# Men's Pants Pockets **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 23, 2009, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-pants-pockets/500740 "2009-06-23T17:36:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-pants-pockets/500740/21 "2009-06-24T19:32:10Z")
But, but, but LOUNE, he’s _ **very manly!** _ ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-pants-pockets/500740/22 "2009-06-24T19:36:44Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > He’s fictional… Well no one is perfect. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-pants-pockets/500740/23 "2009-06-25T02:55:34Z")
I almost always wear jeans too so it’s not a problem for me usually. But for those who do carry a coin purse, where do you carry that? A coin purse goes into a pocket generally, so you still have the basic problem. In a related area, it’s not suprising that wallet chains came into populatity among some people right along with baggy pants, although in that case it was usually khakis or jeans, not dress pants. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-pants-pockets/500740/24 "2009-06-25T15:28:24Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > I almost always wear jeans too so it’s not a problem for me usually. But for those who do carry a coin purse, where do you carry that? A coin purse goes into a pocket generally, so you still have the basic problem. Presumably a coin purse grips the fabric better (being leather or rubber instead of smooth metal) and keeps all the coins contained so that even if it does pop out, you just pick up the coin purse instead of a bunch of scattered coins. ---
**Author:** ![chromaticity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@chromaticity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chromaticity)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-pants-pockets/500740/25 "2009-06-25T16:33:45Z")
Pretty much what Shot From Guns said. I still like to keep my coins in the pants area, because I hate digging around my bag. Also, Im shocked and dismayed to see the anti-manbag streak! Its amazingly handy and you can stuff a ton of crap in there. On the other hand, my feel for what is manly might be getting a tad watered down… When you see 50-year old men carrying [this](http://www.strapya-world.com/categories/12_28_3913_297_4600.html) kind of thing on their phones, a bag stops looking sissy pretty fast. ---
**Author:** ![palindromemordnilap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@palindromemordnilap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/palindromemordnilap)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-pants-pockets/500740/26 "2009-06-25T17:24:06Z")
I used to lose keys and change from front pockets on a couple of pairs of shorts, but I keep wallet, keys, change and cell phone in front pockets and have not had a problem in more than 15 years (other than maybe looking like more of a doofus that I otherwise would). I also don’t worry about pickpockets. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-pants-pockets/500740/27 "2009-06-25T20:13:48Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > In a related area, it’s not suprising that wallet chains came into populatity among some people right along with baggy pants, although in that case it was usually khakis or jeans, not dress pants. I’ve always thought wallet chains indicate that you think the people you hang around with are criminals who are very likely to try to pick your pocket. My pet peeve is the idiotic tiny pocket at the bottom of men’s front pants pockets! It serves no earthly purpose, and is a place for your change to get caught, so you wind up trying to dig change out of it when you try to pay for something and end up looking like you’re masturbating. ---
**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:** [June 25, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-pants-pockets/500740/28 "2009-06-25T20:27:59Z")
The little pocket-in-a-pocket in some men’s dress pants perfectly fits a Zippo lighter. I’m really surprised the lighter pocket has survived, in these times. ---
**Author:** ![Spectralist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Spectralist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectralist)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-pants-pockets/500740/29 "2009-06-25T22:03:42Z")
> [@cjepson](#): > > 1. Does anyone else have this problem? It’s been happening to me all my life. I started to wear a pouch(or fanny pack, if you prefer) when i was 7ish primarily because of this. Of course that created a different, but much more manageable problem: i’m now the dork who wears a pouch. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-pants-pockets/500740/30 "2009-06-26T15:07:53Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > My pet peeve is the idiotic tiny pocket at the bottom of men’s front pants pockets! It serves no earthly purpose, and is a place for your change to get caught, so you wind up trying to dig change out of it when you try to pay for something and end up looking like you’re masturbating. Clearly, the solution is to cut the pants pockets out and \*actually \*masturbate. If people are going to get a poor impression of you anyway, you may as well enjoy it. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-pants-pockets/500740/31 "2009-06-27T00:38:08Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > Clearly, the solution is to cut the pants pockets out and \*actually \*masturbate. If people are going to get a poor impression of you anyway, you may as well enjoy it. Yeah, but then where do I keep my change? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-pants-pockets/500740/32 "2009-06-27T02:42:46Z")
