SnapLaces can be used by anyone who wears shoes that lace up, but can be particularly beneficial for:

• children
• athletes (such as runners)
• the elderly
• those with arthritic hands
• the physically disabled
• anyone who may lack dexterity for whatever reason

These are stretchy laces that affix to the shoes semi-permanently (that is, you can choose to remove them, but they  don’t fall out or need to be re-laced) and have a hook-like clasp rather than loose ends that need to be tied.

They’re a little different to put in than regular laces, since you have to be able to attach both ends to the clasp to make a complete loop.  Check out the video below for instructions.

What’s shown in the video above is the Casual set — one lace with one clip per shoe.  (The black set in my photos.)  This is more of an everyday-use version, and what most people probably want for their kids, etc.

There’s also a Performance set (the blue set in my photos) that comes with two (shorter) laces and two clips per shoe.  With these, you lace the upper portion and the lower portion of each shoe separately, to allow for a custom fit.  Maybe you want the toe box looser and the upper more snug.  (Snugger?)  This simply allows more control.  (Of course you can use the Performance sets in everyday shoes, too.  Some folks might have fun mixing two sets in different colors.)

I realized after we got our review laces that we don’t have anything to put them in.  Apparently we’d already foregone shoes with laces for the kids — because they can’t tie them.  (Oh, the irony!)  But I’ve played around with them in and out of the package.  I found it to be a little tough to pop the end of the lace out of the clip to adjust the length, but otherwise pretty easy to work with these.  And really, that’s a good thing, because if it’s a little tough to pull the lace ends loose from the clip, you know they’re not going to pop out while you’re wearing them.  (Remember this part only has to be done once.)  I’m looking forward to trying these in my son’s shoes next time so he isn’t limited to velcro!

These are a nice size for a stocking stuffer.  If someone in your life is a student or alumnus at a well-known university, check out their Collegiate laces, too!  Twenty-two of the top universities are represented.  These laces come in 2-color pairs and have logos on the clips.