Everyone's Been Tying Their Shoe Laces Wrong ● Forever ! 

I took sailing lessons about 10 yrs. ago & the captain told me I was tying my shoes wrong (my deck shoes kept coming untied), it was more of a safety issue, going overboard… I wasn’t happy to find out I had been tying my shoes wrong for 40+ yrs., not to mention my daughters, grandkids, a niece & several nephews. I’m going to watch them to see if they figured out. If they’re still doing it wrong..I’ll share your video🤣. Thanks for sharing some more wisdom😊

Oh well...there goes 70 years of muscle memory

It turns out I've been tying my shoelaces correctly all of my life!

Chris, I saw this video and found that I was indeed tying my shoes wrong. So, wanting to share the information, I tried with my left handed son. He said his shoes never come untied. So he showed me how he ties them. He still ties them counter clockwise around the loop like you showed that came loose. But being left handed, he does right over left to start, not left over right. And after trying it, his method works equally well! Best wishes, Kevin

FWIW, the change in loop direction is changing a granny knot into a square knot. That's why it holds better. I discovered this independently, and rather than changing the direction of the second step (the bow) I found it easier to train myself to reverse the direction of the first step. An added benefit is that with a granny knot the bows lie crooked, at at angle to your foot, but with a square knot the bows lie 90° and look better. If you make two turns at each step, it changes the square knot to a surgeons knot and these really will not come undone accidentally, but still can be untied normally just by pulling the tail end of the bows.

It’s called a square knot. Pretty simple. My Mother taught me that nearly 70 years ago and I’ve never had the problem. Thanks Mom!

My entire family, community and I have always tied our laces that way. It's good you're showing people that use Velcro or buckels.

Thanks for this, it really does help. A somewhat easier variant is to change the way you do the initial crossover underneath, rather than re-learn the top bow part, if that makes any sense. It’s easier to cross that part the opposite way than to tie the bow the opposite way, but both accomplish the same result.

I discovered this when I was 10 years old after learning the difference between the Granny Knot (the first method in the video) and the Square Knot (the second method). Been tying my shoes with Square Knots loops ever since, for the past 47 years and teaching other kiddos along the way 🤓

Nice to hear that I have been tying my shoelaces correctly (Tip 1) for decades 😂 One (simple) ADDITIONAL TIP is to go around the bow TWICE for any footwear you use for strenuous activities. It only takes a second or two more, but since shown it by an athletics coach, I have NEVER had a shoe or bootlace come undone. With regards to Tip 2 - just be very careful how much you tighten across the front of the shoe, as this can be a very sensitive part of the foot…

I came to learn something new. I appreciate that I was already doing it correctly. Thank you cousin Amber.

Yes, Thank you for posting this! Left,-Over / Clockwise bow tie. I figured this out at a very young age and have enjoyed secure footwear all my life, however many have not. Always place a figure eight knot at the ends of each lace to prevent un-threading. Time is well spent to experiment with different lacing schemes. Note that fewer lace cross-overs will allow the throat to open wider enabling much easier don and doff. This is difficult to imagine, but very enlightening if you try it. After achieving a desired pattern, lace up with the heaviest socks you are likely to wear, tie, figure-8 knot the ends, cut off excess lace length and cauterize the cut ends with a heat gun or bic lighter. Roll the hot melted ends between gloved fingers to reduce diameter so the ends will fit thru eyelets. Perfect fitting footwear is an asset to your daily safety and convenience. 01:07

Hi Chris, The first know is called a Granny knot and is famous for its instability. The second know is the Square knot or Reef knot and is known for its stability and ease of undoing even after being under pressure. If you need an extra degree of security to ensure the knot does not come undone, pass the loop two times around, rather than one. It still comes undone with a pull but is that much more secure.

