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Style Battle – Button Fly vs. Zipper Fly

January 19, 2011 By Joe | Heads up: Buying via our links may result in us getting a commission. Also, we take your privacy rights seriously. Head here to learn more.

Gap Authentic Fit Zip Fly Jeans – $54.50 .|. Levi’s 501 Button Fly Jeans – $39.99

Forget boxers vs briefs.  There appears to be a serious rift amongst the male denim wearing community when it comes to how they choose to close their barn door.  Here’s the argument for each:

The case for Zipper Fly: It’s the evolution of fasteners.  Why live in the past?  A zip fly is easy to use, quickly re-fastens, and doesn’t add any extra weight to the jeans.  They also won’t come undone on their own unlike a button or two on a button fly.

The case for Button Fly: If it’s about fastener evolution, wouldn’t we all be wearing velcro fly jeans by now?  Sounds sexy.  The button fly offers one handed undoing operation (zippers require you to hold the waist band as you unzip).  Button fly jeans feel less flimsy.  There’s no risk of injury… i.e. There’s Something About Mary.

Now it’s your turn.  Make your case and leave your vote in the comments section below…

And may the best fly win.

Levi's at ShopStyle

Filed Under: Clothing Tagged With: button fly vs. zipper fly, denim, GAP authentic fit, Levi's 501, style debate

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Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    January 19, 2011 at 12:02 PM

    How did you get the beans above the franks???

  2. Anonymous says

    January 19, 2011 at 1:18 PM

    I wear both and I like both. But if I had to choose between the two? Hmm, it’s easy for a girl to un-do your pants with a zipper. Atleast through my experiences.

  3. Anonymous says

    January 19, 2011 at 1:19 PM

    I like both and I wear both. But if I had to pick between the two? Hmm, zippers are easier for a girl to undo when you’re in the heat of things. Atleast through my experiences.

  4. Anonymous says

    January 19, 2011 at 1:20 PM

    I dig both. If I’m drinking, a button fly can get a little cumbersome (especially with the increased trips to the bathroom) and a zipper is probably better. For any given day? Doesn’t make a huge difference to me.

  5. Ben says

    January 19, 2011 at 2:11 PM

    I’d have to say I’m an avowed button guy. To quote Jerry Seinfeld: “That’s one place in my wardrobe that I can do without interlocking metal teeth.” Still, I don’t mind the zip, but buttons are just my preference.

    Cheers,
    Ben

  6. Paul says

    January 19, 2011 at 2:12 PM

    Button-fly does indeed feel a bit cooler when you put them on, but zipper wins out when you’re rushing to the restroom and trying to fumble to get your fly open.
    For me, function over form, I like the button, but the zipper never fails in a pinch.

  7. Anonymous says

    January 19, 2011 at 3:52 PM

    I have no preference. With button fly it all comes down to ease of use. I once had a pair that required a lot of work to button. I didn’t keep that pair very long.

  8. Tergiversator_Maximus says

    January 19, 2011 at 4:29 PM

    Buttons also don’t jam, so when you desperately need to piss, you don’t have to work the zipper back and forth to get it down. Furthermore, after a little wearing in, I think button flies open just as quickly as zipper flies, they just take slightly more time to close. Really, I think the only downside to button flies is that I have to unbuckle my belt because it’s not really easy to open only the fly and not the waist as well.

  9. Emmanuel Egolum says

    January 19, 2011 at 4:41 PM

    Button-fly all the way

  10. Ma Junior says

    January 19, 2011 at 4:58 PM

    Reminds me of night out. I had just gotten a pair of heavy 21oz denim jeans. After a night out with a lovely young lady, we headed back to her place. She quickly began to undo my fly. But my unbroken in jeans put up quite a battle. After defeating the first button she looked up at me and said “Seriously?!?”. I almost fell off the bed in laughter. In spite of this I’m still a devote button fly man.

  11. Adam says

    January 19, 2011 at 5:04 PM

    Much easier at the urinal with a zip fly… just unzip and go. With a button fly you have to unbuckle your belt (a particular pain if you’re wearing a ribbon belt), and undo all the buttons, then when you’re finished redo the belt. Don’t see the appeal of button fly at all

  12. Joe says

    January 19, 2011 at 5:11 PM

    My 501s are actually super easy to undo at the urinal. They’re almost like tear away warm ups. Maybe it just takes practice? Takes me longer to unzip actually.

  13. Bryan says

    January 19, 2011 at 6:18 PM

    I used to like zipper fly, but have recently converted to button. I’m not dead-set against either, but I feel like button is a bit more substantial. Also, they are hard to re-button at a urinal sometimes but it gets easier as the pants get older. The buttonholes loosen up a little and the buttons go in easier. So far I haven’t seen this taken too far to the point that the buttons come undone on their own.

  14. Anonymous says

    January 19, 2011 at 7:40 PM

    Vote for button fly here, and a few girls who have seen the button fly always are pleasantly surprised. Since they are pretty worn in its super easy unbuttoning as well.

  15. Chris says

    January 19, 2011 at 10:10 PM

    I agree that button fly is much easier to unbutton. Unless you’re 5. I hated asking my parents to undo my fly because I never could. I hated wearing jeans when I was little because of it. Now its a cinch. I don’t see why you guys are having so much difficulty.

  16. Chris says

    January 19, 2011 at 10:10 PM

    I agree that button fly is much easier to unbutton. Unless you’re 5. I hated asking my parents to undo my fly because I never could. I hated wearing jeans when I was little because of it. Now its a cinch. I don’t see why you guys are having so much difficulty.

  17. destroyideas says

    January 20, 2011 at 11:19 PM

    Two words: Zipper boner.

    I wear button flies about four to five times a week. Nothing against zippers so much, but the buttons are more comfortable.

  18. Warren says

    November 23, 2012 at 12:56 AM

    I have always preferred button fly but they are getting harder to get and I have to hunt in my favourite brand store for them as the majority are zip fly.

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