An aglet is the small plastic or metal sheath fixed to each end of a shoelace. The word means needle, and that is exactly what it turns a soft lace end into: something firm, sharp and pointed enough to push through an eyelet.
Most people never think about aglets until one falls off, at which point the lace becomes almost unusable. It is a small component doing two jobs that are both harder than they look.
What an aglet does
- It stops the lace unraveling. A cut lace end frays immediately. Every strand that works loose makes the end bulkier and softer, and the fraying travels up the lace. The aglet clamps the fibers so they cannot begin.
- It makes threading possible. The narrow, stiffened point pushes cleanly through an eyelet. Without it you are trying to feed a soft, splayed rope end through a small hole, which is the frustration everyone recognizes.
Where else aglets appear
Shoelaces are the obvious case, but aglets are fitted to cords and drawstrings generally: hoodie ties, bag closures, waistband drawstrings and blind pulls. Anywhere a cord has to pass through a channel or an eyelet, the same problem exists and the same solution is used.
Materials
Aglets are made from plastic, metal and glass. Plastic is by far the most common because it can be heat-formed directly onto the lace in a single step. Metal aglets are used where durability or appearance matters, most often on dress shoes and on higher-end drawstrings. Glass appears as a decorative choice rather than a functional one.
Making a replacement at home
A missing aglet is repairable, and there are several established methods. Each produces a slightly different result, and they are named for their technique.
- Adhesive tape aglets. Wrap a narrow strip of tape tightly around the lace end, tapering as you go. The quickest fix and the least durable.
- Wax aglets. Work wax into the fibers and roll the end to a point. Neat, flexible, and easy to redo when it softens.
- Thread and glue aglets. Bind the end tightly with thread, then seal it with glue. This is the most durable home method and the closest to a manufactured result.
- Metal tubing aglets. Slide a short length of thin metal tube over the end and crimp it. This gives a genuine, permanent metal aglet.
- Heat shrink or melting. A short piece of heat-shrink tubing shrunk over the end works well on synthetic laces. Carefully melting the end itself also works on synthetics, though it produces a blunt tip rather than a point.
One thing to note: melting only works on synthetic laces. Cotton laces will scorch rather than fuse, so those need the thread-and-glue or metal tubing approach.
Frequently asked questions
What is an aglet actually called?
Aglet, sometimes spelled aiglet. Both are correct and the word derives from a root meaning needle.
Can I fix a lace without replacing the aglet?
Temporarily. Tape or wax will get you through, but a frayed end keeps growing, so a proper bound-and-sealed repair lasts far longer.
Why do plastic aglets crack?
They are heat-formed and become brittle with age and repeated flexing at the same point. Metal aglets do not have this failure mode, which is why they are used on shoes meant to last.
Do drawstrings need aglets?
They benefit from them for the same two reasons. A drawstring without one frays and eventually becomes too soft to rethread if it pulls out of its channel.