There is an easier way. Simply switch the way you start your first knot. For example: If at first you tie left over right and your final bow is wrong, just tie right over left. Conversely, if first you tie right over left and your final bow comes out wrong, just tie left over right. This will eliminate the need to change the counter clockwise or clockwise muscle memory when completing the bow. Oops, I didn't see that DozerRoyale already said this.

I used to work in footwear and loved teaching customers this lesson. The real lesson is that we take a lot of skills for granted, and the things we learn growing up aren’t always the most optimized. Learning how to perform/optimize basic tasks can change (and maybe even save) your life.

I have ALWAYS tied my shoe laces this way!! I tie with my right hand though. I was told ages & AGES ago that your 'wrong' method ties a 'backward' bow knot. Thanks for posting.

Several people have mentioned that it is easier on muscle memory, to just reverse the first cross over, then you can still use your decades of ingrained muscle memory to finish the bow. I actually blame my mother for teaching me incorrectly in the first place! LOL 🙂

I discovered this, too. Rather than change the direction of the second part of the knot, I changed the initial half-knot. Normally cross left over right, so when I start, I do right over left. It requires less dexterity, and it doesn’t go against the muscle memory as hard.

Instead of reversing directionality for going around the loop (it can be awkward for some people), you can also reverse the order of the base knot, so do right over left. I find it easier.

I have been quite harrowed by the laces undoing themselves when I went on a walk or a run. Usually I would have to tie them up again, twice or thrice. But then I watched your view and i thank youtube algorithms for getting it to me. I tied it up as you directed in the 1st half and voila, the lace never undid itself on my walk today. Furthermore, the tightness of the shoe on my feet was constant, thru out. This one simple chage has definitely benifited immensely. Thank you for sharing and demonstrating it so well. Now, to unlearn the wrong habbit and make this new one a habbit. As they say, learning never stops. 😄

When I was five or so, my brother came home from Navy bootcamp and, having been taught knots, taught me to tie my shoes using the square knot you illustrate. I frankly haven't know that anyone tied shoes any other way!

If you start by crossing left over right and then make your bow the usual way, you achieve the same result: a square knot (which is secure) instead of the granny knot (which is not). I found this simple change easier to learn than relearning the bow motion, which is entrenched in decades of muscle memory.

Looks super cool and makes sense... will try it right away and get back to you. Thanks a lot for sharing!!!

As some others have already mentioned, it makes a difference which way you cross over the first half-hitch. I have always done mine opposite to what is shown in the video so that when I do the second half of the knot going counter clockwise it works. It's probably easier to change the first part of the knot than the second for most people. I didn't realize I did the first part differently to what was shown until I tried the clockwise wrap and found it didn't work.

I was told this by my wife's uncle a long time ago. It was easier for me to do my first knot reversed instead of the bow. It took a little while to get used to it, but now it's second nature. Works like a charm.

THANK YOU. It’s nice to know that you can learn something new at 78. I no longer have to double knot my shoe laces. You Rock.

Thanks! Paracord is the slipperiest stuff ever. This knot still holds!

For years I’ve added a second knot with the bow to make it almost impossible to loosen, but with this simple method I don’t have to! Thank you! Usually UT videos that say you have been doing something wrong don’t offer any good advice, but this one really does!

That was interesting. I've never had any trouble with shoelace knots coming loose personally, and I just tie the regular way, then add the 'ol double knot to take up the slack and lock it down. But I'm not doing a ton of hiking or anything either... I'm always up for learning something new! They both look like good ideas.

I've seen something similar a few years ago in some ultra-short ted talk. however, I really struggled with unlearning decades of muscle memory when tying the bow. Until I figured out that the correct way to tie your shoes is a combination of the knot and the bow -> simply reversing the knot and keeping the bow the same as I've learned it as a kid, leads to the same result. (and was much easier for me to learn)

Thank you for your leadership.

Accidently, I did it the improved way for years, without knowing that there is a "wrong" way... HA! Thanks for sharing the second tip too!

