Frequently Asked Questions
How do I install Stretchlaces?
Take your existing laces out and thread the Stretchlaces through the eyelets the same way, keeping them flat with no twists as you go. With your foot in the shoe, lace upward and tie them off once at the tension that fits snugly, pulling the bow taut while leaving enough room to slip your foot in and out. From that point on the shoe is a slip-on. Total install time: under five minutes per shoe.
How do I adjust for a comfortable fit?
Snug them to the tension you'd normally tie your laces at, not tighter. The elastic gives when your foot goes in, then returns to that baseline once your foot is seated. To loosen, work from the top crossover nearest your ankle; to tighten, start from the bottom nearest your toes, one crossover at a time. If they feel too tight on day one, loosen the tie-off by an inch; if they feel sloppy, snug it up a half inch.
How do I keep my laces from coming untied?
With Stretchlace, you don't. You tie them once and never again. Once installed and snugged to your foot, the elastic holds the tension on its own. The trick is the fit: a good tie doesn't let the laces graze the ground, and the bow and loose ends should sit up on the top of your foot. Too much slack is what lets any lace work loose. Get the fit right once and there's no double-knotting and no relacing after every walk.
How do I know what size I am?
Two easy ways. Sizing goes by eyelet count and shoe height, not foot size: most adult sneakers and casuals take our 45-inch lace, low-tops and smaller-foot shoes take 35-inch, high-tops (Nike Blazer, Converse high) take 63-inch, and boots take 72-inch. Or just measure the laces you're replacing and match the closest of our sizes: 24, 30, 35, 40, 45, 47, 55, 63, and 72 inches. Too long, size down; too short, size up. When in doubt, 45 inches fits the majority of adult sneakers.
Will these fit my hightops, boots, cleats, dress shoes?
Yes. Any shoe that takes a lace takes Stretchlace, across sneakers, high-tops, boots, cleats, work boots, and athletic shoes. We make them in flat and round, in 9 lengths and 15 colors: flat laces suit most sneakers, while round laces fit the smaller eyelets on dress shoes, hiking boots, and some sneaker brands. For dress shoes specifically, our Dress style is built to look right on a polished leather upper. Sizing is by eyelet count and shoe height, not by category.
Are no-tie elastic shoelaces good for arthritis or weak hands?
Yes. No-tie elastic laces take out the parts of putting shoes on that arthritis can make hard: gripping laces, tying a knot, and retying through the day. Many people install them on a day when their grip is comfortable, and the shoe becomes a slip-on from then on.
Product information, not medical advice. Loop in your doctor or therapist before changing anything related to your care.
Are these good after foot surgery or a broken foot, for limited mobility?
Yes. Once you're cleared for a regular shoe, you install them once and it becomes a slip-on, so you don't bend over to lace or tie during recovery. A toggle-adjustable Quick Lock style helps when swelling varies day to day.
Read the full broken-foot recovery guide
Product information, not medical advice. Loop in your doctor or therapist before changing anything related to your care.
Which no-tie lace should I choose for dress shoes vs sneakers vs boots?
Sneakers (low-top or high-top): Flat or Round elastic. Boots and athletic styles: Round elastic or Quick Lock. Dress shoes: our Dress style, which looks like polished waxed dress laces because it is, just elastic instead of cotton. Tieless Silicone is the best fit if you want zero traditional lace look. Bow Clips are an add-on for any lace you already love but want to make permanently no-tie.
Do these work for kids who can't tie yet?
Yes. Once installed, the shoe is a slip-on a kid can put on alone, and it still looks like a regular laced sneaker, no Velcro.
Elastic shoelaces vs lock laces, what's the difference and which is better?
Elastic laces look like regular laces and need no per-use adjustment; lock laces use a toggle for athletes who fine-tune tension between events. For most people, elastic wins on looks and versatility.
Are these good for running and sports?
Yes. Elastic laces flex with foot swell and never need retying mid-run; for high-impact events our Quick Lock style sets tension precisely.
Will they stay tight and not come loose?
Yes, and they stay tight without you doing anything. The elastic core holds the tension you set at install time. The only situation where Stretchlace loosens is if you installed at a lower tension than you actually need. In that case, redo the tie-off snugger and they hold. No retying mid-day, no loose loops dragging on the ground.