Are You Tying Your Shoelaces Wrong? The 5-Second Granny Knot Test
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You've probably been tying your shoelaces the same way since you were five or six years old.
Cross. Pull. Loop. Wrap. Pull again.
Done.
It's so automatic that most of us never give it a second thought - which is why so many people were caught off guard this weekend when the Daily Mail reported that many of us have been tying our shoelaces wrong our entire lives.
So here's a question you may never have thought to ask:
Which way does your shoelace bow sit?
Take a look down at your shoes.
Do the loops sit neatly from side to side across your shoe?
Or does your bow seem to twist, with the loops tending to point towards your toes and your ankle?
If it's the second one, you may be tying what's commonly known as a Granny Knot - and one tiny change to the way you tie your shoes could result in a neater, more balanced knot that's less likely to work loose.
And the strangest part?
You may have been doing it your entire life without ever noticing.
The Five-Second Shoelace Test
This is the easiest way to check your shoes.
Your bow sits side to side β
Good news.
Your knot is probably balanced. The two stages of the knot work against one another, helping the finished bow sit neatly across your shoe.
Your bow sits heel to toe β
You may be tying an unbalanced Granny Knot.
The knot tends to twist, making the bow sit crookedly along the length of your shoe rather than neatly across it.
A shoelace knot is usually formed in two stages: the starting knot and the finishing bow. When those two stages are tied in opposite directions, their twists balance one another. When they're tied in the same direction, they can create the crooked, less secure Granny Knot.
Why Do Shoelaces Come Undone Anyway?
There's actually some fascinating science behind this.
Researchers at UC Berkeley studied shoelaces using slow-motion video and found that walking and running subject a shoelace knot to two different forces.
First, the impact of your foot striking the ground repeatedly loosens the knot.
Then, as your leg swings, inertia acts on the free ends and loops of the laces.
Together, these forces can gradually destabilise a knot until it suddenly unravels.
So if your laces are constantly coming undone, it isn't necessarily because you haven't pulled them tightly enough.
The way your knot is formed can matter too.
Granny Knot vs Balanced Knot: What's the Difference?
A standard shoelace bow has two stages.
First, you cross the laces and pull them together.
Then you create your bow.
The important bit is the direction of those two stages.
If both stages twist in the same direction, you can end up with an unbalanced Granny Knot.
If the two stages oppose each other, the knot becomes balanced - technically forming a slipped version of the familiar Reef or Square Knot - and the bow should naturally sit across the shoe rather than along it.
It sounds complicated.
In practice, the difference can be tiny.
The Simple Fix
Tie your shoes normally and look at the finished bow.
If it sits crookedly, try changing the direction of one part of your tying technique.
You can either:
- reverse the direction of your starting crossover, or
- change the direction in which you wrap the lace when forming the bow.
You don't need to change both.
The goal is simply to make the two stages work in opposite directions rather than repeating the same twist twice.
Tie it again.
Then look down.
If your loops now naturally lie from side to side across your shoe, you've probably corrected the imbalance.
The Quick Recap
Loops pointing towards your ankle and toes? β Probably a Granny Knot.
Loops sitting neatly across your shoe? β Probably balanced.
The difference? One tiny change in direction.
But My Laces Still Come Undone
Correcting an unbalanced knot is a very good place to start, but it isn't the only reason shoelaces can work loose.
My advice? If your bow is balanced but your laces are still working loose, don't automatically assume you need to pull them tighter or tie an enormous double knot. Check the lace itself, the length you're using and whether a more secure tying technique would suit the way you wear your shoes.
The laces themselves can make a difference.
Very smooth or slippery laces may be harder to keep securely tied than more textured styles. The length also matters: excessively long laces can leave oversized loops and loose ends, while laces that are too short can be difficult to secure comfortably.
So before you blame your technique entirely, check:
- whether your laces are the correct length for your shoes;
- whether the lace material feels unusually smooth or slippery;
- whether you're pulling the finished bow firmly and evenly;
- whether you need a more secure knot for sport or particularly active use.
Is There a More Secure Shoelace Knot?
Yes.
If you've corrected your basic knot but your laces still work loose - particularly during running, walking, golf or other sports - it's worth trying a more secure tying method.
One option is Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot, also known as the Double Slip Knot. It uses a symmetrical double-wrap structure designed to add extra security compared with a standard shoelace bow. Ian Fieggen's own testing found that his secure knot required significantly more tension to pull undone than a standard knot.
The important thing isn't that everyone needs to learn a complicated new knot.
It's about finding the right combination of:
the right lace + the right length + the right knot
for the way you use your shoes.
What About Double Knotting?
A double knot can certainly help stop a bow coming undone, particularly for sport or children's shoes.
But if you're double-knotting your shoes every morning simply because your ordinary bow constantly loosens, check your basic knot first.
You might be adding extra security to a knot that's unbalanced in the first place.
Correct the underlying knot and you may find that your ordinary bow performs much better.
Does This Matter for Children Learning to Tie Their Shoes?
Absolutely.
Children often learn a shoelace-tying technique by copying an adult and then repeat exactly the same movements for years.
The popular two-loop or "Bunny Ears" method can also be tied as either a balanced or unbalanced knot, depending on the direction of the two stages.
So when you're teaching a child to tie their shoes, don't just celebrate the fact that they've managed to make a bow - although that's definitely worth celebrating.
Have a quick look at which way the finished bow sits.
Teaching a balanced knot from the beginning may save them years of wondering why their shoelaces keep coming undone.
You can read our Shoelaces for Kids: How to Make Tying Easier guide for more tips on lace length, lace style and teaching children to tie their shoes.
Lindsay's Quick Shoelace Check
Before you blame your shoes - or your knot-tying abilities - check these four things:
1. Does your bow sit side to side? If not, try reversing one stage of your knot.
2. Are your laces the correct length? Too much excess lace can make tying awkward.
3. Are your laces smooth or worn? Old or slippery laces may be harder to keep secure.
4. Are you using your shoes for sport? Running, walking, golf and other active use may benefit from a more secure knot.
Sometimes the solution really is that simple.
Final Thought
Shoelaces are one of those little things we use every day without thinking about them.
Until they come undone.
Then we definitely notice them.
So next time you put your shoes on, take five seconds to look at your bow.
Side to side? You're probably doing just fine.
Heel to toe? Try reversing one stage of your knot.
A tiny change could give you a neater bow and a more secure knot - and possibly change something you've been doing since you were five years old.
Who knew there was so much to shoelaces?
Well...
We did. π
(Still puzzled by any of the terminology? Our Shoelace Glossary covers everything from aglets to eyelets.)
Still Having Trouble With Laces That Won't Stay Tied?
The right knot is important, but choosing the right shoelaces can make a difference too.
Explore our range of colourful flat, round and patterned shoelaces and find the perfect finishing touch for your favourite shoes.
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About the Author
Lindsay Jackson, Founder & Chief Laceologist at Love Your Laces
Lindsay is the founder of Love Your Laces, a UK shoelace brand dedicated to proving that the smallest details can make the biggest difference. As Love Your Laces' self-appointed Chief Laceologist, she researches everything from shoelace lengths and materials to lacing techniques, knots and styling - helping people find the right laces and discover new ways to transform the shoes they already own.