On the 18th of August 2006 I found Ian's website and decided to go with Ian's Secure Knot. I'm a long time sports instructor and was in the army for about 6 years. I've done triathlons and was a long distance runner for about 15 years. In the 10 years that have past since I've used Ian's Secure Knot I haven't had a SINGLE untied shoe lace! Not during any of my runs and not during any time in the woods when I was in the military. It has gone so far that I bet my students that I can show them how to never have an untied shoe lace ever again. My daughter is 1 and I have a son on the way. I can't wait until they are old enough for me to teach them how to properly knot their shoe laces! Ian, you have changed my life!
Having had very little parental help growing up, I taught myself to tie my shoes 40 years ago. Four years ago, I finally admitted I taught myself incorrectly (as they endlessly kept coming undone). My search quickly led me to your site and this knot, in particular. Since tone is absent via this medium, I'll say it clearly: thank you, Ian, for your website and your efforts. Thanks to you, I've learned to tie my shoes the best way possible and to re-lace my sneakers/trainers, boots and shoes to better suit their respective purposes. Sincerest best to you and yours.
After the initial success of managing to teach yourself to tie your shoes - what a shame to "miss" by such a tiny detail. I'm pleased that you finally found your way to a solution. Having now replaced the inferior Granny Knot with a superior Secure Knot, plus selectively re-laced your shoes, I'd say you're in the best possible position to make the next 40+ years so much better than the previous 40. Best wishes, and thanks for your kind words.
I've been doing this for the past 6 years or so since I discovered your wonderful site. And let me tell you sir, on my son's 5th birthday I showed this to him and he got it on his first try. Core father and son memory. Thank you! Blessings to you and your loved one's!
This Seemännische Schuhbandschleife is fantastic. I've been using it for years and never once has a shoelace come undone. Thanks for introducing me to it!
Love your work, Ian! About 15 years ago I stumbled on your site when I was looking for a way to use up some extra lace length on my office shoes because they were flopping around and coming undone all the time, and that was the day that I discovered that I'd been unwittingly tying granny-knots for 20-odd years. I fixed that AND I switched to a fancy lacing pattern that used up enough length to stop the ends and loops wouldn't get wet from flopping against the ground. I couldn't believe my Dad (who's been sailing small boats his whole life) never picked up on my knots being grannies, and let me be annoyed by it for so long. Anyway, I've been using this knot for my children's soccer boots for a few years now. It makes a huge difference! Every game we go to, at least one player loses a shoe in an enthusiastic kick, and four or five need to stop to tie their laces, but never my kids! I'd always used what you call the "Standard Shoelace Knot" and found the "bunny ears" method awkward, so I followed where the laces were going and adapted my Standard Shoelace Knot technique to produce a very similar knot. I've just discovered today that my adapted method for tying this knot looks a whole lot like the Berluti Knot instructions on your website. Are there any differences between this and the Berluti that you can see? When I'm doing this knot, I like to pass the end through a second time so that the starting knot has a second twist. I don't know if it makes it more secure, but it adds a bit of extra distance between the two loops around the middle and makes it look really neat.
Actually, my variation is NOT the Berluti as shown on your website. Instead of pushing the blue bunny-ear through from the front in step 7, I pull the yellow one through from the back. The end result has both tails held in place by both of the middle loops, while the Berluti on the site has the yellow tail only going through one of the middle loops and hanging free of the other. The Berluti is likely easier to untie by pulling that yellow tail, while mine is just as resistant to untying as the one in this video. Edit: Aha! Poking around the site some more, I've found that my variation is actually the Surgeon's Knot. I was pretty sure it wouldnt' be an actual new invention.
Thanks for your amazingly detailed and hence fascinating feedback. It's already a bonus that you solved your “Granny Knot” issue - and obviously passed on that knowledge to your kids. That's one way to give them the edge! And then to hear that you came up with your own way of tying a more secure knot, which - after some digging - you found was similar to the “Berluti” and then identical to the “Surgeon's”. Actually, it turns out that just about *all* of the secure knots end up forming the functionally identical knot, so feel free to use whichever method you find easiest. Shortly I'll be adding my new “Ian's Fast Secure Knot”, which takes this to another level, but that's another story. Again, thanks for your feedback and enjoy the knot.
Ian’s Fast Secure Knot. Where would we be without Ian’s Fast Secure Knot. Up a tree with granny knotting. Ian’s Fast Secure Knot. A pleasure to walk without fear, Knowing Ian’s Fast Secure Knot won’t tear. Ian’s Fast Secure Knot; It’s all of the above. And with Ian’s Fast Secure Knot, Maintains its own thereof.
Very nice video Ian. I also "reinvented" (or discovered on my own) this knot over 20 years ago while I was on active duty in the USAF. I however perform the tying a little differently in that I do a double starting knot to hold the beginning extra tightly. Then I do a "Bunny round the tree" but I go around the tree twice. The end result looks the same as you have demonstrated. I have used this knot with great success on my boots, shoes and runners (as well as those of my 10 children). Thanks for the informative video!
You're welcome, Pat. Cool that you also cane up with effectively the same technique. Yours is identical to the “Surgeon's Shoelace Knot” - but the end result is the same. Either way - same reliable knot the stays secure.
I've been tying this same knot for years since my dad, who works for a Power Plant, showed me how he ties his work boots so they don't come untied (he used to do a LOT of walking). If you don't want to "have to hold the original knot tight" while you get the ears going, simply loop the lace back under again, and pull tight. To illustrate - Left over Right starting knot -> bring that left lace back under again for a second "loop". Then tie the double loop with the ears. You won't have to hold it tight.
Your Dad set a good example using a secure shoelace knot on his work boots. Your comment about beginning with a Double Starting Knot is also good advice. In my experience, the centre of the knot ends up very w-i-d-e due to the doubled start plus doubled finish knots. For greater security, wriggle the knot to get the centre tightly bunched.
I've learnt this knot a few years ago, in my early 30s, from some youtube video that I can't even remember. It has solved the chronic problem of laces coming undone, once and for all. This knot has never failed me, not once. It should be taught in primary schools before numbers and letters.
Great to hear that the knot has proven itself to you over many years. Wouldn't it be amazing if schools taught useful knowledge like this, which would save kids from decades of loose shoelaces!
I discovered your site twelve years ago when I was completely frustrated with the nylon/poly type laces coming undone several times during the day. I experimented with the different types of secure knots on the site and settled on a hybrid of the ISK and the surgeon's whereby I formed the initial two "bunny ears" then held one and wrapped the other one around it twice. I'd always been using the bunny ears method so the extra "twist" was a simple upgrade. Thank you for eliminating one of life's annoyances for the last 12 years. Just wish I'd learned this many years before. 😄
Thank you so much. I was considering getting new shoelaces for my shoes until I tried this knot. Absolute game changer. In fact, I switched to it so thoroughly that I genuinely don't remember how to tie the knot I used to do!
You're most welcome. I'm someone who loves symmetry, and this technique results in a nice symmetrical knot with two neat loops across the middle. Great that you like the look.
Great video because the directions are clear. Lately, I have watched and studied many shoelace videos and would describe them as crap because the demonstrations are not clear. Very difficult to see or understand. I eventually did understand a bunch of them but it took around twenty tries. I understood your video the first time I saw it. Thank you.
Thank you, Rick, I really appreciate your kind words. It's harder than most people realize to strike just the right balance of enough information but not too much, as well as going fast enough but not too fast. I'm pleased to hear that I managed to get it right. Best of all, you managed to learn the knot - congratulations!
