Overview
ISO 22774:2004 specifies standardized test methods for measuring the abrasion resistance of shoe laces under repeated rubbing. It defines three distinct procedures to evaluate how laces withstand wear against similar laces or eyelets: Method 1 - lace to lace abrasion, Method 2 - lace to standard eyelet abrasion, and Method 3 - lace to eyelet (from footwear) abrasion. The standard covers test geometry, apparatus, specimen preparation, conditioning, test procedure, calculation of results and required test reporting.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Test methods: Three methods cover common real‑world contact situations for laces (lace vs lace, lace vs standard brass eyelet, lace vs actual footwear eyelet).
- Apparatus & motion: Reciprocating movement with simple harmonic motion of 35 mm ± 2 mm at 60 cycles/min ± 6 cycles/min; counting of cycles to failure.
- Tensioning: A controlled tension of 2.45 N ± 0.03 N is applied to the test lace (commonly achieved using a 250 g ± 3 g mass over a pulley).
- Geometry: For Method 1 a spacer produces an angle of 52.5° ± 5° at the contact point; spacer width ~25 mm ± 5 mm.
- Test specimens:
- Method 1: six lace pieces (minimum length 2 × (D − 160) mm or commonly 500 mm ± 10 mm); short‑piece alternatives allowed with non‑abrasive extensions.
- Methods 2 & 3: six lace pieces 300 mm ± 10 mm.
- Eyelet specification (Method 2): Standard visible brass eyelet, nominal internal barrel diameter 4.5 mm, nominal overall length 5.5 mm.
- Conditioning: Store and test in a standard atmosphere in accordance with EN 12222 (ISO 18454) for at least 48 hours.
- Results: Report the arithmetic mean of cycles to failure (six specimens), range, type of failure (shorter/longer lace and extent of core/cover wear), and any damage to carriers.
Applications and who uses it
ISO 22774 is a practical tool for:
- Footwear manufacturers validating lace durability in product development.
- Component and accessory suppliers (laces, eyelets) for quality control and specification conformance.
- Independent test laboratories performing comparative abrasion testing.
- Procurement and compliance teams defining minimum performance requirements for laces and eyelet systems.
Using ISO 22774 helps reduce field failures, improve product quality, and support claims about accessory durability.
Related standards
- EN 12222 / ISO 18454 - Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing of footwear and components (referenced by ISO 22774 for specimen conditioning).
- ISO/TC 216 - Technical committee responsible for footwear standards (context for ISO 22774).
Keywords: ISO 22774, shoe laces, abrasion resistance test, footwear accessories, lace to lace abrasion, eyelet abrasion, test methods, footwear testing.
