Poll on laces

[tstop4me]

I've been involved in a field trial for a new line of laces (which I'll report on later), and I was surprised to find out that many skaters did not have spare laces on hand and did not even know what length they needed.  Thought I'd poll this gang.

[davincisop]

I did have a pair of spare laces on hand, but just put them into my Harlicks because the harlick laces were cutting my hands up.

[AgnesNitt]

I check my laces, and my skate tech checks my laces. I've never had a lace break or even get worn. I guess I don't put enough stress on them.

[Bill_S]

Yes, I have a spare set at home. The laces currently in my boots are only a year old.



The old ones broke after ten years on my skates. One of the benefits of replacing them was that I didn't have to re-tie my laces when skating. New laces must have a bit of elasticity to them that diminishes over time.

I won't wait as long next time.

[icepixie]

I keep a spare pair, although the ones I have now are about to go into my SP-Teris when they arrive (their stock laces make my hands bleed).  I haven't had any break yet.  Like Bill_S, I change them when I start having to re-tie a lot.  I think I average about every 18 months.

[Live2Sk8]

I change mine out when I have a series of competitions coming up so the laces are bright white.  After the competitions are over, I will put the older ones back on.  I also take my laces out and wash them when they are starting to look less white.  I probably use a particular pair for a year or more but since I am always switching them out, I don't really know.  I replace them whenever they still look dingy after a washing, which is before they start to fray or look worn, or when I notice I need to start retying a lot.

[tstop4me]

I change mine out when I have a series of competitions coming up so the laces are bright white.  After the competitions are over, I will put the older ones back on.  I also take my laces out and wash them when they are starting to less white.  I probably use a particular pair for a year or more but since I am always switching them out, I don't really know.  I replace them whenever they still look dingy after a washing, which is before they start to fray or look worn, or when I notice I need to start retying a lot.

"Looking dingy" is not a reason that would have ever popped in my mind.

[tstop4me]

Bump.  Hi, guys.  I would appreciate more responses; preferably a minimum of 30.  This info may help bring more widespread distribution of improved laces ... which would benefit all of us skaters.  Thanks.

[khii]

I've only had one set of laces break on me, and they'd been through quite a lot I guess. I bought my first pair of skates used (barely hand), bleached the laces back to white, wore them until the skates completely and visibly broke down, got a new (used...) pair of skates, I didn't like how slippery the laces were so I swapped them with the laces from my old skates.

Then one of those laces broke at some point and I was forced to go back to the slippery laces before buying new ones. The laces went through two pairs of boots which I thought was pretty good. They survived a LOT of tugging from trying to tighten a) broken down skates, and b) too-big skates 

[skategeek]

I have spare laces in my bag.  I don't know the length off the top of my head, but could look at them to see what the length is, so I checked both options.  I have yet to swap out laces at all.  I used my first pair of skates for almost 3 years and never had to change them.  I've had the second pair for just over 3 years (skating 3-4 hrs per week) and haven't changed them yet either.  (I should maybe take a look at them...) 

[FigureSpins]

I have spares and keep the length (along with other stats) in a note on my phone/tablet for reference purposes.

If laces looks frayed or really grubby, I change them.  Otherwise, I change laces a week or two before a special event - test, competition, show, clinic, etc.
It works out to be around 8 months.

[CaraSkates]

I am picky and only buy Riedell laces. My first skate guy wrote the lace length on the sole of all boots he fitted/mounted so you always knew it.

[dlbritton]

I have Riedell boots and just ordered replacement/spare laces. I got 1 pair of Riedell and 1 pair of Jackson.

I put the Jackson laces in last week and they seem to have more grip than the Riedell laces.

Most important, they stay on my top hook. I have noticed with the original Riedell laces, the lace would pop off of the top hook when I do a series of back crossovers. Not come untied but actually pop off the hook. Not a good feeling to feel your boot loosen up and know the lace has popped off. I started double looping the laces between the 2nd and 3rd hook (from bottom) so that if it popped off the top hook it would only loosen up on hooks 4 and 3.

In 3 sessions since I put the new laces on I have not had the lace pop off.

[Clarice]

I said my laces typically lasted more than a year, but I change them out for big competitions so I guess I don't really know for sure. The best answer for me would be "I change them out when they start to fray or for ANs, whichever comes first."

[tstop4me]

Tomorrow is election day.  So please go to the polls and vote. ... Speaking of polls:  I'd appreciate further votes in this lace poll.  I'm tstop4me, and I approve this message, because the feet you save may be your own. 

[lutefisk]

I voted early.  Should I vote often?

[tstop4me]

I voted early.  Should I vote often?

Depends.  Do you get a free lunch each time?

[FigureSpins]

I voted early for the laces and the midterm election!  They gave me a "designer sticker."  Have no idea who the designer is, but it's a cute sticker.
There are freebies for those who voted, despite it being illegal to reward someone for voting.  Pride, not prize!  (Glad I saved my sticker.)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/nation-now/2018/11/05/election-day-freebies-2018-free-rides-polls-and-other-deals/1884354002/

[lutefisk]

I voted early for the laces and the midterm election!  They gave me a "designer sticker."  Have no idea who the designer is, but it's a cute sticker.
There are freebies for those who voted, despite it being illegal to reward someone for voting.  Pride, not prize!  (Glad I saved my sticker.)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/nation-now/2018/11/05/election-day-freebies-2018-free-rides-polls-and-other-deals/1884354002/

This is probably why nobody tried to earn my vote the old fashioned way (with a cigar and a pint of cheap whisky).  Come to think of it, none of the skating forum's pollsters have ever offered anything either--what's this world coming to?

[dlbritton]

I voted early for the laces and the midterm election!  They gave me a "designer sticker."  Have no idea who the designer is, but it's a cute sticker.
There are freebies for those who voted, despite it being illegal to reward someone for voting.  Pride, not prize!  (Glad I saved my sticker.)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/nation-now/2018/11/05/election-day-freebies-2018-free-rides-polls-and-other-deals/1884354002/

NPR had a segment discussing "being paid" to vote and one question was if Uber and Lyft offering free rides to the polls is being paid. My hometown is offering free bus service today so people can vote.
The guest on NPR said the federal government pretty much ignores general inducements to vote such as free food or rides, but steps in when the freebie is intended to get you to vote for a particular candidate or party.

[tstop4me]

They gave me a "designer sticker."  Have no idea who the designer is, but it's a cute sticker.

<<Emphasis added>> Ivanka Trump?

[FigureSpins]

I think it was a man's name and I just found out that it was my County's sticker, not the state's.  Really, the sticker wasn't "all that," but they took a poll to select it from among THIRTY (30!) choices, lol!  This is big stuff!  They gave me #17 for voting early:

https://surveymonkey-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/survey/155358266/ea3b8246-5d8f-4ed9-9228-415ef01a3a1c.jpg