Why YSK: The granny knot is the most common reason as to why show laces seem to be undone so easily. It’s caused when the Starting Knot & Finishing Bow don’t “balance” each other. Recognizing this can help you make your shoe knots much more secure.
Edit: (BTW, YSK the website as well. It’s a really good resource for tying and lacing shoes)
I watched this TED talk about 15 years ago and I’ve been trying my shoes that way ever since. It really is much better.
This alternative TED Talk is the method I use. Similar resulting knot but it will baffle most folks who’ve been tying their shoes the standard way!
Oh my, I had this revelation about a year ago myself. Watched a video for tying my zero drop running shoes. Game changer.
The important and easiest piece, is at the beginning; simply reverse which lace goes over which at the beginning. Then do your loop as regular.
Reading this, I realize it’s hard to explain. But it’s worth it to master. Works on boots, too.
Man I’m in my 30s and still do bunny ears to tie my shoes. Never really learned the “correct” way. My shoes do come untied a lot so maybe it’s time.
Bunny ears aren’t a problem! The resulting knot is the same as a standard shoelace knot. If your shoes are coming untied a lot, you probably are tying granny instead of square. Make sure that if you cross one way on the base crossing (like left over right), you cross the other way for the bunny ears step (like right over left). All the info in the link applies to bunny ears.
I’m 31 and I declare I’m too old to relearn the muscle memory. I acceot the occasional need to retie my laces.
TIL I was tying my shoes wrong my entire life.
Another reminder that “it can’t be that hard” sentiment will almost always backfire.
Yes you can change how you tie your shoes. I’m in my 60s and I started tying my shoes with a square knot bow instead of a granny knot bow just a few months ago, and my laces haven’t come undone once. It is a much better system than the extra knot for keeping the laces tied. It’s surprising how so many things we do are unexamined, even when we try to question things and why we do them