You're welcome, Gerald. It will be hard for you to kick the habit of regularly checking your shoelace knots. In fact, this knot should stay tied 10/15 *months* rather than *minutes* - effectively eliminating the need for checking.
how crazy with one exception this is how ive always tied my shoes. ive only ever put the right loop through the center i guess i never thought to do both loops through the center. thank you for completing me haha
Thank you, professor! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! I've had these Salomon backpacking shoes for a bit over a month now and I've walked dozens of kilometers in them. Well, _something_ happened about two weeks ago and the laces would come undone every 100m or so! You can imagine my frustration! After consistently forgetting to google for a secure knot for days, I did it today and found your website. I'd been there before, but mostly for the novelty. Well, after a 12km walk during which my laces not only did not come undone but also remained as tight as if I'd just tied them, I have to sing your praises!
Great to hear that it's working out so well for you and that it has become your preferred shoelace knot. Congratulations, Kevin - and thanks in return for your kind words.
I have a pair of dress sneakers that I like to wear but they have slippery shoelaces that were always untying until I tried your secure shoelace knot. I tried some other knots that I found on RUclips but my shoelaces would still untie. Your knot works! Thank you.
sorry to be so offtopic but does any of you know of a way to log back into an instagram account? I was dumb lost my password. I appreciate any tips you can offer me
Seven years ago but relevant till we no longer need shoe laces. Love the clear and visual instructions, ignore negative comments because they only have two left feet. I also find going twice around instead of once at the start (left over right and left over right) holds in place for a firmer grip.
Thanks, I'm pleased that you found my video clear and useful. The double starting knot does indeed help to get a firmer finish, so definitely add that to the mix if you need it. Enjoy the knot!
HI Ian! Switching to this secure knot from your "fastest" knot that I use now. This is taking only a little longer. I live in Mumbai and travel on crowded trains everyday - security of shoelace knot is of importance paramount!
I'm picturing a normal shoelace knot being stepped on or otherwise coming untied on a crowded Mumbai train. Phew, that would be uncomfortable! It certainly merits spending the extra few seconds to tie a secure knot.
This is the best method for shoelace tying! Works with longer laces, as well as shorter laces!! I wish I could better keep the starting knot taut as I approach the second half of the tying process, but you can’t have everything! Overall, this knot is just somehow better than anything else.
Hello Mr Ian of the famous Ian Knot. I've been using the famous Ian Knot for a good while now, I can't remember when I first discovered it, but lately hit a problem. I have some sports shoes and they seem to have the very issue that these skating shoes have, they are a circular lace and seem to have some sort of coating on them, I imagine to repel water but it also seems to repel the famous Ian Knot as well. The Ian Knot works well day to day on regular laces but I'm thinking this here may be the solution for my sports sessions. I shall give it a go. I was also going to ask what you recommend for teaching kids but have just found the page on your site. Many thanks for all of this knot help.
Shoe manufacturers nowadays are often guilty of making the shoelaces too long. Whenever I buy new shoes, I usually shorten the ends to a sensible length. My website has several other suggestions: www.fieggen.com/shoelace/excesslength.htm
Excellent instructions Prof. One thing, why did you place the shoe toe forward? We do the laces up with the heel nearest to us. I have to watch this vid upside down.....thank you.
You're the second person to ask this - and it is a good point. I had the shoe oriented the same as when I do lacing videos such that there is no ambiguity when I say "top" (top of shoe = top of image). Sorry about that. Hopefully you learned the knot anyway.
Professor, I love this knot. Wish I knew about it when I was a young man playing sports. Now what do you do with long laces and have plenty of lace left over?
There's a few solutions to excessively long shoelaces. Personally, whenever I buy new shoes, I usually shorten them to a comfortable length. A one-off few minutes of work saves continual hassle every time you wear the shoes. Sometimes simply re-lacing with a more complex method will consume enough excess.
Good point - my brain easily flips things, but most people seem to prefer seeing the shoe oriented the way they expect to see it. I had it oriented the same as when I do lacing videos such that there is no ambiguity when I say "top" (top of shoe = top of image). Sorry about that. Hope you get the knot anyway.
Hello, Professor Shoelace! You have NO IDEA how many imposters their are out there who have essentially bogarted your reinvented Ian Double Secure Shoelace Knot. It’s actually… quite interesting to see how far they’ve gone with it… Anyways, your knot still reigns supreme. Cheers, love!
Yeah, I'm getting pretty disenchanted with RUclips parasites reposting whatever they find. I've since invented a few new knots that I'll probably take with me to the grave rather than sharing them.
Thank you Ian! I often go hiking in various terrain and got frustrated about untying shoelaces. Now I use secure knot and can walk withouth worrying. :-)
My favorite shoelace knot! When the knot is completed I take the long loose ends remaining and feed them through the laces to the bottom of the shoe to hold them down so they dont flop around as I walk about.
Great to hear that this is your go-to knot. And your technique of tucking the ends through the lacing is something that I do as well, particularly when the shoelaces have metal aglets.
Ian's Secure Knot (which this is starting at 3:09) is good for too-long laces because you can shorten them by making the *first* knot (before you form the loops) double or even triple. The Berluti knot is similar but a little more complicated, but I think it looks neater.
Thanks for the helpful comment. On my shoelace website, I've long suggested the “Double Starting Knot” as a separate enhancement for *any* shoelace knot. That said, the finished knot ends up w-i-d-e-r and thus doesn't pull together quite as tightly bunched.
I am not sure what I am doing wrong, but both my ends seem to be sticking out the middle inside the two knots... it hold rather well, but it just looks a bit off.
You're not the first to ask, so I guess it's justified. In the meantime, ignore the shoe and just pay attention to the knot, which is identical when tied or viewed from either perspective.
If your shoelaces are “yards” too long then this knot won't really help. Personally, whenever I buy new shoes with laces that are too long, I always shorten them to a more sensible length.
Great knot! My right shoelace is ALWAYS coming undone for some reason and after tying it with this method, it hasn't come undone once and feels VERY secure. Thanks for the video!
You're most welcome, Oscar. Sounds like the knot is living up to my promises and is doing exactly what it should. May your right shoe now always be secure!
how does this knot compare to the berluti knot? the two are definitely very similar. the berluti knot is also very secure, but seems to be typically used on dress shoes for its aesthetic qualities.
There's one minor difference: Both knots have a double-wrap around the middle, but in the Berluti, one of the loose ends passes under only *one* of those wraps.
Sorry, I've really lost heart with posting videos. In fact, my whole “Professor Shoelace” life seems to be slowly winding down now that there are so many other people doing shoelace stuff.
man that is soooooo cool! nice one. been looking for a way to get rid of the dreaded big phat knot on top of a usual double lace tie and this is the one 😀
HowToTameYourDragon I've never had the Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot come undone. Then again, I never subject my shoelaces to really serious activities (eg. wrestling). For me, replacing the Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot with the Mega Ian Shoelace Knot (which is on my website, not in this video) would be somewhat over the top, but for others, it could be invaluable.
***** Sometimes I've seen people step on the ends of their laces and have the knots come undone. The Mega Ian Knot wouldn't be so susceptible to this. I've seen people unable to untie said knot without using both hands. Do you think that it would be useful when you have too much shoelace length and just want the knot to not come undone from being stepped on?
HowToTameYourDragon Sure, when you step on a long, trailing loose end, the Mega Ian Knot could help keep the laces secured. I'll add a Mega Ian Knot video some day.
Just took another look at the website and it looks like I've been using the Turquoise Turtle and just running the bunny ear through the center hole without the loose end (Step 7).
