# Work slacks keep wearing out between legs - how to prevent? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 6, 2023, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-slacks-keep-wearing-out-between-legs-how-to-prevent/977769 "2023-01-06T04:44:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2023, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-slacks-keep-wearing-out-between-legs-how-to-prevent/977769/41 "2023-07-30T16:23:48Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > The crotch gusset is visibly distinct when I examine the pants, so I’m just gonna have to see how well it holds up against my eight-to-twelve-miles-per-day work routine plus six-mile bike ride as compared to the Dickies, but I like what I see so far. “Crouch without the ouch.” There is a reason that’s their motto for these pants. I won’t buy anything else these days. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2023, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-slacks-keep-wearing-out-between-legs-how-to-prevent/977769/42 "2023-12-15T10:15:10Z")
Well, the crotch gusset didn’t wear out. The area just behind it did, though. ☹ [![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53399253504_23a7d41078_c.jpg) ](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53399253504_23a7d41078_c.jpg) Now I am become Death, Destroyer of Pants. And I really liked that pair, too. I may try another, or I may switch to black jeans, which I’ve now found out are permissible. I don’t like wearing jeans at work - it feels unprofessional to me - but denim seems to be the only fabric that can’t be shredded by the cosmic horror that is my crotch. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2023, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-slacks-keep-wearing-out-between-legs-how-to-prevent/977769/43 "2023-12-15T11:13:35Z")
Wow, sorry to hear that. My Duluth pants have lasted years so far. I’ve only ever bought about 4 or 5 pairs over almost ten years. If you reach out to Duluth, they might replace them for free. Here’s their policy: [https://www.duluthtrading.com/content/no-bull-guarantee](https://www.duluthtrading.com/content/no-bull-guarantee) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2023, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-slacks-keep-wearing-out-between-legs-how-to-prevent/977769/44 "2023-12-15T17:06:15Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Now I am become Death, Destroyer of Pants I laughed. For real. Well done. > [@Smapti](#): > > but denim seems to be the only fabric that can’t be shredded by the cosmic horror that is my crotch. So you say you’ve got something inside your pants that really really wants to get outside? And keeps succeeding despite your best efforts to corral it? Some men would kill to have that problem. 😁 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2023, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-slacks-keep-wearing-out-between-legs-how-to-prevent/977769/45 "2023-12-15T17:25:43Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > the cosmic horror that is my crotch. Oh my. ---
**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:** [December 15, 2023, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-slacks-keep-wearing-out-between-legs-how-to-prevent/977769/46 "2023-12-15T17:42:46Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > so I’m just gonna have to see how well it holds up against my eight-to-twelve-miles-per-day work routine plus six-mile bike ride I’m honing in on this part. Have you tried wearing activity-specific bike shorts or pants to work, and then changing into your work pants on arrival? And the opposite at end of day: change out of work pants and into bike-specific shorts/pants for the ride home. I’m wondering if a lot of the wear isn’t from cycling in ‘street clothes.’ Pretty easy and cheap to find out. Be safe on the roads! ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2023, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-slacks-keep-wearing-out-between-legs-how-to-prevent/977769/47 "2023-12-16T02:52:49Z")
The thighs of my pants wearing out between the legs is an indicator that: • I need to wear something else on my bike commute. • I need to try other brands of pants. • I need to lose a dozen pounds or so. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2023, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-slacks-keep-wearing-out-between-legs-how-to-prevent/977769/48 "2023-12-16T03:05:06Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > I’m honing in on this part. I did too, but my thought was, “he exercises that much and still gained weight? Life sucks.” ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2023, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-slacks-keep-wearing-out-between-legs-how-to-prevent/977769/49 "2023-12-16T04:09:52Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > Have you tried wearing activity-specific bike shorts or pants to work, and then changing into your work pants on arrival? > > And the opposite at end of day: change out of work pants and into bike-specific shorts/pants for the ride home. I could try that. It’s an e-bike, so I’m not actually pedaling most of the time, but I suppose it could be a factor. I wear jeans when I bike on my days off, though, and haven’t had my jeans wear iut the same way, so maybe switching to those will extend the life of the slacks. > [@CairoCarol](#): > > “he exercises that much and still gained weight? Life sucks.” Well, I was down 20 pounds after my trip to Chicago in April turned into me catching rotavirus and spending a week in the hospital, but unfortunately it came back. I’m working on cutting calories, though. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2024, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-slacks-keep-wearing-out-between-legs-how-to-prevent/977769/50 "2024-01-05T04:40:32Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > If you reach out to Duluth, they might replace them for free. Here’s their policy: > > [https://www.duluthtrading.com/content/no-bull-guarantee](https://www.duluthtrading.com/content/no-bull-guarantee) I filed for an exchange, printed off the shipping label they emailed me, boxed up the holey slacks, and dropped them off at the post office yesterday. I assumed they’d wait until they arrived and then examine them to decide whether the damage was covered by the warranty - instead, I got a shipping confirmation for a new pair before I even got home from the post office. Once I get the new ones I’ll make a point of switching out of them before getting on my bike and see if that extends their shelf life. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2024, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-slacks-keep-wearing-out-between-legs-how-to-prevent/977769/51 "2024-06-06T10:31:31Z")
UPDATE: I am now on my third pair of Duluth slacks. The second pair lasted until a few weeks ago before they wore out the same way the previous ones did. They accepted the return again and sent me a new pair. Notably, I haven’t been biking at all since January - my e-bike’s controller gave out and I’ve been strapped for cash to the point that I haven’t gotten it running again yet, so that apparently isn’t a factor. Duluth definitely stands by their quality guarantee, that’s for sure. I wonder - if they keep wearing out at this rate, is there gonna be a point where they decide my crotch is unsatisfiable and give up? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2024, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-slacks-keep-wearing-out-between-legs-how-to-prevent/977769/52 "2024-06-06T10:33:50Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > my crotch is unsatisfiable If you ever write your memoirs, you’ve got your title. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2024, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-slacks-keep-wearing-out-between-legs-how-to-prevent/977769/53 "2024-06-06T11:35:19Z")
Bravo Sir, that was _excellent!!_ Sounds like Craftsman has the ultimate guarantee for @Smapti’s tools and Duluth has the ultimate guarantee for @Smapti’s tool covers. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2024, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-slacks-keep-wearing-out-between-legs-how-to-prevent/977769/54 "2024-06-06T11:53:59Z")
Their guarantee appears to expire after one year, but I don’t know if that’s one year from the original purchase or one year from each pair they send. I guess you’ll find out! ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2024, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-slacks-keep-wearing-out-between-legs-how-to-prevent/977769/55 "2024-06-08T03:51:28Z")
I’ve never had a thigh gap, even when i was slim. My legs just aren’t built that way. And I’m no longer slim. And my pants wear out in the crotch, but not super fast. I have some nylon shorts that I’ve worn for years with very little visible wear. You might check out different fabrics. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2024, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-slacks-keep-wearing-out-between-legs-how-to-prevent/977769/56 "2024-06-08T15:09:03Z")
Look for comfortable or relaxed fit in the description. They used to use husky. Getting a looser fit in the butt and crotch makes a big difference in chafing and excessive wear. Last resort is finding an alteration shop. The expense is offset by how much longer the pants can be used. My mom would buy 4 pants. Three for alterations and one was for donor material. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-slacks-keep-wearing-out-between-legs-how-to-prevent/977769.md?page=2)