Practical lacing
The Secure Bow: Step by Step Tutorial for Secure Bow Lacing
I thought I knew how to tie my shoes - until I saw this....
You probably learned how to tie your shoelaces when you were very young and haven't given it much thought since. Neither had I.
Then I watched a short TED Talk by Terry Moore called How to tie your shoes and discovered something rather surprising: there is a stronger and a weaker way to tie the ordinary shoelace bow.
The difference is tiny. Change the direction of one part of the knot and the finished bow sits more neatly across the shoe and is less likely to work itself loose.
Best of all, you don't need to learn a completely new knot.You already know how to do it.
Difficulty
★
★
★
Easy
Time
Under 2 mins
Best for
Everyday shoes, trainers and anyone whose laces keep coming undone
Lace length
120–140cm per lace
You're simply going to change one little thing.
Watch the video tutorial
Overview
Learn how to tie the Secure Bow with Lindsay, Chief Laceologist at Love Your Laces.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Time required: Under 2 mins
- Best for: Everyday shoes, trainers and anyone whose laces keep coming undone
- Lace length: 120–140cm per lace
The Story Behind This Style
I have to admit, this one made me laugh. By the time I became Chief Laceologist, I thought there was at least one part of shoelaces I had completely mastered:
TYING THEM!
I've been doing it for decades.
Then I came across Terry Moore's wonderfully short TED Talk, How to tie your shoes.
And within a few minutes I discovered that even something as ordinary as tying a shoelace can have another little story hiding inside it.
Moore demonstrates the difference between a weaker shoelace knot and a stronger, balanced version. Rather wonderfully, the solution doesn't involve learning an elaborate new knot. It comes down to reversing the direction of one part of the bow.
So, naturally, I had to try it.
And then it had to go into the Lace Library.
Because that's rather what this whole library is about: discovering that something we've looked at and tied - thousands of times can still surprise us.
Step-by-Step Guide
Follow each step to create this lace pattern.
1
Step One: Lace your shoes in any style
Lace your shoes in your chosen style - check out all the various styles at our very own, The Lace Library.
2
Step Two: Tie your usual starting knot
Cross one lace over the other, tuck it underneath and pull both ends snug. You should now have the familiar little starting knot sitting against the shoe.
3
Step Three: Make your first loop
Take one lace and form it into a loop, holding it between your thumb and finger. Leave the other lace long and free.
4
Step Four: Wrap the other way
This is the important bit. Take the free lace and wrap it around your loop in the opposite direction to the way you normally do it. ie: Over from Top to Bottom
5
Step Five: Push the lace through
Push a section of the free lace through the gap you've created to form your second loop. You're still tying the same familiar bow - you've simply changed the direction of the wrap.
6
Step Six: Pull the bow snug
Take hold of both loops and pull them gently away from each other until the knot sits comfortably against the shoe. Don't overtighten it. You want the bow secure, rather than strangling your trainers!
The History of This Style
There is actually some proper knot theory hiding underneath our innocent-looking bow.
A normal shoelace knot is made in two stages: the starting knot, followed by the finishing bow.
When those two stages are tied in opposing directions, their twists balance one another. The result is essentially a slipped reef knot, also called a slipped square knot. It tends to sit neatly across the shoe and remain more secure.
Tie both stages in the same direction and you can instead create what's known as a slipped granny knot. This is unbalanced, tends to sit crookedly along the shoe and is more prone to working loose.
So the difference isn't really about wrapping “forwards” or “backwards” universally - because people start their knots differently.
The important rule is:
The two stages need to oppose each other.
That's why reversing the part you normally do works.
Did You Know?
One of the easiest ways to spot the weaker version of your shoelace knot is simply to look at it. If the finished bow naturally lies side to side across your shoe, that's a good sign that the knot is balanced. If it repeatedly twists so the loops sit heel to toe, you may be tying the unbalanced granny-knot version. Sometimes your shoes have been trying to tell you something all along.
Shop Laces That Work Beautifully
Choose a lace colour and style that helps this pattern look its best.
Laceologist's Style Tip
This isn't really about showing off a fancy lacing pattern.
It's about making the finishing touch look better.
A bow sitting neatly across the shoe gives even a simple pair of trainers a cleaner, more balanced appearance - particularly when you're wearing colourful or contrasting shoelaces that make the bow part of the look.
Lindsay, Chief Laceologist
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to some of the most common questions about this lacing style.
Why do my shoelaces keep coming undone?
There can be several reasons, including the material and slipperiness of the laces, but an unbalanced shoelace knot can be one cause. If your bow tends to twist and sit lengthways along your shoe, try the Secure Bow technique.
Is the Secure Bow a completely different knot?
No. That's what makes it so easy. You're using the familiar shoelace bow but making sure the starting knot and finishing bow are tied in opposing directions.
How do I know whether I've tied it correctly?
Look at the finished bow. A balanced bow should generally sit across the width of the shoe. An unbalanced knot often twists towards the toe and heel.
Do I need to double-knot it?
Not necessarily. Try the balanced Secure Bow first. If you need additional security for a particular activity, you may still prefer a more secure specialist knot.
Will it work with any shoelaces?
Yes, although very smooth or slippery laces can naturally be more prone to loosening regardless of the knot used.
Why have I never noticed this before?
Because you learned to tie your shoes years ago and quite reasonably assumed the matter was settled.
So did the Chief Laceologist.
Happy Lacing!
Sometimes the most interesting discoveries aren't complicated at all.
The Secure Bow is simply a tiny change to something most of us have done almost automatically for years.
Try it on your own shoes and see which way your bow sits.
And if you discover you've been tying the weaker version all your life...
Welcome to the club. I was in it too.
I'm Lindsay, Chief Laceologist at Love Your Laces.
Until next time... Happy Lacing!