# Why do shoelaces so often become more knotted by the end of the day?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-shoelaces-so-often-become-more-knotted-by-the-end-of-the-day/410680
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [July 6, 2007, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-shoelaces-so-often-become-more-knotted-by-the-end-of-the-day/410680 "2007-07-06T01:44:12Z")
**Posts on this page:** 13
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)
#### Post date: [July 6, 2007, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-shoelaces-so-often-become-more-knotted-by-the-end-of-the-day/410680/1 "2007-07-06T01:44:12Z")
This seems to happen quite often. I’ll tie my shoelaces in a simple bow in the morning. Then even though I don’t do a great deal of walking during the day, the shoelaces will have become all knotted up by night-time.
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### Author:  [@ticker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ticker)
#### Post date: [July 6, 2007, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-shoelaces-so-often-become-more-knotted-by-the-end-of-the-day/410680/2 "2007-07-06T07:43:12Z")
Mine don’t, they tend to come undone ☹ even if I double knot them.
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### Author:  [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)
#### Post date: [July 6, 2007, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-shoelaces-so-often-become-more-knotted-by-the-end-of-the-day/410680/3 "2007-07-06T13:43:06Z")
[QUOTE=ticker]
Mine don’t, they tend to come undone ☹ even if I double knot them.
[/QUOTE]
Mine too. I’d rather have them become more knotted, if anything.
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### Author:  [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)
#### Post date: [July 6, 2007, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-shoelaces-so-often-become-more-knotted-by-the-end-of-the-day/410680/4 "2007-07-06T13:52:32Z")
Not for me… I use the [secure knot](http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/secureknot.htm).
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### Author:  [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)
#### Post date: [July 6, 2007, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-shoelaces-so-often-become-more-knotted-by-the-end-of-the-day/410680/5 "2007-07-06T15:59:06Z")
Nor do mine. They become undone, not more knotted.
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### Author:  [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2007, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-shoelaces-so-often-become-more-knotted-by-the-end-of-the-day/410680/6 "2007-07-07T00:43:06Z")
I use the [“Better Bow”.](http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/betterbowknot.htm) The only disadvantage is that if the ends of the shoelace pass through the loops when you untie it, it can get very tangled. But for lowtop sneakers, I just leave it tied all the time and slip my shoes on and off. I have never had a lace come undone since I started using that knot.
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### Author:  [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2007, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-shoelaces-so-often-become-more-knotted-by-the-end-of-the-day/410680/7 "2007-07-07T12:20:49Z")
Mine, too, never do this, but sometimes come undone.
What could you be doing differently?
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### Author:  [@ticker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ticker)
#### Post date: [July 7, 2007, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-shoelaces-so-often-become-more-knotted-by-the-end-of-the-day/410680/8 "2007-07-07T12:35:15Z")
[QUOTE=sturmhauke]
I use the [“Better Bow”.](http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/betterbowknot.htm)
[/QUOTE]
I’m gonna practice that one. Unfortunately my laces are the same color at both ends, making it harder to follow the diagrams 😉
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### Author:  [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)
#### Post date: [July 8, 2007, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-shoelaces-so-often-become-more-knotted-by-the-end-of-the-day/410680/9 "2007-07-08T03:59:24Z")
[QUOTE=Shoshana]
Nor do mine. They become undone, not more knotted.
[/QUOTE]
> [@Napier](#):
>
> Mine, too, never do this, but sometimes come undone.
>
> What could you be doing differently?
I don’t know. Perhaps it’s a southern hemisphere thing…coriolis effect…
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### Author:  [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)
#### Post date: [July 8, 2007, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-shoelaces-so-often-become-more-knotted-by-the-end-of-the-day/410680/10 "2007-07-08T04:38:46Z")
Do your cuffs tend to hit the tied bow? If I’m wearing pants that brush the top of my laces, sometimes they get knotted from the back and forthing all day.
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### Author:  [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2007, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-shoelaces-so-often-become-more-knotted-by-the-end-of-the-day/410680/11 "2007-07-09T01:24:15Z")
This may be related to the general tendency of strings to get tangled - about once a week I have to spend 15 minutes untangling all my xbox controllers.
This is because given any movement of the strings, there is only one way to untangle, but many more ways to further entangle - hence entropy drives relentlessly onwards
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### Author:  [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2007, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-shoelaces-so-often-become-more-knotted-by-the-end-of-the-day/410680/12 "2007-07-09T10:10:35Z")
[QUOTE=The Controvert]
Not for me… I use the [secure knot](http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/secureknot.htm).
[/QUOTE]
Hot damn - I like that knot. I tie my laces using a similar method anyhow, and the extra feedthrough to add security is simple.
I love it.
Si
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### Author:  [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2007, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-shoelaces-so-often-become-more-knotted-by-the-end-of-the-day/410680/13 "2007-07-09T10:15:48Z")
[QUOTE=scm1001]
This may be related to the general tendency of strings to get tangled - about once a week I have to spend 15 minutes untangling all my xbox controllers.
[/QUOTE]
Time for an Xbox 360 wth wireless controllers eh?