Great that you did your own experiments with different knots to create your own variant. Surprisingly, either variation results in the same knot whether you feed the loop through with or without the adjacent loose end! The only difference is that one undergoes a little more “rearranging” during final tightening. Either way, your finished knot should be just as secure. Enjoy!
Personally, I always shorten shoelace ends to a sensible length. Sometimes this can be done by re-lacing with a method that consumes more length. If not, replacing or shortening the laces is the next best solution. Alternatively, tuck the ends under one of the crossovers.
I wouldn't necessarily switch, as the "Ian Knot" is secure enough for most usage. I only ever take the extra time to tie the secure knot in preparation for vigorous activities (eg. bushwalking).
@@ProfShoelace Yup, works great! I've been using it the past few days, and it stays tight until I untie them. The nice thing is, it's just 1 more step than the usual shoe tying process!
Thanks for the follow-up. Great to hear that it's working well for you. As you noted, it's just one simple extra step, yet the benefit is huge. Enjoy your new-found security.
I had major problems with the shoes to the point I would remove the laces and replace them with rubber hooks so I don't have to tie them, thanks for the pro tip
The Secure Knot is indeed tricky to do with small loops. Try re-lacing your shoes with "Straight Bar Lacing" - ruclips.net/video/8DkCoG6n8vk/видео.html - or "Bow Tie Lacing" - ruclips.net/video/57MB3z18dTs/видео.html - either of which will give you some extra length with which to practice.
Ian, how should you lace your shoes so that you stop feeling as if your heel is slipping out of the shoe? It really bugs you, this sensation of the shoe sort of slipping out at the heel.
The solution for heel slippage is "Lock Lacing", which I don't yet have on RUclips but for which I have detailed instructions and diagrams on my Ian's Shoelace Site.
Thanks for the positive feedback. I'm always pleased when people do their own real-world testing of the Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot and discover for themselves just how good it is rather than relying on the say-so of others. Enjoy the knot!
This is cool, but I've found the Parisien knot to be very secure as well. Your knot is like a simplified or half Berlutti knot, which is the most secure and elegant looking knot for dress shoes.
Check out my website, on which you can compare the Berluti Knot, my Ian's Secure Knot, plus several other secure shoelace knots. They are really just different ways of tying effectively the same knot! Choose whichever techique you find easiest, safe in the knowledge that they are pretty much equal.
I don't yet have a video for that one. On my "Ian's Shoelace Site", go to the "Mega Ian Shoelace Knot", where you'll find a photo and description of the Quad Loop Shoelace Knot further down the page (under "Variation").
A spell to keep your shoelaces tied - or to allow them to be untied at your command - that is indeed good sorcery! I'm pleased that this knot has changed your life for the better.
If in a regular bow knot, you let the rabbit run around the tree twice before it goes down the hole, your shoes will almost never come untied. And it still unties like a single loop knot vs. a double knot, assuming you don't intertwin the loose ends through the loop.
There's a way to improve this knot which, even though is pretty good, still comes undone. In this leather lace knot, called by various names, the bunny ear loops generally hold fast. rarely a problem. It's the shoelace ends that get pulled through usage, unraveling the knot without one even aware. The fix is to secure the loose ends with a square knot, such that when either loose end is tugged on doesn't budge and the loops don't. either. One can test this: tie the seaman's shoelace and then pull on either bitter end. The knot will unravel. Tie the seaman's shoelace knot and now the square knot. Pull on either bitter end or loop and none will unravel. I call it the Fed-up-with-constantly--retying-the-Moccasin knot-Knot.
That added step will indeed secure the knot - or any shoelace knot - at the expense of reducing its functionality because it can't easily be untied when required. It does have its uses, as you noted, for knots that you don't *want* to ever untie, such the decorative knots on moccasins.
Sorry that I've confused you, Lucas. This was one of my earlier videos, and I've since learned that most people seem to prefer the toe-twards-top orientation. But that likewise confuses me! No matter how the *shoe* is oriented, the *knot* is identical. I''m still looking down at my shoe. I'm still using my left and right hands exactly the same way. Even if you put *your* shoe on a table oriented the opposite way to mine, you can still copy my hand movements in this video to learn this knot. Give it a try, Lucas! In the meantime, your point is taken, and all knot videos since this one have used the *correct* orientation.
@@ProfShoelace still a good video and an even greater knot. Thank you for making this knowledge available to people in an easily accessible manner. Also for responding to comments on a 5 year old video in less than a day.
@@ProfShoelace actually, i've always had my shoelaces unlacing everytime i would workout in the gym. Tried your knot and the shoelaces didn't even move. Thanks!
You're welcome. I try not to oversell the merits of this knot and allow people to discover for themselves just how good it is. I'm pleased to hear that it's working for you "as advertised" even under the stress of a gym workout.
I learned this knot while backpacking in the Rocky Mountains with the Boy Scouts. We called it the turquoise tortoise. I have no idea where the name came from.
The Turquoise *Turtle* knot (named after a parcel knot that was used in a boutique of that name) is actually a *slightly* different technique - but the end result is identical. Personally I find the T.T. knot slightly more awkward because the loose ends are fed through as well.
If you don't mind, I'll post my alternative methods here :) *Method 1* (best method, fastest, no twists): ruclips.net/video/-YiUpxMONMc/видео.html *Method 2* (original method, fast, based on Ian Knot): ruclips.net/video/1ua3p1eHOqs/видео.html *Method 3* (1½ loops method, symmetrical, very twisted, but having the same basis as the Ian Knot, can be modified to tie Ian, Berluti, or Mega Ian Shoelace Knots and beyond!): ruclips.net/video/WJMhKfGxUws/видео.html As well as a _bonus_ shoe *lacing* method I came up with!: ruclips.net/video/EgsluvMrSq8/видео.html
This is kind of like a simpler take on the Berluti knot. I actually prefer your technique as it is still quite secure, but you don't have to fuss with sticking the tails in simultaneously with each loop. More about the knot: www.berluti.com/en-us/editorial/learn-to-tie-your-shoes/
I have found an even faster way to tie this same knot (actually 4 ways, due to symmetry of the knot, 2 ways for each of the 2 mirrored variants). The method is based on the Ian Knot. I'll record a video and upload it to my channel when I have the means. The reason I invented a new method is that the tail ends kept getting tangled within the knot when using this method or the Surgeon's Shoelace Knot or the Turquoise Turtle Shoelace Knot. Also, both the starting knot and this knot have 180° rotational symmetry, so it doesn't matter if the shoe is pointing away or towards the viewer.
Your technique sounds similar to one that another of my visitors came up with. It's half way between my "Ian Knot" (feed 2 × *single* loops through each other) and my "Mega Ian Knot" (feed 2 × *double* loops through each other). In other words, feed 2 × 1-½ loops through each other. Does that sound like your technique? Either way, I'd be very interested to see it! You're also right about the rotational symmetry of knots. Alas, many viewers of this video can't seem to relate to my rotated view of the shoe. I've vowed to do all future videos the "right way round".
