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Mathematics Unravels Optimum Way To Lace Shoes
Seft writes "The knotty problem of choosing the optimum way of lacing up shoes has been solved by a new mathematical proof.
There are many millions of different possibilities but, reassuringly, the proof shows that centuries of human trial and error has already selected out the strongest lacing patterns. However, the pattern using the least amount of lace possible, the decorative "bowtie" lacing, is usually only seen in shoe shop displays"
I dunno about you, but I like comfort in my lacing system.
If you have the highly zig-zaged pattern you can, with little force, end up applying an tourniquet to your foot.
Less sharp angles will keep your foot more comfortable, not to mention giving you more lace with which to hang yourself - I mean, tie knots. Too many shoes come with short laces that can barely support a full bow.
"Provided by the management for your protection."
Read the article? Are you Mad!?
I personally hate that shoes, boots, whatever, when bought, must consistently be re-laced before they can be effectively worn. I know that their lacing is usually loose in stores so that people can try them on faster, but I want an accurate feel for the shoe when I get in there!
-- 'The' Lord and Master Bitman On High, Master Of All
Screw shortest.. i want a way to use my laces that are too long for the shoes i have without buying new ones. Cutting them will only give me frayed eneds.
-s
-
ping -f 255.255.255.255 # if only
Where I live, in the army, you lace by first knotting one side of the lace to the first eyehole and then make an above connection to the eyehole on the other side (from outside), then you go up one eyehole, and then go again to the other side... eventually leaving you with only one side of the lace to tie somewhere... After it's done, you see only horizantal laces, all the vertical ones are below. That way it is easier to cut the laces if you get injured.
/
Also, needing only to use one lace makes lacing up and down faster, tho you need to get used to the fact that for each level of eyehole you need to lace in the opposite direction.
Something like this:
*-o
o-o
o-o
o-o
o-o
Where * is the knotted side and / is the leftover, coming from under the eyehole.
^_^
Of course, this study doesn't take into account terrain. Really hard-core backpackers lace their shoes differently depending on whether they're ascending or descending a mountain.
...towards people with feet!
"And like that
I found that some of this stuff applies real well to reality. After a term of hard work in a topology class, the most important and practical thing I have learned is that it is impossible to tie shoe laces in four dimensions. Thanks to the work of generations of mathematicians, we know not to use shoe laces if another dimension were ever discovered. If it were not for mathematicians, how else would you be prepared for hiking in the fourth dimension?
Not for the faint of heart... it uses string theory.