for various reasons. Here are 5 reasons people may use them.

  1. For Kids– When children are still gaining finger dexterity, they can start by using a pair of no tie shoelaces. They might need to just slip thier shoes on without any lace tightening, or if their fingers are strong enough they can use a spring fastener type of no tie shoelace.
  2. For Convenience – When you need to get somewhere quickly, the last thing you want to do is take time to tie your shoes. Having the convenience of slipping on your shoes and going can make a big difference in getting going quickly.
  3. For Style – Having your shoe laces tied in various styles, using different colors, and unique types of materials can really make your shoes stand out. Many of the no tie shoelaces have a very clean style that looks organized and has an eye catching look. 
  4. For Exercise – How many times do runners and those at the gym have to stop and tie their shoes? When you are using your shoes vigorously, the laces may start to loosen and need tightening. To prevent this from occuring, some people may use no tie shoelaces to secure their shoes.    
  5. For Disabilities – Those who are disabled or have arthritis may find that these types of shoelaces make a big impact on their ability to put on their shoes by themselves. 

If I was buying no tie shoelaces, it would probably be for my running shoes. My current laces are always coming loose, but if I tie them tight they are very difficult to untie. 

I want to be able to slip my shoes on, secure them and not have to worry about my laces coming loose. This would be a good option for me because I wouldn’t have the hassle of my tying and untying my shoelaces.

The other reason I would buy these types of shoelaces is for convenience. I will often do a chore that requires that I put on my shoes for only a short period. It would be nice to have slip-on shoes to get the job done a bit faster. 


Are No Tie Shoelaces Good for Exercise?

No Tie Shoelaces Good for Exercise

These types of shoelaces may or may not be helpful for exercise. No tie shoelaces are generally stretchy. This means that your foot may not be as secure as when you use regular laces. 

Depending on what type of laces you get, will determine if you can use them for exercise. Most likely I would only use the type of no tie shoelaces with elastic laces because they tend to be more durable.  

Alternatively, you could get a fastener by itself and use it on your regular shoelaces (article link).  

  • RUNNING – Maybe. If you are running and your shoe fits like a glove, then having elastic shoelaces should be fine.
    • Your foot needs to flex and move naturally when running. Although, if your shoes are already a bit loose with regular laces, then using elastic no tie shoelaces might cause problems when you run. 
    • How secure your feet are while running with no tie shoelaces depends on your shoe design and how you lace up your shoes. Taking a short run may be fine, but I would recommend testing your specific laces on short runs first before doing a longer run.
  • THE GYM – Probably. These are likely a great option to use at the gym. Most of the time when I go to the gym I am not using my shoes for any vigorous jumping, stepping, or side to side movements. I am lifting weights and stretching. So, using elastic laces would work fine for me.
    • If you are doing a vigorous workout with your feet, double check that your no tie laces can handle the movement and keep your feet secure.
  • WALKING – Yes. These are the perfect accessory for walkers. With this low impact exercise, all types of no tie shoelaces should work well. They will stretch as you walk and should feel comfortable. 
  • HIKING – Maybe. It’s important to have very stable shoes when hiking. If your laces are too stretchy and your foot is already a bit loose in your hiking shoe, you’ll need to make some adjustments.
    • I find that when I use two socks (article link) when hiking my foot feels more secure and padded.  Having the right no tie shoelaces could complement my hiking experience as long as they stay fairly secure. 

If you decide to use no-tie shoelaces for exercise, take it easy at first to test how well they stay in place. Later, you can test them as you normally would when you exercise. 

These types of laces can be great for exercising if you get elastic laces that can be adjusted snug enough to prevent movement of your midfoot while leaving your toes free to wiggle. The rule I remind myself of when tying my shoes for running is snug but not tight.    


Should I Use No Tie Shoelaces at Work?

Use No Tie Shoelaces at Work

I think if you can find the right style of shoelace for the type of shoe you use for work, then yes, no-tie shoelaces should work well at work.

If you are standing all day, you’ll want to have a pair of comfortable shoes. If you are sitting all day, your shoes are just as important because your feet may swell if blood tends to pool in your feet. Taking time to move around is important and having shoes that meet your needs can help.

The flexibility of the shoelaces you use can help relieve some pressure on your feet and make walking around more comfortable. Some people even use compression socks (article link) because they sit all day at work. 

But, the best way to keep feet and legs healthy is to make time to get moving, even for a minute or two. Try to move about every 30 minutes or so and you’ll be less likely to have leg and foot problems later. 


Which Brand of No Tie Shoelaces Should I Buy?

I personally like elastic shoelaces that are adjustable. In fact, I just recently bought some Caterpy shoelaces and gave a review of them in this article. (Caterpy Laces Review)   

I think this video is interesting. It talks about Caterpy laces. I like that the reviewer says that he likes them for his running shoes and his everyday shoes.  

https://youtu.be/drbooGPuYYs

The other type of no-tie shoelaces that are of interest to me have elastic laces with a fastener. I like this style of shoelace because they seem to work well at keeping feet secure without the laces breaking easily.  

Here’s a video that shows how to install them on your shoes. 

If you’re looking for laces for kids or for use in sports, these two types of laces above are probably a good fit. If you want a clean-looking shoelace for your shoes, then these are likely not the ones you want to buy.

Personally, I would probably get the silicon-style strap if I wanted a clean-looking no-tie shoelace.  


Final Thoughts

Getting replacement no-tie shoelaces can shave minutes off your day and over time help you have more time for the things you want to do. 

I love that you can slide your foot in and out of your shoes with these laces. That makes it less of a hassle when you need to get going somewhere fast. 

These types of shoelaces can function well at both work and during exercise. They help people who need extra help putting on their shoes. I feel like most people would benefit from using these shoelaces and I think I will try a pair myself soon. 

Thanks for visiting Helpshoe.com

CHRIS TOOLEY

I enjoy many types of outdoor activities including running, hiking, and walking. I was a former elementary school teacher for 17 years and now enjoy writing and sharing my love of the outdoors.

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