@@ProfShoelace The concept is similar, yet I believe you would not get this knot if you did the Mega Ian Knot with a single loop on one side and a double loop on the other side. Well, sometimes you get it, if you grab the double loop first then grab the tail end that will wrap around the loop....but it's kinda prone to errors. Oh wait, I get what you mean by 1½ loops now. Yet I've tried it and still get it wrong many times. Edit: Now I consistently get it, and I like this method too! It is similar to the Mega Ian Knot, but instead of grabbing the tail ends, you'd grab the loops at the points where the laces crosses themselves. With other methods, the tail ends never seem to end up in the right place. Particularly with 'sticky' laces that don't allow the knot to untwist itself. My method starts out the same as the Ian Knot, grabbing both loops through each other, but instead of pulling through, the finger and thumb on one side (due to symmetry it theoretically does not matter which side, but better the side that's on top, as you'd end up with a less twisted result) goes over its own loop and grabs the tail end of the other side instead, all the while the other side's finger and thumb just holds in place as per the usual Ian Knot. Pull through, adjusting the knot if you want to (you'll find it's much less twisted than other methods, hooray!), then pull through completely and you'll end up with the same exact knot! Knots are quite complicated, so it is all right that some people may knot wrap it in their head (double pun intended 😉).
You seem to have eventually understood the 2 × 1-½ loops technique from my description - congratulations! Alas, I haven't yet undersood your technique from your description. I'm therefore looking forward to viewing your video. In the meantime, I'll keep trying. To me, it's fascinating that quite different techniques can produce the same finished knot.
@@ProfShoelace Oops, have to wait for the weekend or some time. I'm not a videographer so I'm afraid the video may not be clear, and I apologize in advance if that's the case.
A lot of shoelaces are farther short to get a decent knot, HIKING boot laces are becoming difficult to source. The manufactures just don't sell replacements!
Have you tried re-lacing your boots with a method that consumes less length? For example, either “Bow Tie Lacing” or “Army Lacing” should give you a little extra length.
It's similar to the Berluti Knot - though I've seen a recent video by someone who showed that knot differently to the one on Berluti's own video, so I understand your confusion.
On the 18th of August 2006 I found Ian's website and decided to go with Ian's Secure Knot. I'm a long time sports instructor and was in the army for about 6 years. I've done triathlons and was a long distance runner for about 15 years. In the 10 years that have past since I've used Ian's Secure Knot I haven't had a SINGLE untied shoe lace! Not during any of my runs and not during any time in the woods when I was in the military.
It has gone so far that I bet my students that I can show them how to never have an untied shoe lace ever again.
My daughter is 1 and I have a son on the way. I can't wait until they are old enough for me to teach them how to properly knot their shoe laces!
Ian, you have changed my life!
I like this comment more than anything else.
Wow, hoy do you remember the exact date?
In about a decade I guess he had dumped his old PC or at least deleted browser's history
10/7/2018 1:02 PM pacific standard time I tied my first and last two Ian's Secure Shoelace Knots...
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Having had very little parental help growing up, I taught myself to tie my shoes 40 years ago. Four years ago, I finally admitted I taught myself incorrectly (as they endlessly kept coming undone). My search quickly led me to your site and this knot, in particular. Since tone is absent via this medium, I'll say it clearly: thank you, Ian, for your website and your efforts. Thanks to you, I've learned to tie my shoes the best way possible and to re-lace my sneakers/trainers, boots and shoes to better suit their respective purposes. Sincerest best to you and yours.
After the initial success of managing to teach yourself to tie your shoes - what a shame to "miss" by such a tiny detail. I'm pleased that you finally found your way to a solution. Having now replaced the inferior Granny Knot with a superior Secure Knot, plus selectively re-laced your shoes, I'd say you're in the best possible position to make the next 40+ years so much better than the previous 40. Best wishes, and thanks for your kind words.
I've been doing this for the past 6 years or so since I discovered your wonderful site. And let me tell you sir, on my son's 5th birthday I showed this to him and he got it on his first try. Core father and son memory.
Thank you! Blessings to you and your loved one's!
What a wonderful moment for both of you - and a real accomplishment for your son. Please tell him that “Professor Shoelace” is *really* impressed!!
Where has this knot been all my life
Better to discover it late than never, right? May the remainder of your life be more secure - shoelace-wise, that is!
31 years old and learnt this knot just now. I’ll list it as one of my life regrets not learning it sooner😅 Thank you, Ian!
You're most welcome, Nicolai! With luck, you'll benefit from this knot for many more years than you've missed thus far.
This is my favorite knot! I've been using them ever since I've learned them on your website, and it has never come undone. Truly a great knot!
Thanks, I'm pleased to hear that the knot lives up to my claims of being totally reliable.
Wow thank you. Sixty-six years old and finally learned how to do it securely. Excellent exposition. Thumbs up
You're welcome - and congratulations on learning the knot. Your next sixty-six years will certainly benefit from securely tied shoelaces.
That detail at 2:02 is SUPER important. I always start right over left so reversing everything fixed it. Thanks this is great!
It's always a fine balance between keeping the video concise yet still having important info like this. I'm pleased that you found it useful.
@@ProfShoelace After using this technique for a few days I can confirm that this works perfectly. Thanks again!
This Seemännische Schuhbandschleife is fantastic. I've been using it for years and never once has a shoelace come undone. Thanks for introducing me to it!
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Love your work, Ian!
About 15 years ago I stumbled on your site when I was looking for a way to use up some extra lace length on my office shoes because they were flopping around and coming undone all the time, and that was the day that I discovered that I'd been unwittingly tying granny-knots for 20-odd years. I fixed that AND I switched to a fancy lacing pattern that used up enough length to stop the ends and loops wouldn't get wet from flopping against the ground. I couldn't believe my Dad (who's been sailing small boats his whole life) never picked up on my knots being grannies, and let me be annoyed by it for so long.
Anyway, I've been using this knot for my children's soccer boots for a few years now. It makes a huge difference! Every game we go to, at least one player loses a shoe in an enthusiastic kick, and four or five need to stop to tie their laces, but never my kids! I'd always used what you call the "Standard Shoelace Knot" and found the "bunny ears" method awkward, so I followed where the laces were going and adapted my Standard Shoelace Knot technique to produce a very similar knot. I've just discovered today that my adapted method for tying this knot looks a whole lot like the Berluti Knot instructions on your website. Are there any differences between this and the Berluti that you can see?
When I'm doing this knot, I like to pass the end through a second time so that the starting knot has a second twist. I don't know if it makes it more secure, but it adds a bit of extra distance between the two loops around the middle and makes it look really neat.
Actually, my variation is NOT the Berluti as shown on your website. Instead of pushing the blue bunny-ear through from the front in step 7, I pull the yellow one through from the back. The end result has both tails held in place by both of the middle loops, while the Berluti on the site has the yellow tail only going through one of the middle loops and hanging free of the other. The Berluti is likely easier to untie by pulling that yellow tail, while mine is just as resistant to untying as the one in this video.
Edit: Aha! Poking around the site some more, I've found that my variation is actually the Surgeon's Knot. I was pretty sure it wouldnt' be an actual new invention.
Thanks for your amazingly detailed and hence fascinating feedback. It's already a bonus that you solved your “Granny Knot” issue - and obviously passed on that knowledge to your kids. That's one way to give them the edge! And then to hear that you came up with your own way of tying a more secure knot, which - after some digging - you found was similar to the “Berluti” and then identical to the “Surgeon's”. Actually, it turns out that just about *all* of the secure knots end up forming the functionally identical knot, so feel free to use whichever method you find easiest. Shortly I'll be adding my new “Ian's Fast Secure Knot”, which takes this to another level, but that's another story. Again, thanks for your feedback and enjoy the knot.
Sounds cool, subscribing so I don't miss it!
@@ProfShoelaceeagerly awaiting this video, professor!! 😀😀
Ian’s Fast Secure Knot.
Where would we be without
Ian’s Fast Secure Knot.
Up a tree with granny knotting.
Ian’s Fast Secure Knot.
A pleasure to walk without fear,
Knowing Ian’s Fast Secure Knot won’t tear.