> [@AskNott](#): > > The little pocket-in-a-pocket in some men’s dress pants perfectly fits a Zippo lighter. I’m really surprised the lighter pocket has survived, in these times. OTOH it’s just perfect for some of the smaller cell phones, or for a key set that you don’t want to fall all the way to the real bottom of the pocket and jingle-jangle as you walk. My problem with pants pockets is not so much stuff falling out when I sit as it is that I have to remember to fish out my cell phone if I sit, because then it’s awkward to try and reach for it w/o standing up. And yes, I know the fashionistas say that you should NOT put things in your pockets, but damn it, functionally useful pockets are useful! I like having both hands free. Heck, I would seek for WOMEN’s clothes to incorporate functionally useful pockets! ---
**Author:** ![Casserole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b77776/32.png) [@Casserole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casserole)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-pants-pockets/500740/33 "2009-06-27T06:27:54Z")
> [@cjepson](#): > > OK, upon close inspection of my pants, I have discovered that the norm seems to be that the top 1" - 2" of the pocket is stitched to the pant leg, and the remaining 5" or so hangs loose. So, are these “real” pants or not? I would hate to be walking around wearing imaginary pants. Why, your majesty, your royal trousers look ever so beautiful! 😃 I don’t find that my pants’ shape change much when I fill my pockets with my manly possessions… but then again, I do wear some baggy clothing, so that probably helps. I’ve definitely considered getting a messenger bag. They **do** look really cool, but only a small subset of people can really pull them off and look fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2009, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-pants-pockets/500740/34 "2009-06-29T21:52:36Z")
I think when khakis became fashionable–in a business casual sort of way–is when the problem became acute. Khakis as we know them, AFAIK, originated in the everyday, non-battle attire of military officers and some noncoms, sometime before the second World War. But back then, men wore their trousers very high by today’s standards and the pants had a long zipper and high rise. Nowadays we wear them a lot lower but the trousers still have the twelve inch zipper, or it seems like it. It certainly hasn’t helped the side pockets to work any better, that’s for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2009, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-pants-pockets/500740/35 "2009-06-29T22:17:17Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > My brother’s traveled to Japan on business several times, and he said most men carry a coin purse. [I must be turning Japanese then.](http://gallery.me.com/komiksulo#100071/scan_005&bgcolor=black) I keep my coins and keys in this coin pouch in one front pocket, and my wallet in the other. I admit that a bag is seeming more and more attractive; I tend to keep pens and things in either my coat pockets or the shopping bag I have with me, but this becomes awkward when I want to listen to my iPod. The pouch cost $4 across the road in the convenience store. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-pants-pockets/500740/36 "2009-06-30T10:55:06Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > I think when khakis became fashionable–in a business casual sort of way–is when the problem became acute. Khakis as we know them, AFAIK, originated in the everyday, non-battle attire of military officers and some noncoms, sometime before the second World War. But back then, men wore their trousers very high by today’s standards and the pants had a long zipper and high rise. Nowadays we wear them a lot lower but the trousers still have the twelve inch zipper, or it seems like it. It certainly hasn’t helped the side pockets to work any better, that’s for sure. Khakis are from the british indian army and its attempts to find something which did not say “SHOOT ME” like the Redcoats did. As for coins, ever heard of a breast pocket? ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-pants-pockets/500740/37 "2009-06-30T12:28:26Z")
I don’t have this problem with pockets, but then I don’t carry much in them, my wallet and keys. I keep coins in my wallet (why wouldn’t you?) and I keep my phone on my belt when I bother to carry it with me. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-pants-pockets/500740/38 "2009-06-30T12:35:27Z")
[quote=“1920s Style “Death Ray”, post:37, topic:500740”] I don’t have this problem with pockets, but then I don’t carry much in them, my wallet and keys. I keep coins in my wallet (why wouldn’t you?) and I keep my phone on my belt when I bother to carry it with me. [/QUOTE] And the fashion people will turn red in the face and tear their hair out at seeing it carried that way. Since I find the fashion people’s annoyance greatly entertaining, I encourage you to continue doing it. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-pants-pockets/500740/39 "2009-06-30T15:17:29Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > As for coins, ever heard of a breast pocket? If it doesn’t have a button flap (and those are unheard of on dress shirts), the coins fall out when you bend over to pick something up off the floor, tie your shoes, etc. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-pants-pockets/500740/40 "2009-06-30T15:19:41Z")
[quote=“1920s Style “Death Ray”, post:37, topic:500740”] I don’t have this problem with pockets, but then I don’t carry much in them, my wallet and keys. I keep coins in my wallet (why wouldn’t you?) and I keep my phone on my belt when I bother to carry it with me. [/QUOTE] Does your wallet have a special coin compartment? It seems like that would make it fat, and I don’t like fat wallets. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-pants-pockets/500740.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-pants-pockets/500740.md?page=3)