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This Little Widget Promises You'll Never Have to Tie Your Shoes Again

The Xpand Lacing System looks to free your fingers forever

By Rain Noe - November 5, 2015

in Sneakers | Crowdfunding

"Why do shoes," asked a reader on our forums, "have shoelaces?" I've often wondered the same thing. I hate tying shoelaces and leave them permanently knotted, so I scrunchily rub my kicks against one another when taking them off or putting them on. As I result, I go through a new pair of running sneakers every six months—and I don't even run.

Can we not improve upon something that was invented in 3,000 B.C.? Another member answered the first:

Shoelaces are cheap, infinitely adjustable…easily replaceable, pretty much universal, and in a pinch can be fixed, or replaced….

…There are alternatives…but they have drawbacks. Either expensive, look stupid, not adjustable, don't allow flex, or some combo thereof.

That said, go ahead. See what you come up with. If you can truly do all and more that shoelaces do, you'll be a billionaire.

Well, entrepreneur Charles Harris may not be a billionaire—yet; but he's just landed $377,774 (on a $10,000 goal) and counting on Kickstarter, for what he's presenting as the perfect no-tying-required shoelace solution:

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At just eight bucks a pop, the Xpand Lacing System is flying off of the virtual shelves. Harris says he's tooled up and ready to begin shipping in January (which is already just two months away, holidays here we come) in 24 colors. At press time there were 19 days left to pledge.

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Harris is no ID'er, by the way; for the heavy design lifting, he enlisted the services of Seattle's Pillar Product Design.

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Though he's not an industrial designer, Harris is a serial Kickstarter who's successfully gotten four projects funded, Xpand being his fifth. You can check out his track record here.

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Mike Cheung

9 years ago

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I wear these and will probably get another pair when my current ones wear out. I love not tying laces in the morning. http://www.camper.com/en_US/men/shoes/beetle/camper-beetle-36678-035

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steve roumel

9 years ago

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Just use SUMOgrips, they work on every shoe, and don't have to change laces.
Marathon and Ultra-marathon runner tested, Spartan Race tested. They work the best.
http://www.sprgear.com

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Patrick Gates

9 years ago

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Looks suspiciously like this already launched product http://innie.co/

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Eric Strebel

9 years ago

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I wish he could direct his energy toward something a bit more important than shoe laces that are elastic. Good luck, unfortunately I think he will be successful, I am sure plenty of people will sign on.

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Jason Pokines

9 years ago

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I wish them luck. I just tie my casual shoes loosely and slip them on and off. My running shoes already have the elastic lace competitor they briefly chided, but I don't use them because the constant compression of elastic laces causes my feet to go numb after about a mile. It's called compartment syndrome and, if it goes on too long, can lead to some pretty nasty effects sometimes resulting in amputation.

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- Jesus Eduardo Magana
  
  Jason Pokines
  
  9 years ago
  
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  Amputation, Shut the F up dude!!!!
  
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  - Jason Pokines
    
    Jesus Eduardo Magana
    
    9 years ago
    
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    No, seriously.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compartment_sydrome#Notable_cases
    
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