Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot

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!

Years after creating this knot, I found out that my new knot was not new and that I had simply re-invented an existing knot. See my Technical Info page for more details.

Completed Starting Knot

Step 1:

Begin with a regular Left-over-Right Starting Knot.

Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot diagram 1

Step 2:

Make both ends into “loops” by simply doubling them back onto themselves. People often refer to these as “Bunny Ears”.

Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot diagram 2

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.

Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot diagram 3

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.

Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot diagram 4

Step 5:

At the same time, 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.

Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot diagram 5

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.

Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot diagram 6

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.

Finished Knot

Finished Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot

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.

NOTE: If your finished knot looks uneven or twisted, it may easily be “worked” into a neat result as follows: Pull on the loose ends slightly as though untying the laces. This will bring the outer wraps of the knot together. Then, pull on the loops once again to re-tighten the knot, which will neaten up the inner parts.

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. See my Technical Info page for more details.

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. See my Testimonials page to read some of the varied benefits that others have discovered.

NOTE: For normal activities, the Ian Knot or other standard knots should be quite secure. I believe that many people seek more secure knots because they are, without realizing, tying their shoelaces with an un-balanced “Granny Knot”. Please see my Granny Knot page that discusses this in detail.

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