How to Tie a Shoe With One Hand
Most of us have learned to tie our shoes in a certain way with both hands. A story about a rabbit climbing into a hole or something like that? Whatever. It doesn’t take two hands to tell this story. Here’s how US Paralympic athlete Megan Absten puts on her shoes before a big race using only one hand.
Absten, who has competed in the 100 and 200 meters and won medals, has no left hand, but this does not prevent her from doing everything on her own, including tying shoes. She explains that there are many tools that can get the job done, but she has developed her own brilliant method that almost anyone can learn (demonstrated in the video above from her YouTube channel ). This is how it works:
- Start with laces on both sides, then cross and tuck in the middle as usual.
- Thread the lace under the shoe to keep it in place, then pull the laces up.
- Make a loop or rabbit ear from the loose lace, then pinch it with your thumb and forefinger.
- Now grasp the lace under the boot with your middle finger and wrap it around the first bunny’s ear.
- With a loop around it, push it through to make another rabbit ear.
- Grasp one loop with your middle and ring fingers and the other with your thumb and forefinger – then pull until the knot is tight.
That’s all! Your boot is tied and there is no need for another hand. With a little practice, you should be able to do this in just a couple of seconds. If you are missing an arm or hand yourself, or you just find that one arm is constantly being used (hello new parents), this trick comes in handy. It can also be a fun party trick or a bar bet.