View Full Version : Properly tied shoelaces
Do your shoelaces come undone?
I searched the forums looking to see if anyone else had posted how to properly tie shoelaces so they don't come loose. Didn't find a similar article.
I've had a chronic problem with loose shoelaces. Someone told me flat shoelaces work better than round shoelaces. But I discovered online today that I was tying a "Granny Knot." If the bow of your laces oriented up and down on your boot (vs flat across) that's most likely a Granny Knot.
For others with this problem, here's a video and other instructions on how to properly tie your shoelaces and why they come undone.
Video:
http://www.shoelacesexpress.com/tying_slipping_knot_video.asp
Written instructions with diagrams:
http://www.shoelacesexpress.com/tying_slipping_shoelaces_knot.asp
I found the simple solution for me: I typically start my starting knot left-over-right. I switched that to right-over-left and continued tying as I normally would with the bow. Voila! It came out flat and secure across my boot. Oh, happy day!
colorado_rob
02-14-2015, 13:25
My son turned me on to the Granny knot thing, all my life I had problems with shoelaces, once I started the "square knot version" of tying shoelaces, problem solved. So simple!
kayak karl
02-14-2015, 13:37
i use rabbit ear shoe tying method
Feral Bill
02-14-2015, 13:45
There is a better way, hard to describe in words. See The Klutz Book of Knots. I found this independently, though. On your second part of the knot, go around the standing part twice. The knot will always hold, and pull out easily if you don't catch an end in the loop. Hey, I told you it was hard to describe. I'll look for some pictures and add them in if I find some. There you go! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YVQ79slKzY
Bill_in_TR
02-14-2015, 14:16
I didn't realize tying shoe laces could be so problematic. If you lock the knot down tight an ordinary bow seems to work just fine. At least I never have found it to be something of a problem. If I need a little extra security I just add an extra overhand knot using the bow ears. Some types of shoe lace material seems to need a little extra help with that extra overhand knot sometimes. Usually it is the woven paracord type lacing that is a little slippery. Leather laces will lock down tight almost always. Been tying my shoe laces pretty much the same way since I was a kid. Didn't know folks had problems with granny knots and other such stuff.
Watch now all of a sudden my shoe laces are going to start acting up on me. I should have stayed away from this thread.:)
bat_manatee
02-14-2015, 14:24
There is a TED Talk on this very subject.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAFcV7zuUDA
MuddyWaters
02-14-2015, 14:47
I always double knot my shoes, lightly, doesnt untie by itself,
handlebar
02-14-2015, 16:00
Since I adopted this shoelace knot, my laces don't come undone. Also, it's nice that when I do want to untie, I can simply pull on one of the ends.
http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/secureknot.htm
Feral Bill
02-14-2015, 16:34
Since I adopted this shoelace knot, my laces don't come undone. Also, it's nice that when I do want to untie, I can simply pull on one of the ends.
http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/secureknot.htm A much better illustration of the knot I referred to earlier.
One Half
02-14-2015, 19:10
I used cordlocks when I used hiking boots.
like these. never have to tie/untie. quick and easy. I put the cordlocks on the laces and then know the lace and then when I am sure the laces are not too long that they hang on the ground but long enough to get in and out easily, I cut the excess and seal with a lighter.
I always double knot my shoes, lightly, doesnt untie by itself,
Same. Double knot has always worked well for me.
kayak karl
02-14-2015, 21:03
A much better illustration of the knot I referred to earlier. that's a double bunny ear knot :)
Who knew they'd be so much info about tying one's shoelaces. Even a TED Talk! I use to double knot my laces, but it didn't matter they still came undone. I'm happy to report that after a day of much walking about, with the simple correction I tried (changing my starting knot), my laces remained securely tied all day...for the first time in my life!
Thanks everyone for the links and ideas. I like the "Double Slip Knot", looks very neat.
Feral Bill
02-15-2015, 02:06
that's a double bunny ear knot :) That name works for me.
Rolls Kanardly
02-15-2015, 06:15
A shoe expert at REI taught me to tie laces the way hockey players tie their skates.
When wrapping the two laces around each other do it one more time. Then make a
loop on one side and then circle the loop and your thumb twice with the other lace
and then feed this lace through as a loop where you thumb is and then tighten laces. If laces are long enough
you can tie the two loops together. I sometimes let my laces be loose enough to slide my
feet in like loafers and this always cause the laces to come apart. But when all laces are tight
against my feet they do not become loose.
