Zubits are designed to make shoe-tying obsolete

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margin-right: 9px;">GOOD THINKING</a> </div>  <h1 id="ar_title">Zubits are designed to make shoe-tying obsolete</h1> <div class="summary_details_left"> <p>By <a href="/web/20141020012819/http://www.gizmag.com/author/ben-coxworth/" rel="author">Ben Coxworth</a></p> <p><em>October 11, 2014</em></p> </div> <div class="summary_details_right"> <div class="has_comments"><a href="zubits-magnetic-shoe-closures#comments">11 Comments</a></div> </div> </div> <div id="article_share_rail"> <div class="as_button"><div class="fb-like" data-href="http://www.gizmag.com/zubits-magnetic-shoe-closures/34215/" data-send="false" data-layout="box_count" data-show-faces="false"></div><script type="text/javascript">_ga.trackFacebook();</script></div> <div class="as_button"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141020012819/http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-count="vertical" data-via="gizmag">Tweet</a></div> <div class="as_button"><div class="g-plusone" data-size="tall" data-href="http://www.gizmag.com/zubits-magnetic-shoe-closures/34215/"></div></div> <div class="as_button"><iframe style="overflow: hidden; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20141020012819if_/http://badge.stumbleupon.com/badge/embed/5/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gizmag.com%2Fzubits-magnetic-shoe-closures%2F34215%2F" width="50" height="60" id="iframe-stmblpn-widget-1"></iframe></div> <div class="as_button"><div class="pin-it-button" data-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20141020012819oe_/http://www.gizmag.com/zubits-magnetic-shoe-closures/34215/" data-image="http://images.gizmag.com/hero/zubits.jpg" data-description="The tying and untying of your shoelaces may not be way up there on your list of everyday hassles, but hey – if you can get around doing it, why not? That's the idea behind Zubits. They're magnetized shoe closures, that take the place of bows."></div></div> <div class="as_button"><script type="IN/Share" data-counter="top"></script></div> <div class="as_button" id="reddit_button_rail"><script type="text/javascript">reddit_newwindow='1'</script></div>  </div> <div id="hero_box"> <a id="hero_link" href="/web/20141020012819/http://www.gizmag.com/zubits-magnetic-shoe-closures/34215/pictures"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20141020012819im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero/zubits.jpg" title="Zubits can reportedly be applied to pretty much any existing laced shoes " alt="Zubits can reportedly be applied to pretty much any existing laced shoes "/> </a> <div class="pic_caption"> <p>Zubits can reportedly be applied to pretty much any existing laced shoes </p> </div> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> <div class="article_body"> <div id="top_unit"></div> <p>The tying and untying of your shoelaces may not be way up there on your list of everyday hassles, but hey – if you can get around doing it, why not? That's the idea behind Zubits. They're magnetized shoe closures, that take the place of bows.</p> <p>Each pair of Zubits are initially threaded through the laces of an existing set of shoes. You then knot those laces off to keep them from coming unthreaded, cut off the excess, and then presumably forget about ever tying a bow again. Instead, you just snap the faces of the Zubits together to close up the shoe, and pull them apart when it's time to take your shoes off.</p> <p>From the looks of the Kickstarter pitch video below, they stay quite securely fastened when the shoes are in use, yet can be released just by stepping on the heel of one shoe with the other, then pulling your foot up – just like people do with regular laced shoes, when they're too lazy to bother untying them.</p> <p>The San Francisco-based Zubits designers have already far exceeded their funding goal, so it looks likely that the closures will actually reach production. A pledge of US$20 will currently get you a pair, assuming all goes according to plan.</p> <p>Sources: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141020012819/http://zubits.com/" target="_blank">Zubits</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141020012819/https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/873858308/your-shoes-just-got-insanely-easy-zubits-make-them" target="_blank">Kickstarter</a></p>  <div class="article_video"><iframe width="530" height="398" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20141020012819if_/https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/873858308/your-shoes-just-got-insanely-easy-zubits-make-them/widget/video.html" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"> </iframe> </div> <span class="title share_bar">Share</span> <div id="article_share_bar" class="dotsontop share_bar"> <div class="as_button fb_as_button"><div