Ian’s Fast Secure Knot;
It’s all of the above.
And with Ian’s Fast Secure Knot,
Maintains its own thereof.
Very nice video Ian. I also "reinvented" (or discovered on my own) this knot over 20 years ago while I was on active duty in the USAF. I however perform the tying a little differently in that I do a double starting knot to hold the beginning extra tightly. Then I do a "Bunny round the tree" but I go around the tree twice. The end result looks the same as you have demonstrated. I have used this knot with great success on my boots, shoes and runners (as well as those of my 10 children). Thanks for the informative video!
You're welcome, Pat. Cool that you also cane up with effectively the same technique. Yours is identical to the “Surgeon's Shoelace Knot” - but the end result is the same. Either way - same reliable knot the stays secure.
I've been tying this same knot for years since my dad, who works for a Power Plant, showed me how he ties his work boots so they don't come untied (he used to do a LOT of walking).
If you don't want to "have to hold the original knot tight" while you get the ears going, simply loop the lace back under again, and pull tight.
To illustrate - Left over Right starting knot -> bring that left lace back under again for a second "loop". Then tie the double loop with the ears. You won't have to hold it tight.
Your Dad set a good example using a secure shoelace knot on his work boots. Your comment about beginning with a Double Starting Knot is also good advice. In my experience, the centre of the knot ends up very w-i-d-e due to the doubled start plus doubled finish knots. For greater security, wriggle the knot to get the centre tightly bunched.
I've learnt this knot a few years ago, in my early 30s, from some youtube video that I can't even remember. It has solved the chronic problem of laces coming undone, once and for all. This knot has never failed me, not once. It should be taught in primary schools before numbers and letters.
Great to hear that the knot has proven itself to you over many years. Wouldn't it be amazing if schools taught useful knowledge like this, which would save kids from decades of loose shoelaces!
I discovered your site twelve years ago when I was completely frustrated with the nylon/poly type laces coming undone several times during the day. I experimented with the different types of secure knots on the site and settled on a hybrid of the ISK and the surgeon's whereby I formed the initial two "bunny ears" then held one and wrapped the other one around it twice. I'd always been using the bunny ears method so the extra "twist" was a simple upgrade. Thank you for eliminating one of life's annoyances for the last 12 years. Just wish I'd learned this many years before. 😄
Twelve years ago - amazing! Great that it's been working out well for you.
Thank you so much. I was considering getting new shoelaces for my shoes until I tried this knot. Absolute game changer.
In fact, I switched to it so thoroughly that I genuinely don't remember how to tie the knot I used to do!
You're welcome! So cool that a simple change in technique made such a difference. Enjoy the knot!
Looks much better than the regular double knot i've been using my whole life. Thanks for posting this!
You're most welcome. I'm someone who loves symmetry, and this technique results in a nice symmetrical knot with two neat loops across the middle. Great that you like the look.
Great video because the directions are clear. Lately, I have watched and studied many shoelace videos and would describe them as crap because the demonstrations are not clear. Very difficult to see or understand. I eventually did understand a bunch of them but it took around twenty tries. I understood your video the first time I saw it. Thank you.
Thank you, Rick, I really appreciate your kind words. It's harder than most people realize to strike just the right balance of enough information but not too much, as well as going fast enough but not too fast. I'm pleased to hear that I managed to get it right. Best of all, you managed to learn the knot - congratulations!
hey ian, another happy viewer here. it really helped. no more re-do every 10/15 minutes. i wish i found this tutorial sooner. cheers mate.
You're welcome, Gerald. It will be hard for you to kick the habit of regularly checking your shoelace knots. In fact, this knot should stay tied 10/15 *months* rather than *minutes* - effectively eliminating the need for checking.
Thank you sir, this knot will significantly reduce my entire life's stress. May you live long and prospering life.
There's certainly less stress when you tie your shoelaces and *know* that they will stay secure. Enjoy it!
That’s a very secure knot, it will save me from a lot of frustration. Thank you sir - from Vietnam
I'm confident that your frustrations will have ended. Enjoy using the knot.
So basically which ever method right over left or left over right you do in the first step you do the opposite in the second step. Correct?
+Keith l
Correct, that keeps the knot "balanced" and ensures that it stays securely tied.
Thank you.
how crazy with one exception this is how ive always tied my shoes. ive only ever put the right loop through the center i guess i never thought to do both loops through the center. thank you for completing me haha
+Daniel De La Pena
You're quite correct, this knot is indeed a simple upgrade to the "Two Loop Shoelace Knot". I'm pleased that you now feel complete.
Thank you, professor! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! I've had these Salomon backpacking shoes for a bit over a month now and I've walked dozens of kilometers in them.
Well, _something_ happened about two weeks ago and the laces would come undone every 100m or so! You can imagine my frustration!
After consistently forgetting to google for a secure knot for days, I did it today and found your website. I'd been there before, but mostly for the novelty.
Well, after a 12km walk during which my laces not only did not come undone but also remained as tight as if I'd just tied them, I have to sing your praises!
.
I learnt this knot a couple months ago, since then this is my go to knot is so secure and awesome thank the one who invented this knot
Great to hear that it's working out so well for you and that it has become your preferred shoelace knot. Congratulations, Kevin - and thanks in return for your kind words.
You are Amazin....Finally got it after trying it almost 30 times!!!!.......Thanks a Lot!!!
+Rahul vin
I'm glad that you persisted and finally managed to get it. Congratulations, Rahul.
Thank you for making this. My slippery shoe laces were such a pain
You're welcome, I'm confident that you'll have successfully tamed those slippery laces!
I have a pair of dress sneakers that I like to wear but they have slippery shoelaces that were always untying until I tried your secure shoelace knot. I tried some other knots that I found on RUclips but my shoelaces would still untie. Your knot works! Thank you.
I'm pleased that you had such success with my Ian's Secure Knot. I try not to oversell it, but it really does do the trick on slippery shoelaces.
You just taught an almost 19 year old how to tie their shoes
+Adub Johnson And you've learned a secure shoelace knot. From 19 years onwards, you should never have shoelaces coming undone.
And now another 51 year old too!
Now you’re 24😂
sorry to be so offtopic but does any of you know of a way to log back into an instagram account?
I was dumb lost my password. I appreciate any tips you can offer me
@Dax Omari Instablaster ;)
Very interesting art and one of the best practical projects! Thank you for sharing! Keep it alive!
Ciprian Ionut It's nice that my shoelace stuff is thought of as practical art. Thanks for the compliment!
Seven years ago but relevant till we no longer need shoe laces. Love the clear and visual instructions, ignore negative comments because they only have two left feet. I also find going twice around instead of once at the start (left over right and left over right) holds in place for a firmer grip.
Thanks, I'm pleased that you found my video clear and useful. The double starting knot does indeed help to get a firmer finish, so definitely add that to the mix if you need it. Enjoy the knot!
HI Ian! Switching to this secure knot from your "fastest" knot that I use now. This is taking only a little longer. I live in Mumbai and travel on crowded trains everyday - security of shoelace knot is of importance paramount!
I'm picturing a normal shoelace knot being stepped on or otherwise coming untied on a crowded Mumbai train. Phew, that would be uncomfortable! It certainly merits spending the extra few seconds to tie a secure knot.
You have just changed my life forever... To the better of course.
+Ahmad Arabi
Congratulations on learning Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot. Great to know that it will now be a positive part of your life.
This is the best method for shoelace tying! Works with longer laces, as well as shorter laces!! I wish I could better keep the starting knot taut as I approach the second half of the tying process, but you can’t have everything! Overall, this knot is just somehow better than anything else.
