A package arrives from NexTool stuffed with colorful shoelaces, and my first thought isn’t tying shoes — it’s knife lanyards. Lanyards are great because they make it easy to pull out your knife from your pocket or sheath. They also give you additional grip. Finally, they give you some rope which can always come in useful. Turns out, shoelaces are perfect for this, and with just a couple of simple knot techniques, you can add a functional and good-looking lanyard to any knife in minutes.
What You’ll Need
All you need to get started is a shoelace (or a length of paracord) and a knife (or flashlight) with a lanyard hole. The shoelaces from NexTool’s are perfect for this — they’re the right length and have enough stiffness to hold the knots cleanly.
Knot #1: The Snake Knot Lanyard
The snake knot is a classic, and it looks great on a knife handle. Here’s how to tie it:
- Fold the shoelace in half and attach it to the knife through the lanyard hole.
- The whole process follows one repeating procedure: the right side goes over the left side and around, then the left side goes under and over to clamp the knot.
- Tighten it down, then repeat the same motion — over and around, then clamp.
- Keep repeating: over, around, clamp. Over, around, clamp.
- Do about five or six repetitions, or however long you want the lanyard to be.
Once you’ve done your last pass — over, around, and through — give it a final tighten and that’s your snake knot lanyard done. It looks clean, sits tight, and holds its shape well.
Knot #2: The Noose Knot Lanyard
The noose knot lanyard is a bit different in construction and, honestly, my personal favorite of the two. Here’s how to make it:
- Measure out roughly 2.5 inches of cord and thread it through the knife’s lanyard hole.
- Fold it back and mark where the tape ends — this gives you three strands to work with.
- Take the loose end and start wrapping it tightly over all three strands, working downward.
- Keep the wraps as tight and even as possible as you go.
- Once you’ve wrapped enough, thread the loose end through the loop at the bottom.
- Pull the other end to cinch everything tight, and the noose knot locks itself in place.
That’s it — clean, secure, and done in under a minute once you get the hang of it.
Which One Is Better?
Both lanyards look great and get the job done, but I personally prefer the noose knot lanyard. The reason is simple: utility. I can easily remove the loose end and quickly have access to a usable length of rope — which is a surprisingly handy feature to have on a knife you carry every day. The snake knot looks fantastic, but the noose knot wins on practicality for me.
Final Thoughts
Two knots, one shoelace, and a few minutes of your time — that’s all it takes to add a functional lanyard to your knife. Whether you go with the snake knot for the looks or the noose knot for the utility, both are worth knowing. Give them both a try and see which one you end up reaching for.
Which lanyard style do you prefer — the snake knot or the noose knot? Drop a comment below and let me know!
Available Here
Affiliate Link(s): I may earn a commission at no cost to you if you buy through the link(s)