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!
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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:
Unlike the “Two Loop Shoelace Knot”, 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.
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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.
These round, slippery bootlaces kept coming undone – until they were finally tamed using my Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot.
Side-by-side comparison showing that even a “Secure” shoelace knot will sit crooked (ie. heel-to-toe) if the “Starting Knot” is tied in reverse (ie. “flipped”).
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.
Finished with the neat double-wrap of Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot.
Paracord shoelaces, tied off with Ian's Secure Shoelace Knots.
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 comes out crooked (eg. loops pointing heel-to-toe), it's probably because you tie your Starting Knot the opposite way to mine. This will result in an un-balanced knot, which sits crooked and comes undone more easily. See my Granny Knot page for more information.
On the other hand, if your finished knot looks asymmetrical, twisted, or has the loose ends sticking out the front or back of the knot, 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.
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