Sneakers

Question
Why do they make the laces on tennis sneakers so long?

Every time I buy a new set of New Balance sneakers I have to go through the process of shortening the laces after constantly trying to deal with the long laces by creating crazy knots. There are many google hits on how to shorten or tie knots to deal with extremely long laces but none telling why laces are made so long.

I emailed New Balance 3 times and they have offered to replace the laces but can't tell me why the laces are long.


Answer
I honestly don't know why shoe laces vary so much in length, but I will tell you that the trend is towards shorter laces. At the store, I have noticed that Nike and Brooks in particular have gone to shorter laces. These limit the kinds of special lacing you can use to get a better heel fit, so I am not a fan of short laces.

But I also see your point about laces that are too long. I have noticed this more with Saucony shoes than New Balance. Of course, I am working with the high-end models of these brands. I don't have any dealings with cheaper shoes, which may not even be worth the money they cost.