How do I keep my keys from chewing through my trousers?

November 25, 2007 4:35 AM

How do I keep my keys from chewing through my trousers? The threadbare spot on one pair has developed into a hole. This is probably related to the fact that it's where I place my keys in my front pockets.
posted by grouse to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (25 answers total)

A. Don't put your keys there, and/or
B. Put your keys inside something, like one of those leather key-wallet thingies.
posted by Reggie Digest at 5:09 AM on November 25, 2007

It's hereditary. I daresay your father had the same problem. It's too late to get new parents, so the best solution is to learn to sew. Pocket insides are easy to mend because no one sees them, so you can be quick rather than neat. And sewing is a skill you will be glad to have acquired.
posted by ubiquity at 5:35 AM on November 25, 2007 [1 favorite]

Ubiquity's solution (sewing, not replacing parents!) only works if your trousers have "proper" pockets; recent fashion is coming up with cheap designs where the trouser material actually forms the front of the pocket - and once the trouser material is holed, that it. :(

I've had a couple of pairs of trousers go the same way - I suppose that they could be repaired by patching from the inside of the pocket, but I've resorted to changing pockets to my jacket.

I haven't seen the "key-wallet thingies", but another solution would be to get one of the belt-loop clips and have your keys dangling. Not particularly ideal or secure... and more than a bit annoying having them jangle all the time!
posted by Chunder at 5:45 AM on November 25, 2007

Reduce the number of keys you carry. Use one of those detachable keychain to leave keys behind when possible.
posted by sexymofo at 5:49 AM on November 25, 2007

Men's Keycases--one of these should solve the problem.
posted by Carol Anne at 5:55 AM on November 25, 2007

Wear loser pants, so that the extra bulk of your key+whatever else you put in your pocket isn't stretching the fabric as much, this will keep the key from rubbing as much and as forcefully, and save your pants.
posted by anaelith at 6:39 AM on November 25, 2007

Response by poster: Well I've had my pockets resewn a couple of times, but eventually the outer fabric starts wearing anyway.

Thanks for the good suggestions so far. They would probably do the job but are annoying for other reasons.

Looks like there are no easy fixes—maybe I should just deal with having to buy new trousers every once in a while. I'll try to put the keys in my jacket pocket when I'm wearing one.
posted by grouse at 6:51 AM on November 25, 2007

Best answer: When you do buy new pants, look for ones with interior change/key pockets. Several of my slacks have this: halfway down the right front pocket is a smaller one sewn against the thigh. Keeping your keys in there may be a little less comfortable, but it will flatten the keys and keep them from ruining the exterior fabric.
posted by werty at 7:39 AM on November 25, 2007

If you don't mind jingling, hang your keys off a belt loop via a carbiner.
posted by nax at 7:39 AM on November 25, 2007

Yes, do that.
posted by poweredbybeard at 9:08 AM on November 25, 2007

If you don't mind jingling, hang your keys off a belt loop via a carbiner.

carabiner

Get a man purse or messenger bag and throw your keys in there.
posted by HotPatatta at 9:18 AM on November 25, 2007

Response by poster: With all respect, I think that looks kinda dorky. I'd rather buy new trousers every once in a while than have things hanging off my belt loops.

Keycases look awesome except that I already have more stuff than I want in my pocket.

I think werty has the best suggstion so far.
posted by grouse at 9:18 AM on November 25, 2007

http://key-port.com/
posted by hangingbyathread at 9:30 AM on November 25, 2007 [2 favorites]

^ I gotta get me a Key Port!
posted by HotPatatta at 11:57 AM on November 25, 2007

With all respect, I think that looks kinda dorky. I'd rather buy new trousers every once in a while than have things hanging off my belt loops.
It does, but if you pick a loop right by your pockets you can dangle the keys from there into your pockets, and no one would be the wiser unless they were looking pretty close.

It'll keep the points of the keys from cutting into the fabric.
posted by Kellydamnit at 12:47 PM on November 25, 2007

anaelith: "Wear loser pants"

But only losers wear loser pants!! (Sorry anaelith, I couldn't resist. I'm sure you know how to spell looser and just made a typo.)

I use those coiled stretchy wristbands for my keys, and then use a carabiner to clip them to my purse. Of course, if you don't carry a man-purse...
posted by IndigoRain at 12:55 PM on November 25, 2007

Sew a little elastic loop inside your pocket (use a snap to fasten it and unfasten it) and attach the keys there. You get the stealth carabiner effect that way with all of the convenience and a fraction of the dorkiness.
posted by wexford_arts at 1:10 PM on November 25, 2007

I used to have this problem (keys and change wearing holes in my front pockets), but only with trousers from one particular retailer: Gap. Stopped buying trousers at Gap, no more holes in my pockets. Can't explain it, but there you are.
posted by Hogshead at 2:38 PM on November 25, 2007

Response by poster: IndigoRain: I didn't realize that anaelith meant "looser" until your comment. Thanks.

These were Old Navy (owned by Gap) trousers. Hmmm.
posted by grouse at 3:07 PM on November 25, 2007

Since you're at Cambridge, Grouse, I'll give you a Cam-specific answer. Sorry, everyone else.

You can get a unisex bag at Cambridge Leather Bags, on Sussex Street. They also sell other similar organisational items, such as the key wallets mentioned. Expect to pay about £20.

Since we're talking Cambridge, note that my first recommendation is not truly worthy of The Discerning Chap. A more appropriate sartorial choice would be the wastcoat; you could place your keys in one of the pockets, on a fob.
posted by honest knave at 3:14 PM on November 25, 2007

No, no, loser pants. Pants which are merely loose but not falling off (keeper pants) are probably not loose enough!

OK, yes, typo, and it's been sitting there glaringly on my recent activity page all bloody day. I thought about making my own jokey comment, but I kept hoping that maybe there was one person out there who hadn't noticed. Or no.
posted by anaelith at 4:08 PM on November 25, 2007

What werty said. The flattening out of keys helps, but also the fact that in a small space like the change pocket, your keys don't move around as much (if at all). It's the friction that causes the wear on the fabric, so less friction = less wear.

It may mean you have to drop some keys, though.
posted by chrominance at 5:11 PM on November 25, 2007

Orienting all of the key "teeth" to point in the same direction, putting them on a single ring, and folding the ring so that part of it is in front of the "teeth" helps reduce wear.
posted by BrotherCaine at 11:26 PM on November 25, 2007

Oh, also. Some trousers also have a smaller pocket on the *inside* of the pockets, which is nice for keys, mobile phones, coins, or anything else which might clink and wear.
posted by honest knave at 12:25 AM on November 26, 2007

I put my keys on my desk at work and on a key hanger at home. That way they don't spend so much time in my pockets, and my trousers last longer.
posted by Harald74 at 5:01 AM on November 26, 2007