Rolls
takethisbread
02-15-2015, 08:13
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/02/15/fa67de1775aeeaaf917390b335f54173.jpg
For me problem solved
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I 2nd Takethisbread. I will probably switch out most of my hiking foot ware to the Salomon speed laces. I have them on 3 pairs of Salomons now and they rarely ever come loose.
HighLiner
02-15-2015, 12:46
I use low gaiters. Not only does it keep my laces tied but keeps pebbles out of my boots. More than one way to solve that problem!
colorado_rob
02-15-2015, 13:09
I didn't realize tying shoe laces could be so problematic. If you lock the knot down tight an ordinary bow seems to work just fine. At least I never have found it to be something of a problem. If I need a little extra security I just add an extra overhand knot using the bow ears. Some types of shoe lace material seems to need a little extra help with that extra overhand knot sometimes. Usually it is the woven paracord type lacing that is a little slippery. Leather laces will lock down tight almost always. Been tying my shoe laces pretty much the same way since I was a kid. Didn't know folks had problems with granny knots and other such stuff.
Watch now all of a sudden my shoe laces are going to start acting up on me. I should have stayed away from this thread.:) You've obviously, probably randomly, been using the "square knot" method.
The point is, I think, that with a simple shoe-tying knot, one can make the loop two ways depending on which lace goes over which initially. One way creates essentially a granny knot-type knot, the other creates a square knot-type knot.
Folks that have been tying their shoes the granny knot way, like myself since I was a kid through a few years ago may have had trouble with laces coming untied, unless of course they were doubled-knotted or used fancier knots or those lace slides that Solomon uses.
Those that happened to learn the square knot sequence probably haven't had any problems. That's all, I think, the OP was trying to say, and I simply agreed with her as I was doing the same thing, unknowingly.
Doesn't this thread eventually reach the "Hike your own hike/ Tie your own shoes " stage?
CarlZ993
02-15-2015, 14:05
One technique I've used works great. Your shoelaces stay tied. The knot is easily untied with the pull of the shoelace. Just be sure that your tying technique creates a square knot. After the first knot, I'll make a 'bunny-ear' with the left lace. I'll take the right shoelace & wrap it around the base of the bunny-ear and my thumb TWICE. I'll then insert bight of the right shoelace in hole created by your thumb. Pull & tighten. The knot is secure but is easily untied when you pull the ends of your shoelaces.
StubbleJumper
02-15-2015, 22:15
Since I adopted this shoelace knot, my laces don't come undone. Also, it's nice that when I do want to untie, I can simply pull on one of the ends.
http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/secureknot.htm
+1
I've been using this knot for years, and it *never* comes undone until you actively pull on an end to undo it. It's a beautiful combination of secure and easy to undo.
Firefighter503
02-16-2015, 00:42
Only thing I'll add is that I also tie my laces into lace locks (http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/locklacing.htm), which helps with keeping the shoes tight around your ankles but not too tight around the rest of your foot.
Thanks for the post. For me this has been the most useful post I have seen on WB. I discovered I have been tying my shoes incorrectly for over 55 years. Now if I can relearn the process it should end years of frustration with my shoelaces coming undone.
rocketsocks
02-16-2015, 09:06
right over left, left over right double knotted bow-tie...works for me.
To think that my mother led me astray all those years ago, oh the humanity.
Double knots have always worked for me.
Feral Bill
02-16-2015, 13:00
I do not get the love for double knots. Why have loops at all if you cants pull the knot out with an easy tug? Please, people, try a better way.
http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/secureknot.htm is pretty cool. now if i could just learn how to chew gum at the same time.
(slightly more) seriously, i have always tied a double knot -- double granny, probably. i can only pray that i am able to remember this new trick!
I learned this trick by accident with dress shoes, just loop 2x vs one. Holds great. Then double knot, one.
I learned this trick by accident with dress shoes, just loop 2x vs one. Holds great. Then double knot, one.
Odd Man Out
02-16-2015, 21:54
A much better illustration of the knot I referred to earlier.
Me too. I always had problems with shoelaces coming untied. Then I started using this knot from inns Web site. Never a problem.
http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/secureknot.htm and i am proof, as of today, that even an old man can learn THIS new trick. unlike using the too-many features on my watch which i never seem to be able to master since i only need a compass or an altimeter when on the trail, shoe lace tying is part of my daily life as well as my trail life. thanks again.
Feral Bill
02-18-2015, 22:15
http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/secureknot.htm and i am proof, as of today, that even an old man can learn THIS new trick. unlike using the too-many features on my watch which i never seem to be able to master since i only need a compass or an altimeter when on the trail, shoe lace tying is part of my daily life as well as my trail life. thanks again.
Well done sir!