If you direct the lace around the loop counter clockwise (which is easier for right handed people), I was taught (in England where I grew up) that you MUST start off with the left hand lace UNDERNEATH and “AHEAD OF” the right hand lace. I’ve always done it this way and my laces NEVER come undone even when pulling hard on the laces near to the eyelets as you did. So, to summarise, direction of the loop is dependent on whether you are left or right handed so if you loop counter clockwise, you MUST initially start with the left hand lace underneath the right hand lace. Simple really!

Been tying my laces this way (except for the extra hole shoes) since I was 5 years old (74 years ago). The method for extra hole shoes is the same as the "ladder lace" used by paratroopers in the 60's, except that all holes were done that way. When the foot is pointed down the laces tighten. When the foot is in normal position they loosened enough to be comfortable. You seem to have opened a can of worms, which is good.

OMG this is the type of laces and method that I’m looking for. You make my day ❤ Thank you very much

Thanks for this tip!! Been lacing my shoes wrong my whole life. Really works!

There was a sports shoe store chain called "Just for Feet" that went out of business over two decades ago. But before they did I was in one of the stores and I asked the shoe salesman what were the extra holes on top for. He showed me the second lacing technique so for the last 23 years I have used it but I never tie the laces. The small loops maintain enough pressure to hold the laces and they are short enough that they don't drag.

Awesome, I must retie my shoes a zillion times a day because they loosen up. Drives me nuts. Thanks for showing an old guy something new!!!!!!

I saw this on a TED talk a couple years ago and it changed my life!

A good way to realize you've tied them incorrectly is how the bow part sits. If it naturally turns 90 degrees from the lace direction then you've done it wrong. Go back and reverse either the first or second step and you'll be good. I didn't know this until I was in my 30s, and my mom had no idea until I told her (her shoes always came untied).

It's called a reef knot. Something every boy scout learnt. However, I often wondered what those holes were for. Good tip. Cheers John.

I’m left-handed and been doing everything backwards most of my life so tying counterclockwise is natural. Win!

Great video and explanation. I'm definitely going to try out that cinching technique you showed at the end. You should look up Ian Fieggen's shoelace knots. It talks about this granny knot (and celebrity sightings of it), but also a faster way to tie this knot and a stronger version of this knot ... like a double knot but easy to untie. What you showed was the way I learned to tie my shoes as a kid (so many memories of re-tying my shoes) but I've been using Ian's secure shoelace knot for about 15 years and have never had it come undone. Not once.

This is how I was taught to tie my laces anyway, can't imagine doing it the other way!

What would we do without you Mr. Chris? I have such a respect for you. You always help us in ways that surprise and delight me.

Oh! Thank Goodness! Contrary to your title, Chris, I find I've been tying my shoes correctly these 74 years (Well, minus a few in the beginning.)!

So simple, and so magical! Thx.

I have always done the first in functionally a square knot, but as usual, your second tip is genius! Thank you.

Great tip, Chris. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Im so happy to find someone who knows how to tie shoelaces correctly

Amazing! I can't believe how simple that is and how much of a difference it makes.. I always double-knot my boots to avoid them loosening

This is an absolute amazing video! Thanks for teaching this 30 year old man how to tie his shoes!

Wow! I was just having that issue the other day with my laces. Thank you so much.

clever you! thanks. I am used to double knot the shoelaces to keep them tight but I shall practice your method. Thanks for the handy tip.

My father taught me to tie my shoes using the square knot you demonstrated when I was first tying my own shoes. I always wondered why other peoples shoes came untied all the time and mine did not. It was shortly before my father died about 35 years ago that in our discussion he described how he taught a coworker to tie his shoes with a square knot and that is when the light bulb went off in my head. Most everyone else was tying their shoes wrong.

I’ve always gone clockwise, but my laces would still come loose from time-to-time until a friend showed me one additional step to your tying technique. When wrapping around the loop clockwise, wrap twice making the second wrap go under the index fingertip. Since I have been doing that no more loose ties. Give it a try!

