Training Ties® vs. Hickies — Which Should You Choose?
Hickies and Training Ties show up together in shoe-tying searches because both promise a faster, less frustrating shoe routine. They solve fundamentally different problems. Here's the honest comparison from the special-education teacher who invented Training Ties.
What Hickies does
Hickies are silicone bands that replace your shoelaces. You install them once. From then on, the shoe slips on like a slip-on. Your child never ties.
Best for: kids who need immediate hands-free independence, kids with physical limitations that make tying impractical long-term, or sporty kids who want a one-style-fits-all sneaker setup.
What Training Ties® does
Training Ties is a patented checkpoint scaffold that attaches to your child's real shoes and holds the laces in place at the two moments where shoe tying usually collapses. Your child learns to tie with normal laces — without the failure cycle.
Best for: kids who are developmentally ready to learn and getting stuck on the standard method (especially kids with autism, ADHD, dyspraxia, Down syndrome, or fine motor delays).
Side-by-side
| Hickies | Training Ties® | |
|---|---|---|
| Teaches the skill | No (bypasses it) | Yes |
| Works on real shoelaces | Replaces them | Adds to them |
| Time to first independence | Instant | 10–15 min typical |
| Long-term outcome | Skill never developed | Full mastery, scaffold comes off |
| Cost | ~$15–20 per pair | $25 one-time, transfers across shoes |
| Best for | Permanent workaround | Teaching the actual skill |
Pick based on the goal
If your goal is your child never having to tie shoes: Hickies are a clean permanent solution.
If your goal is your child actually learning to tie (and building the fine motor, sequencing, and resilience benefits that come with it): Training Ties. Once they have the skill, the checkpoints come off and they tie like any other kid.
Some families use both — Hickies on the school sneaker, Training Ties on the weekend learning shoe.
Built for kids who get stuck
- Autism, ADHD & fine motor support
- Down syndrome
- Dyspraxia (DCD)
- Cerebral palsy
- Training Ties vs. Lock Laces
- Training Ties vs. Velcro
FAQ
Are Hickies a permanent solution?
Yes — once installed, Hickies stay on the shoe. They're a one-time-per-shoe purchase that replaces the lace mechanism entirely.
Can my child use Hickies and Training Ties on the same shoe?
No — Hickies replace the lace system, while Training Ties scaffold tying with standard laces. But many families use Hickies on one pair of shoes (everyday wear) and Training Ties on another (learning shoes).
Why are Training Ties more expensive than Hickies?
Hickies are per-shoe (~$15–20 each pair). Training Ties are a $25 one-time teaching tool that transfers across every pair your child owns and comes off entirely once the skill is learned. Cost-per-outcome favors Training Ties if the goal is the skill.