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Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot
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This knot is the end result of analysing numerous secure knots and combining their best features, with the emphasis
on symmetry: Make two loops and pass them both through the "hole" in the middle. Slippery shoelaces or serious
sports are two good reasons for using this knot.
It turns out that I'd re-invented an existing knot that was almost completely unknown, probably through having been
given the technical name "Double Slip Knot", which makes it sound less secure than other knots. See my
Technical Info page for more details.
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Step 1:
Tie a Starting Knot as shown, then make both laces into "loops" by simply doubling them
back onto themselves. People often refer to these as "Bunny Ears".
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Step 2:
Cross the two loops over each other so that the right (blue) loop ends up in front and the left (yellow) loop ends
up behind. The yellow loop is now the right loop.
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Step 3:
Begin to wrap the right (yellow) loop around the left (blue) loop to end up in front.
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Step 4:
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.
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Step 5:
Feed both ends of the loops through the hole in the middle. The right (yellow) loop goes out the back and the left
(blue) loop comes out the front.
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Step 6:
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. Trust me, it works!
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Finished Knot
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The finished knot should be a tight, closed knot with a symmetrical, double wrap around the middle, as compared to
the single wrap of either my Ian Knot or any Standard Shoelace
Knot. |
TIP:
If your finished knot looks uneven or twisted, it may help to pull on the lace ends to partly un-tie your
laces; this will bring the outer sections of the knot together, making the inner section more even. Then, pull on
the loops once again to re-tighten the knot.
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How Much More Secure?
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My own testing shows that the Ian's Secure Knot needs almost three times the tension to pull it undone than
either the Ian Knot or any Standard Shoelace Knot. See my
Technical Info page for more details.
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 deck shoes are contantly getting wet. See my
Testimonials page to read some of the varied benefits that others have discovered.
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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 Slipping Shoelace Knots? page that discusses
this in detail.
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This page last updated: 20-Aug-2008. Copyright © 2003-2008 by
Ian W. Fieggen. All rights reserved.
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