Shoelaces
Shoelaces are flexible cords threaded through eyelets or hooks on shoes and tightened to hold footwear securely on the feet.
Shoelace knot: A knot used to fasten shoelaces, usually formed as a bow with two loops. Its structure keeps tightened laces together while allowing them to be untied.
Cord: A long, flexible strand or bundle of fibers used for tying, fastening, or carrying loads. Shoelaces are cords designed for repeated tightening and bending.
Criss-cross lacing: A lacing pattern in which each lace crosses the shoe’s tongue between eyelets. It is a common arrangement for distributing tension across a shoe.
Hook-and-loop fastener: A fastening system with two surfaces that attach through tiny hooks and loops. It closes footwear without threading, tensioning, or tying a cord.
Reef knot: A symmetrical binding knot made from two overhand knots tied in opposite directions. The bow’s central crossing uses the same opposing-knot principle.
Textile: A flexible material made by interlacing, looping, or bonding fibers. Most shoelaces are textile constructions, though some use other materials.
Straight bar lacing: A lacing pattern with horizontal bars across the shoe and hidden diagonal segments inside. It changes the shoe’s appearance while keeping the lace path orderly.
Buckle: A fastening device that joins the ends of a strap, often with an adjustable pin or clasp. Buckles secure shoes through straps rather than laced tension.
Shoelace knot problem: The mathematical problem of explaining why some shoelace bows hold while others come undone. It examines the forces and motion that make tied laces fail.
Aglet: A small rigid or coated tip fitted to the end of a cord. Aglets keep lace ends from fraying and make them easier to thread.