Parachute Cord

[yawetag]

Thanks to some suggestions here, I have procured myself enough parachute cord to replace the laces in my plate and base shoes.

Now, I need to know how you all treat the ends to keep them from fraying and make it possible to get through the eyelets of my shoes. I know I can burn the ends to close them up, but is there a sure-fire method to work with them as they're melting to help with threading?

[JaxRolo]

I feel sorry for the guy that is going to jump out of the plane and find himself with a cut cord!!!! Did you at least leave a note?

:angel4:

[yawetag]

I feel sorry for the guy that is going to jump out of the plane and find himself with a cut cord!!!! Did you at least leave a note?

Yep. Kinda like the "BANG" flag that comes out of Wily Coyote's gun when he shoots Road Runner. It simply says "PARACHUTE"

[BigUmp56]

Thanks to some suggestions here, I have procured myself enough parachute cord to replace the laces in my plate and base shoes.

Now, I need to know how you all treat the ends to keep them from fraying and make it possible to get through the eyelets of my shoes. I know I can burn the ends to close them up, but is there a sure-fire method to work with them as they're melting to help with threading?

Dare I ask, why?

Tim.

[gatoremt]

You can buy heat shrink in black to use on the ends.

[yawetag]

Thanks to some suggestions here, I have procured myself enough parachute cord to replace the laces in my plate and base shoes.

Now, I need to know how you all treat the ends to keep them from fraying and make it possible to get through the eyelets of my shoes. I know I can burn the ends to close them up, but is there a sure-fire method to work with them as they're melting to help with threading?

Dare I ask, why?

Tim.

Sure. Ask why. But please be more specific than "why" if possible.

[BretMan]

Why use parachute cord (or, 550 paracord, which has a tensile strength of 550 pounds)? Because you will never have to worry about breaking a shoelace again.

Why do you need a method of finishing the ends after it's cut to length? You want to finish the ends because if you just cut it, it tends to unravel where it's cut. A common method is to use a lighter to melt the ends. But when you do that, the nylon tends to melt into a ball that can be difficult to lace through a hole.

[JaxRolo]

Lace it first then melt the ends

[BigUmp56]

Why use parachute cord (or, 550 paracord, which has a tensile strength of 550 pounds)? Because you will never have to worry about breaking a shoelace again.

I've never "worried" about breaking a shoe lace in my life. Don't think I'll start now. To each his own, but I don't see enough broken shoe laces in multiple seasons wearing the same shoes with the same laces, to want to go hunt down parachute cord. I think it's overkill.............

Tim.

[semper_fi_72]

Why use parachute cord (or, 550 paracord, which has a tensile strength of 550 pounds)? Because you will never have to worry about breaking a shoelace again.

I've never "worried" about breaking a shoe lace in my life. Don't think I'll start now. To each his own, but I don't see enough broken shoe laces in multiple seasons wearing the same shoes with the same laces, to want to go hunt down parachute cord. I think it's overkill.............

Tim.

Agreed

While I have never had a lace break getting ready for a game, I do look at them every time I am cleaning them.

I also keep a extra pair for both plate and base in my bag.

If you break a lace getting ready for a game, your not checking you equipment properly.

[yawetag]

I've never "worried" about breaking a shoe lace in my life. Don't think I'll start now. To each his own, but I don't see enough broken shoe laces in multiple seasons wearing the same shoes with the same laces, to want to go hunt down parachute cord. I think it's overkill.............

Tim.

I've broken at least one lace per year. While laces aren't expensive, the parachute cord was free (as Jax mentioned, someone's going to be surprised). I've read several times of people using them as "never break" laces, and thought I'd get a nice set for my shoes.

Jax's idea of lacing then melting. I might try that.

[NWA_UMP]

NothIng like breaking laces... Always happens at the worst possible time. I use boot laces now and have had no issues.

[noumpere]

Why use parachute cord (or, 550 paracord, which has a tensile strength of 550 pounds)? Because you will never have to worry about breaking a shoelace again.

I've never "worried" about breaking a shoe lace in my life. Don't think I'll start now. To each his own, but I don't see enough broken shoe laces in multiple seasons wearing the same shoes with the same laces, to want to go hunt down parachute cord. I think it's overkill.............

Tim.

The new balance plate shoes are tough on laces and tough to lace so if they break right before the game it will be a race to get it fixed in time.

