# Keys Make Hole in Pants Pocket **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 9, 2009, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-make-hole-in-pants-pocket/485057 "2009-02-09T14:34:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-make-hole-in-pants-pocket/485057/1 "2009-02-09T14:34:20Z")
I like to keep my keys in my front pocket. However, I’ve become a bit of a jailor over the years, with house keys; car keys; office keys; keys to my father-in-law’s house, etc. The keys have a tendency to create holes in my pants pocket. Does anyone have a recommendation for a pair of men’s slacks which have tough pockets? I don’t really like to wear jeans. Or is there some other way to solve this problem? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-make-hole-in-pants-pocket/485057/2 "2009-02-09T14:37:25Z")
[Keycase.](http://www.keycases.co.uk/) ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-make-hole-in-pants-pocket/485057/3 "2009-02-09T15:53:38Z")
I have the same problem. I have started to reinforce my pockets by cutting up an old tshirt and using stitch-witchery to attach the fabric. [stictch witchery](http://crafts-sewing.hsn.com/dritz-stitch-witchery-fusible-bonding-web-5-8-x-20-yards_pf-1036824_xp.aspx?club_id=1036824&sz=31&sf=CT0052&rdr=1&cm_mmc=Shopping%20Engine-_-Froogle-_-Crafts%20And%20Sewing-_-Dritz%20Stitch%20Witchery%20Fusible%20Bonding%20Web%20-%205/8%20x%2020%20yards%204121927&cawelaid=145340095) ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-make-hole-in-pants-pocket/485057/4 "2009-02-09T16:09:51Z")
Get a [carabiner-style keychain](http://www.carabinerkeychains.com/). Put the keys on it. Hang the keys from your belt loop. No more holes in pockets. Cheery jingling noise when you walk. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-make-hole-in-pants-pocket/485057/5 "2009-02-09T16:11:18Z")
You can take your pants to almost any dry cleaner and they can put new fabric in place of the old pockets. My husband goes to our dry cleaner with all kinds of weirdo demands for his military style shirts. They’re happy to oblige, for a charge. ---
**Author:** ![caveman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caveman/32/7242_2.png) [@caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caveman)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-make-hole-in-pants-pocket/485057/6 "2009-02-09T16:24:54Z")
I have this problem from time to time, and I use iron-on denim patches to reinforce the pocket when I notice a hole starting to form. ---
**Author:** ![thirdwarning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@thirdwarning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdwarning)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-make-hole-in-pants-pocket/485057/7 "2009-02-09T16:38:45Z")
Fabric stores sell replacement pockets that you just sew to the existing one. Or as was mentioned, you could probably attach them with Stitch Witchery, or maybe fabric glue. Maybe you could put one over the pockets before they wear out. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-make-hole-in-pants-pocket/485057/8 "2009-02-09T16:39:35Z")
> [@caveman](#): > > I have this problem from time to time, and I use iron-on denim patches to reinforce the pocket when I notice a hole starting to form. I like that idea too. It is similar to how I do mine, but might be even easier. I’ll have to look for iron-on patches. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-make-hole-in-pants-pocket/485057/9 "2009-02-09T17:01:38Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Get a [carabiner-style keychain](http://www.carabinerkeychains.com/). Put the keys on it. Hang the keys from your belt loop. No more holes in pockets. Cheery jingling noise when you walk. I NEED a tie-dye carabiner now. Thanks a lot! The minimum order is 100. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-make-hole-in-pants-pocket/485057/10 "2009-02-09T17:22:33Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > I NEED a tie-dye carabiner now. Thanks a lot! The minimum order is 100. Group buy? ---
**Author:** ![Hi\_Neighbor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hi_neighbor/32/494_2.png) [@Hi\_Neighbor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hi_Neighbor)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-make-hole-in-pants-pocket/485057/11 "2009-02-09T17:32:24Z")
Keys cause senseless destruction when sitting in my pocket. When I first got my iPhone, I would put my keys and phone in the same pocket. After a week or two, I noticed that my screen had a few scratches on it, but it wasn’t until about a week later that I put two and two together. Luckily, the scratches are minor, and now my keys and phone are always in opposite pockets. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-make-hole-in-pants-pocket/485057/12 "2009-02-09T17:51:16Z")
Many of my pants, especially the jeans and other long pants, have a small change pocket on the right, just above the regular pocket. I shove my keys in there, and have never had one of those little pockets develop a hole. Of course, if you’re the sort of person who needs to carry around 20 or 30 keys, they might not fit in the change pocket. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-make-hole-in-pants-pocket/485057/13 "2009-02-09T18:08:13Z")
Get some jeans from Duluth Trading Company. The pockets are made of extremely sturdy “firehose canvas”, and the waistband and cuffs are lined with the same stuff. There’s a whole list of other things that make them superior jeans, too. [http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/clothes-footwear/mens/pants-shorts/86069.aspx?feature=P6544-C54788-L2&processor=content](http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/clothes-footwear/mens/pants-shorts/86069.aspx?feature=P6544-C54788-L2&processor=content) ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-make-hole-in-pants-pocket/485057/14 "2009-02-09T18:47:01Z")
I put the three keys I use every day on one ring that I carry in my pocket. All the others I put on another ring and threw it into the glove box. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-make-hole-in-pants-pocket/485057/15 "2009-02-09T19:41:49Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Many of my pants, especially the jeans and other long pants, have a small change pocket on the right, just above the regular pocket. I shove my keys in there, and have never had one of those little pockets develop a hole. Of course, if you’re the sort of person who needs to carry around 20 or 30 keys, they might not fit in the change pocket. There is no way mine would fit. I have keys for: apartment mailbox car steering wheel lock computer lock bike lock 2x outside doors at work (2 different buildings) 2x labs NMR room plus a bottle opener for when beer happens I use all of these nearly every day (I go to work 6-7 days/week). If I bike or bus I don’t need the keys for the car or wheel lock. I’ve started separating the work and non-work keys. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-make-hole-in-pants-pocket/485057/16 "2009-02-10T01:30:34Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Get a [carabiner-style keychain](http://www.carabinerkeychains.com/). Put the keys on it. Hang the keys from your belt loop. No more holes in pockets. Cheery jingling noise when you walk. And worn-out belt loops. Still better than holey pockets, though. But none of those crappy aluminum carabiner keyrings for me; no, sir. I have me a genuine steel climbing carabiner. Y’know, in case I suddenly need to rappel down a building for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![dynamitedave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed655f/32.png) [@dynamitedave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dynamitedave)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-make-hole-in-pants-pocket/485057/17 "2009-02-10T07:13:07Z")
> [@LouisB](#): > > I put the three keys I use every day on one ring that I carry in my pocket. All the others I put on another ring and threw it into the glove box. Same here. Car key, house key and PO box key in my pocket. Every other key is in my ash tray. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keys-make-hole-in-pants-pocket/485057/18 "2009-02-10T08:09:29Z")
I’ve had my keys in my pocket since I’ve started driving, and never had holes poked in my pocket. The only problem I’ve had is when the key jabs me in the leg or something.