Neo-Wows No Tie Shoelaces Review: Do These No-Tie Elastic Laces Actually Stay Put?

The Bow Disappeared and I Didn’t Miss It

The magnet clicked shut and the bow vanished, suddenly the shoe looked finished without any lace flapping at the top. That’s the whole pitch for these Neo-wows no-tie elastic shoelaces, and it’s the first thing I noticed when I put them on my own shoes. Very neat, very organized. It makes the shoe look pretty polished, to tell you the truth.

The appeal really is that simple, one install and you’re done tying forever. The friction, literally the only friction, is that install itself: you’re cutting elastic and waving a lighter at the ends before you ever snap a magnet. That’s the part worth understanding before you buy.

What Comes in the Pack and How the Magnet Works

You get three long elastic laces in the package, but you only use two. These are the flat style, not the round bungee kind, and they’re pretty long, which matters because you trim them to fit. On each shoe, one lace runs to a small magnetic clasp on each side, and the two halves click together across the top of the shoe. Voila, it clicks together. That’s the closure.

The extra lace in the pack is a nice touch. Three laces means you’ve got a spare if you botch a cut or want to redo one later. Here’s what the pack gives you at a glance.

Does the Magnet Actually Hold?

The magnet holds tight, I snapped it shut before a run and it was still locked when I got back, no fussing, no re-snapping mid-stride. I’ve had bungee no-tie laces pop open on me before, so I was watching for it. These didn’t.

Because these are elastic, there’s stretch tension keeping the shoe snug even before the magnet closes. That’s the part that makes a no-tie lace stay put during running and sports instead of gapping open. I liked it enough that I said on camera I’m going to try some of these with some other shoes. That’s my real read on it: stays closed during runs, looks polished with no bow, and the elastic tension keeps shoes snug.

The Setup Is a One-Time Chore You Should Know About

Installing these takes a few minutes and a lighter, and that’s the part the packaging photos gently skip over. You thread the elastic through your shoe, cut the lace off at the end, and then you burn the tip with a lighter to cauterize it so it doesn’t fray. Then you slide the burned end into one side of the magnet, do the same on the other side, and click them together.

It’s not hard, but it’s not a pure slip-on-and-go moment either. You’re doing a little fiddly work up front on each shoe. If you’re buying these for a young kid and expecting to hand them a finished pair, plan on doing the cut-and-burn yourself first. Once that one-time setup is done, though, you never touch a lace again, which is the whole point.

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Who These Make the Most Sense For

Parents are the obvious first sale here: if you’re crouching in a parking lot retying a six-year-old’s laces before school, buying once and never doing it again is worth the five-minute install alone. Same goes for anyone with arthritis or limited grip, the magnetic clasp closes with a pinch, no fine motor work required.

Runners and gym folks are the other clear group. If your laces come undone mid-workout, the elastic tension plus the magnet keeps things closed. And, plenty of people will buy these purely for the look. I did. The clean, no-bow front on a sneaker looks pretty polished, and that’s reason enough for a lot of buyers.

Setup Tips Before You Cut Anything

Don’t cut the lace until you’ve fitted it through the shoe and pulled it to the tension you want. Elastic laces are all about that snug-but-not-strangling feel, so dry-fit first, then trim. Once you cut, you can’t add length back. Keep the third spare lace from the pack in a drawer in case you need a redo.

When you burn the tip, a quick pass with the lighter is all you need to seal the fray before it goes into the magnet. And take your time getting both magnet ends seated evenly so the clasp sits centered across the shoe. That’s what gives you the neat, organized look instead of a lopsided one.

Pros

• Clean, no-bow look that makes the shoe look polished
• Magnet holds pretty tight once snapped together
• Elastic tension keeps shoes snug for running and sports
• Three laces per pack, so you get a spare beyond the two you need
• No dexterity needed to open or close, great for kids and mobility issues

Cons

• One-time setup means cutting the lace and burning the end with a lighter
• Not a true instant slip-on until you’ve done that install work
• No traditional tied-bow option if that’s the look you want

Frequently Asked Questions

Do the wows tie shoelaces work on any sneaker?

They fit most sneakers and athletic shoes without modifying the shoe. As long as your shoe has normal lace eyelets, the flat elastic laces thread through the same way regular laces do. Boots with speed hooks are a different story.

Do I need a lighter to install them?

Yes, you burn the cut end with a lighter to cauterize it so it doesn’t fray before sliding it into the magnet. It’s a quick one-time step per lace. If you’re not comfortable with a flame, have someone help with that part of the setup.

Will the magnet come undone while I’m running?

It held for me and didn’t pop loose on its own. The magnet is pretty strong and the elastic tension keeps the shoe snug even before the clasp closes. Between the two, the closure stays put during normal activity.

Can kids put these on themselves?

Once installed, yes, because closing is just snapping a magnet, no tying skill needed. The catch is the initial setup with cutting and burning, which an adult should handle. After that, a kid can slip in and clasp with no help.

How many pairs of shoes does one pack cover?

One pair of shoes uses two laces, and the pack comes with three. So one pack covers a single pair with one spare lace left over for a redo, not two full pairs.

Are these good for someone with arthritis or limited grip?

They’re a strong fit for limited grip or arthritis since opening and closing is just a magnetic snap, no bending or tying. The only step that needs dexterity is the one-time install, which someone else can do for you.

Can I re-tighten them on the fly like regular laces?

No, that’s the trade-off with elastic no-tie laces. You set the tension once during install and the stretch handles the rest. If you like adjusting snugness throughout the day, these aren’t built for that.

Do they come in different colors?

The listing offers color options, so check the current selection on the product page before buying. Matching the lace color to your shoe is part of what gives them that clean, polished look I liked.

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Neo-wows No Tie Elastic Shoelaces

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