Mega Ian Shoelace Knot
This is a more secure variation of my Ian Knot. Make a double-loop with both ends and simultaneously pull them through each other. The result is super-secure, though nowhere near as fast as the regular Ian Knot.
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”.
TIP: Start higher than usual to create longer loops than those for the regular Ian Knot.
Step 3:
Now, make each side into a double-loop. Swing the left thumb and forefinger around the back of the left (yellow) secured end. Swing the right thumb around the front of the right (blue) secured end.
Step 4:
Cross the two double-loops over each other, resulting in four overlapping loops. The left (yellow) double-loop swings around the front while the right (blue) double-loop swings around the back.
Step 5:
Each hand uses the fingers inside its own double-loop to grab the loose end of the other hand's double-loop. Take care to only grab the loose ends, not any of the other three sides of the double-loops.
Step 6:
Each hand releases its own double-loop and pulls the loose end of the opposite double-loop through its own.
Step 7:
When pulled tight, the result is a perfectly symmetrical knot (like the regular Ian Knot) with a complex triple-wrap of shoelace around the middle, making it super-secure.
NOTE: It's worth mastering the regular Ian Knot before attempting this variation!
Finished Knot Gallery
The finished Mega Ian Shoelace Knot has a triple-wrap of shoelace around the middle, as opposed to the double-wrap of most “secure” shoelace knots or the single-wrap of most “standard” shoelace knots.
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Technical Details
How much more secure?
To quantify the security, let's consider the amount of tension required to pull the loose ends so that the knot comes undone. To keep the comparison simple, lets consider that the Standard Shoelace Knot requires 1 unit of tension to untie:
- Most other normal knots also need around 1 unit of tension to untie.
(eg. Ian Knot, Standard Shoelace Knot, Two Loop Shoelace Knot). - Most secure knots need around 2 units of tension to untie.
(eg. Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot, Surgeon's Shoelace Knot, Turquoise Turtle Shoelace Knot). - This Mega Ian Knot needs around 3 UNITS of tension to untie!
In other words, the Mega Ian Knot is around 3 times as secure as typical “regular” shoelace knots and around 1-1/2 times as secure as typical “secure” shoelace knots.
Security versus difficulty
This knot came about by way of extensive experimentation with my regular Ian Knot (as did the Double Ian Knot, Crossed Ian Knot and several other unsuccessful variations). It is indeed the most secure knot that I've developed.
However, unlike the elegant simplicity of the Ian Knot (which can be tied almost instantly), this knot only gains its extra security at the expense of being a fair bit more difficult to tie.
If you just want a simple, secure shoelace knot, there are other easier alternatives. The Surgeon's Shoelace Knot or the Turquoise Turtle Shoelace Knot are each probably more like the knot you're already using, which would make them easier to learn, yet they both provide more than enough security (ie. they stay tied all day).
If instead you're after the ultimate shoelace knot, and are willing to take the time to practice, the Mega Ian Knot is for you. In fact, one visitor's 7 and 9 year old kids have taught this knot to their friends, so it can't be overly difficult!
Variation
Here's what happens if, at Step 4, you pull through the adjacent loop along with the loose end. The result is a completely different knot, which we could call a Quad Loop Ian Shoelace Knot.
This variation is very similar (but not identical) to the second stage of the “Sheepshank with an Overhand Knot”, which is shown as #2568 in “The Ashley Book of Knots”
Advantage
As pointed out by visitor John D., this variation is useful for “shortening” the ends of excessively long shoelaces. It's superior to other alternatives like the Double Shoelace Knot or the Double Ian Knot both because it consumes a lot more length plus it can be untied much more easily.
Disadvantage
The downside of this variation is that it's not as secure as the Mega Ian Shoelace Knot, and will untie about as easily as the regular Ian Knot.
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More “Mega Ian Knot” Pages
Flip Book
Animated Flip Book for the Mega Ian Shoelace Knot.
Video
YouTube Video for the Mega Ian Shoelace Knot.
Feedback
Visitors' Feedback about the Mega Ian Shoelace Knot.
Related Links
Ian Knot
More detailed instructions on the loop-through-loop procedure.
Double Ian Knot
Different secure knot that is also based on the regular Ian Knot.
Ian's Secure Knot
Simpler secure knot that is easier to tie.
Software
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Ian
Chris
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