Want to buy or sell something? Check the classifieds
  • The Fedora Lounge is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

is monkeypants in style lately?

Guppy

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,345
Location
Cleveland, OH
I don't think they are the most practical design, but they sure look different. Historical oddity type stuff like that holds some appeal to me.
 

Canuck Panda

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,775
There was a time when I wished I had the reverse monkey pants pocket on my snow sports pants, so the big pocket would be in the front and not the back. But I just settled for carrying a small back pack...
I like pockets for storage but the monkey pants placed them in the wrong location imo. Things will get sit on all the time, and farted on...
 

navetsea

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,894
Location
East Java
I did some comparing... and they are not all created equal in term of rear unipocket thing... similar to jeans like some jeans have the pocket low and some have the pocket high like wrangler, in uni pocket case some looks like the leg movements split the pocket and look like a real catasthropy,
Screenshot_20241107_020115_Chrome.jpg
Screenshot_20241107_020028_Chrome.jpg

and there are some where the pocket is not affected by the legs just like having an integral messengerbag.
Screenshot_20241107_020232_Chrome.jpg

Some have small
Screenshot_20241107_021630_Instagram.jpg

And some whole ass
Screenshot_20241107_021718_Chrome.jpg
 
Last edited:

Canuck Panda

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,775
I think design wise I would want that pocket to be higher, like fanny pack worn backwards. Any lower I would always sit on it and all the contents gets squished...
 

Edward

Bartender
Messages
25,093
Location
London, UK
These originated as the USMC P44 utility pant; the rear pocket was specifically designed to carry a waterproof poncho, which would, I suppose, offer a cushioned seat. I've never known them to be popular as eithers surplus or repro wear for civilians - and don't think much of the idea either. I have no idea what's currently mainstream fashionable, tbh - most people I se daily, including students, dress little different to what people were wearing twenty odd years ago unless they're headed out for the night, and even then...
 

navetsea

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,894
Location
East Java
it gains popularity lately after fatigue pants and painter pants, this one share its time in the sun, every repro maker has their version, some made in herringbone, some in other fabrics, some with metal buttons some with standard plastic buttons, some a bit baggier, some has normal leg, some even made into shorts
 

AHP91

One Too Many
Messages
1,077
These originated as the USMC P44 utility pant; the rear pocket was specifically designed to carry a waterproof poncho, which would, I suppose, offer a cushioned seat. I've never known them to be popular as eithers surplus or repro wear for civilians - and don't think much of the idea either. I have no idea what's currently mainstream fashionable, tbh - most people I se daily, including students, dress little different to what people were wearing twenty odd years ago unless they're headed out for the night, and even then...
I am new to research military collectibles, but The original P44 pants go for huge money. I like the odd look of them, I’ve bought a pair from Bronson.
 

Mickiemac

One of the Regulars
Messages
235
Location
Just passin' through
Wow - Monkey Pants - really?

The placement of the rear pocket/pouch is an ideal location for a Flatulence Detection device to help relieve the methane gas crisis on our climate. It would alert the wearer (and any bystanders) of the impending gas leak to avoid anyone keeling over.

Maybe Monkey Pants do have a purpose after all!
 

Guppy

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,345
Location
Cleveland, OH
OK I went on with my purchase because it clearly stirs emotion in people :D

honestly I don't really care much for the back pocket, but the side cargo pockets are just at perfect location
I have a couple of pairs of them, in different variations from different repro makers. Bronson are good generally and I like their monkey pants. They did a run of modified ones with front pockets, lowering the side cargo pockets to make room them. I put nothing in the back pocket. The side pockets tend to spill contents because they are so loose and baggy and big. They are good for stashing a lot of stuff but not well organized or secure. But they are part of the evolutionary heritage of military fatigue pants and they look gnarly. Even though they are not very practical I have a soft spot for them. I just put up with the odd pockets as best I can.
 

navetsea

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,894
Location
East Java
I have a couple of pairs of them, in different variations from different repro makers. Bronson are good generally and I like their monkey pants. They did a run of modified ones with front pockets, lowering the side cargo pockets to make room them. I put nothing in the back pocket. The side pockets tend to spill contents because they are so loose and baggy and big. They are good for stashing a lot of stuff but not well organized or secure. But they are part of the evolutionary heritage of military fatigue pants and they look gnarly. Even though they are not very practical I have a soft spot for them. I just put up with the odd pockets as best I can.
perhaps the idea is never to open the buttons on the front pocket but just access the pocket from the space inbetween the 2 buttons, if the flap is unbuttoned I bet the whole pocket will spill out whenever you squat or sit on a car seat for example, the rear pocket I imagine I only will open the mid button and never open the side buttons, I can throw in my biker long wallet I think.
 

Guppy

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,345
Location
Cleveland, OH
perhaps the idea is never to open the buttons on the front pocket but just access the pocket from the space inbetween the 2 buttons, if the flap is unbuttoned I bet the whole pocket will spill out whenever you squat or sit on a car seat for example, the rear pocket I imagine I only will open the mid button and never open the side buttons, I can throw in my biker long wallet I think.
I think it's more that they didn't have time to design and test, they needed to crank out gear ASAP, and they wanted big pockets so GIs could carry as much as possible.

Refinements came later, a lot of stuff went out nearly or completely untested, and the boys dealt with it as best they could, often improvising and Jerry rigging.
 

Jasonissm

Practically Family
Messages
608
These originated as the USMC P44 utility pant; the rear pocket was specifically designed to carry a waterproof poncho, which would, I suppose, offer a cushioned seat. I've never known them to be popular as eithers surplus or repro wear for civilians - and don't think much of the idea either. I have no idea what's currently mainstream fashionable, tbh - most people I se daily, including students, dress little different to what people were wearing twenty odd years ago unless they're headed out for the night, and even then...


Thanks for sharing, having learned about the original intent of the pocket, I can definitely see it as a viable spot especially during summer to go bagless but still carry a light shirt/jacket and be able to tuck it away. I usually wear a light jacket or shirt for UV protection which doubles as storage but I take it off in the evening or indoors and just carry it around. Having a pocket to stow it away in would be nice but how comfortable it will be, I wonder?
 

navetsea

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,894
Location
East Java
I dont think a jacket would fit in it, looking at it I think even a denim jacket won't fit, a folded raincoat indeed might fit, or shopping totebag, perhaps a spare tshirt, or towel if you do light hiking perhaps and need a spare tshirt, drinking bottle might fit too, but the thing is it located on your back and you can't organize it because you can't really see it.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
109,478
Messages
3,081,657
Members
54,344
Latest member
pedro222
Top