As a lefty, I've always wrapped clockwise, but I start with the opposite of everything else relative to you.

Awesome mate, as a bit of a knot fanatic myself, this is a new one to me, as soon as you looped it the opposite way I could see how the knot works right away, cheers!

Fascinating, interesting and informative. Well done and thank you.

BONUS TIP: There are times when I REALLY don't want my laces to come undone (for example, on a long hike when one of the laces' loose ends gets snagged on something). To overcome this, I tie my laces just as you demonstrated, but then I take the 2 ears (loops) and tie a simple overhand knot with them. Now a simple tug on one of the loose ends won't undo my laces so easily. Instead, the undo the laces, you really need to give it good tug on one of the loose ends.

Also, if doing a double bow as a finish to the knot (in the right manner) you can untie the shoe just by pulling one of the cords. I found this method at the age of 6 and been doing it ever since. Strong knot, untied in a pull

Thank you so much . And you're absolutely spot on

Wow, great info and so simple. Thank you!

Thanks! My running shoes are always coming untied on my treadmill. This is a huge safety hazard and this solves it nicely. They feel so much better too!

Just go the opposite way with the first crossover knot. Thanks for the tip, 35 years of tying them the wedding way!

I have done this for many many years! It’s a game changer!

Excellent! Well done. I would add, in order to give the ankle enough latitude to rotate without being too constricted, after snugging the laces down but before tying the bow, pull your toes up toward you and rotate the foot. Keep the toes pulled toward you as you tighten and tie the bow. This should keep everything snug along the top of the foot and allow the ankle to rotate comfortably as it was designed to do once you're moving. Another thing I like to do with my laces is I tie a knot at each end by the aglet. This keeps the laces from coming out of the eyelet when you're untying in a hurry and if the laces are a little on the short side this allows you to pull the bows to their maximum size without the ends pulling through and undoing everything or leaving you with a knot. I worked in a children's shoestore years ago and these were tips we included when teaching kids how to tie their shoes.

Wow, this really works! It feels awkward to do, but really keeps the laces tight. I can’t wait to do this next time I lace up my hiking boots for a hike!

Thanks coach...my first premiere hockey coach also taught me to double the beginning of the tightening process, so 2 times before looping. It keeps the laces snug as you go into the loop process. Skates especially need this to keep your foot snug.

Thank you so much! This trick is a life saver!

Awesome. Thanks a lot for the advice!!

I'm right handed, so I was taught to hold the bow with my left hand and make the knot with my right hand. So I was tying the second knot naturally from the beginning. I think the first method presented would effect left handed people more, as it is more natural to use your dominant hand to tie the knot.

I form two loops first, and square-knot them. It’s hard to see exactly, but I think it results in the same configuration as your method. Doing a ‘granny knot’ instead is a common mistake because repeating the same process twice is more intuitive than reversing the direction for the second half.

I've been trying this for the past week and this works great ! Thank you so much for making this video. My laces would get undone at least twice a day but for the past week they haven't come undone at all. Thanks !

A runner at a shoe store showed me how to take advantage of the extra holes like you showed which I have done ever since....great tip. My main benefit is it helped reduce and sometimes eliminate the problem I have with narrow heels which makes many shoes slip and sometimes cause blisters. It helps tighten the way the shoe fits. The other benefit is how quickly I can loosen and tighten the laces. As for the knot tying method, it does not eliminate the possibility of one lace getting caught and pulling loose the knot,. For decades, I have double knotted athletic shoe laces and have never had a knot come loose.....no need to switch and definitely more secure.

Here’s and easy peasy trick I learned in elementary school: after you tie the initial bow, take the loops and do a half-hitch - otherwise known as a double knot. Works 100% and no chance of your shoes becoming undone. Plus, it doesn’t really matter which way you tie the original bow. Muscle memory plus one additional step = perfectly tied shoes all day long.

