It can seem a bit silly to recommend a way to tie your shoes, but some knots are just more secure than others. For decades I have favored two specific shoelace knots: Ian’s Fast Knot and Ian’s Secure Shoelace Knot. Ian’s Fast Knot is done so effortlessly as to look like a magic trick, and Ian’s Secure Shoelace Knot has never failed me.
But who is Ian? Ian Fieggen, who also goes by “Professor Shoelace,” is the guy who runs Ian’s Shoelace Site, the internet’s prime destination for learning how to tie your shoes. His website is simple, intentionally focusing on common vernacular over standardized knot terminology, and has been operating as a discrete section of his personal site since 2003. Ian’s Shoelace Site does not need to change; it is perfectly functional the way it is, and people have been discovering his many knots and lacing techniques for decades.
This is what the internet was for! I don’t give a damn about 500 ways to tie my shoelaces, but I’m glad this exists and is available to me, in case I change my mind.
I learned Ian’s Secure Knot because sometimes you get shoe laces that are slippery and never stay tied. The secure knot is way better than doing a double knot as you can easily untie it.
I also visit the site right after buying new shoes or boots and look up lacing patterns and pick something fun. I’m currently using Spider Web lacing.
The regular shoelace knot becomes insecure when you do starting knot and the butterfly in the same direction. This also causes your knot to rotate 90 degrees and not lay correctly on your shoe. If you do the starting knot backwards and the butterfly normally, then the knot is more secure and lays neatly on your shoe.
Been using the secure knot for 2-3 decades by now
Omg there I got this! I tried it and using it for ages. No randomly untied shoes anymore.
Man, I have used that site so many times to relace shoes to be more comfortable - my spouse was given a pair that was unusable until I relaced them with one of the designs meant to help with the issue she was having, and even just last week I used the pattern that puts both ends on the outside of the shoes on a new paid I got.
One of my best friends (who is no longer with us) taught me how to do the Secure Shoelace Knot, and I’ve been using it for over 20 years. I’ve taught others how to use it cause it’s so amazing. Never looked back! This resource is wonderful, and there should be more resources like this that teach practical skills that we need in reality.
Wanna learn how to tie your shoes? It’s a very easy thing to do Just sit on down and I’ll give you the scoop What’s that? It’s called a “loop de loop”
I can’t quite remember when or why I ever first visited that site. My brain wants to tell me it was in the years leading up to my Abitur when I got myself a pair of combat boots and wanted to be more quirky with the lacing than what they initially had. Either way, Ian’s site really is the best and I’m never wearing shoes without using his Secure Knot or at least the fast knot (for the few laces that hold together that way or just aren’t long enough for the secure one). When the site eventually goes down, I’ll be so sad.
I love the idea of a different way to tie my shoes. In practice I was never able to get the Fast Knot secure enough. It just always tied too loose and came undone for me.
Granted, I only tried for like a year, but it was far enough back I don’t remember if I tried the Secure one or not. Just that I eventually gave up and went back to the standard double knot, which really is secure for me.
I learned I was tying my shoelace knot backwards because of this site. My laces were always crooked and the knot undid itself easily. Took a while to break decades of habit but my laces always Look better, and they usually stay tied for longer!
I’ve recommended Ian’s site to so many people over the years. Such a great resource for such a simple task.
Personally I like Ian’s fast knot. Took me a few days to master but I’ve been using it ever since.
I always have used the Ian knot
