The Concept of Lace Link®: What?! It All Started with Snowboarding?

Snowboarding inspires...

As a hard-core athlete, Doug Funk, the sole designer of Lace Link®, normally modifies products and gear to fit his customized needs. The conceptual idea of Lace Link® all began several years ago when Doug, an aggressive steeps rider, who rode back in the day of snowboarding’s infancy, was so annoyed that his double-knotted laces always loosened due to excessive tension from ripping it up. He often reflected, “Heck, the skiers have got it good with their solid buckles – everything stayed put. It’s time boarders needed something.” Doug, adamant that laces were here to stay, knew designing a mechanical, solid, cord locking device was necessary. Concomitantly, Doug’s experience in boot and shoe design exposed him to what customers were wanting: an answer to their shoe lace problems, i.e. why can’t the bow knot stay tightened?

The A-Ha Moment: Hey, Maybe there is a Niche…

Greenlake: Researching folks & their lacing etiquette

The A-ha! moment arose when he spent 3 solid days at Greenlake Park in Seattle, observing every walker, mother-with-baby-stroller, jogger, and dog-walker that graced the paths of Greenlake, and to his dismay noted that about 90% of people he observed double-knotted their laces. Evidently, the regular bow knot (the knot every mother wants to teach their young one) is simply insufficient. Now more than ever, Americans do have other choices when it comes to securing their laces.

Now that Doug was convinced there was a potential niche, he spent months researching hundreds of different knots and locking devices like ATCs, descenders, ascenders, etc. His expertise with ropes and gear as an avid rock-climber and Seattle high rise window cleaner influenced the design and function of the Lace Link®. When the Lace Link® is turned, tipped, or pulled on, its angle changes in reference to your shoe islets, thereby loosening or locking it. This is very similar to how someone would use a belay or rappel device.