# Benefits of various pants closure systems **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 9, 2003, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benefits-of-various-pants-closure-systems/167595 "2003-04-09T17:42:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2003, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benefits-of-various-pants-closure-systems/167595/1 "2003-04-09T17:42:54Z")
Anyone know why they have these various systems? **Fly:** Zipper vs. buttons **Fastener:** Button vs. clasp vs. clasp _with_ set-back button. ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2003, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benefits-of-various-pants-closure-systems/167595/2 "2003-04-09T17:54:02Z")
All I can say is I’ve worn Levi’s 501 almost exclusively since the early 80’s and I’ve never been “caught” in the button fly. That’s all the reason I need. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2003, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benefits-of-various-pants-closure-systems/167595/3 "2003-04-09T20:31:45Z")
“Button up your overcoat and fly…” ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2003, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benefits-of-various-pants-closure-systems/167595/4 "2003-04-09T20:36:39Z")
I’m coincidentally researching a story on denim (see my thread on Soviet blue jeans [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=176169](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=176169) ). The 501, with its button-fly is, as all the ads claim, a true original. The 501 was established back in the late 1800s (post gold rush … we all know the Levi Strauss canvas jeans story … ), and it had a button fly back then. LS & co. recently (the last decade) bought at auction a pair of 1890s jeans that were found in an abandoned mine shaft. You can clearly see the impression of the fly buttons through the front flap. It’s actually rather disturbing how completely modern the jeans look. So the button fly was the first and only option. The zipper came later. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2003, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benefits-of-various-pants-closure-systems/167595/5 "2003-04-09T20:46:04Z")
And I’ve worn zippers for the same length of time, and I’ve never been “caught”, either. I’m not sure how it would even be possible, if you’re wearing underpants. On the other hand, a button fly will never come open of its own accord. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2003, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benefits-of-various-pants-closure-systems/167595/6 "2003-04-09T20:58:04Z")
Actually, most of the button-fly jeans have had the buttonholes wear out to the point that they wouldn’t stay buttoned any more, and the pants were useless from then on. I’ve only had one zipper break on me, and I’ve never gotten caught in it.