Whether you learned with ‘bunny ears’ or ‘around the tree’, tying your shoelaces is something most people crack at a young age.
But experts now say that you’ve probably been doing it wrong this entire time.
Knot expert Ian Fieggen, also known as ‘Professor Shoelace’, says there are far more efficient ways to tie a knot than the common ‘around the tree’ method.
Ranging from simple, sturdy options like the Reef Knot to complicated tangles like the Turquoise Turtle Shoelace Knot, there are actually 25 knots for every conceivable scenario.
And there is even one method that takes less than a second to tie.
The so–called ‘Ian Knot’ looks like a simple bow, but uses a refined technique to tie a secure knot almost instantaneously.
Mr Fieggen told the Daily Mail: ‘The Ian Knot’s main selling point is speed – it’s almost magically quick. The technique requires fewer movements, and they’re done with both hands simultaneously.’
So, have you been wasting precious time with the ‘around the tree’ method? Here’s how to do the Ian Knot and shave seconds off your morning routine.
From simple options like the Reef Knot to complicated tangles like the Turquoise Turtle Shoelace Knot, scientists have ranked all 25 ways of tying your shoes to find the most secure option
The fastest possible knot
If speed and efficiency are your main goals, Mr Fieggen’s personal favourite knot is definitely the one for you.
The so–called ‘Ian Knot’ emerged from Mr Fieggen’s quest to design a perfectly symmetrical knot that would wear down the laces evenly.
As a happy consequence, with a little bit of practice, this also results in a knot that is bizarrely fast to tie.
‘As a knot, it’s just a regular shoelace bow. However, the technique with which it is tied gives it a few special attributes,’ explains Mr Fieggen.
‘The technique requires fewer movements, and they’re done with both hands simultaneously.’
To tie this special knot, start tying your laces as you normally would by making a simple left–over–right knot.
Then, make both ends into loops and twist those anti–clockwise, so that the loose end on your left is at the front and the loose end on the right is at the back.
The fastest way to tie your knot wa was invented by Ian Fieggen and is called the ‘Ian Knot’ (pictured). Mr Fieggen says the knot’s symmetrical structure makes it ‘almost magically quick’
Cross the loops over and pull each one through the other, then simply pull to tighten.
Mr Fieggen says that this knot’s symmetrical design helps it stay tied for longer, and the research actually suggests he is correct.
Dr Alexander Klotz, an expert on the physics of knots from California State University, told the Daily Mail: ‘The biggest pitfall is accidentally tying a granny knot.’
A granny knot, or false knot, looks very similar to a normal bow except for the fact that it can’t be tightened while sitting straight across the shoe.
Dr Klotz explains that this reduces the friction on the laces inside the knot, making the knot more prone to falling apart.
A study conducted in 2017 found that so–called granny knots failed faster and more frequently during simulated walking.
However, since the Ian knot is tied with a perfectly symmetrical technique, you avoid this problem altogether and get secure laces every time.
The most secure knot possible
Physicists found that the biggest problem for most knots was accidentally tying a ‘granny’ or ‘weak’ knot (illustrated), the Ian Knot’s technique avoids this pitfall altogether
Shoelaces come undone because material in the loops swings during each step, pulling on the knot as the centre is loosened by inertia (illustrated). Therefore, the best knots have as much lace in the central knot as possible
But what if you just want the tightest knot possible, regardless of how quick it is to tie?
According to Dr Klotz: ‘It ultimately comes down to whether tension will increase friction between the laces.’
A good knot needs a design that will increase the resistance in the middle of the knot, the more you tug on the ends.
This instantly rules out several of Mr Fieggen’s more fanciful knots, such as the Boat Shoe Knot, Moccasin Shoelace Knot, Fast Moccasin Knot, and Halloween Shoelace Knot.
However, recent studies into the physics of knot tying have revealed that the perfect knot needs an extra factor.
Dr Klotz says that shoelaces come untied because the knot gets jostled very slightly every time the foot hits the ground, which slowly overcomes the friction between different parts of the lace.
At the same time, every time you take a step, the loops swing back and forth with your movement.
‘The swinging has a lot of inertia, and it’s that inertia which pulls the loops out of the knot if the friction has been reduced by the jostling on contact,’ Dr Klotz said.
Some knots, like the Moccasin Knot (pictured), don’t produce friction in the centre when the ends are put under tension, which means they come undone easily
Some knots, like the one–handed shoelace knot have too little material in the central knot. This means that the inertia of walking will loosen the knot quickly
This is why knots come loose very slowly at first and then seem to come undone all at once.
Dr Klotz says: ‘I think it’s important that knots are tied in ways that prevent the loops from swinging too much.
‘Knots in which more of the laces are part of the core and less in the loops would prevent this failure mechanism.’
This rules out any knot that leaves lots of exposed lace flapping around, such as the Equality Knot, Reef Knot, and One–Handed Shoelace Knot.
According to Dr Klotz, this means the best possible knots for your shoes are two of Mr Fieggen’s inventions – the Double Ian Knot and the Mega Ian Knot.
The Double Ian Knot is just the same process as the regular version, except that you repeat the process again with the remaining loops.
Likewise, the Mega Ian Knot uses the same technique but starts by making each of the ends into a double loop.
In either case, the result is that more of the lace ends up in the knot rather than in the loops, reducing the inertia of each swing and ensuring the lace stays tied longer.
According to Dr Alexander Klotz, an expert on the physics of knots from California State University, the two best knots to use are the Double Ian Knot (left) and Mega Ian Knot (right)
The results are actually quite similar to other knots that have been used by hikers for decades, such as the Tibetan Trekking Knot, but with a symmetrical construction that helps reduce wear.
Mr Fieggen says: ‘I’m like most regular people in that I’ve never had a hobby or career that requires knotting proficiency.
‘But I do tie my shoelaces, and so does almost everyone.
‘It therefore fascinates me that other regular people, with similar lack of knot literacy, have come up with different solutions to the age–old problem of shoelaces coming undone.’