[Umpire in Chief]

I broke the laces on my old NB plate shoes as I was getting geared up to go on the field. I tightened to tie then snap. I had to improvise and use the broken pice to slip knot it in one of the eyelets then tie it to the longer piece. It held the shoe on, but not tight enough that I wasn't thinking my shoe would fly off as I ran down the line or on a rotation. Thank goodness it didn't happen.

Switched the laces out for black boot laces that night.

[sdix00]

My brand new NB plate shoes snapped a lace on the first game. Then snapped the other lace on their third game.

Grrrr.

[BretMan]

These aren't the first accounts I've heard of the New Balance plate shoes breaking laces. Apparently, it isn't anything about the shoes themselves that cause this. It's just that they use cheap, crappy laces.

[NWA_UMP]

The laces in mine lasted for about a season and a half. I knew my guards were rubbing them so I replaced them before they snapped. The problem I have now is the eyelets are breaking. I broke one on each shoe while lacing up for a plate. I had to re-lace them to clear the broken eyelet. If we ever get to the off season I will have a cobbler punch holes with reinforced eyes so I can again re-lace correctly. I would replace them but next season looks to be expensive already since I am upgrading CP, Shins, Pants and probably mask for the new season. All Star gear is not cheap :shakehead:

[Kevin Finnerty]

Why use parachute cord (or, 550 paracord, which has a tensile strength of 550 pounds)? Because you will never have to worry about breaking a shoelace again.

I've never "worried" about breaking a shoe lace in my life. Don't think I'll start now. To each his own, but I don't see enough broken shoe laces in multiple seasons wearing the same shoes with the same laces, to want to go hunt down parachute cord. I think it's overkill.............

Tim.

Yeah, to each, his own.

I was doing a mid-summer tournament in what we call The Valley. Where I was working in The Valley was registering about 103 that day. I was furiously preparing for my plate game (after my base game with not enough time between games), and I was lacing up my New Balance 450s. (It was that day that I found out how horsesh!t New Balance laces are.)

As I laced up shoe No. 1 (pick a side), my shoelace snapped. Problem, but not a huge problem. I had a spare set of laces, but no needle nose pliers (I do now), and not really enough time to re-lace a friggin' shoe. I re-lace my shoe (you try it without a needle nose), and, now running a little late, and dripping sweat just lacing up my friggin' shoe, I go to lace up my other shoe (pick a side). I start pulling on horsesh!t New Balance lace No. 2 and it snaps! I lived over 50 years at that point and it was the first time I had ever had the laces of both shoes snap in the same sitting!

So I walk onto the field drenched and exhausted from putting on my friggin' gear! ... Drenched, exhausted and late! It remains the only time I have ever walked to home plate late for any reason of my doing.

I now go to every game with two pairs of plate shoes. If a lace snaps, I pull out a different pair of shoes without missing a beat. (I also have a shiny pair no matter what that way.) I would rather be mocked by a few for being over-prepared than be seen by all walking in late.

So, seeking a virtually unbreakable shoelace for your umpire shoes is worth the worry and most decidedly not "overkill."

[Thunderheads]

Why use parachute cord (or, 550 paracord, which has a tensile strength of 550 pounds)? Because you will never have to worry about breaking a shoelace again.

I've never "worried" about breaking a shoe lace in my life. Don't think I'll start now. To each his own, but I don't see enough broken shoe laces in multiple seasons wearing the same shoes with the same laces, to want to go hunt down parachute cord. I think it's overkill.............

Tim.

Yeah, to each, his own.

I was doing a mid-summer tournament in what we call The Valley. Where I was working in The Valley was registering about 103 that day. I was furiously preparing for my plate game (after my base game with not enough time between games), and I was lacing up my New Balance 450s. (It was that day that I found out how horsesh!t New Balance laces are.)

As I laced up shoe No. 1 (pick a side), my shoelace snapped. Problem, but not a huge problem. I had a spare set of laces, but no needle nose pliers (I do now), and not really enough time to re-lace a friggin' shoe. I re-lace my shoe (you try it without a needle nose), and, now running a little late, and dripping sweat just lacing up my friggin' shoe, I go to lace up my other shoe (pick a side). I start pulling on horsesh!t New Balance lace No. 2 and it snaps! I lived over 50 years at that point and it was the first time I had ever had the laces of both shoes snap in the same sitting!

So I walk onto the field drenched and exhausted from putting on my friggin' gear! ... Drenched, exhausted and late! It remains the only time I have ever walked to home plate late for any reason of my doing.

