Ian's Shoelace Site - Comparative Shoelace Lengths

The "Comparative Shoelace Length" on any Lacing Method indicates the approximate difference in the length of shoelace used by that method compared to the length used by Criss Cross Lacing (the basic method with which shoes are usually laced). This allows you to more easily determine how the shoelace length will be affected if you change to a different lacing method.

For example, rather than having to measure your shoe, then enter those measurements into my Shoelace Length Calculator, you can instead tell that a lacing method needs longer laces, or that if you keep the same laces, it will reduce the lengths of the loose ends.

You can also more easily compare lacing methods with each other. For example, one method may use 5% more length, while another may use 10% more.

Comparative Length Example 1
Take a shoe with six pairs of eyelets and with the same dimensions as the size that these diagrams appear on my screen (Horizontal: 35mm, Vertical: 16mm). Assuming the "standard" end-length of 250mm, compare the resulting shoelace lengths.
Criss Cross Lacing Exact calculated lengths: Criss-Cross-Laced area = 455mm 2 x Loose ends = 2 x 250mm Total shoelace length = 955mm	Lattice Lacing Exact calculated lengths: Lattice-Laced area = 490mm 2 x Loose ends = 2 x 250mm Total shoelace length = 990mm Re-use existing 955mm laces: Lattice-Laced area = 490mm 2 x Loose ends = 2 x 232.5mm Total shoelace length = 955mm
In other words, the "Lattice-Laced" area uses about 8% more length than the "Criss-Cross-Laced" area on the same shoe. However, because no extra length is needed for the loose ends, only about 4% longer laces are needed overall. On the other hand, if you didn't want to replace the shoelaces but instead wanted to keep the existing laces, the extra length would have to come from the loose ends, which would effectively "shorten" each end by about 7%.
Here's how these comparative lengths whould be shown on the Lattice Lacing page: Comparative Shoelace Length = 108% Laced area uses more (about +8%) Longer laces needed (about +4%) Shortens lace ends (about -7%)

Comparative Length Example 2
In the above example, the lacing method uses more shoelace and thus effectively "shortens" the lace ends. In this example, the lacing method uses less shoelace and thus effectively "lengthens" the lace ends.
Criss Cross Lacing Exact calculated lengths: Criss-Cross-Laced area = 455mm 2 x Loose ends = 2 x 250mm Total shoelace length = 955mm	Army Lacing Exact calculated lengths: Army-Laced area = 320mm 2 x Loose ends = 2 x 250mm Total shoelace length = 820mm Re-use existing 955mm laces: Army-Laced area = 320mm 2 x Loose ends = 2 x 317.5mm Total shoelace length = 955mm
In other words, the "Army-Laced" area uses about 30% less length than the "Criss-Cross-Laced" area on the same shoe. This results in about 14% shorter laces needed overall. Keeping the existing laces would effectively "lengthen" each end by about 27%.
Here's how these comparative lengths whould be shown on the Army Lacing page: Comparative Shoelace Length = 70% Laced area uses less (about -30%) Shorter laces needed (about -14%) Lengthens lace ends (about +27%)

Approximations

Note that although these comparative lengths are all based on exact calculations, those calculations are for shoes with the same measurements as the diagrams. If your shoes have a wider or narrower spacing than the diagrams, or if they have a larger or smaller number of pairs of eyelets or lugs, these will change the percentages slightly.

The comparative lengths should therefore be considered as a simple, approximate guide. For more exact comparisons, use the Shoelace Length Calculator.

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