need shoe fastening help—elastic, installing speedlacing, etc?

has anyone had any luck replacing the laces on their climbing shoes with elastic ones without compromising the fit? the velcro models i’ve tried  on usually have toebox & medial gap issues for my anatomy (tiny man feet with very high arch)

or, ideas on alternate ways to fasten my shoes that don’t involve tying them & don’t mess with flexibility? obviously lace locks or stiff toggles are out. help please! i’m a competent sewer and craftsman and can make/add something—just not an experienced enough climber yet to feel comfortable diving into messing with my shoes unaided.

I recognize this isn’t what you’re asking but since you mentioned you’re a newer climber- have you tried downturned women’s shoes? The shape and heel are different to men’s. A decent amount of male climbers wear women’s shoes for this reason. 

Climb On wrote:

I recognize this isn’t what you’re asking but since you mentioned you’re a newer climber- have you tried downturned women’s shoes? The shape and heel are different to men’s. A decent amount of male climbers wear women’s shoes for this reason. 

so, i am a newer climber in the sense of i’ve only been climbing a little under a year and in the community for two, i’m returning from medical leave—but i’m not new-new to climbing. i’ve only ever worn womens shoes for this reason actually. my “daily drivers” are womens butora advances (my beaters) and la sportiva solutions depending on my goals for the session/climb. just that even with the size shift velcro models do not fit. hence this post—i have a disability that prevents me from being able to safely tie my shoes and have a miserable time finding new ones.

rock climbing wrote:

why don’t you get a slipper and skip the lace and Velcro Maybe cobra? 

Scarpa just come out with a slipper that had elastic laces. Looks more like a gimmick to sell more shoes. 

not a bad idea. i climbed for a bit in a borrowed pair of slipper boreals and loved it, just haven’t taken the dive into investing up. i’ll check out the cobra!

Otha Self wrote:

Elastic shoe laces are a great option if you want to easily slip your shoes on and off without having to tie and untie your laces every time. For elastic shoe fastenings, you can follow these steps: Measure the elastic, Prepare the elastic, Attach the elastic to the shoe.For installing speedlacing, you can follow these steps: Remove the old laces, Install the speedlacing system, Secure the laces.

Measure the elastic? Attach the elastic? What?

FrankPS wrote:

Measure the elastic? Attach the elastic? What?

i’m confused too and i’ve been making/constructing clothes, belts, etc, for years. new account, too. chatGPT?