Off The Record

Many People Still Don’t Know The Meaning Behind Shoes Strung Up On A Power Line

Published on February 17, 2025

You’ve probably seen a pair of sneakers tied together by the shoelaces and thrown up onto a power line while driving or walking through a neighborhood, though I don’t think it happens as frequently now as it did when I was a child.

I never realized there were so many theories regarding the significance of this activity; I always thought it was just something the kids in the neighborhood did occasionally.

According to the first notion, soldiers would reportedly throw away their boots after completing their training or their duty during the conflict.

Perhaps all other hypotheses have their roots in this symbolism? Who knows?

It’s also a prevalent misconception that gangs mark their territory and warn other gangs to keep away by throwing shoes up on power lines. This notion hasn’t precisely been validated, though.

Many people think that children bullying one another is the cause of shoes being up on a power line.

In at least two of the films that come to mind, local bullies have stolen a child’s sneakers and put them up on a power wire, leaving the victim without shoes.

Although I would want to assume that this idea is not very strong, I’m sure that this has been the case in a few terrible situations throughout the years.

The idea that individuals throw their sneakers up on electricity wires “just because” is arguably the most widely accepted notion (and the one I personally support the most).

Perhaps it looks like a great way to use an old pair of sneakers.

People decide to follow suit after witnessing the first pair thrown up there, just like with so many other behaviors.

This strikes me as a perfect illustration of children being children.