News — athletes

 November 10, 2021 Nobbits, Solving the Shoelace Problem Did you know that according to a study of Why Shoelaces Become Untied was conducted by mechanical engineers at the University of California, Berkeley that while running that your foot hits the ground at 7 times the force of gravity?  I didn’t. Did you know that the “Shoelace Problem” on how to tie your shoe was studied at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill? I didn’t. So, all of this data is just information that I am certain will prepare me for a future appearance on Jeopardy. Category “Loose Ends” please....

  Fitchburg-based Nobbits USA LLC makes shoelaces that lessen the chances of knots coming untied. Nobbits makes shoelaces from polyester with raised dots — “nobbs” — formed from an adhesive on both sides of the shoelace. These nobbs create consistent tension throughout the lace stopping knots from coming undone and creating a more comfortable fit.  The nobbs are strategically placed throughout the shoelace to reduce the amount of slippage between the eyelets, which is the most common reason why shoes come untied. A study done at UC-Berkeley revealed that when running, feet hit the ground seven times greater than the...