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The Other Fly –The Ridiculous One in your Baselayer


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Home Forums Gear Forums Gear (General) The Other Fly –The Ridiculous One in your Baselayer

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Viewing 25 posts - 1 through 25 (of 85 total)
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  • #1310555
    Delmar O’Donnell
    Member

    @bolster

    Locale: Between Jacinto & Gorgonio

    Not the tent's fly, your underwear's fly–I am looking for baselayers without flys. I hate them! Do other guys really use these? What's wrong with just pulling down your pants? That's more reasonable than asking your unit to take two or three reverse bends! On most of my baselayers I immediately sew up the fly, but am still left with an unnecessary wad of triple layer fabric in the front. I have been threatening to switch over to women's baselayers — which seem MUCH more reasonably constructed — but my wife says they probably won't fit. So: Any men's baselayers without the barn doors? Or will women's baselayers fit a man? I'm serious!!

    #2050590
    Nick Gatel
    BPL Member

    @ngatel

    Locale: Southern California

    I like the fly

    as does the little guy

    #2050591
    Matt Weaver
    Spectator

    @norcalweaver

    Locale: PacNW

    I like the fly too. Keeps me from having to undo my packs hip belt. Cause then if I undo the hip belt then I might as well remove the pack all together. And get more water. And sit down for a snack.

    Flys keep me moving.

    #2050592
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I've found women's pants hit or miss. Sometimes they have had a too high of a rise crotch which isn't too comfortable, or too low rise waist. Definitely size up at the very least a size up than the men's stuff, often times better to go two full sizes up. Thankfully most baselayers tend to be on the stretchy side, so there is some leeway there.

    Not sure what the problem with flys are though. Kind of nice when it's really cold out, not to dump extra heat by pulling pants down–you definitely dump much less heat via opening up flys.

    #2050595
    David Thomas
    BPL Member

    @davidinkenai

    Locale: North Woods. Far North.

    I've never used a fly. Oh, once or twice I've tried, but contorted positioning and imperfect drainage put me off. I prefer UW and base layers without flies, but some styles just always seem to come with them.

    Women's bottoms are typically shaped differently – wider hips, narrower waist, short legs. Most problematic, I find, is that there isn't enough "volume" in the crotch area. And, as someone noted, the rise (crotch to waist length) is longer in women's models than men's.

    Perhaps search on "unisex" sizing – that would probably not have a fly and would be some intermediate or simply male-biased sizing.

    #2050599
    Max Dilthey
    Spectator

    @mdilthey

    Locale: MaxTheCyclist.com

    Sparing you the intimacy, I've also found that the fly doesn't give me enough room to evacuate pants when nature calls, but the loss of volume in women's tights (I've tried Under Armor) threatened to end my family line.

    You could sew the fly up along the seam of the fly's "door." Then, cut off the door. That way, the extra rectangle of material is removed and your pants are sealed up.

    This is one of those things that I didn't remotely think about as a problem until you mentioned it, but now that I have, all I can think about is how many layers my Smartwool briefs have… THANKS.

    P.S. my Go-Lite rain pants are women's and they both fit perfectly and have a fly. More relevantly, perhaps the women's Go-Lite baselayers will suit the male form.

    #2050604
    Roger Caffin
    BPL Member

    @rcaffin

    Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

    I make our (Sue and I) bush clothing – there are MYOG articles on it. But I don't think I have ever bothered to put a fly in. Couldn't see the need.

    Cheers

    #2050608
    Jerry Adams
    BPL Member

    @retiredjerry

    Locale: Oregon and Washington

    That's another reason to make your own : )

    As far as usage goes, either way works, but since no fly works, why put in a fly?

    I've made underwear but I like the pre-made ones better. The fly on them isn't so bad, not so many layers of fabric, but I never use it.

    I think flies are just convention. Several hundred years ago they became fashionable, and now they just keep making them because that's how it's done.

    #2050616
    Steve K
    BPL Member

    @skomae

    Locale: northeastern US

    How else am I supposed to pee while wearing a harness? And since my hiking clothes do double duty as climbing clothes, they sure as heck had better have a fly.

    #2050617
    Nick Gatel
    BPL Member

    @ngatel

    Locale: Southern California

    "Couldn't see the need"

    He must be a little fellow :)

    #2050623
    Jerry Adams
    BPL Member

    @retiredjerry

    Locale: Oregon and Washington

    "Couldn't see the need"

    He must be a little fellow :)"

    No – you're the one that says you have a little fellow : )

    #2050624
    Delmar O’Donnell
    Member

    @bolster

    Locale: Between Jacinto & Gorgonio

    So! A lot of guys actually use the fly.

    OK, as you were, gentlemen. I won't inveigh against tradition. If your mouse runs through the maze, more power to you.

    I will continue my girlish ways, and try the Go-Lite, search for "unisex," or just sew my unders up and remove those silly extra layers.

    I swear, the most recent baselayers I purchased had a pad in front, the thickness (and flexibility!) of a catcher's mitt. Ugh! Returned. I confess to staring at the women's underwear in the Campmor catalog with envy.

    #2050629
    Steven Paris
    BPL Member

    @saparisor

    Locale: Pacific Northwest

    Icebreaker makes wool briefs and boxers w/o a fly.

    #2050633
    James holden
    BPL Member

    @bearbreeder-2

    one thing to note is that the doubled/tripled fabric actually serves a purpose …

    for those who perform do high intensity outdoor sports in winter … cold groins are no laughing matter .. this is especially true of people like runners or cyclist who wear winter thermal tights … extra fabric there helps keep a high heat loss sensitive area a bit warmer …

    Whether you're hiking, skiing, or mountaineering, keeping your extremities warm is a crucial part of winter survival. Much attention is paid to various combinations of hats, gloves, mittens, boots and socks but, unfortunately, they all overlook another important extremity, the male appendage.

