Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot
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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!
⇄ Flip left/right
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”.
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.
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.
Step 5:
Unlike the “Two Loop Shoelace Knot”, 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.
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.
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.
⇄ Flip left/right
Finished Knot Gallery
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.
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NOTE: If your finished knot comes out crooked (eg. loops pointing heel-to-toe), it's probably because you tie your Starting Knot the opposite way to mine. This will result in an un-balanced knot, which sits crooked and comes undone more easily. See my Granny Knot page for more information.
On the other hand, if your finished knot looks asymmetrical, twisted, or has the loose ends sticking out the front or back of the knot, it's likely due to the shoelaces not completely “rearranging” themselves during tightening. See my Technical Info page for more details on tying neatly.
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.
More details on the “Technical Info” page.
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.
More benefits on the “Feedback” page.
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More “Ian's Secure Knot” Pages
Animated Flip Book for the Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot.
YouTube Videos for the Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot.
Technical Info for the Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot.
Visitors' Feedback about the Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot.
Related Links
Identical knot, only tied at the side of the shoe instead of across the top.
Identical knot using a different technique (less symmetrical).
Identical knot using another different technique (also less symmetrical).
Simplified, less secure variation of this knot.
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This page last updated: 18-Mar-2026. Copyright © 2003-2026 by Ian W. Fieggen. All rights reserved.
Website created by Ian Fieggen (aka. “Professor Shoelace”), inventor of the Ian Knot.
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