Frequently Asked Questions

The woven elasticized shoelaces that fit into your sneakers, replacing the long shoelaces that always come untied. uLaces pop-in, nest together and convert your sneakers into slip-ons that never need to be tied.

uLaces are elasticized no-tie laces that quickly and easily transform lace up sneakers and and other flat-bottom footwear into easy on-easy/easy off slip-ons that never need to be tied.  

uLaces are made from truly-woven, yarn dyed polyester and our specially extruded lycra filament, which yields the uLace laced-feel effect.

Based on direct consumer feedback, one of the key benefits of uLaces is the ease of installation. The aglets on uLaces will look very familiar and easily insert through standard sneaker eyelets.

From day one uLaces have always shipped with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. If for any reason you are not satisfied we will take them back and refund your purchase. The good news for everyone is that 97% of uLace customers continue to buy uLaces again and again. So chances are you’ll love them too.

uLaces currently come in one style - modular - and 4 sizes: Classic, Kiddos, Slims, & Shorts. This style of uLaces will only work with sneakers that have eyelets, and will not work on sneakers with loops or hooks.

In January 2024 uLace will launch its much anticipated new ProFormance laces which were designed specifically for use on performance footwear. This style of uLaces will work with, eyelets, loops and hooks or any combination of the three.

In our efforts to create what is the worlds best - Shark Tank & Award Winning - no-tie shoelaces in the entire world, we first had to be become experts in sneaker design. We've studied literally thousands of pairs of sneakers in an effort to really understand how they are made and particularly how they are strapped to the foot.

Before we go further we need to define a term we call 'eyelet-span’. Eyelet span is the distance between adjacent eyelets on a sneaker. This is an across the top of the foot measurement.

What we’ve found in the process of measuring thousands of pairs of sneakers is that there 3-4 prominent eyelet spans that are utilized by nearly every sneaker brand in the world. The lengths of uLace Classic, Kiddos, Slims and Shorts were designed to match those eyelet spans.

This matters because most of the copycat products on the market are first of all: made from cheap nonflexible plastic or silicone that are impossible to install yet to easily break, but also sold as one-size-fits-all products which actually don't fit any sneakers well.

The uLace product line currently includes 4 unique sizes - lengths - which are made to fit the designs of different sneakers. The size of uLaces you need for your sneakers really depends on the way each pair of sneakers you wear is designed.

A man wearing a size 13 slim-fitting fashion sneaker may require the same uLace size as a woman wearing a size 6 classic-styled sneaker. This is why we have a Find Your Fit helper built into the site. Click through to the Find Your Fit page to explore.

uLaces quickly, easily and affordably convert lace-up sneakers into easy-on/easy-off slip-ons that never need to be tied.

Once quickly installed uLaces make getting out of the door and on the go a snap. Just slip-on and go1 uLaces allow you to customize your sneaker’s look and lace design.

uLaces provide an additional layer of safety from tripping and falling over untied shoelaces.

As a brand and company it is our goal to make the experience doing business with us as hassle-free as possible. If you decide you need a different size or color than you ordered we are happy to exchange for you in accordance with our exchange policy.

uLaces are made in China. uLace is however an American company based in Rochester, NY staffed with American employees. Our business supports American Businesses, the American Economy and the livelihoods of our Rochester-based office and warehouse staff.

The reality though it may seem hard to believe - is this - the eyelet spans on a sneaker are generally uniformly the same distance apart the entire length of a sneaker. Our products are sized for eyelet-span and also packed in proper length to match the uniform nature of eyelet span on a sneaker.

If you see a product where each lace is a different length you will only be setting yourself up for failure & disappointment if you purchase.

uLaces were launched in 2009 with Patents Awarded in 2013 uLaces are the first ever and true original modular no-tie laces.

Tim Talley is the founder of uLace. A product developer at heart; Tim started his first company - Tim-ting Buttons - as a sophomore in high school, then founded The Nalia Shop in College and Ballgirl Athletic after business school. After developing products for huge brands such as Nestle Chocolate, Revlon and New Era cap, Tim set out on his own again and developed uLace which created the modular no-tie lace product category.

