# Poll: On men's shoe laces and the tying thereof **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 1, 2017, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-on-mens-shoe-laces-and-the-tying-thereof/787807 "2017-06-01T00:22:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-on-mens-shoe-laces-and-the-tying-thereof/787807/41 "2017-06-02T12:43:44Z")
I assume what I do is a standard knot, though there are several different methods. One particular method is recommended above others, as it sits evenly and doesn’t loosen easily, and that is the one I have always done. Though due to a peculiarity of my shyness as a child, I never learned to do it myself until I was about 9 years old. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-on-mens-shoe-laces-and-the-tying-thereof/787807/42 "2017-06-02T12:47:52Z")
I do a standard, single knot, tied as a square knot. I then secure it by pulling the one lace of the loop that tightens the knot (whereas the other lace of the loop loosens it). This really tightens the knot, and sometimes to tighten it some more I pull on the two laces underneath the loop. Super secure, almost never unties, and is easy to untie. Not sure what that ‘Ian’s secure’ is that’s been mentioned, maybe it’s the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![blindboyard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindboyard/32/2833_2.png) [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-on-mens-shoe-laces-and-the-tying-thereof/787807/43 "2017-06-02T16:29:21Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Not sure what that ‘Ian’s secure’ is that’s been mentioned, maybe it’s the same thing. [Ian’s Secure Knot](https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/secureknot.htm). Basically double bunny ears. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-on-mens-shoe-laces-and-the-tying-thereof/787807/44 "2017-06-02T17:27:34Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Nobody just leaves them tied and slips them on? That’s what I do. Ooh, oooh! Over here! I do that with my sneakers. Hiking boots and softball cleats get tied and untied each use, because they need to be tighter. Dress shoes are loafers. And, while we’re at it, sandals not flip flops. I can’t abide anything between my toes. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-on-mens-shoe-laces-and-the-tying-thereof/787807/45 "2017-06-02T17:38:14Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > I replace the laces on all of my shoes (except dress shoes, of course, which only get worn like once a year anyways) with [these elastic laces](https://www.amazon.com/LOCK-LACES-Elastic-Tie-Shoelaces/dp/B00975EAJ6). Easy on-and-off like slip-ons, but also tight and secure like traditional laces. I have those on my Keen sandals and shoes and they work okay but for my sneakers and running shoes, I replace the laces with [bubble laces](http://www.newbalance.com/pd/bubble-lace/BUBBLE.html#color=Black_with_Multi%20Color). They don’t come untied and at $3/pair aren’t much of an expense. I also put new insoles into every pair of shoes I buy, so putting new laces on doesn’t seem like a burden or anything. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-on-mens-shoe-laces-and-the-tying-thereof/787807/46 "2017-06-02T17:52:45Z")
> [@blindboyard](#): > > [Ian’s Secure Knot](https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/secureknot.htm). > > Basically double bunny ears. Thank you. Interesting! ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-on-mens-shoe-laces-and-the-tying-thereof/787807/47 "2017-06-02T19:33:33Z")
> [@Heracles](#): > > Lately, I’ve noticed that (men’s) shoe laces have gotten too short. You try to make a proper [double shoelace knot](https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/standardknot.htm) and end up with a little spherical mess because they’re too bloody short. > > I was telling my hubby this, last week, and he said that today’s young men don’t tie them at all, they just tuck the ends inside the shoe, except for exercise. > > I don’t look at guy’s shoes nearly as much as he does, so I don’t know. What do you guys do? > > Please refer to [this handy table](https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/knots.htm) so we can all agree on terminology. > > (This poll is public.) I’ve been complaining about the opposite for at least 5 years. The laces on men’s shoes are almost always too stinking long, causing them to be a trip hazard even when tied as evenly as possible. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-on-mens-shoe-laces-and-the-tying-thereof/787807/48 "2017-06-02T20:09:04Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Being older and fatter than I used to be, I opt for Velcro. It’s easier, and I’m too old to care what other people think of it. Funny, I don’t _remember_ changing my user name! ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-on-mens-shoe-laces-and-the-tying-thereof/787807/49 "2017-06-02T20:56:27Z")
I once spent a long bored obsessive weekend trying out dozens of new knots, frustrated by my dress shoes with round slippery laces that refused to stay tied. I settled on [Ian’s Secure Knot](https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/secureknot.htm) which works great on round cord-type laces, they’ve never come undone. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-on-mens-shoe-laces-and-the-tying-thereof/787807/50 "2017-06-02T21:59:33Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Nobody just leaves them tied and slips them on? Yeah, I do that. My feet are unusually tall, so that makes do that much easier. But if I can avoid wearing shoes, that is best. Most of the time I wear those evil Vibram “Five Fingers”, because the toes end where my toes end, so I stumble a bit less – and it is as close to properly barefoot as I am allowed in public. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2017, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-on-mens-shoe-laces-and-the-tying-thereof/787807/51 "2017-06-03T00:32:11Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > I’ve been complaining about the opposite for at least 5 years. The laces on men’s shoes are almost always too stinking long, causing them to be a trip hazard even when tied as evenly as possible. The bubble laces I linked to earlier come in different lengths. I was very happy about this as I find the standard laces in most New Balance sneakers to be too long: they would require a double knot to even begin to avoid being a hazard. Thankfully, I can buy shorter bubble laces and have enough to tie my shoes but not so much that I have to tie them more than once. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-on-mens-shoe-laces-and-the-tying-thereof/787807.md?page=2)