Abstract: A shoe closure that includes a flexible elongated tubular member having a central section, a first and second end regions connected to the central section, the second end region distal to the first end region, the flexible elongated tubular member having a first flexibility characteristic. The shoe closure also includes end members connected to the flexible elongated tubular member and located proximate to the respective first and second ends of the flexible elongated tubular member, the end members projecting inward toward the central interior section, the end members having a second flexibility characteristic, wherein the first flexibility characteristic is greater than the second flexibility characteristic.