After landing a deal with Mark Cuban on Shark Tank, Talley speed up the development of new products leading to uLace Kiddos, uLace SiliPrint, uLace Slims, uLace Shorts and uLace performance. Learn more about Tim and the uLace story on the uLace About Us page.

For uLace Classic, uLace Kiddos, and uLace Slims a minimum of 2 packs of uLaces is required to lace a pair of sneakers. For hightops –– or any shoes with more than six rows of eyelets –– you may need an additional pack.

For uLace Shorts and uLace Siliprint, 1 pack will lace a pair of sneakers.

Our tieless shoelaces were designed for 2 key reasons:

1) to make life more simple transforming lace-up sneakers into easy-on/easy-off slip-ons that never need to be tied. uLace eliminates the need to ever tie or re-tie shoelaces which - by the way - are proven to always come untied.

2) to allow customers a means to quickly, easily and affordably customize their sneakers either a single color, a couple colors or multiple colors. Over time, our customers asked us to make getting more colors more affordable - we listened and we did what they asked. Think about buying uLaces the same way you buy tires for a car. Cars need 4 tires but you are not obligated to buy 4 at a time, you can buy 1, 2, 3 or 4. The price of 3 tires is 3-times the price of a single tire.

Since our product was designed for mixing or matching colors and we wanted to give maximum flexibility to the consumer, we created the single sneaker Mix-n-Match packs. These make it more affordable for consumers to play with lots of colors –– which most fans of uLace do.

Plus, costs per-lace came down even further when we switched to our smaller packs –– which now feature more eco-friendly packaging! So don’t worry, the price you pay for 2 packs of Mix-n-Match uLaces is actually less expensive than it would be if we were still selling packs for an entire pair of sneakers.

uLaces were originally designed to fit your classic sneaker, with a 3-piece construction – but they have evolved to fit nearly any shoe as long as they have eyelet mechanisms. Boots, trainers, hightops, kicks – you name it, they’ll convert it.

And in January 2024 you’ll have access to uLace ProFormance which will also quickly prove itself to be the best no-tie laces for performance sneakers on the market.

When describing or talking about our product we use the words: shoes, and sneakers in our communication, as many people refer to sneakers as shoes. But to be clear ulace is designed for use in sneakers and some casual flat bottom shoes - think Rockports. uLace is primarily a no-tie lace for sneakers, not dress shoes.

uLaces will not work on footwear that lacks eyelets. The installation and locking mechanisms designed into the product requires eyelets to work. If your shoes have metal or fabric loops the product will not work.

uLace kiddos are generally for kids ages 3 to 13 years old. But as stated, the right size of uLaces for any person and any particular sneaker is best determined by referring to the find your fit page on our site.

Our classic line of uLaces was designed primarily for teens and adults. To best determine which size of uLace Classics is best for your particular sneakers, please refer to the find your fit page. As an adult, the sneakers you are trying to lace up might require uLace Slims or perhaps uLace Shorts. It’s not about shoe size - it’s about eyelet span (i.e. the distance between adjacent eyelets on your sneakers).

There are 3 main differences between our uLace Kiddos no tie shoelaces and our adult uLace Classic line.

1) uLace Kiddos are ¼-inch shorter in length than uLace Classic

2) uLace Kiddos are also 25% less-wide than uLace Classic

3) uLace Kiddos’ aglet diameters are 10% less in diameter than uLace Classic.

*Aglets are the plastic tubes at the end of each shoelace

The most important part of getting your sneakers to fit perfectly with uLace tieless laces is to first purchase the right size for your sneakers as you like to wear them. This can be achieved by going to the find your fit page. There, you’ll learn how to measure your sneakers while you are wearing them - to find the information and measurements you’ll need to find the best size uLace no-tie laces for your particular sneakers. 95% of people will be fine installing their uLace no tie laces in a basic parallel or cross pattern.

This is typically all it takes to achieve the perfect amount of snugness. If you wish to further customize your fit - you can refer to the fit guide and try a different lacing pattern that can either loosen or snug your fit up a bit.

Our uLace no tie sneaker laces were designed for casual wear and active play – such as moderate running, jumping and skateboarding.

But if you’re looking for something stronger, we recommend keeping an eye out for the upcoming January 2024 launch of uLace ProFormance laces for competitive sports.

