# Men's Underwear...with no fly **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 15, 2011, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-underwear-with-no-fly/603069 "2011-11-15T23:44:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-underwear-with-no-fly/603069/41 "2011-11-16T16:13:42Z")
Most importantly, you gotta be able to operate this thing in the rest room at any bar. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-underwear-with-no-fly/603069/42 "2011-11-16T16:16:30Z")
I remember using the underwear fly as a kid for the same reasons you all gave: the hole is there, so obviously it’s intended to be used. The biggest disadvantage is the fact that it wears out the hole. As pointed out above, they don’t line up on the inner flap and outer flap. You stretch the fabric a lot to use the hole. Eventually that wears down, and your penis starts sticking out when it’s not wanted. EDIT: And I wore Hanes. ---
**Author:** ![rogerbox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@rogerbox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rogerbox)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-underwear-with-no-fly/603069/43 "2011-11-16T16:50:20Z")
Id rather not fumble around and try to snake myway through two flys. Also leaving the pants buttoned means the zipper will chaff the sides of the penis, I am not a fan of that. I have never used a fpy, ever but I also don’t really care what technique others use. Mine is fast, and comfortable so I don’t see any downside. I’m actually going to be buying more boxers soon, and even before this thread I knew I was going to specifically look for ones without flys…as they age the fly on the boxer shorts starts staying open, especially if they are the button fly kind and the button comes off. Then to avoid grinding against my zipper I have to hike up the shorts higher than i would like. I hate flys on boxers and don’t see the point at all. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-underwear-with-no-fly/603069/44 "2011-11-16T17:17:05Z")
**rogerbox** , if the zipper is actually chafing you, then you’re doing something seriously wrong. :eek: I once ordered underwear over the Internet. They had one style, one pattern, two colors. They were $25 a pair. I foolishly ordered 8 pair. After several weeks of not getting them, I e-mail the company to see where they were. I got a pissy response saying that they would be mailed out at the beginning of the next month. When they arrived, one pair was size small. They had no flies, and no matter how I wore them they felt like I had them on backwards. And they wore out really fast. Worst Internet purchase ever. ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-underwear-with-no-fly/603069/45 "2011-11-16T17:18:24Z")
> [@GameHat](#): > > What’s really silly is for a grown man to be wearing briefs. > > Briefs are great…for young boys, up until adolescence. > > Past that, man, you need to graduate to [Boxer briefs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxer_briefs) > > 😃 Don’t like them. Too much material. Too “heavy.” Briefs all the way! ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-underwear-with-no-fly/603069/46 "2011-11-16T17:54:22Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Didn’t you ever wonder why they put the fly in the the shorts? It seems like it would be natural to use the thing for the intended purpose. My uninformed impression is that advantages of a fly _other than the possible use for urination_ are - doubling the material where it is most needed - making the underpants more stretchy in the front than the elasticity of the fabric would allow otherwise (because the inner and outer parts of the fly can pull to the sides) I for one have never used the fly for urination as an adult but appreciate the above advantages. ---
**Author:** ![cards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecd19e/32.png) [@cards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cards)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-underwear-with-no-fly/603069/47 "2011-11-16T19:42:32Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I’ve not used the fly since I button my boxers onto my dress shirt. OK, this requires some explanation. How do you button your shirt to your boxers? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-underwear-with-no-fly/603069/48 "2011-11-16T19:53:06Z")
> [@cards](#): > > OK, this requires some explanation. How do you button your shirt to your boxers? Well, the boxer fly has buttons and so does the shirt. I can’t see what I’m doing through the fly of my trousers. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-underwear-with-no-fly/603069/49 "2011-11-16T20:07:02Z")
> [@Mops](#): > > My uninformed impression is that advantages of a fly _other than the possible use for urination_ are > > - doubling the material where it is most needed > - making the underpants more stretchy in the front than the elasticity of the fabric would allow otherwise (because the inner and outer parts of the fly can pull to the sides) > > I for one have never used the fly for urination as an adult but appreciate the above advantages. Covert access. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-underwear-with-no-fly/603069/50 "2011-11-16T20:18:23Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Well, the boxer fly has buttons and so does the shirt. I can’t see what I’m doing through the fly of my trousers. I’d ask you to explain more but then I fear that I’d be even more confused. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-underwear-with-no-fly/603069/51 "2011-11-16T20:22:30Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I’d ask you to explain more but then I fear that I’d be even more confused. Any more information, and you’re buying the beer. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-underwear-with-no-fly/603069/52 "2011-11-16T23:38:43Z")
