Shoe lace moan

[Allywill]

I have size 4 feet, without fail every shoe I buy with laces - the lace is far too long for the shoe. I can’t cut them because then they unravel. Is it because manufacturers use the same lace for every shoe regardless of size? Can anyone with equally small feet sympathise or is it just me that has this (not major) problem?

Shoes laces come in all lengths, you are allowed to buy shorter ones and replace them.

I have size 3 feet and can't say I've really had this problem.

I’ve just bought some size four trainers today, laces are fine. As are they on every shoe! A five is average isn’t it? So four isn’t unusually small.

You're definitely not alone—I have small feet too (also around a size 4), and the lace situation is always frustrating. It really does feel like manufacturers just throw the same length laces on all sizes, which ends up being way too much for smaller shoes.
A few things that have helped me:

• Try different lacing patterns: Some styles like loop-back or ladder lacing use up more lace length and can help tidy things up without needing to trim. If you're curious, I found this helpful resource with different shoelace patterns that work well for both function and style.
• Tuck the excess: One trick I use when I don’t want to re-lace is to tuck the extra length under the crisscrosses or around the ankle area—it’s simple but neat.
• Heat-seal after trimming: If you do want to shorten them, you can cut and seal the ends with a lighter to stop fraying. Just do it carefully and melt the tips slightly to form a new aglet.

It's a small issue, but definitely an annoying one when it happens every time. Glad you brought it up!