Just a Minute, I’ve Got to Tie My Shoelaces –

[Greg Mihalik]

“They found that when walking, the combined impact and acceleration on a shoelace totals a whopping 7 gs—

“It took the interlaced effects of the two forces [impact and swinging side-to-side] to undo the knot: the repeated impacts loosened it while the changes of direction pulled on the laces.”

Now you know.

 

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/unravelling-why-shoelace-knots-fail/

 

[Greg Pehrson]

Since I began using Ian’s Secure Shoelace Knot years ago I have never again had my shoes come untied by themselves, yet they’re just as easy to untie: https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/secureknot.htm

 

 

[Edgar H]

Thanks Greg,  the double slip loop looks like a great knot. I’m going to use this now instead of double tying the loops with an extra overhand, -the old standby from childhood.

[Kattt]

Yes thanks Greg!

I am constantly dealing with untied shoe laces: backpacking, at work and trailrunning.

[jscott]

As a germophobe–some say that I’m neurotic but it’s their germs talking–I’ve often wondered if shoe laces, even more than doorknobs and computer screens, aren’t hotbeds of disease. They’re dragged through horse poop while backpacking and who knows what else just walking around. So better to keep them tied and off the ground.

[William Chilton]

The Sopranos. Paulie’s germaphobia and shoe laces. Adult language, so I won’t post a link.

[jscott]

Well there you go! Paulie is a good character reference for me.

[Sharon J.]

Tucking the laces in works pretty well, too, much better than the double-knot:

[Lester Moore]

A fisherman’s knot pulled real tight keeps those laces tied and out of the way. The laces are kept really loose and I just slip the shoes off and on the feet without ever untying the knot. Never had a blister since starting to wear shoes this loose. The knot pictured has held for over a year, including weekly day hikes, multiple backpacks and a 180 mile JMT section hike.

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