I've ripped two identical pairs of these pants in the exact same spot in the last 5 days and I'm curious to know what's causing it.


It shouldn't be a weight/waistline issue as I've lost about 5 to 10 lbs from when I first purchased these 10 to 12 years ago. Is it an age thing? I doubt it's due to excessive wear. I've worn them no more than 20 times each and 90% of the time they are worn around the house or out to run errands. They were never really subjected to wear and tear from physical labor. I have noticed that my washing machine has been chewing up my clothes these last few months as I've found more holes in socks and shirts than ever before.


They didn't leave the washer/dryer ripped. Both times I know I ripped them when I was bending over to pick up and move something. For what it's worth I was carrying a G26 in an elastic belly holster with the pistol and spare mag located at 12:30. The pants have a semi elastic waist and with the G26 IWB the pants will button with maybe a half inch of stretching, hardly a strain when there's probably a few more inches to go before the elastic runs out. The first time it ripped I wasn't wearing a belt. The second time I was.


So what say you? Is it simply deteriorating fabric due to old age? The way I carry my pistol? My washing machine or dryer holding a grudge against me? Or is simply my right ass cheek showing the left who's boss? I have two more pairs that have yet to rip (yes, I buy clothes in sets of 3 to 5) but would prefer to keep them intact so I have something to wear out besides jeans.


One last thing I thought of: I used to use dryer sheets and haven't because I've been lazy. Don't know if dryer sheets would make that much of a difference but figured I'd mention that just in case.

I'll go ahead and be the first jerk: eat fewer beans.

- - - -

Having gotten that silliness out of the way, I'll go ahead and say that the last few pairs of pants I've torn have also torn adjacent to seams. Perhaps something in the sewing process puts additional stresses at stitch locations?

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:
I'll go ahead and be the first jerk: eat fewer beans.

I'm pretty sure the exhaust lines up with the seam going down the middle and is much lower. If it doesn't then I'd have bigger problems than a couple pairs of torn pants

Is that the pocket for your wallet? Do you have a fat wallet? That will stress the cloth and stitching.
.

Might be under warranty.
Give'em a call

Do the pants have some sort of built in flex? I had jeans do that very quickly with the flex option (some amount of spandex in them). I stopped buying flex jeans because of it.

You using bleach in the wash?

There should be a “care label” inside the pants. Look at it and see if you’re doing what they suggest.

I did the same as your 2nd photo, but in the front.
20 minutes with a needle & thread, and they're back in service.

Dryer sheets (or lack thereof) won't cause that.

My first thought is an overstuffed "Costanza wallet" in the back pocket overstressing the seams. Slim down your wallet, get rid of the unnecessary cards you're lugging around, toss out those years-old receipts, and even consider switching to a smaller wallet with fewer items carried in the front pocket.

If that's not it, then potentially the belly band with Glock was adding too much bulk to the front, which didn't allow enough room to flex in the back when you bent over.

Also possible that the washing machine caught the corners of the pockets and caused a small hole, which gave way when stressed. Washing clothes with external flaps like that inside out can help prevent this. But if you've seen an increase in damage to all your clothes in general, it'd be worth giving the washing machine a hard look to see if something needs fixed in there.

Do you drive an old Jeep?

(they're belt loop killers)

That's awfully linear, and on two sets of identical trousers I'd be surprised if that isn't a defect of some sort. Try and find a number to call the manufacturer (or at least live chat) and send them pics. Better than average chance they have seen this before.

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:

I'll go ahead and be the first jerk: eat fewer beans.

My first thought: Taco Bell?

quote:

Originally posted by OKCGene:
Is that the pocket for your wallet? Do you have a fat wallet? That will stress the cloth and stitching.
.

Great question. I didn't even think to address it because I never carry a wallet in my back pocket. The only time I would carry a wallet in pants like these is if it's a slim wallet in the front pocket and if you have worn 5.11 pants you know how roomy the front pockets are so there's hardly any stress put on the rest of the pants.


I do carry a folding knife and sometimes a flashlight in the small pockets adjacent to the back pockets. You can see a little bit of one on the bottom pair directly to the right of the rear pocket. It'll hold a flashlight with a 1" diameter perfectly and a folding knife with room to spare. I was carrying a knife and flashlight both times the pants ripped, however the flashlight was in the left pocket and the knife on the right. If the flashlight caused additional stress or tension then the rip should have been on the left side, yeah?

quote:

Do the pants have some sort of built in flex? I had jeans do that very quickly with the flex option (some amount of spandex in them). I stopped buying flex jeans because of it.

I know of the stretchy fabric you're talking about and this material is not stretchy at all. Standard fabric, 100% cotton. The only elastic is in the waistband as I mentioned.

quote:

You using bleach in the wash?

There should be a “care label” inside the pants. Look at it and see if you’re doing what they suggest.

I never use bleach. On tough stains I will add vinegar and baking soda to the wash but never had to use either for these pants because they never really got dirty. I checked the care label. The only instructions I didn't follow was turning them inside out and using cold water (sometimes I use warm when washing like colors).


As Rogue suggests leaving the pockets out by not turning them inside out could be accelerating the wear as the machine agitates the load. I'll start turning them inside out and see if that prolongs the other 2 pairs I have.


I am a minimalist when it comes to the stuff I carry. Pistol, spare mag, stand alone car key, small key ring that has 5 or 6 keys I use all the time, folding knife and sometimes a flashlight. When it's warm out I'll put a slim wallet in the front pocket with the S23. In colder weather like now I'll always carry my wallet and phone in an inside breast pocket.


Here's some additional pics showing the stress (or lack thereof) of the pistol, knife and flashlight:

It’s age of the fabric. I had a pair of similarly constructed pants tear at the same place, when I bent over. I was 160lbs at 6’01”. Skinny almost. The pants were 511 all cotton (lightweight) and about 15 years old. I only wore them for range/training days so maybe 10 days a year (I liked them because that had knee pads built in)

Looks to me like fabric fatigue or an over sized wallet.

Hey, you did get 12 years out of them.

Yeah, 12 years. What the heck do you expect? The pants are not the problem.

Interesting. I just had a pair rip like that for no known reason... except in the front at the bottom and 1/2 inch away from the zipper.

When I asked the wifey about repairing them she couldn't understand why they ripped there either... saying it wasn't like they were overloaded in that area

Love you too sweetie...

W.t.h. !?!
That's not a 36" waist !

Who the hell let this guy in ?!

Cheese and crackers!


Who's vetting people these days.

You could at least exhale,

Is this shaming our fat members?

That's it you are going on a pasta sandwich diet buddy,
With pop ,plenty of pop

I didn't know pants were supposed to last a lifetime.
Consider yourself lucky you got 10-12 years out of them.

Bob