# Zipper or Button Fly? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 25, 2007, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-or-button-fly/405458 "2007-05-25T05:24:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-or-button-fly/405458/1 "2007-05-25T05:24:45Z")
So I have two pairs of BDUs and at first I hated the button fly, preferring the standard zipper fly, but as I’ve worn the BDUs I’ve come to prefer the button fly. Thoughts? Opinions? Discussion? – IG ---
**Author:** ![LilShieste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@LilShieste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilShieste)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-or-button-fly/405458/2 "2007-05-25T06:24:06Z")
[QUOTE=Improv Geek] So I have two pairs of BDUs and at first I hated the button fly, preferring the standard zipper fly, but as I’ve worn the BDUs I’ve come to prefer the button fly. Thoughts? Opinions? Discussion? – IG [/QUOTE] I remember first trying out button fly jeans back in high school. After I got my first pair, I much preferred them to their zipper fly counterparts. At some point, I switched back over to the zipper, though. (I don’t think it was fully intentional - probably just started wearing a different brand). Currently, I have 2 pairs of button fly jeans, and about 3 pairs of zipper fly. The thing I like about them is that I don’t have to worry about being caught with my fly open. 😃 LilShieste ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-or-button-fly/405458/3 "2007-05-25T06:33:01Z")
I hate button flies. I hate them even more when my BF has one. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-or-button-fly/405458/4 "2007-05-25T06:36:53Z")
Button flies are an order of magnitude sexier than zippers. My husband wore black BDUs with a button fly on our first date (and big black Altamas). Hubba hubba. He hasn’t worn them in a while - think I’ll move 'em up a bit in the closet queue and drop some hints. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![pretend\_my\_name\_is\_witty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9e5f3/32.png) [@pretend\_my\_name\_is\_witty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pretend_my_name_is_witty)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-or-button-fly/405458/5 "2007-05-25T08:25:44Z")
Button flies are very good for quick-release undoing. For when you’ve (or someone’s) just got to pull your jeans off then and there. They’re rubbish for doing up after peeing though. Different circumstances, different winner. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-or-button-fly/405458/6 "2007-05-25T09:07:54Z")
[QUOTE=pretend my name is witty] They’re rubbish for doing up after peeing though. [/QUOTE] Agreed - I can’t see how using a urinal is practical with a button fly, you either have to: -Lengthy fumble to get them open without undoing the top button and/or your belt, then lengthy fumble to do them up again -Undo the top button and/or your belt and unbutton the whole lot, but then there’s a risk they’ll fall down completely while you’re in mid-pee, and you still have to do a moderately lengthy fumble to do them up again afterwards. All that conspicuous fumbling in the crotch area attracts too much attention, as does undoing your belt and the whole of your fly (as if you’re going to take them off) ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-or-button-fly/405458/7 "2007-05-25T11:33:12Z")
I’m female (despite what certain people in certian other thread :mad: 😃 have suggested). And I don’t wear anything with a fly. But I prefer buttons. Much more fun to take off. Slowly. ---
**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:** [May 25, 2007, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-or-button-fly/405458/8 "2007-05-25T13:53:22Z")
Button flies work well after they have been broken in, and there is much less chance of doing yourself an injury while re-fastening. ---
**Author:** ![rucciface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ba9def/32.png) [@rucciface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rucciface)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-or-button-fly/405458/9 "2007-05-25T14:05:17Z")
I’m with you, **betenoir**. Button-fly also makes the package look bigger. ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-or-button-fly/405458/10 "2007-05-25T14:37:39Z")
Button Fly, no questions. Nobody has ever been caught in a button. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-or-button-fly/405458/11 "2007-05-25T18:23:52Z")
In the unlikely event that I someday get involved in Civil War reinactments, I’ll wear button fly. Until then, I’ll stick with zippers. ---
**Author:** ![StinkyBurrito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9e5f3/32.png) [@StinkyBurrito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StinkyBurrito)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-or-button-fly/405458/12 "2007-05-25T20:24:37Z")
I’m lazy… zippers are far more speedy and convenient than buttons. They are pretty much fool proof and can be operated much more quickly. I had an… ‘accident’… with a zipper when I was young. I will never make that mistake again, but it only takes a little care to avoid. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-or-button-fly/405458/13 "2007-05-25T20:28:55Z")
Button Fly I have testicles. ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-or-button-fly/405458/14 "2007-05-25T20:56:36Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] -Undo the top button and/or your belt and unbutton the whole lot, but then there’s a risk they’ll fall down completely while you’re in mid-pee, and you still have to do a moderately lengthy fumble to do them up again afterwards. All that conspicuous fumbling in the crotch area attracts too much attention, as does undoing your belt and the whole of your fly (as if you’re going to take them off) [/QUOTE] For some of us, leaving the top button _done_ results in fumbling that is more impractical and, uh, uncomfortable. To quote W’s favorite philosopher: > [@Jesus](#): > > Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle… ---
**Author:** ![Potato\_Pancakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Potato\_Pancakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Potato_Pancakes)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-or-button-fly/405458/15 "2007-05-25T21:19:06Z")
[QUOTE=ouryL] I have testicles. [/QUOTE] Same here but I make sure they’re not swinging in the breeze when I go to zip up. Can’t stand button fly. ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-or-button-fly/405458/16 "2007-05-25T21:24:26Z")
No testicles here. For some reason, I prefer button flys. I really can’t say why, other than zippers are just boring and common. Happening upon a button fly wile expecting a zipper can be quite a thrill. What are BDU’s? ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-or-button-fly/405458/17 "2007-05-25T22:25:36Z")
[QUOTE=LunaV] What are BDU’s? [/QUOTE] Battle Dress Uniform, aka “fatigues” ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2007, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-or-button-fly/405458/18 "2007-05-26T00:51:27Z")
I think a button fly doesn’t work past a certain age. I used to look _mahvelous_ in them 6 or 8 years ago when I was in shape with washboard abs and I could dress “young” and still get away with it. Now that I’m over 40 and have a spare tire, I feel silly trying to look good in 501’s. ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2007, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-or-button-fly/405458/19 "2007-05-26T01:51:47Z")
[QUOTE=Improv Geek] So I have two pairs of BDUs and at first I hated the button fly, preferring the standard zipper fly, but as I’ve worn the BDUs I’ve come to prefer the button fly. Thoughts? Opinions? Discussion? – IG [/QUOTE] I’ve never caught my naughty bits in a button fly. You’d think that would make button fly a no brainer. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2007, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-or-button-fly/405458/20 "2007-05-26T02:04:30Z")
I have velcro shoes. Where’s the velcro Jeans! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zipper-or-button-fly/405458.md?page=2)