Paracord shoelaces,as shoelaces, are fine indeed.

I replace shoelaces with paracord. Not to have "paracord back-up" but just because paracord last longer than regular shoelaces.

If "too small" means "too short" - I disagree. On my hiking boots they are almost 2 feet long - more than enough. Also one can improvise a lacing technique to have more cordage stored on your boots or to use less cordage for lacing when needed. See here, for example.

In the climbing reference and context Hikemor was referring too and what he and I are both very familiar with, if the climbers had been engaged in rock climbing then they probably would not of been wearing hiking boots but wearing running or climbing shoes instead. Specialized rock climbing shoes usually have laces much like a running shoe which are much shorter then a typical hiking boot lace.

"too small" refers to diameter, not length. Cordage selected for prussiks used with the typical 10mm or so diameter climbing rope will usually be about 6mm in diameter. There is wiggle room for variation, but the diameter of the typical shoelace would be difficult to manipulate if tied in a prussik and of course it would be prone to wearing through and breakage. But in a dire emergency.......

Thank you for the clarification. Poor climbers