What To Do When Your Shoelaces Are Too Long

The one size fits all approach.

Have you ever wondered why each time you buy a new pair of shoes the laces always seem to be excessively long? Well, you’re not imagining it. When it comes to shoelaces, most major shoe manufacturers adopt a cost saving ‘one size fits all’ approach which usually involves only producing one lace length per shoe model.

This length needs to be large enough to be suitable for the top of the size range, so if you fall short of that, chances are you will find yourself with a lot of annoying excess lace which can lead to issues such as your laces constantly coming undone and even pain or discomfort.

How to fix excess shoelace length.

If you find yourself experiencing such issues, the fastest and easiest way to fix the problem of your shoelaces being too long is to simply order an identical pair of laces which are of a more appropriate length.

To find your ideal lace length, simply unlace the shoes and measure the laces from tip to tip. After this, you can browse to find laces that match the colour you need, or, if you’re feeling brave you can even switch it up and give your shoe a new look altogether!

Alternatively, if you’re unable to measure your laces or just simply can’t be bothered, check out our shoelace size guide below to help you find the ideal length for your shoes.

Flat + Rope Laces

Pairs of Eyelets	Recommended Length
6-7	120cm
8	140cm
9+	160cm

                                                   

 Fuzzy Laces

 

Quick fixes for long shoelaces:

If you don’t want to invest in a new pair of shoelaces right away, there a few short term hacks you can utilise in the meantime.

 1. Double knot it.

Double knotting is a lacing technique which will help get rid of that excess lace length and make it less likely that your laces will come undone throughout the day. To double knot, simply tie your shoelaces as you normally would and repeat the knotting step once more, trying to tie the knots as tightly as possible.

 2. Tuck, tuck tuck.

 A far cry from a permanent solution, tucking can be effective if you find your laces coming undone constantly despite your best efforts. Tucking may help with the aesthetic problems and safety issues that long laces can present but is definitely not a viable solution if you find yourself experiencing pain or discomfort.

More things to consider if your shoelaces are too long.

Upgrading your shoelaces to a higher quality and more appropriately sized pair can have massive benefits. Not only can it improve the overall appearance and aesthetics of your favourite kicks, but it can also allow you to upgrade your style by trying new, more stylish and more functional lacing styles. Our recommendation? Go a size down and try the popular ‘unlaced’ style. This will allow you to instantly slip on and slip off your shoes without ever having to tie them again. We promise that you’ll never look back.