Sunday, October 14, 2007

Wallet Controversy: Back Pocket or Front Pocket?

Posted by Trott


Image lifted from Gridskipper
Front-pocket pros:
  1. No unsightly wallet bulge on your butt-cheek
  2. No warped spine from sitting on your wallet
  3. No cracked credit and ATM cards from the stress of your entire body bending them when you sit
  4. Pickpocket-unfriendly location for your wallet*
Back-pocket pros:
  1. No unsightly wallet bulge on your thigh
  2. Um...
OK, I'm starting to think that my switch from front pocket to back pocket a year or three ago was a mistake. Or was it? Is it, in fact, fashion convention for the wallet to be in the back pocket? Despite the practical drawbacks, does one look like a dork with the wallet in the front pocket?

Of course, I could always go with the off-the-grid option: Man-purse!

Weigh in on this critical issue in the comments.

* Although the only time I've ever seen someone have their wallet picked from their pocket, it was the front pocket. The victim is a friend of mine and we were boarding a crowded subway train in Prague. He was wearing shorts with front pockets that kind of ballooned open a bit, making it an inviting target for the thief. Our Pat Metheny tickets were in that wallet too!

7 Comments:

 Anu said...

Front pocket FTW. If you're going to be really slick, ditch your Costanza-esque piece of cowhide and go with an ultra-minimal approach. I like the Swallet, but there are several other choices.

I also find that when I used the back pocket, I got bruises, "hot spots", and other unpleasantries on my ass from the wallet.

As for the shorts story, clearly you don't leave your wallet in any open/bulging pocket. You might as well just hand it to someone.

6:06 PM, October 14, 2007
 Will said...

You haven't addressed the whole wallet-chain issue. I have never understood that look.

3:37 PM, October 15, 2007
 Anonymous said...

Man-purse is also called a "Murse".
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=murse

12:37 PM, October 16, 2007
 Rani said...

It's time for a purse, my friend. I think a trip to Kenneth Cole or a few hours on e-bags.com.

10:35 PM, October 17, 2007
 Resa said...

You could try out a money clip, and then have yourself implanted with a scannable chip that would hold information on credit and legal stuff, something like what you get for your pet at the vet's, and circumvent the need for driver's liscense and credit cards... but what to do with all those darling family photos??

2:24 PM, October 18, 2007
 Anonymous said...

Back pocket is best! Simply thin out old receipts on a regular basis--and a soft, cowhide leather ("washed leather") adapts and molds to the anatomy of the wearer for supreme comfort--and it has never been a problem in about sixteen years of wallet carrying! Of course, I've got a trim build, and a muscular derriere! My wallet is part of me, and I'd be lost without it, or if it was lost! Even so, I don't carry it there 24/7--but it's always within arm's reach of my body. A worn wallet has lots of character, once the leather achieves a nice patina. Just my .02 cents!

11:32 AM, October 28, 2007
 Little Viking Mamma said...

Fanny packs--bring them back!
Come on, Richard. You can do it! Make your own retro statement.

9:18 PM, November 03, 2007

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