class="fb-like" data-href="http://www.gizmag.com/zubits-magnetic-shoe-closures/34215/" data-send="false" data-layout="box_count" data-show-faces="false"></div><script type="text/javascript">_ga.trackFacebook();</script></div> <div class="as_button"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141020012819/http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-count="vertical" data-via="gizmag">Tweet</a></div> <div class="as_button"><div class="g-plusone" data-size="tall" data-href="http://www.gizmag.com/zubits-magnetic-shoe-closures/34215/"></div></div> <div class="as_button stumble_as_button"><iframe style="overflow: hidden; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20141020012819if_/http://badge.stumbleupon.com/badge/embed/5/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gizmag.com%2Fzubits-magnetic-shoe-closures%2F34215%2F" width="50" height="60" id="iframe-stmblpn-widget-2"></iframe></div> <div class="as_button"><div class="pin-it-button" data-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20141020012819oe_/http://www.gizmag.com/zubits-magnetic-shoe-closures/34215/" data-image="http://images.gizmag.com/hero/zubits.jpg" data-description="The tying and untying of your shoelaces may not be way up there on your list of everyday hassles, but hey – if you can get around doing it, why not? That's the idea behind Zubits. They're magnetized shoe closures, that take the place of bows."></div></div> <div class="as_button"><script type="IN/Share" data-counter="top"></script></div> <div class="as_button" id="reddit_button_bar"><script type="text/javascript">reddit_newwindow='1'</script></div>  </div>   <div id="fm-well-zone" data-cb-ad-id="Content Well 1"> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20141020012819js_/http://static.fmpub.net/zone/7980"></script> </div> <div id="bottom_unit" data-cb-ad-id="Content Well 2"> <style> .article-bottom-responsive { width: 530px; height: 300px; } </style> <script async src="//web.archive.org/web/20141020012819js_/http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>  <ins class="adsbygoogle article-bottom-responsive" style="display:inline-block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-1607124478120364" data-ad-slot="6055296962"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div>  <div style="margin-bottom: 20px"> <div class="OUTBRAIN" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20141020012819oe_/http://www.gizmag.com/zubits-magnetic-shoe-closures/34215/" data-widget-id="AR_1" data-ob-template="Gizmag"></div> <script type="text/javascript" async="async" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20141020012819js_/http://widgets.outbrain.com/outbrain.js"></script> </div> </div>  <span class="title clear_left" id="author_byline_title">About the Author</span> <div class="dotsontop" id="authorcontainer">  <a href="/web/20141020012819/http://www.gizmag.com/author/ben-coxworth/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20141020012819im_/http://images.gizmag.com/author_profiles/127.jpg" alt="Ben Coxworth" id="bio_pic"/> </a>   An experienced freelance writer, videographer and television producer, Ben's interest in all forms of innovation is particularly fanatical when it comes to human-powered transportation, film-making gear, environmentally-friendly technologies and anything that's designed to go underwater. He lives in Edmonton, Alberta, where he spends a lot of time going over the handlebars of his mountain bike, hanging out in off-leash parks, and wishing the Pacific Ocean wasn't so far away.   <a href="/web/20141020012819/http://www.gizmag.com/author/ben-coxworth/">All articles by Ben Coxworth</a> <span id="author_byline_links">    <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141020012819/http://twitter.com/bencoxworth" class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" data-size="large">Follow @bencoxworth</a> </span> <br class="clear_both"> </div>  <div id="tags"> <span class="title">Tags</span> <div class="dotsontop"> <ul> <li>» <a href="/web/20141020012819/http://www.gizmag.com/tag/kickstarter/" rel="tag">Kickstarter</a></li> <li>» <a href="/web/20141020012819/http://www.gizmag.com/tag/magnetic/" rel="tag">Magnetic</a></li> <li>» <a href="/web/20141020012819/http://www.gizmag.com/tag/shoes/" rel="tag">Shoes</a></li> </ul> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> </div> <div id="bing_unit"></div>  <span class="title" id="comments">11 Comments</span> <div class="dotsontop"> <div id="comment-343270" class="a_comment"> <p>Now that's laziness for you. $20 for one pair? I'll stick with my 30¢ cordlocks, thank you very much. </p> <span class="name">Gadgeteer</span><br> <span class="date"> 11th October, 2014 @ 08:00 pm PDT</span> </div> <div id="comment-343321" class="a_comment"> <p>At first, I yawned -- tying shoes is just not that difficult. Then I realized: no more stepping on my laces! No more frayed aglets. That's easily worth the ~$18 for a permanent solution. </p> <span class="name">piperTom</span><br> <span class="date"> 12th