# Round shoe laces **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 27, 2009, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/round-shoe-laces/491022 "2009-03-27T19:17:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![perfectparanoia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/round-shoe-laces/491022/1 "2009-03-27T19:17:54Z")
It’s been maybe ten years now since these have been around. Who thought they were such a bright idea! They don’t stay done up. The flat kind used to work just fine. I am so tired of tying my shoes. Arg! ---
**Author:** ![StealthHit06](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@StealthHit06](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StealthHit06)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/round-shoe-laces/491022/2 "2009-03-27T19:21:37Z")
Whether round or flat, shoelaces always untie for me. If I tie them so tight that they _don’t_ come untied, then I can never untie them. Shoelaces are the devil. Power laces are where it’s at. But those won’t be around until 2015. ---
**Author:** ![Algorithm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/algorithm/32/12204_2.png) [@Algorithm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algorithm)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/round-shoe-laces/491022/3 "2009-03-27T19:22:17Z")
My round shoelaces work perfectly. I don’t even tie in a double knot. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/round-shoe-laces/491022/4 "2009-03-27T19:26:48Z")
I hate when the strap on my football helmet comes loose so that I end up banging my head on the floor every time I fall down. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/round-shoe-laces/491022/5 "2009-03-27T19:34:44Z")
I haven’t untied my laces in about 6 months. I just pull off my shoes and slip them back on. Just tie a double knot and never untie them. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/round-shoe-laces/491022/6 "2009-03-27T19:58:22Z")
I’m a runner and I always use… [Ian’s Secure Shoelace Knot](http://www.shoe-lacing.com/shoelace/secureknot.htm) You can see some other alternative shoelace knots on his site as well. [Ian’s Shoelace Site](http://www.shoe-lacing.com/shoelace/index.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/round-shoe-laces/491022/7 "2009-03-27T20:09:24Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > I hate when the strap on my football helmet comes loose so that I end up banging my head on the floor every time I fall down. This explains so much. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/round-shoe-laces/491022/8 "2009-03-27T20:44:43Z")
For some reason, with every pair of tie-up shoes I own, one shoe is much more prone to coming untied than the other. The pair I’m wearing now, it’s the left. I have to re-tie it at least once a day, but the right stays put. On other pairs, it’s the other way around. What’s up with that? ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/round-shoe-laces/491022/9 "2009-03-27T21:10:04Z")
> [@h.sapiens](#): > > For some reason, with every pair of tie-up shoes I own, one shoe is much more prone to coming untied than the other. The pair I’m wearing now, it’s the left. I have to re-tie it at least once a day, but the right stays put. On other pairs, it’s the other way around. What’s up with that? When you start to tie the left shoe, in making the first knot tie it the opposite of how you are used to doing it. In other words, if the string on the right is usually on top start with the string on the left on top. Tie the right shoe the way you are used to. Your untying problem will be reduced. The problem is that changing the habit of the way you make your knots might be more trouble than it is worth. And yes, round laces oftentimes look better but they don’t work better. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/round-shoe-laces/491022/10 "2009-03-27T21:11:10Z")
I had slip-ons for 2 years! They were great! Put them on and forget em! They looked classy. I take the slip-on built shoeing paradise for granted, and buy a pair of laced shoes because they look nice. Bah. Too high maintenance. They’re like a clingy girl/boyfriend who wants you to call/check up on em every 20 minutes ‘just because’, or they might trip you. ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/round-shoe-laces/491022/11 "2009-03-27T21:45:21Z")
I don’t know whether that shoelace site is awesome or insane. “Bringing you the fun, fashion & science of shoelaces” Oh really? ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/round-shoe-laces/491022/12 "2009-03-27T22:20:43Z")
Does it matter which, as long as you find a knot that works for you? 🙂 I have been using that “secure knot” for years on long runs and never had a lace come undone. And it’s far easier to untie than a double knot. ---
**Author:** ![Ichini\_Sanshigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d9b06d/32.png) [@Ichini\_Sanshigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichini_Sanshigo)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2009, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/round-shoe-laces/491022/13 "2009-03-28T00:18:05Z")
I always tied my shoes “the hard way”. I didn’t learn how to do “bunny ears” until high school. Now, that’s all I do, and I never have to unlace my shoes. I haven’t unlaced my shoes in months, possibly years. And the laces are round, because round laces rock. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2009, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/round-shoe-laces/491022/14 "2009-03-28T02:07:04Z")
Laces are for suckers. I’m moving in a very slip-on direction in my work footwear here lately. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2009, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/round-shoe-laces/491022/15 "2009-03-28T02:18:27Z")
_Round_ shoelaces? _Flat_ shoelaces? Bah. Gots me a set of trans-dimensional laces. ---
**Author:** ![Lucky\_13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucky_13/32/13209_2.png) [@Lucky\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_13)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2009, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/round-shoe-laces/491022/16 "2009-03-28T04:49:47Z")
I only know how to do “bunny ears” laces, and they are always coming loose unless I double-knot them. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2009, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/round-shoe-laces/491022/17 "2009-03-28T04:53:38Z")
I love the newfangled round shoelaces much more than the flat kinds. I’ve always double tied my shoes. The old flat kinds were a bitch to untie, but untying the round kinds is much easier. So the answer to the OP is that I thought they were such a bright idea. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2009, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/round-shoe-laces/491022/18 "2009-03-28T09:21:04Z")
Flat shoelaces forever! ---
**Author:** ![Idlewild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8491ac/32.png) [@Idlewild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idlewild)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2009, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/round-shoe-laces/491022/19 "2009-03-28T14:39:24Z")
This thread is the best thing on the internet. I like to think of the great computer scientists of yore (your what? I dunno) toiling over their vacuum tubes and picturing the day when people could come together regardless of race, sex or religion, and explore the wonders of tying their shoelaces. Really, we’ve come a long way, baby. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2009, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/round-shoe-laces/491022/20 "2009-03-28T20:38:35Z")
Round shoelaces hav been around (heh heh) since at least when I was a teenager, which would make them at least 30-40 years old. They were thin, and they were like… waxed or something, and they were used on dress shoes. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/round-shoe-laces/491022.md?page=2)