Try this: Just before the final tightening, put your pinkies inside the knot and pull outwards. That's how I get my knot extra-tight.
@@ProfShoelaceI’ll try
Hello Mr Ian of the famous Ian Knot. I've been using the famous Ian Knot for a good while now, I can't remember when I first discovered it, but lately hit a problem. I have some sports shoes and they seem to have the very issue that these skating shoes have, they are a circular lace and seem to have some sort of coating on them, I imagine to repel water but it also seems to repel the famous Ian Knot as well. The Ian Knot works well day to day on regular laces but I'm thinking this here may be the solution for my sports sessions. I shall give it a go.
I was also going to ask what you recommend for teaching kids but have just found the page on your site. Many thanks for all of this knot help.
I'm pleased that you not only learned my fast knot but also my secure knot. It pays to have both knots on call for every eventuality.
Thank you also for your kind words.
Thanks alot! Now I dont have the trouble of stopping in the middle of a basketball game just to tie my shoes😁
I'm happy to have helped. Now you can focus more on your hands rather than your feet.
What do you do with the long bits that are left over?
Shoe manufacturers nowadays are often guilty of making the shoelaces too long. Whenever I buy new shoes, I usually shorten the ends to a sensible length. My website has several other suggestions:
www.fieggen.com/shoelace/excesslength.htm
Excellent instructions Prof. One thing, why did you place the shoe toe forward? We do the laces up with the heel nearest to us. I have to watch this vid upside down.....thank you.
You're the second person to ask this - and it is a good point. I had the shoe oriented the same as when I do lacing videos such that there is no ambiguity when I say "top" (top of shoe = top of image). Sorry about that. Hopefully you learned the knot anyway.
Professor, I love this knot. Wish I knew about it when I was a young man playing sports. Now what do you do with long laces and have plenty of lace left over?
There's a few solutions to excessively long shoelaces. Personally, whenever I buy new shoes, I usually shorten them to a comfortable length. A one-off few minutes of work saves continual hassle every time you wear the shoes. Sometimes simply re-lacing with a more complex method will consume enough excess.
dont understand why you wound't you just tie the shoe as if you're looking at it while wearing, why do you record it when facing the shoes -.-?
Good point - my brain easily flips things, but most people seem to prefer seeing the shoe oriented the way they expect to see it. I had it oriented the same as when I do lacing videos such that there is no ambiguity when I say "top" (top of shoe = top of image). Sorry about that. Hope you get the knot anyway.
Always has to be someone that complains about something.
@@Col_MULLY You mean like complaining about a complaint? It's a valid question that was asked.
Because He can, lame-o
Hello, Professor Shoelace! You have NO IDEA how many imposters their are out there who have essentially bogarted your reinvented Ian Double Secure Shoelace Knot. It’s actually… quite interesting to see how far they’ve gone with it… Anyways, your knot still reigns supreme. Cheers, love!
Yeah, I'm getting pretty disenchanted with RUclips parasites reposting whatever they find. I've since invented a few new knots that I'll probably take with me to the grave rather than sharing them.
In any case - thanks for your kind comments regarding *this* particular knot.
Thank you Ian! I often go hiking in various terrain and got frustrated about untying shoelaces. Now I use secure knot and can walk withouth worrying. :-)
You're welcome, Marcin. Hiking often takes its toll on ordinary shoelace knots, but you should find that this knot will end your worries.
My favorite shoelace knot! When the knot is completed I take the long loose ends remaining and feed them through the laces to the bottom of the shoe to hold them down so they dont flop around as I walk about.
Great to hear that this is your go-to knot. And your technique of tucking the ends through the lacing is something that I do as well, particularly when the shoelaces have metal aglets.
Ian's Secure Knot (which this is starting at 3:09) is good for too-long laces because you can shorten them by making the *first* knot (before you form the loops) double or even triple. The Berluti knot is similar but a little more complicated, but I think it looks neater.
Thanks for the helpful comment. On my shoelace website, I've long suggested the “Double Starting Knot” as a separate enhancement for *any* shoelace knot. That said, the finished knot ends up w-i-d-e-r and thus doesn't pull together quite as tightly bunched.
@@ProfShoelace Good point! I guess the starting knot can be viewed as independent of what follows.
I'm going to use this knot for the rest of my life. Thank you.
Congratulations on learning this secure shoelace knot. May it serve you well for the whole of your life.
thank you for this video even if it was posted a few years ago really helped me learn easily as I couldn't do other knots.
I'm pleased to hear that this old video is still up to the task. Congratulations on learning the knot!
pls. more shoelace stuff i love it. I love the Ian knot!
+Nath Deleon At the moment I'm busy making the website mobile-friendly. Shortly I'll get back to creating more shoelace videos.
This is great, I've NEVER had this knot come untied while running after several years now
Thanks for the feedback, Daniel. It's certainly an ideal shoelace knot for running - or for pretty well *any* sports.
Thank you so much before I found this video I had no idea of how to tie my shoelaces so you have really helped me
Great that you've learned not just how to tie your shoelaces but how to tie them neatly and securely. Congratulations, Pardeep!
I am not sure what I am doing wrong, but both my ends seem to be sticking out the middle inside the two knots... it hold rather well, but it just looks a bit off.
That can happen. Try pulling the loose ends to partly untie the knot, then pull the loops to re-tighten. Magic fix!
@@ProfShoelace Appreciate it!
Can you do this from the other direction, so we can see it from the wearer's perspective?
You're not the first to ask, so I guess it's justified. In the meantime, ignore the shoe and just pay attention to the knot, which is identical when tied or viewed from either perspective.
Nicely demonstrated! Thanks. - from India
You're welcome. G'day back at you from Australia.
What do you do with the remaining yards of lace.
If your shoelaces are “yards” too long then this knot won't really help. Personally, whenever I buy new shoes with laces that are too long, I always shorten them to a more sensible length.
Great knot! My right shoelace is ALWAYS coming undone for some reason and after tying it with this method, it hasn't come undone once and feels VERY secure. Thanks for the video!
You're most welcome, Oscar. Sounds like the knot is living up to my promises and is doing exactly what it should. May your right shoe now always be secure!
how does this knot compare to the berluti knot? the two are definitely very similar. the berluti knot is also very secure, but seems to be typically used on dress shoes for its aesthetic qualities.
There's one minor difference: Both knots have a double-wrap around the middle, but in the Berluti, one of the loose ends passes under only *one* of those wraps.
The initial knot doesn't need much babysitting. The two free single ends however need to be kept isolated when doing the two loops-through-loops
Good advice! A bit of care when tying never goes astray.
That is a great knot, Thank you so much.
You're welcome! I'm sure that this knot will continue to serve you well throughout your lifetime.
When are you gonna do the shortcut for this knot??????!!!!! PLEASE!!!!! I NEED TO KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry, I've really lost heart with posting videos. In fact, my whole “Professor Shoelace” life seems to be slowly winding down now that there are so many other people doing shoelace stuff.
@@ProfShoelaceeverybody else is lame tho! They tie ‘granny’ secure knots! GRANNY SECURE KNOTS!!! hOw Is ThAt EvEn A tHiNg¿!?!??!????
*laughs* So true!
Would it still be secure even if i don't pull tightly on the last step?
It's a surprisingly effective knot even without trying too hard. I only ever tighten until it looks neat.
@@ProfShoelace got it. Thanks!
man that is soooooo cool! nice one. been looking for a way to get rid of the dreaded big phat knot on top of a usual double lace tie and this is the one 😀
Replacing a phat double-knot with a neat, compact yet secure alternative? WIN! Congratulations on learning this knot and ditching the old one.
