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Zubits Tips and Tricks
Need an easy way to open your Zubits closures by hand? With this trick, use just one finger...
The easiest way to open Zubits closures is to just step on your opposite heel and pop your foot out hands-free. But some people may not have the strength, coordination, or ability to use their feet like this (kids, elderly, arthritis, special needs). These people may need to open their Zubits by hand. And for some people this can also be difficult. But there is an easy fix...
- Save the excess shoelace that you cut-off when you installed your Zubits. (we used a white shoelace to stand out)
- Thread the shoelace through one side of the top Zubits closure hole.
- Tie a knot leaving a loop just large enough to put a finger through.
- To separate the magnets, just pull the loop forward and up.
Best Method to Close Zubits
With a few days of practice people usually figure this out on their own. But the best way to close Zubits magnets is to grab with two fingers, PULL UP first, then push the shoe tongue down with your thumb, then lay the Zubits down together. This works much better than simply trying to pull them straight across the tongue which takes more effort and pinches the tongue. Also, closing while standing up is much easier than closing while sitting down.
Making Pull Tabs will help those with difficulties open and close Zubits much easier...
Some people may need help pulling the magnets closed or pulling them open (kids, elderly, arthritis, special needs). There is an easy fix...
- Save the excess shoelace that you cut-off when you installed your Zubits or use another fabric. (we used a white shoelace to stand out)
- After you install your Zubits thread the extra lace through both sides of the middle Zubits hole.
- You could create a lace loop or a lace tab. For a lace loop, tie a knot leaving a loop just large enough to put a finger through. For a lace tab, tie a knot at the end of your lace, pull the lace through so the knot stops on the underside of the Zubits middle hole. Tie a double knot about 1cm above the Zubits then cut off the excess. Now you can grab this knot (or the loop) if you want to pull the Zubits closed.
- To separate the magnets, just pull the loops or the tabs apart.
Only have three eyelet holes?
You can still lace Zubits onto shoes with just three rows of eyelet holes.
- Start lacing your shoelaces as per the usual Zubits lacing instructions.
- After coming up through the top Zubits hole you will find no more vacant holes to lace through. So just put the lace through the top eyelet hole a second time.
- Now you can continue to follow the Zubits lacing instructions by knotting or clipping the shoelace inside your shoe.
Want to use the tongue loop?
You can still use the tongue loop if you want to hold the shoe tongue.
- Start lacing your shoelaces as per the usual Zubits lacing instructions.
- After coming down through an eyelet hole next to your tongue loop, lace your laces through the tongue loop and then through the next hole in the Zubits closures and continue the instructions.
- You could also choose to lace both the left and right side laces through the same tongue loop.
Zubits getting harder to close (or tighter)?
After a few weeks of use, sometimes shoelace slack will move down toward the toes. This means thee shoelaces are shorter where the Zubits are and harder to close or feel tighter than before. So just pull some of the shoelace slack back up toward the top eyelet holes.
Push forward to open
To take off your shoes hands-free, just step on your opposite heel, pull your foot up and pop out. The key is to push forward to pop the Zubits open. Do not try to squeeze your foot out the back of the shoe like you would with normal laces. Instead push forward until the Zubits split open, then lift your foot.
Frayed lace ends?
One of the great thing about Zubits closures is that you can use them many times over the life of many pairs of shoes. Or you may wish to put Zubits on an older pair of shoes. But these shoes may have frayed lace ends. Getting those laces through the Zubits closure holes can be a challenge so here's a tip for making it all come together.
- Cut a small rectangle of tape (electrical tape works well).
- Roll the tape around the tip of the lace, pinching the first part together.
- Twist the lace in your fingers holding the tape in position to create a really tight end.
- Thread the laces through your Zubits closures and complete the installation.
- You can leave the ends taped or cut them off and use the following tip to finish off the lace ends inside your shoe.
Frayed laces - melted wax technique
You could also use wax to help lace frayed lace ends through your Zubits closures, or to finish off the lace ends after installation.
- Trim up any long bit of frayed laces with a scissors.
- Melt a bit of wax onto a plate or piece of plastic.
- Roll your lace end into the wax, keeping it rolled in one direction.
- After the wax cools for about 10 seconds, you can use your fingertips to pinch and twist the lace to create a fine point. (Be careful not to touch the wax when it is too hot)
- Let the wax set for about a minute and then lace your Zubits closures.
Frayed lace ends inside shoe after knotting?
After you finish normal Zubits installation you may want to prevent frayed lace ends inside your shoe, by burning or melting them.
- Trim any long bits of frayed laces with a scissors first. Cut the lace end at a diagonal to make a pointy end.
- Grab the end bit of your lace, giving your fingers enough room away from the flame.
- Light a safety match and get it just close enough to burn or melt the frayed bits of the lace. If the lace catches fire, blow it out quickly.
- The lace ends should shrink up and harden together.
Lacing Boots - Crimp the Metal Hooks
Zubits closures are perfect for boots which require a lot of lacing, tying, and unlacing. Some boots have metal hooks or "speed laces" at the top of the boot which won't hold the shoelaces when the Zubits are open and loose. There are a few solutions for this. The best method is to crimp the metal hooks closed if the metal hooks are flexible enough to crimp.
- Fully lace the Zubits onto your shoes according to the normal installation method. You may not be able to finish the installation, but at least make sure you have the right fit.
- Now crimp the metal hooks with a pliers or needle nose pliers so they laces won't pull out.
- Because there are usually no holes on the top of boots with metal hooks, there is no place to knot the laces inside the shoe. So tie a knot at the point of the top eyelet to secure the lace.
- Then cut off the excess lace. Leave a little extra if you need to re-adjust.
Lacing Boots - Holes in Metal Hooks
Zubits closures are perfect for boots which require a lot of lacing, tying, and unlacing. Some boots have metal hooks or "speed laces" at the top of the boot which won't hold the shoelaces when the Zubits are open and loose. There are a few solutions for this. This method works well if your metal hooks have holes in them.
- Lace your laces according to the normal installation instructions using the holes in the metal hooks as regular eyelet holes.
- Because there are usually no holes on the top of boots with metal hooks, there is no place to knot the laces inside the shoe. So tie a knot at the point of the top eyelet to secure the lace as per the normal installation instructions.
- You could also lace up your shoes in other methods as in the picture so that the laces finish after going through the top hole of the Zubits. So you could also choose to knot the laces at the top Zubits hole.
- Then cut the extra lace off.
Lacing Boots - with Zip Ties
Zubits closures are perfect for boots which require a lot of lacing, tying, and unlacing. Some boots have metal hooks or "speed laces" at the top of the boot which won't hold the shoelaces when the Zubits are open and loose. There are a few solutions for this. This method (given to us by user Alan) is the most effective and stable, but requires having some small size "zip ties" or wire.
- Fully lace the Zubits onto your shoes according to the normal installation method. You may not be able to finish the installation, but at least make sure you have the right fit.
- Reverse wrap your laces around each metal hook according to the picture.
- Take the zip ties and tighten them around the shoelaces so that they are so tight they won't slip off the metal hooks anymore.
- Cut off the excess zip ties.
- Tie a final knot at the top metal hook after wrapping the zip tie.
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