A better way to tie gym shorts (or any drawstring) [video]

weavie

It's amazing the things you learn here..

UmYeahNo

I learned this knot from this video a while back -- I've used it ever since. It cinches the shorts tight, but is easy to release. It works especially well on strings that are slippery and don't hold a typical bow very well. One drawback is that the two ends often end up different lengths, but otherwise it's a great knot!

stronglikedan

just start with a double square knot (or whatever the first step is called) and pull it tight before starting the bow. it won't move while you tie the bow, and it's so much easier than this. if you have particularly slippery substrate, start with a triple instead

mmakeev

haha...not bad. Nice try

adverbly

Super cool! Here is how to tie a bow in under 1 second in case anyone wants something that looks a bit cleaner but is less functional: https://m.youtube.com/shorts/Q5qZpQe_4EA

quibono

Gosh I need to learn more about knots. I've been thinking about this recently: if I wanted to maximise utility and could only learn 5 knots, what would they be. Or alternatively, what are the "better" alternatives to the classics everyone knows.

aardvarkr

Amazing, I love learning about knots! Is there a better shoelace knot? Not faster, but better

inanutshellus

I lived several decades knowing only the standard set of knots (square, granny) that every six-year-old knows. Recently, due to Scouts, learned more and I can't believe how often I use them. "Dryer's busted! My DIY laundry line sags! What to do?!" "If only I could make a loop that won't move in the middle of this rope!" ... and... this knot is new to me. I'm stoked to add it to the brainbox. Way to go, OP!

Waterluvian

I’ve been giving this a try, and aside from Porky Pigging it through my kitchen this morning, it seems to have real promise. The rip cord isn’t a feature I value, though.

wffurr

Per the video description, this is a Lapp Knot: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapp_knot , sadly not animated by Grog.

PatronBernard

Doesn't seem to work very well with flat strings it seems (or I suck at knotting).

gegtik

Funny, I just went seeking this video again last week He published an addendum https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbTYCHPLWLI

washbasin

Just by the headline I suspected this was first class amateur. So many great videos. That being said, use cord locks, not knots. You can often shorten the drawstring, and you will never lose one end into the waist.

SoftTalker

Life is too short to make simple things more complicated.

Xenoamorphous

A few years back I got a couple of Adidas running shorts. Instead of the typical drawstring they had some continuous string. To this day I've no idea how it was supposed to be used, I just cut it off and voila, a regular drawstring.

yesidoagree

HN is reading my thoughts again with this one

wccrawford

I did this for a while after seeing that video, but after some of my shorts ended up tightening into a knot that I couldn't get loose easily, I gave up on it. I instead just use the "Ian Knot" that I use to tie my shoes. It's very quick, I already use it all the time anyhow, and it rarely goes wrong. (Sometimes, I think I end up with an end through a loop accidentally, and have to fix it.) Learning this extra knot didn't really help much, and it definitely went wrong more than I liked.

esafak

From a knot theorist: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yZuWPjnF6k0

quickthrowman

As long as you switch directions when tying a bunny ears knot, it will stay tied. I do left over/right under for the first step and then left under/right over for the second step. The ears/loops should sit balanced and not lopsided. I use the same knot to tie my shoes.

delichon

This knot is not for me. I need my drawstrings to be permanently connected together, or else when I wash those shorts they frequently get pulled into the pants where I can't reach them, and it's a pain to fish them out again. And I can't remember to tie them together before each wash.