The Castle Brooke Paralaces are laces to love. These hand-crafted bootlaces are reportedly the toughest around, and feature a seven-strand construction with 550 pound-tested Nylon Kernmantle rope, and aglets made from polyolefin plastics. Those bind and mesh with the nylon fibers to become one with the lace. These are even available in a variety of colors including the old standby in black.
Tag: laces
Nike Patents New Lacing Tech
Laces. Velcro. Buckles. Bindings. You need one of those to tighten the shoes to get the support you need. Nike recently filed a patent for shoes with tightening laces. Or at least self-tightening straps. A battery and electronics built into the heel of the shoe control the laces and maintain a snug or loose and comfortable setting for the wearer. This technology is still in development, but fun to think what it will be like to slip into a pair of shoes and have the straps tighten on command.
Of course there are drawbacks in relying on this technology. The electronics could cause the shoes to tighten on their own, or give up working while laced on your feet. Is there an emergency out setting? We’re not sure if the battery is replaceable, and therefore its life could possibly determine the life of the shoe. On the flip side an electronic indicator to replace your shoe might be what some people need. I’ve seen people wear their shoes into the ground. Quite literally.
[via PopSci: Nike Patents Back-to-the-Future-Style Self-Lacing Shoes]
Boa Technology Calls Out Steve Jobs
- Hey Steve, no laces to tie!
Boa Technology, you are our heroes this week! The company noted that Apple CEO Steve Jobs stopped in the middle of his talking points during a recent press conference to… gasp… tie his shoes. No big deal right? It happens to the best of us. But as Boa Technology noted in An Open Letter to Steve Jobs, “It struck us as downright appalling that the CEO of a company leading the charge towards the 22nd century would resort to First Century Technology to close his shoes.”
The company further noted that they sent Mr. Jobs a pair of shoes “that is true to Apple’s forward-looking culture” (their words, not ours as we’re far from Apple zealots at KineticShift.com). So what exactly makes the Boa Technology stand apart? Continue reading Boa Technology Calls Out Steve Jobs