Can anyone please explain why bootlaces are so long? When you buy a new pair of boots, the laces are long enough to tie a normal knot and bow…and still leave about eighteen inches left over! What do you do with that extra boot lace? I started tying his into double knots, putting a half-hitch into my loops, but they were still too long. Then I tied loops in my loops. That worked…but seemed ridiculous.

Now it must be said that I once played semi-pro sports, and I am well acquainted with the traditions of tying your laces in various ways for good luck, better performance, or silly stylistic affectations. Still, these are ridiculous.

So one morning I noticed that the laces were beginning to wear out---right at the knot. So I slid the laces around until I had just enough to tie a decent knot on one side, then pulled the excess through on the other side. It turned out to be about 20 inches long, so I chopped it off and tossed it into my pack. My boots and laces work just fine now.

Sounds like a plan. I figure I cut the weight of my boot laces in half. Now where can I do something similar with the weight of my backpack...?