Most people can feel a single grain of sand in the shoe. So it’s understandable that you might be able to feel the uLace aglets in your sneakers. We do of course recommend wearing socks and sneakers with a padded tongue. These will insulate the foot from the aglets while also giving the aglets something to ‘seat’ themselves into.

However, another thing to keep in mind is that metal grommets may initially make it difficult for the aglets on your uLace products to seat themselves properly. This can make the aglets more noticeable and possibly even uncomfortable, but can easily be prevented.

A simple solution for those who love the product but have a sensitivity to the aglets, is to use a few small strips of medical tape to cover the properly aligned tips so they will be much less noticeable. This will also prevent any - metal grommet induced aglet spinning - as well as protect the tips for extra-long wear and usage.

Most people can feel a single grain of sand in the shoe. So it’s understandable that you might be able to feel the uLace aglets in your sneakers. We do of course recommend wearing socks and sneakers with a padded tongue. These will insulate the foot from the aglets while also giving the aglets something to ‘seat’ themselves into.

In designing uLaces, we took measurements on hundreds of pairs of sneakers and locked in on an aglet length of 9/10” which allows the aglets to nest on about 90% of the sneakers we tested across sizes ranging from kids to adults. Of course, this means that our aglet nesting feature may not work on about 10% of sneakers on the market. Most of this is driven by sneakers with metal grommets on the eyelets .

A simple solution is to take a few small strips of medical tape and cover the properly aligned tips so they will be much less noticeable. This will prevent any - metal grommet induced aglet spinning - and will also protect the tips for extra-long wear and usage

As with sneakers it’s all about how the boots and or hightops are constructed. If your footwear - not dress shoes - have eyelets, there’s a great chance uLace no tie laces will work. Many consumers tell us that they replaced the standard long laces in their winter or work boots with uLaces and love them.

In designing uLaces, we took measurements on hundreds of pairs of sneakers and locked in on an aglet length of 9/10” which allows the aglets to nest on about 90% of the sneakers we tested across sizes ranging from kids to adults. Of course, this means that our aglet nesting feature may not work on about 10% of sneakers on the market. Most of this is driven by sneakers with metal grommets on the eyelets

As far as high-top sneakers and boots go - remember that the opening on the top of hightops is a lot smaller than the opening where you insert your foot on mids or low-tops. While you can lace uLaces into any sneaker of casual flat bottom shoes that have eyelets, you may need to leave the top 1 or 2 laces at the top undone so you can get your foot inside. It really all depends on the design of the footwear you’re lacing up.

As with any footwear the best way to find the right uLaces for your foot and that particular pair of shoes is to go to the find your fit page and take a couple quick measurements.

In 2017, researchers at Cal Berkeley actually did an extensive research project on how shoelaces come untied and found that after you tie your shoes - even with double knots - with the very first step you take, the laces begin untying themselves. Actually, it is the bouncing of the laces caused by walking that fuels the shoelaces’ ability to untie themselves. The more you walk –– and the faster you walk –– the faster the shoelace knot will come un-done.

Given the time it takes to tie a pair of shoe laces, researchers also estimate that the average human will spend at least one month of their life tying and re-tying standard shoelaces.

If you’re an elementary school teacher or parent of multiple children, that number can easily double or even quadruple.

uLaces stand apart from other modular no-tie laces as the only truly woven modular no-tie laces on the market. Our positioning from day one was to be an AUTHENTIC replacement for standard long shoelaces –– which have been used in sneakers since they were invented over 100 years ago. To us “AUTHENTIC” meant that our uLaces had to look and feel exactly like the laces a consumer was replacing in their sneakers. That meant offering a truly woven no-tie lace to the marketplace.

The intent of our product is to keep your sneakers looking fresh-out-of-the-box authentic; and to never take anything away from the original design of your sneakers while transforming them into slip-ons. 97% of our consumers love uLace because of our authenticity. We’ll stand on that.

uLace retail distribution is focused primarily in independent retailers (shoe stores, kids stores, toy stores); small regional chains and franchise chains. To find a store near you, use our Store Locator.

Please note that there are over 90 uLace Classic Colors/SKU and over 240 ulace Colors/SKU’s across all of our sizes. The only place where all can be found is here on our website.

Shop uLace Classic Today!