Are there any other shoes with quick laces other than Zoot?

Triathlon Forum
1

Are there any other shoes with quick laces and sockless capability other than Zoot?

I’m looking for some more options if they are available. I’m not happy with any stretchy laces I’ve used. The best lacing system I’ve seen is on my Soloman winter trail shoes.

jaretj

2

I was going to put a smart ass reply about EZ Laces and Quick Laces…you got me at sockless though…Does Pearl Izumi also make a pair?

3

Any number of racing flats can and do handle the sockless requirement quite well.
You can retrofit speed laces to any shoe…so don’t limit yourself to shoes that come OEM with speed laces nor to shoes that specifically market themselves as sockless triathlon shoes.
I have a pair of Adidas Adizero racing flats that give me no issues when sockless and I have them outfitted with speed laces.

4

VFF - but good luck making it out of T2 in less than 20 minutes trying to put your pinky toe in the right spot. Sockless and no laces!!

Any shoe can be sockless and ez-laces. However, there is a difference in how well the shoe eyelets work with the ez-laces (mine would turn into little mini-turnequettes) and how flat the seams are on the inside of the shoe. Zoot also has drainage holes for letting water out quickly, but you can also drill holes in the soles of any shoes and insoles. Again, it’s a matter of after-market versus specifically made that way.

I’m a big fan of Zoot shoes and I’m drooling thinking about the Zoot Ultra Race 3.0 coming out around IM Kona.

5

My problem with the easy laces is that when my foot is not in the shoe, the shoe is all cinched up and is difficult for me to slip on.

If I leave them loosened up just a little to slip my foot in it takes me just as long to put them on as it does with regular laces and a quick locking mechanism. That’s really why I’ve been looking at the Zoots, that and the sockless thing. There appears to be nobody near me with any stock to try on though.

I have been racing in the Fastwitch for quite a while and like them but I suppose I may have to try another shoe to go sockless in.

jaretj

6

Trisports has a really good return policy.

What distance races are you doing? Are you a pronator or neutral? Do you wear orthodix or foot levellers?

Whatever size shoe you normally wear, I usually half size up.

Example:

This year I’m racing 70.3’s and Olympics and a few Sprints
I’m a neutral runner.
I normally wear a size 9.5 or 10 shoe.

For Zoots:
70.3 = Zoot Ultra TT 3.0
Olympic = Zoot Ultra Speed or Zoot Ultra Race 2.0 (really looking forward to 3.0)
Sprint = Zoot Ultra Speed
Size = 10.5 (my feet expand due to heat on the bike)

For the first 2 weeks of running, use glide on your heels and on the top of your feet. The shoe absorbs the Glide and makes it race-ready for you and saves you some skin as you adjust to the shoes.

Best equipment I own are my Zoots!!

7

Thanks for the help again.

My “A” races are HIM distance but I’ll do 6 to 8 sprint/oly races per season too. I’m a neutral runner, train in Mizuno Wave Rider but I can really run in anything except shoes designed for supinators and heavy over-pronators. No orthotics or foot levelers.

I started using the Saucony Fastwitch cuz it was available to me while the A2 wasn’t, that’s really why I use it despite it having a small amount of posting.

I like a narrower shoe because of all my years of speed skating and typically run in a woman’s shoe, there are a few men’s shoes that work (DS Trainer and the neutral version of that, the name escapes me)

I’m still looking for those Ultra Speeds that you recommended for me since I didn’t like that carbon span in the ultra race’s that I already have.

jaretj

8

My problem with the easy laces is that when my foot is not in the shoe, the shoe is all cinched up and is difficult for me to slip on.

If I leave them loosened up just a little to slip my foot in it takes me just as long to put them on as it does with regular laces and a quick locking mechanism. That’s really why I’ve been looking at the Zoots, that and the sockless thing. There appears to be nobody near me with any stock to try on though.

I have been racing in the Fastwitch for quite a while and like them but I suppose I may have to try another shoe to go sockless in.

jaretj

Consider using standard laces with a lace lock. It’s loose as it awaits you in T1 and after your foot is in, you pull tight, slide down the lace lock and you don’t have the sloppiness that elastic laces provide (very key in Xterra).

9

Yea, that’s what I’m doing now, regular laces with a lock. I have to tighten the stretchy laces down so much so they aren’t sloppy.

Just looking around for other ideas.

Thanks

jaretj

10

Have you looked into Xtenex Laces? http://www.runningwarehouse.com/descpage-XTN300S.html They have little “knots” every so often that really hold in place. Once you find the right knot, you leave them there and they don’t stretch out.

11

I’ll have a look at them…thanks

jaretj
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