Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot (original) (raw)
Also known as the “Double Slip Knot”, this is a secure shoelace knot with a simple, symmetrical method of tying. Cross two loops and pass them both through the “hole” in the middle. This is a shoelace knot that won't come undone on its own!
Step 1:
Begin with a regular Left-over-Right Starting Knot.
Step 2:
Make both ends into “loops” by simply doubling them back onto themselves. People often refer to these as “Bunny Ears”.
Step 3:
Cross the right (blue) loop over the left (yellow) loop so that the blue loop sits in front and is now the left loop.
Step 4:
The yellow loop is now the right loop. Begin to wrap that loop around the left (blue) loop to end up in front.
Up to this point, the knot is exactly the same as the Two Loop Shoelace Knot.
Step 5:
At the same time, begin to wrap the left (blue) loop around the back. You will end up with the ends of both loops on opposite sides of the “hole” in the middle.
Step 6:
Feed both ends of the loops through the hole in the middle. The left (blue) loop comes out the front and the right (yellow) loop goes out the back.
Step 7:
Now, simply pull the loops to tighten the knot. The whole twisted mess of the previous drawing will rearrange itself into a neat finished knot.
Finished Knot Gallery
The finished Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot should be a tight, closed knot with a symmetrical double wrap around the middle, as compared to the single wrap of simpler shoelace knots.
Fourth of five different lacing methods on Guy's shoes. Finished off with Ian's Secure Shoelace Knots.
Another photo from Thad – this time on a sneaker – also tied with my Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot.
Lacing is finished off with Ian's Secure Shoelace Knots.
Finished with the neat double-wrap of Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot.
Paracord shoelaces, tied off with Ian's Secure Shoelace Knots.
The shoes are tied with mirror-image Ian's Secure Shoelace Knots for symmetry.
The Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot also ends up with a neat bi-color double wrap!
Ian's Secure Shoelace Knots were used to secure the quadruple laces.
My partner, Inge, joined in the fun with some colorful new sneakers, tied off with Ian's Secure Shoelace Knots.
NOTE: If your finished knot looks uneven or twisted, it's likely due to the shoelaces not completely “rearranging” themselves during tightening. See my Technical Info page for more details on tying neatly.
How Much More Secure?
My own testing shows that the Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot needs almost twice the tension to pull it undone than either the Ian Knot or any Standard Shoelace Knot.
More details on the “Technical Info” page.
This extra security is fast becoming indispensable as more and more shoes nowadays are sold with round, slippery laces. It's also great for people who are very active on their feet, such as when playing serious sports, mountain climbing or even dancing, as well as for yachties whose boat shoes are constantly getting wet.
More benefits on the “Feedback” page.
NOTE: For normal activities, the Ian Knot or other standard knots should be quite secure. I believe that many people seek more secure knots because they are, without realizing, tying their shoelaces with an un-balanced “Granny Knot”. Please see my Granny Knot page that discusses this in detail.
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