Elastic (No Tie) Shoelaces

 Tired of bending down to tie your shoe every  10 minutes?  Replace your old fashion shoe laces with an elastic band to create comfortable slip-ons.  This is very easy to do and only costs around $2.

This conversion is best for everyday shoes. 

How it works:
Elastic banding will replace your normal shoelaces.  This elastic banding will constantly be pulling the two parts of the shoe together making it like you just tied you shoe.  (but not to tight) 

Step 1: Supplies

 For this instructable you will need:

1 pair of shoes
3 Yards of 1/4 inch elastic band ($0.75 walmart craft section)
Scissors 
Needle and thread
Super glue ($1.00 walmart) (optional) 

Step 2: Unlace and Measure

Unlace 1 of your shoes leaving the other  shoe for a pattern.  

With the shoelace from one of the shoes, cut a strip of 1/4 elastic band 
roughly the same size.  

Put the elastic banding through the bottoms holes. Make sure that both sides of the elastic lace are lengthen evenly.

Step 3: Lace-Up

 Following the pattern of your other shoe to lace the elastic band. You may wish to change your pattern or keep the same one.  


(Helpful hint)
Its easier if you take the end of the elastic cord and fold in in half.

Step 4: Tying it all Together

 After you have finished lacing you shoe take the ends and make a simple cross.  

Determine how tight you like your shoes by putting them on and marking how tight the cross is relative to how tight your shoe is.

This mark is where you will sew it all together.

With your needle, simply make several loops in and out of the cross to secure it firmly.  

Tie the thread together and cut off the extra string surrounding the knot

Step 5: Finishing

Tie a simple knot over your thread work to lock in your perfect shoe fit.

Cut off excess slack in elastic banding.

(Optional) Super glue the knot 

Repeat previous steps to complete other shoe.

 

Step 6: Relax

 Thats it!  Very simple.

You can now roam freely without having to tie your shoe ever again.
These shoes are now very easy to put on.  AND no one can tell that you have elastic banding for shoelaces.

Have fun!

Comments

[esdxcox]

Cool DIY...I got tired of having to deal with shoelaces on me and my boys' Chucks and Vans too! So I came up with Synch Bands (pronounced "cinch"). Adjustable elastic shoelaces that turn your shoes into slip-ons, all with no bows or tying :) http://synchbands.com Check 'em out and hopefully you dig them too!

[Paula7928]

What a great idea! I usually buy elastic no tie curly shoelaces online from this site http://www.shoelaces.ecrater.com/p/3982912/curly-laces-shoelaces-white-no but it is so cool to make them yourself.

[merriweather]

Also cool are "no tie shoelaces" you can google it; they are curly elastic bands which you thread through your shoe while it is on your foot & then simply pull the ends to tighten.. They are terrific for younger children, but i like thelm too!

[gkila16]

i couldnt find the elastic band is there any other name it could be found under by?

[merriweather]

didnt realize this was 2010; did u find the band? You should be able to ask for it in any fabric type of store or arts & crafts - JoAnn's Fabric, Walmart, Maybe even Michaels. Elastic bands might be near the ribbon section..not sure i've never really had to purchase it before.

[ERCBIENG]

where did you look for it?

[SwimmingRox]

simple... but creative! maybe you could also tie the elastic bands in a bow like regular shoes and then sew the bow shut with white thread.

[candogoods]

Simple genius!
www.candogoods.wordpress.com (organizational tips for parents with children with special needs)

[Amalie08]

 I love this idea!!!! Definitely going to use this for my keds and vans! You are awesome :)

[atomiclizard]

 I love this Instructable! It inspired me to tie my Chuck Taylor's with braided elastic, and I'll never go back to laces again. I am lazy, so I decided to just double-tie the elastic laces instead of using thread and glue. They look just like normal shoes but slip right on and off. Thanks for the idea!

[notmyfault]

Oh, Man...I wish I had seen this before I took my trip...After removing and retying my shoes for airport security 3 times in one day...No fun when you have kids and baggage...I will definitely do this before the next trip....Thanks a lot...5*s....NMF

[solo.card]

I like this idea a lot.

There are a pair of shoes that came with laces too short to tie properly, and look really poor anyway, so I think I'll do this to them!

Got a few ideas of a slight change I might add, but if anything super fantastic comes out, I'll post it later.

[ERCBIENG]

 Awesome! Any improvement ideas are welcome!

[Stoned]

How does the double knot come undone?

[SoFloWinchSkate88]

I actually know how to untie double knots... well, the trick is just don't tie them too tight in the first place... then when you want to undo them, *one of the two string-ends is the key to unlocking the double knot*... all you have to do is pull really hard on one of the ends and that usually works for me.  sometimes if u tie it a cretain way or pull the wrong string or if a string-end is through one of the loops, the worst that usually happens is that there is a single knot in your shoelaces after the pull, but other than that it works nicely... learned this when i was l like 7... i was soooo pissed at trying to pick out the double knot in my shoelace and just yanket the hell out of it and it worked... done it ever since

[ERCBIENG]

I dont understand you question. Please restate it so I can best answer you.

[Madkins007]

 If you use thin 'bungee cord', you can get an even firmer fit suitable for general hiking and stuff as well. Replace the knot with a spring-loaded cord lock and you can still make adjustments if needed.

This is a pretty common practice for people with disabilities or other troubles that make some shoes tricky. It also makes some tricky fits easier- fitting around sensitive areas, bunions, etc. I do something like this to most of my non-dress shoes.

Double knots DO come undone- rather easily in fact since the extra knot does not really 'lock' in. Pre-tied shoes tend to be too tight or too loose at different times of the day as your foot changes sizes. This sort of cheap modification is a great alternative! Of course, it can take a few wearings to get the elastic properly tensioned to hold across the foot evenly.

[thepelton]

Like bassdale says, this would be good for those with limited movement, such as the wife of a friend of mine who has ALS.

[berky93]

I never tie/untie my shoes. I buy them, tie them once, and from that point on slip them on and off. It's a little tough at first, but once they break in they stay at the perfect tension - I can slip them on with just a hand or sometimes just by stepping in them and stomping a bit, and they stay nice and tight

[ERCBIENG]

 Thats what I used to do before I this...  When you have elastic shoelaces you have the same perfect tension without destroying the heal and back  of the shoe when you stomp them on.

[XOIIO]

Well now your just giving people the perfect excuse not to learn how to tie their shoes. If you do it properly, like I do, you don't need to adjust then for 2 months or more.

[ERCBIENG]

If you do this you wont have to tie your shoes EVER AGAIN.  And yes I know of  certain ways you can tie your shoe but it depends on the type of shoe you are putting on..For the type of shoe used for the example the elatic shoelaces work alot better.

[Houdinipeter]

 Thanks so much! this looks waay better than the slip-on keds-style shoes and the elastice laces that curl up from when i was a kid. 5*s

[bassdale]

I love it, You have given me back my laced shoes I have difficulty puttiing them on   since a knee injury left me unable to bend.  Thank for such a Instructable! now I can enjoy my laced shoes.