I think he’s saying he accidentally buttoned his shirt tail to the button on his boxer fly. Definitely stay away from Levi’s 501s **carnivorousplant**! ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2011, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-underwear-with-no-fly/603069/53 "2011-11-17T00:24:08Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > I’m wearing today a new pair of briefs, in a different style and brand than usual. So I just went to the men’s room to shake the dew off the lily, and unzip, and then fumble around inside my pants for an unseemly amount of time, looking for the fly. > > it turns out that these briefs ain’t got no fly. > > WTF? Why would someone make men’s briefs with no opening in the front for easy access? Take em off & turn them around, Chief. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2011, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-underwear-with-no-fly/603069/54 "2011-11-17T00:26:04Z")
> [@Ashes\_Ashes](#): > > So they’re sort of man-panties? Maybe we’re supposed to just rip through them Bruce Banner style…? [penis]“Don’t get me angry! You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry…”[/penis] ---
**Author:** ![ProbablyProcrastinating](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/57b2e6/32.png) [@ProbablyProcrastinating](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ProbablyProcrastinating)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2011, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-underwear-with-no-fly/603069/55 "2011-11-17T06:20:06Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > Every man I ve ever had anything to do with has expressed this opinion. Also, boxer briefs are dead sexy and I would like to require that all men wear them, please. +1,000. Too heavy? How are they heavier than briefs? I’ve folded enough of them. I think they are the same amount of material, actually… ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2011, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-underwear-with-no-fly/603069/56 "2011-11-24T21:54:48Z")
There’s a difference between boxers and briefs. Boxers typically have a button fly, and the material overlaps kinda like a shirt. If the material gets gappy, you can dangle out the opening. Plus, boxers don’t provide any support down there. Things dangle around when you move. I hate that. I wear briefs. Briefs have the overlapping flaps where the opening inside is on the left and the opening outside is on the right. You have to push one layer aside one way, another layer aside the other, pull things out, and try to do all this maneuvering through your trouser fly. I tried when I was younger because I thought I would see if it worked better. Too much fiddling, things not comfortable. Much easier to undo belt, open trousers, pull down waistband. I tried boxer brief, don’t like the legbands around the thighs. Finding comfortable underwear is a chore. You’d think it would be easy, but style and cut varies and people’s bodies are shaped differently. I’ve had briefs that were too saggy in front. ---
**Author:** ![bikedude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bikedude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bikedude)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2021, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-underwear-with-no-fly/603069/57 "2021-11-06T01:54:35Z")
I just returned some with no fly. Must be designed by women. Save on manufacturing costs ? At least mention it on the package so I don’t waste time figuring which is which. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2021, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-underwear-with-no-fly/603069/58 "2021-11-06T14:53:15Z")
Somebody must have taught me I’m supposed to pull my penis out through the underwear fly to pee, because I did it that way throughout childhood. Then one time I was in a rush and thought, why am I messing with all this? Why am I trying to pull the overlapping underwear fly apart far enough to reach through the hole and pull my equipment out? I can do this any way I feel like! So I just pulled the elastic waistband down a bit. I leave my pants up with the button and belt fastened, and just unzip the fly. It’s much easier, and I don’t see any point in doing it the harder way. As to the sentiment that those of us who don’t do it the hard way ought to just wet our pants instead, I guess I’d need more explanation as to why it’d be better to wet my pants than just going the easy way. But, really, I’m good – don’t bother explaining it to me. I’m sure I will have something better to do whenever you try. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2021, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-underwear-with-no-fly/603069/59 "2021-11-06T14:56:22Z")
I have never once used the fly. Way easier to pull the waistband down, even with jeans or dress pants. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2021, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-underwear-with-no-fly/603069/60 "2021-11-06T15:02:59Z")
It’s four minutes, but – if it wasn’t already offered up – it’s funny and relevant: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/NqIKbwyQmV8/maxresdefault.jpg "The Problem With Underwear | Behind The Scenes | The Problem With Jon Stewart | Apple TV+") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqIKbwyQmV8) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-underwear-with-no-fly/603069.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-underwear-with-no-fly/603069.md?page=4)