I now go to every game with two pairs of plate shoes. If a lace snaps, I pull out a different pair of shoes without missing a beat. (I also have a shiny pair no matter what that way.) I would rather be mocked by a few for being over-prepared than be seen by all walking in late.

So, seeking a virtually unbreakable shoelace for your umpire shoes is worth the worry and most decidedly not "overkill."

I broke into a sweat reading this ?!?

Anyhow ...if you have a local cobbler, ...cant' they put on "lace-ends" like an actual shoe lace for you??:shrug:

[sdix00]

I am dying over here.

I will add to this my learning experience this year. First year of doing HS ball. I thought showing up 30 minutes prior to game time would be plenty. But I forgot to account for lazy-ass HS kids who WILL NOT MOVE so I can park my car without running them over, and a parking lot no less than THREE BLOCKS from the diamond. Add to that this broken lace just prior to my game in 100 degree weather and I am drenched before I even found the field.

Between broken laces, breaking in to a sweat while getting dressed, and "cobbler" - a word I have only heard my great grandfather utter, this has been a very entertaining thread.

*SNAP!* SHIIIIIT!

[yawetag]

Anyhow ...if you have a local cobbler, ...cant' they put on "lace-ends" like an actual shoe lace for you??

And why didn't I think of this? I'm sending my shoes to the cobbler this off-season for a good detailing and some repairs to my plate shoes. In the process, I'll have him "clamp" the ends.

[boyinr]

This is great therapy. I thought had OCD but now I am cured simply by comparison. I "only" inspect my laces after every use, carry a brand new spare pair of both base and plate laces in my bag and change them every season regardless of condition. I also wear a mostly black athletic shoe that in a pinch could bail me out.

[rth54]

<br />

<br />

<br />Why use parachute cord (or, 550 paracord, which has a tensile strength of 550 pounds)? Because you will never have to worry about breaking a shoelace again.<br />

<br /><br />I've never &quot;worried&quot; about breaking a shoe lace in my life. Don't think I'll start now. To each his own, but I don't see enough broken shoe laces in multiple seasons wearing the same shoes with the same laces, to want to go hunt down parachute cord. I think it's overkill.............<br /><br />Tim.<br />

<br /><br />Yeah, to each, his own.<br /><br />I was doing a mid-summer tournament in what we call The Valley. Where I was working in <i>The Valley</i> was registering about 103 that day. I was furiously preparing for my plate game (after my base game with not enough time between games), and I was lacing up my New Balance 450s. (It was <i>that </i>day that I found out how horsesh!t New Balance laces are.) <br /><br />As I laced up shoe No. 1 (pick a side), my shoelace snapped. Problem, but not a huge problem. I had a spare set of laces, but no needle nose pliers (I do now), and not really enough time to re-lace a friggin' shoe. I re-lace my shoe (you try it without a needle nose), and, now running a little late, and dripping sweat just lacing up my friggin' shoe, I go to lace up my other shoe (pick a side). I start pulling on horsesh!t New Balance lace No. 2 and <i>it</i> snaps! I lived over 50 years at that point and it was the first time I had ever had the laces of <i>both </i>shoes snap in the same sitting! <br /><br />So I walk onto the field drenched and exhausted from putting on my friggin' gear! ... Drenched, exhausted and <i>late! </i>It remains the only time I have <i>ever </i>walked to home plate late for any reason of my doing. <br /><br />I now go to every game with two pairs of plate shoes. If a lace snaps, I pull out a different pair of shoes without missing a beat. (I also have a shiny pair no matter what that way.) I would rather be mocked by a few for being over-prepared than be seen by all walking in late.<br /><br />So, seeking a virtually unbreakable shoelace for your umpire shoes is worth the worry and most decidedly <i>not &quot;</i>overkill.&quot;<br /><br /><img src="http://umpire-empire.com/public/style_emoticons/default/rantoff.gif" /><br />

<br /><br /><br />

No such thing as over prepared...lol

[Kevin Finnerty]

No such thing?

Whew!

I can now admit that I actually added a new gear-care item to my supply bucket: A little WD-40 felt pen that I use to lubricate the zippers on my equipment bag and the wheels on my chrome indicator.

[Thunderheads]

No such thing?

Whew!

I can now admit that I actually added a new gear-care item to my supply kit: A little WD-40 felt pen that I use to lubricate the zippers on my equipment bag and the wheels on my chrome indicator.

Don't you dare tell me that's true!!! :D