Tying Shoes

Contains 25 × shoelace knots (including my world's fastest “Ian Knot”), plus info on tying correctly so that they sit straight and stay securely tied – yet can be untied without jamming.

Shoelace Knots

Want to learn how to tie your shoes? Whether you're after shoelace tying speed, simplicity, security or style, here's twenty-five different shoelace knots to choose from – including several that I've created.

The “Granny Knot”

Do your shoelaces sit crooked? Do you retie your shoes several times a day? These are both signs of a “Granny Knot”. Learn the “one simple trick” for keeping your shoes neatly and securely tied.

Untying Shoes

Untying is usually easy – but not always! This page explains why shoelace knots sometimes jam when untying, plus gives some tips for preventing such jams.

Knot Variations

All of the knots on my site were illustrated only one way – the same way that I tie them. While you are welcome to use your own variations, this page shows how to ensure that the finished knot still ends up secure.

Knot Comparison

With so many knots to choose from, how do you decide which to use? This page compares both their functional and visual considerations feature by feature to help you choose.

Knot Ratings

All of the Shoelace Knots on this site allow visitors to rate them from 1 to 5 stars (1=Awful to 5=Excellent). This page shows the results of those ratings.

Something for Everyone

Most people learn how to tie their shoelaces around the age of five. Why then would anyone older than that visit a website about tying shoes?

Parents & teachers look for early learning materials.
Teens and adults look for self-help, either through having never learned correctly as a child or due to increasing infirmity.
People whose shoelaces come undone look for a secure answer.
Occupational therapists look for alternatives to suit clients with different limitations or learning styles.
Academics & lateral thinkers look for more efficient methods.
Knot enthusiasts look for shoelace knot reference materials.
Sportspeople look for a competitive edge.

Whatever the reason, I'm sure that almost everyone will find something useful here about shoe tying!

Recent Visitor Feedback

The secure shoelace knot is life changing. It hasn’t come undone a single time since I started using it, and it is barely any harder to untie than a regular shoelace knot.

– Samuel M., USA, Sep-2026

I’ve been really frustrated with my laces coming loose and wanted a knot to secure them. My search returned the berluti knot.

So I watched several videos on Youtube and couldn’t follow any of them. On all of them the lace was obscured at some point and my hands and brain had too much fine motor action to deal with. So I searched for “diagrammatic explanation of the berluti knot” and you came top.

Your flip book is so easy to follow especially with the lace having a yellow and blue end. I can’t believe how easy it was to follow your instructions with immediate success.

Thank you so much for this. What a beautifully simple and elegant solution presented in such an easy to follow style.

– Chris P., UK, Sep-2026

Ian! I've been using your secure knot for close to 10 years now and have informed others of its superiority. Not once has this knot come undone, keep on keeping on brother.

– Andrew B., Pennsylvania, USA, Sep-2026

I have been having real difficulties securely tying my shoelaces – particularly the left shoe keeps coming undone with a standard knot. (I don't know why it is always the left shoe, since I tie the laces exactly the same way.) This is of particular concern to me since I go out cycling nearly every day. Recently, my left shoelace came undone and got tangled with the cycle chain. Luckily I was going very slowly and did not suffer an accident.

I have been looking for some time for a way to prevent this. I have considered using the spray that dancers use so their pointe shoes don't slip, but it is quite expensive.

Then Gemini found “Ian's Secure Knot”. It is wonderful! I have never had a shoelace come undone since I started using this knot.

It's a beautifully simple idea and looks great. Congratulations on your brilliance and ingenuity.

– Tony F., UK, Aug-2026

Your knots helped me un-learn and re-learn how to tie my shoes (the right way) many years ago, and has saved me many loose laces.

– Nathan S., USA, Aug-2026

I was looking for a more secure knot for my docs, those round laces are so prone to untying, and came across your secure shoelace knot and have been using it ever since. Of course the site I found it on did not attribute it to you. So thank you.

– Anna P., USA, Jul-2026

Thanks for the secure knot! My shoes haven’t come untied in months.

– Elizabeth H., USA, Jun-2026

I am now doing the same knot on my pajamas, sunhat neck tie and many others since I learned about it 2 weeks ago. I also attempt to teach it to a friend's family with kids ranging from 5yo to 30yo, and am glad to help spread it. Feedback: the kids seemed to care less about secure and want fast – one of them surely had to be the Ian's Fastest knot. I am sure he didn't know its name but he was very proud to show off his fast fingers.

– Yilitizi Y., Jun-2026