Would there ever be a reason to use the Mega Ian Shoelace Knot? As in, would there ever be a time when even this knot wouldn't hold together?
HowToTameYourDragon I've never had the Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot come undone. Then again, I never subject my shoelaces to really serious activities (eg. wrestling). For me, replacing the Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot with the Mega Ian Shoelace Knot (which is on my website, not in this video) would be somewhat over the top, but for others, it could be invaluable.
***** Sometimes I've seen people step on the ends of their laces and have the knots come undone. The Mega Ian Knot wouldn't be so susceptible to this. I've seen people unable to untie said knot without using both hands. Do you think that it would be useful when you have too much shoelace length and just want the knot to not come undone from being stepped on?
HowToTameYourDragon Sure, when you step on a long, trailing loose end, the Mega Ian Knot could help keep the laces secured. I'll add a Mega Ian Knot video some day.
Thank you Ian, great demonstration! Mr P.
Mike Perry You're welcome, Mike.
Just took another look at the website and it looks like I've been using the Turquoise Turtle and just running the bunny ear through the center hole without the loose end (Step 7).
Great that you did your own experiments with different knots to create your own variant. Surprisingly, either variation results in the same knot whether you feed the loop through with or without the adjacent loose end! The only difference is that one undergoes a little more “rearranging” during final tightening. Either way, your finished knot should be just as secure. Enjoy!
Is it cris cross lacing or any other? I mean lacing on that shoe
This shoe was laced with “Over Under Lacing”.
What do we do with the ends that touch the floor so we don’t step on them or get them dirty 😭😭
Personally, I always shorten shoelace ends to a sensible length. Sometimes this can be done by re-lacing with a method that consumes more length. If not, replacing or shortening the laces is the next best solution. Alternatively, tuck the ends under one of the crossovers.
So much easier to learn from Ian than from the LLBean website where I first heard about this knot.
Thanks for your kind words, Dr Lough. I'm pleased that you managed to learn this knot - congratulations!
What a beautiful explanation
Thanks! Hope you find the knot useful.
I keep hearing "insecure shoelace knot" 😅. But thanks, this is what I was looking for as my shoelaces always come off during my runs
Nothing worse than having a run interrupted by shoelaces coming undone. I'm confident that this knot will put an end to future interruptions.
I use your fast knot, learned from another video of yours. Do you think I should switch to this instead?
I wouldn't necessarily switch, as the "Ian Knot" is secure enough for most usage. I only ever take the extra time to tie the secure knot in preparation for vigorous activities (eg. bushwalking).
Thanks Ian!! Will stick with the fast knot. Don't do any bushwalking here in Mumbai😀
Would be more useful if from the perspective of one tying his own shoes, not tying someone else's (toes pointing away, not towards)
Omg thx this really helped my soccer so I don’t take forever to tie it
Less time spent tying, less time spent untying, less time spent re-tying. Now you can focus on your *soccer* instead of on your shoelaces!
thank you that helps a lot with my slippery laces!!!
I'm happy that the Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot works "as advertised". Enjoy your slippery shoelaces staying securely tied.
Looking forward to trying this, thanks Ian.
Great, I hope you find that it works for you “as advertised”.
@@ProfShoelace Yup, works great! I've been using it the past few days, and it stays tight until I untie them. The nice thing is, it's just 1 more step than the usual shoe tying process!
Thanks for the follow-up. Great to hear that it's working well for you. As you noted, it's just one simple extra step, yet the benefit is huge. Enjoy your new-found security.
Thank you, Ian. I used to use a regular knot and it was getting embarrassing how often it would come undone, often at work.
I'm happy to have helped you regain a professional appearance. Congratulations on learning the knot.
at 2:43 when he says you can let the other parts go, he actually doesn't. You will see his pinkies are still holding the ends of the laces.
Well spotted, Samuel! The pinkies *can* actually let go as well (at the expense of things looking messier in a video).
I had major problems with the shoes to the point I would remove the laces and replace them with rubber hooks so I don't have to tie them, thanks for the pro tip
Great that this knot has solved your shoelace problems and simplified your life.
i know how to tie ian knot but the he make small lops i cannot do with small loops
The Secure Knot is indeed tricky to do with small loops. Try re-lacing your shoes with "Straight Bar Lacing" -
ruclips.net/video/8DkCoG6n8vk/видео.html
- or "Bow Tie Lacing" -
ruclips.net/video/57MB3z18dTs/видео.html
- either of which will give you some extra length with which to practice.
Ian, how should you lace your shoes so that you stop feeling as if your heel is slipping out of the shoe? It really bugs you, this sensation of the shoe sort of slipping out at the heel.
The solution for heel slippage is "Lock Lacing", which I don't yet have on RUclips but for which I have detailed instructions and diagrams on my Ian's Shoelace Site.
Thanks Ian! Will check that out. Would be helpful if you did a You Tube as well, though.
So many videos for me still to do: 46 x shoe lacing methods, 19 x shoelace knots. Please be patient with me as I work through them all!
If my shoelaces don't come undone when I'm walking anymore then you will go down as a legend!
I'm pretty confident - it's a great knot. In fact, it is the *knot* that deserves the "legend" status, not *me*!
Well both of you do because my shoes have stayed tied for 2 days running! No more embarrassing shoe lace situations !
Thanks for the positive feedback. I'm always pleased when people do their own real-world testing of the Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot and discover for themselves just how good it is rather than relying on the say-so of others. Enjoy the knot!
Thank you! Amazing technique, the look is also fine on plenty types of shoes.
+Richie Valles
Yes, the double-wrap around the middle does look really neat. I'm glad you liked the secure knot, and congratulations on learning it.
This is cool, but I've found the Parisien knot to be very secure as well. Your knot is like a simplified or half Berlutti knot, which is the most secure and elegant looking knot for dress shoes.
Check out my website, on which you can compare the Berluti Knot, my Ian's Secure Knot, plus several other secure shoelace knots. They are really just different ways of tying effectively the same knot! Choose whichever techique you find easiest, safe in the knowledge that they are pretty much equal.
So all i ever needed was to do a 2nd knot..... my life is saved.
You'll be pleasantly surprised by how well this works for you.
how do i do the the quad loop shoelace
I don't yet have a video for that one. On my "Ian's Shoelace Site", go to the "Mega Ian Shoelace Knot", where you'll find a photo and description of the Quad Loop Shoelace Knot further down the page (under "Variation").
life changing is an apt statement for this sorcery
A spell to keep your shoelaces tied - or to allow them to be untied at your command - that is indeed good sorcery! I'm pleased that this knot has changed your life for the better.
If in a regular bow knot, you let the rabbit run around the tree twice before it goes down the hole, your shoes will almost never come untied. And it still unties like a single loop knot vs. a double knot, assuming you don't intertwin the loose ends through the loop.
This is called the “Better Bow Knot”. You can find it on my website: www.fieggen.com/shoelace/betterbowknot.htm
There's a way to improve this knot which, even though is pretty good, still comes undone. In this leather lace knot, called by various names, the bunny ear loops generally hold fast. rarely a problem. It's the shoelace ends that get pulled through usage, unraveling the knot without one even aware. The fix is to secure the loose ends with a square knot, such that when either loose end is tugged on doesn't budge and the loops don't. either. One can test this: tie the seaman's shoelace and then pull on either bitter end. The knot will unravel. Tie the seaman's shoelace knot and now the square knot. Pull on either bitter end or loop and none will unravel. I call it the Fed-up-with-constantly--retying-the-Moccasin knot-Knot.