October, 2014 @ 09:26 am PDT</span> </div> <div id="comment-343327" class="a_comment"> <p>Just what we need to continue the dumbing down of the human race. I told the guy to tie his shoelace and he said he didn't know how. </p> <span class="name">Buellrider</span><br> <span class="date"> 12th October, 2014 @ 10:19 am PDT</span> </div> <div id="comment-343477" class="a_comment"> <p>@piperTom </p> <p></p> <p>I haven't stepped on my show laces in nearly 60 years. It is just a question of getting the right length. You can always cutoff the excess length and "terminate" the frayed end by using heat shrink tubing available in any electronic shop. </p> <span class="name">pmshah</span><br> <span class="date"> 13th October, 2014 @ 10:39 am PDT</span> </div> <div id="comment-343519" class="a_comment"> <p>Simply brilliant. Shows just how much low-hanging-fruit remains in the world of invention. </p> <span class="name">DonGateley</span><br> <span class="date"> 13th October, 2014 @ 12:31 pm PDT</span> </div> <div id="comment-343564" class="a_comment"> <p>Gadgetter and Buellrider, it appears to me that you'd object to the use of the iconoclastic brass pole found in multi-level fire stations when there are stairways running from floor to floor. Stairways allow bi-directional travel while the brass pole ...well....try climbing back up that pole. </p> <p></p> <p>Boots designed specifically designed for emergency services personnel have both shoe laces up the front with a double-gusseted tongue as well as a zipper running up one side. The laces are used to achieve the best possible fit for each foot (think set and forget). The zipper permits the fastest and most efficient method to remove and put on the boots. </p> <p></p> <p>Hey, I understand you were just trying to be funny while you were plucking the proverbial low-hanging fruit. It's a shame you do not understand that there is no correlation between intelligence and ones manual dexterity, You don't have to take my word for it. Just ask Dr. Stephen Hawking at your next working lunch - if you are able to extricate your size 14 foot from your size 6 mouths by then. </p> <p></p> <p>Damn, I'd LOVE to be able to tie my own shoes again.... </p> <p></p> <p></p> <span class="name">Noel K Frothingham</span><br> <span class="date"> 13th October, 2014 @ 04:48 pm PDT</span> </div> <div id="comment-343621" class="a_comment"> <p>I have had 58 years of practice tying my shoe laces. After a hip replacement I can reach my shoes to do them up. Zubits is heaven sent. </p> <span class="name">Shayn</span><br> <span class="date"> 13th October, 2014 @ 11:06 pm PDT</span> </div> <div id="comment-343633" class="a_comment"> <p>I don't know what they're called, but there have been similar accessories for tall boots for quite some time. They're much longer & have zippers instead of magnets in the middle. </p> <span class="name">theotherwill</span><br> <span class="date"> 14th October, 2014 @ 01:24 am PDT</span> </div> <div id="comment-343660" class="a_comment"> <p>I think you guys are going to be *very* rich! You have cracked the Holy Grail of money-making gadgets... something that every home will want to have at least one of. Congrats on a fabulous idea that will be a help to all sorts of situations/people. (Price needs a bit of tweaking, tho!) MW </p> <span class="name">Martin Winlow</span><br> <span class="date"> 14th October, 2014 @ 04:02 am PDT</span> </div> <div id="comment-343759" class="a_comment"> <p>The fact that so many people squeeze into and out of tied shoes shows that laces need improving. Sure, it's not the big annoyance in life but isn't good design looking at something and saying, "how can this be done better?" I think it's brilliant and as some other commenters have mentioned can really be a huge help to people who have trouble tying laces. I hear that autism message boards are going crazy over these! I agree the price seems expensive... but they seem very sturdy and can outlive your shoes transitioning from pair to pair. </p> <span class="name">Nada</span><br> <span class="date"> 14th October, 2014 @ 11:27 am PDT</span> </div> <div id="comment-343936" class="a_comment"> <p>I have hated lacing since a child, now I don't own any shoes with laces, all loafers or Velcro... </p> <p></p> <p>Still a novel idea, and price seems reasonable. </p> <span class="name">Bob Flint</span><br> <span class="date"> 15th October, 2014 @ 09:39 am PDT</span> </div> </div> <span class="title">Post a Comment</span> <div class="dotsontop" id="comment_form_div"> <div id="comment_form" data-article="34215"> <div id="comments_login"> <form action="/web/20141020012819/http://www.gizmag.com/index.php" name="login_form" id="login_form" onsubmit="return false;"> <p class="bold">Login with your gizmag account:</p> <p id="login_status"></p> <label for="email">Email</label><input type="text" name="email" id="email" 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Zubits are designed to make shoe-tying obsolete