For example, take the granny knot and the reef knot — two simple knots that look very similar but behave very differently. "It's quite easy to see this, if you just take a shoelace or a bit of ...

Both knots have the exact same steps that go into them, but the granny knot (below, left) is quite weak, while the reef knot (below, right) is relatively much stronger.

A UC Berkeley study showed why your shoes keep coming untied; "Professor Shoelace" shows how to tie a better knot.

Our readers discuss whether reef knots, granny knots or other types of bows work best. And the difficulties of learning a new way to tie your laces ...

One example is the reef knot (top) vs. the grief knot (bottom). One is considerably stronger than the other. What does this mean, exactly?

As any experienced angler will know, some knots are better than others -- but exactly why a "blood knot" should be stronger than, say, a "reef knot" is far from clear. Now, physicists in Japan have ...

The research allowed the team to identify the reason the reef and granny knot withstand different amounts of strain—the reef knot has more twists, increasing friction and making it more stable.

To tie a reef knot in my laces, I have to try to tie a reef knot. That means beginning to do what I’ve always done and then undoing it reefing the granny, in other words.