That added step will indeed secure the knot - or any shoelace knot - at the expense of reducing its functionality because it can't easily be untied when required. It does have its uses, as you noted, for knots that you don't *want* to ever untie, such the decorative knots on moccasins.
Why don't you shoot the camera from the perspective of wearing the shoes? Who ties their shoes from the front?
Sorry that I've confused you, Lucas. This was one of my earlier videos, and I've since learned that most people seem to prefer the toe-twards-top orientation.
But that likewise confuses me! No matter how the *shoe* is oriented, the *knot* is identical. I''m still looking down at my shoe. I'm still using my left and right hands exactly the same way. Even if you put *your* shoe on a table oriented the opposite way to mine, you can still copy my hand movements in this video to learn this knot. Give it a try, Lucas!
In the meantime, your point is taken, and all knot videos since this one have used the *correct* orientation.
@@ProfShoelace Thank you sir. Forgive me for being rude.
No worries, Lucas.
Would have been useful to do a filming from the other side, and also one where you do it in normal speed as someone who's used to it.
Sorry about the front-on view. I assumed people learned new knots with the shoe on a table or on their lap rather than on their foot.
@@ProfShoelace still a good video and an even greater knot. Thank you for making this knowledge available to people in an easily accessible manner. Also for responding to comments on a 5 year old video in less than a day.
You're welcome, and thanks for your kind words. I'm pleased that you found the knot useful.
thank you so much sir! now I can tie my shoes properly :)
+Slawpokke Nothing like having an advanced shoelace knot to keep those laces under control. Congratulations on learning it!
You should do this with shoe pointing in a position as if you were actually putting it on
True, I will next time.
Dziękuję ślicznie, ułatwił mi Pan życie.
.
what kind of sourcery is this
(laughs) It's *good* sorcery, trust me. Your shoes will magically stay tied.
@@ProfShoelace actually, i've always had my shoelaces unlacing everytime i would workout in the gym. Tried your knot and the shoelaces didn't even move. Thanks!
You're welcome. I try not to oversell the merits of this knot and allow people to discover for themselves just how good it is. I'm pleased to hear that it's working for you "as advertised" even under the stress of a gym workout.
Lovely video!
Thanks, I'm pleased that you liked the video - and hopefully learned the knot from it. If so - congratulations!
I learned this knot while backpacking in the Rocky Mountains with the Boy Scouts. We called it the turquoise tortoise. I have no idea where the name came from.
The Turquoise *Turtle* knot (named after a parcel knot that was used in a boutique of that name) is actually a *slightly* different technique - but the end result is identical. Personally I find the T.T. knot slightly more awkward because the loose ends are fed through as well.
If you don't mind, I'll post my alternative methods here :)
*Method 1* (best method, fastest, no twists): ruclips.net/video/-YiUpxMONMc/видео.html
*Method 2* (original method, fast, based on Ian Knot): ruclips.net/video/1ua3p1eHOqs/видео.html
*Method 3* (1½ loops method, symmetrical, very twisted, but having the same basis as the Ian Knot, can be modified to tie Ian, Berluti, or Mega Ian Shoelace Knots and beyond!): ruclips.net/video/WJMhKfGxUws/видео.html
As well as a _bonus_ shoe *lacing* method I came up with!: ruclips.net/video/EgsluvMrSq8/видео.html
.
This is kind of like a simpler take on the Berluti knot. I actually prefer your technique as it is still quite secure, but you don't have to fuss with sticking the tails in simultaneously with each loop. More about the knot: www.berluti.com/en-us/editorial/learn-to-tie-your-shoes/
The Berluti has made a bit of a splash recently, but mine has been around for years - and is indeed easier. Interestingly, both end up identical!
I have found an even faster way to tie this same knot (actually 4 ways, due to symmetry of the knot, 2 ways for each of the 2 mirrored variants). The method is based on the Ian Knot. I'll record a video and upload it to my channel when I have the means. The reason I invented a new method is that the tail ends kept getting tangled within the knot when using this method or the Surgeon's Shoelace Knot or the Turquoise Turtle Shoelace Knot.
Also, both the starting knot and this knot have 180° rotational symmetry, so it doesn't matter if the shoe is pointing away or towards the viewer.
Your technique sounds similar to one that another of my visitors came up with. It's half way between my "Ian Knot" (feed 2 × *single* loops through each other) and my "Mega Ian Knot" (feed 2 × *double* loops through each other). In other words, feed 2 × 1-½ loops through each other. Does that sound like your technique? Either way, I'd be very interested to see it!
You're also right about the rotational symmetry of knots. Alas, many viewers of this video can't seem to relate to my rotated view of the shoe. I've vowed to do all future videos the "right way round".
@@ProfShoelace The concept is similar, yet I believe you would not get this knot if you did the Mega Ian Knot with a single loop on one side and a double loop on the other side. Well, sometimes you get it, if you grab the double loop first then grab the tail end that will wrap around the loop....but it's kinda prone to errors. Oh wait, I get what you mean by 1½ loops now. Yet I've tried it and still get it wrong many times. Edit: Now I consistently get it, and I like this method too! It is similar to the Mega Ian Knot, but instead of grabbing the tail ends, you'd grab the loops at the points where the laces crosses themselves. With other methods, the tail ends never seem to end up in the right place. Particularly with 'sticky' laces that don't allow the knot to untwist itself.
My method starts out the same as the Ian Knot, grabbing both loops through each other, but instead of pulling through, the finger and thumb on one side (due to symmetry it theoretically does not matter which side, but better the side that's on top, as you'd end up with a less twisted result) goes over its own loop and grabs the tail end of the other side instead, all the while the other side's finger and thumb just holds in place as per the usual Ian Knot. Pull through, adjusting the knot if you want to (you'll find it's much less twisted than other methods, hooray!), then pull through completely and you'll end up with the same exact knot!
Knots are quite complicated, so it is all right that some people may knot wrap it in their head (double pun intended 😉).
You seem to have eventually understood the 2 × 1-½ loops technique from my description - congratulations! Alas, I haven't yet undersood your technique from your description. I'm therefore looking forward to viewing your video. In the meantime, I'll keep trying. To me, it's fascinating that quite different techniques can produce the same finished knot.
@@ProfShoelace Oops, have to wait for the weekend or some time. I'm not a videographer so I'm afraid the video may not be clear, and I apologize in advance if that's the case.
Even a basic video will help - particularly if you go slow. I really appreciate you making the extra effort to share your technique.
Ian's Secure Shoe Lace Knot is a simplified Berluti Knot.
They're very similar, with the Berluti *slightly* less symmetrical.
Kirby is wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A lot of shoelaces are farther short to get a decent knot, HIKING boot laces are becoming difficult to source. The manufactures just don't sell replacements!
Have you tried re-lacing your boots with a method that consumes less length? For example, either “Bow Tie Lacing” or “Army Lacing” should give you a little extra length.
Very similar to the berluti knot. Thanks for sharing.
Indeed - both end up with the identical finished knot - just with different techniques.
@@ProfShoelace… doesn’t the Berluti Knot have one shoe lace end hanging out, whilst the other one is tucked within the two ridges (making in 1/2
Great video!
Thank you so much
You're welcome, Joey - and congratulations on learning the knot.
@@ProfShoelace Thank you and happy new year! Wish you all the best in 2022
Berluti knot after the famous french shoemaker?
It's similar to the Berluti Knot - though I've seen a recent video by someone who showed that knot differently to the one on Berluti's own video, so I understand your confusion.