Ians safe lace knot

Ian's Safe Shoelace Knot

Also known as the "double slip knot," this is a secure shoelace knot that is tied in a simple, symmetrical manner. Cross the two loops and pass them both through the “hole” in the center. It's a shoelace knot that won't come off on its own!

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Step 1:

Start with a regular left-right starting knot.

Step 2:

Double both ends again to make a “loop.” People often call these “rabbit ears.”

Step 3:

Cross the right (blue) loop over the left (yellow) loop so that the blue loop is in front and is now the left loop.

Step 4:

The yellow loop will now be the right loop. Start wrapping that loop around the left (blue) loop, ending at the front.

Up to this point, the knot is identical to the two-loop shoelace knot.

Step 5:

Unlike the “two loop shoelace knot”, you start wrapping the left (blue) loop around the back. This completes the ends of the two loops on opposite sides of the central “hole.”

Step 6:

Place both ends of the loop through the center hole. The left (blue) loop comes out the front and the right (yellow) loop comes out the back.

Step 7:

Now pull the loop and tighten the knot. The whole twisted mess of the previous picture is rearranged into a neatly finished knot.

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Completed Knot Gallery

The finished Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot should be a tight, closed knot with a symmetrical double wrap around the middle compared to the single wrap of a simple shoelace knot.

Note: If your finished knot is curved (e.g. a heel-to-toe loop), it may be because you tied your starting knot in the opposite direction of my knot. This creates an unbalanced knot that becomes crooked and more prone to unraveling. See my Granny Knot page for more details.

On the other hand, if the finished knot is asymmetrical, twisted, or has loose ends sticking out in front or behind the knot, it is most likely because the laces were not completely "realigned" during tightening. For more information on how to tie neatly, see my Tech Information page.

How much safer will it be?

My testing has shown that Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot requires almost twice as much tension to undo as the Ian Knot or a standard shoelace knot.

Please see the "Technical Information" page for more information.

As more and more shoes today are sold with round, slippery laces, this extra security is quickly becoming indispensable. They're also great for people who are very active on their feet, such as those who play serious sports, hike or dance, as well as yachties who get their boat shoes constantly wet.

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Evaluating shoelace knots

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