I keep a stock of these for my 11-year-old son. He cant keep regular shoelaces ties and destroys them when he walks on them and drags them through the mud. The no-tie shoelaces are durable enough to keep up with his active life! On average, they last him 6-8 months or more (which is FAR longer than replacing regular shoelaces every couple months - and they prevent me from constantly reminding him to tie his shoes!!