    This is nothing to laugh about; it's quite painful! If you've been unfortunate enough to experience a frozen frankie, you know this is a serious matter. Few other weather-related injuries can make you curl up and beg for death. Of course, this "condition" only makes itself known after you're miles from the trailhead and committed to your route.

    http://www.headbaby.com/icepick.htm

    its enough of an issue that the make a polartec thermal pro "sock" for the male anatomy …

    http://thermajock.com/

    ;)

    #2050634
    Marko Botsaris
    BPL Member

    @millonas

    Locale: Santa Cruz Mountains, CA

    I was spending the night in one of those pretty fancy tent rentals in Yosemite one time (this on was at white wolf, so not even one of the ones away from the road) with a woman I was hanging out with at the time. There was a small wood stove provided, but it was pretty cold before I got it stoked up, and she didn't really have any long underwear, and was freezing. I had an extra pair of patagonia tights that I assumed would be just the ticket, and offered them to her. When she saw that they had a fly she refused to wear them. She would rather freeze than even put on long underwear with a fly. Anyway, that was the moment I knew she wasn't the girl for me. LOL Too high maintenance!

    So not only you Delmar!

    Still they do seem very old fashioned. I can't remember the last time I used one. Rather than being a convenience they seem, um, kinda fussy and awkward to actually use. Possibly I was inadequately potty trained in my youth, but I am as likely to make a mess of it as not attempting to make use of one. And what do they protect when using it anyway? The most sensitive stuff gets exposed to the elements. I think they are like the marble Greek temples that maintained stone representations of the features of the old wooden temples, like the places where the wooden cross beams had been, 500 years after the last wooden temple – just cause that is how it was done.

    I've also had a pair of tights with an additional rear "fly", and not the old style huge buttoned flap grampa had in his long johns. It was the same "mazey" design as briefs, just bigger and in the back. What's with that? If I can't safety use the front one with equipment that can write my name in the snow, why in the world would I try to use the rear fly?

    #2050647
    J R
    BPL Member

    @jringeorgia

    Cutting out the fly to save weight? That brings new meaning to the term "gram weenie." :P

    FWIW I have some inexpensive Costco baselayers, Paradox brand, with no fly. They are 11-12% merino and the rest synthetic.

    #2050654
    Max Dilthey
    Spectator

    @mdilthey

    Locale: MaxTheCyclist.com

    >"I confess to staring at the women's underwear in the Campmor catalog with envy."

    I do it because the colors are always nicer…

    #2050655
    BlackHatGuy
    Spectator

    @sleeping

    Locale: The Cascades

    Why oh why did they put a fly on the undies that covers my willy?
    I can bend and roll and still miss the hole, so the (w)hole thing seems rather silly.
    What's even worse, and seems like a curse, is the damn thing won't even catch leaks!
    So I'd prefer, I suppose, if they just made them closed, and leave flies for the stream beds and creeks….

    Sorry, it's early and I'm not quite awake yet…..

    #2050661
    John S.
    BPL Member

    @jshann

    Those fly openings are not large enough for my multitool.

    #2050663
    Buck Nelson
    BPL Member

    @colter

    Locale: Alaska

    I swear, the most recent baselayers I purchased had a pad in front, the thickness (and flexibility!) of a catcher's mitt.

    Really. You swear that? :)

    I use the fly in my base layer. And the fly in my pants as well. I find it useful when it's thirty below and the wind is howling. No reverse bends are necessary if you hold the fly(s) open during use.

    And Eric has a point. Running or skiing in extreme cold in Alaska I've often added a layer in the fly area and I know many other men who do as well.

    #2050664
    scree ride
    Member

    @scree

    As long as the fly is well covered, I can skimp elsewhere and save weight.
    Check out the Houdini Wind Boxers.

    #2050665
    Richard Fischel
    BPL Member

    @ricko

    i have several pair of running tights (including patagonia), none of which have a fly. i also have several pairs of under armour heatgear boxer briefs, which do not have a fly. ua also makes men's tights and leggings that are sans fly. my favoirte style of fly in technical outerwear are the ones that go from bottom up as well as from top down so your waist belt or climbing harness doesn't get in the way of the zipper.

    #2050670
    spelt with a t
    BPL Member

    @spelt

    Locale: Rangeley, ME

    Delmar,
    A lot of men's compression shorts will not have a fly. I can only vouch for Underarmour since I have it, but I know I've seen other brands in stores without. Another option is underwear marketed to gay men. If you're considering women's underwear already, I assume the Undergear catalog won't be an affront to you. Plus they also come in fun colors. :)

    #2050677
    Steven Paris
    BPL Member

    @saparisor

    Locale: Pacific Northwest

    "Why oh why did they put a fly on the undies that covers my willy?
    I can bend and roll and still miss the hole, so the (w)hole thing seems rather silly.
    What's even worse, and seems like a curse, is the damn thing won't even catch leaks!
    So I'd prefer, I suppose, if they just made them closed, and leave flies for the stream beds and creeks…."

    Hey Doug, put a sock in it! (so to speak)

    #2050680
    BlackHatGuy
    Spectator

    @sleeping

    Locale: The Cascades

    "Hey Doug, put a sock in it! (so to speak)"

    Okay, but remember, you told me to….

    Why not just use a sock to cover your ….. stock? Seems like it'd work just as well.
    Wool would be keen, but don't use neoprene. That's one place you don't want VBL….

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