I *think* if you're left-handed, you would change from clock-wise to counter clock-wise. Just make the wrap on the loop over the top rather than underneath. Another thing that works perfectly non-slip is to wrap around the loop twice. New subscriber - great content!

One is never to old to learn i have been doing it wrong for the past 8 decades 😂, and will save me doing a double knot. Thanks mate.

One of the most uaefull things I've seen in a long time. Thanks

Essentially, it is the bow version of a square knot versus the bow version of a granny knot. (Uh... I suppose that last name should be "mature matriarch knot".)

Actually I’ve been doing it the correct way since I was in Boy Scouts 40 years ago. We were taught the square knot as opposed to the granny knot. I applied it to the tying of bows on my shoes. Haven’t thought about my shoes getting lose in forever. Really works. I never have to re-tie my shoes.

Didn’t know how to tie laces for a while! Helped alot, thanks!

Glad to see we've been learning and teaching how to tie shoelaces the correct way in the first place over here for decades. At its core it's just a double-slipped reef-knot/square-knot. BTW: Take a look at "Ian's fast shoelace knot" and "Ian's secure shoelace knot"... might find it to be an enlightenment.

There are about 20 different ways to tie shoe laces and many of them have extremely useful purposes. You can make short laces longer, long laces shorter, the lacing permanent and inflexible (if you want to wear them slip-on style) or easy to open and close. Different lacings can also adjust the shoe to your foot, relieving pressure, bunions, blisters etc etc. Why these simple things aren't taught to everyone at school I will never understand. Oh yes, plenty of cool decorative designs too that can really give a lift to a boring shoe.

Ahroo? "Everyone"? Are you left handed? Who on earth would ever go counter clockwise doing a bow knot?

Awesome. Never to old to learn

Thanks for this information! It will help a lot.

To get your bows to not come loose, you can reverse the way you tie the loops as in your example OR, you can reverse the way you tie the initial knot instead! Either works as what it is doing is generating a square knot instead of a granny knot. You could also use Ian’s secure knot which is still a bow but neater, based on a surgeons knot, or you could go the full nine yards and use a Berluti knot which was invented by an aristocratic Italian family I think!

I learned that myself about ten years ago by changing the direction of the overhand knot instead of the bow. Incidentally, I learned what the top loop was for about five years ago, and I've been doing that, too.

Amazing tip Chris. Thanks.🙏 Love from India.

Best advice in a long time, and it's so simple 👌

This is great! Especially that leverage system. Though this video made me realize something: I've never tied my laces with just one bow. I've always made 2 bows, and then wrapped them around and through each other twice (double knotting). They would never come undone that way unless the laces were too short like on some dress shoes. I'll try this method next time I go for a long walk!

Another simple trick: go over the laces TWICE instead of only once. This helps keep them together tremendously with little effort and similar muscle memory.

Merci beaucoup. I've been teaching the loop to my patients since last century when I learned about it. I hadn't thought of the clockwise direction, but I've been doing it that was forever. I also use a cuboid correction to stabilize the foot in the shoe for people with chronic ankle sprains, but since it strengthens the lateral muscle chain, it is good for many other conditions.

Chris is a great guy , he showed me how to tie my shoe laces

I think the reason this works is the same why there's a right and a wrong way to make a double knot. Alternatively, you can take the two bows and make a knot from them again and it'll stay tied forever.

Giving you a thumbs up for the neat trick you did at the end involving the twisted ankle. LOL

Great video. And easy to understand.

I'm 52 and that's how I've always tied my shoes. For the tops of taller boots, that get the pressure going on and off more as your ankle flexes, you can try putting two loops around the bow rather than one, and for slippy laces that are hard to get the bow knot of without losing tension try putting an extra round on the first part.

Basically a slipped reef knot vs a slipped granny knot. The fact they are slipped makes no difference, the reef is more stable. This occurred to me about a decade ago, and I can testify that it makes a big difference. The second tip is worth considering. You are gaining a 2:1 advantage, so can draw tighter. I'll give it a try.