# Why do people keep their wallet in their back-pocket? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 20, 2014, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-keep-their-wallet-in-their-back-pocket/679271 "2014-01-20T12:59:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Krouget](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b38774/32.png) [@Krouget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krouget)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-keep-their-wallet-in-their-back-pocket/679271/41 "2014-01-21T14:24:51Z")
> [@Disposable Hero](#): > > As it says in the title, I’ve never understood why people do this, men walking around with a highly visible and easily removed wallet at the rear of their trousers. > > And then they seem surprised when its stolen?!? > > Weak-sauce of a thread I know but its just another of those things that gives me a little internal eyebrow raise when I see it. I rarely place my wallet or much else in my pants pockets, but when I do, I prefer the rear ones. Unless very small, like my key FOB, keeping objects in my side pockets makes it uncomfortable when I walk or sit. The rear pockets aren’t great, but they’re better. That said, I wouldn’t consider it easy to remove in either case. > [@kambuckta](#): > > Echoing the sciatica issue. > > My (then) partner attended the Doc complaining of shooting pains through his buttock and down leg, and was prescribed a change of venue for his wallet. Apparently it is a **very** common cause of sciatica without any accompanying back issues. Interesting, this never occurred to me. Learned something new. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-keep-their-wallet-in-their-back-pocket/679271/42 "2014-01-21T14:26:52Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > But a back pocket wallet means sitting on your wallet, which cannot be comfortable. I never use my back pockets. If it becomes uncomfortable, that means it’s time to clear out all the old ATM chits and reminder notes to myself. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-keep-their-wallet-in-their-back-pocket/679271/43 "2014-01-21T15:06:59Z")
> [@Krouget](#): > > I rarely place my wallet or much else in my pants pockets, but when I do, I prefer the rear ones. Unless very small, like my key FOB, keeping objects in my side pockets makes it uncomfortable when I walk or sit. The rear pockets aren’t great, but they’re better. > > That said, I wouldn’t consider it easy to remove in either case. > Interesting, this never occurred to me. Learned something new. Yep - I read about this 30 or so years ago. About 24 years ago, a fellow I was working with complained about sciatica pain. I looked over, saw that he carried a thick wallet in his back pocket, and suggested he move it. Cured him, I did 🙂 I told him he owed me 40 bucks for the consult. I never did get paid 😛 ---
**Author:** ![BrianJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/54ee81/32.png) [@BrianJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrianJ)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-keep-their-wallet-in-their-back-pocket/679271/44 "2014-01-21T15:15:17Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > “It’s a European carryall!” My wife calls it a purse. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-keep-their-wallet-in-their-back-pocket/679271/45 "2014-01-21T15:40:39Z")
This is also related to the issue of wallets generally being too big IMO. No pocket is comfortable for me to carry a full-size, leather, man-wallet stuffed with reams of cash. I don’t know how people do it\*. But of the pockets to carry it in, I’d say jacket and back pocket are slightly less annoying / constricting than the front pocket. And jacket has issues of its own – you might remove the jacket, or if it’s unbuttoned it might flap about in the wind (yeah…I actually lost a wallet that way once :smack:). - For me, since you’re dying to know, I just keep 3 or 4 cards in one of those cheapo, plastic card-holder things now. Fits fine in a front pocket. I might put a few notes into one of the spaces but generally I’ll pay for things by card. ---
**Author:** ![RichieBoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b5e925/32.png) [@RichieBoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RichieBoy)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-keep-their-wallet-in-their-back-pocket/679271/46 "2014-01-21T15:42:03Z")
I’ve learned over the years to keep my wallet in my front pocket instead of my rear pocket. I’ve never been a victim of a pick pocket and I’ve lived and worked in NYC all my Life. But as time passed and as the crime rate seemed to rise on a steady basis especially on the Subway I somehow without even thinking about it moved my Wallet from the back pocket to the left front pocket with my keys in my right front pocket. When wearing a jacket or coat that has an inside pocket I simply transfer my wallet there. If your a victim of a pick pocket you not only lose money, you also lose other important stuff such as drivers licenses and other documents! ---
**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:** [January 21, 2014, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-keep-their-wallet-in-their-back-pocket/679271/47 "2014-01-21T21:19:41Z")
So that in bars, I can tell the young lady, “I’m not really this tall. I’m sitting on my wallet.” I need all the help I can get in those situations. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-keep-their-wallet-in-their-back-pocket/679271.md?page=2)