Sustainable Fashion

Why Do My Jeans Rip at the Crotch? (6 Solutions)

Learn why your denim is vulnerable to crotch blowouts - and what you can do about it to fix or prevent the problem.

Why Do My Jeans Rip At The Crotch Featured

Everyone knows the horror of feeling a little breeze between your thighs only to discover your favorite pair of jeans have ripped right at the crotch. Having your pants rip is a nightmare no matter the circumstances, but a crotch rip is especially bad.

Your jeans rip at the crotch after being worn down by the friction of your thighs rubbing. You can prevent a crotch blowout by wearing better fitting jeans, avoiding exercising in them, and by taking proper care of your denim. If a rip happens, you can repair them with denim patches or by sewing them back together.

jeans-rip-in-crotch
Yep, it happens to us too!

If it happens to you, don’t worry–it’s a very common problem! Below you’ll find tips and tricks to prevent and repair rips, so you can keep wearing your favorite jeans longer!

Why Your Jeans Rip At The Crotch

Jeans rip at the crotch or inner thighs because the friction from your thighs rubbing together breaks down the denim fibers. There are a few different factors that affect how much tension is put upon your jeans to cause them to rip.

1. Having Thick Thighs

While thick thighs save lives, they also tend to put more pressure on the friction between your legs. The same rubbing that causes painful chub rub can also cause your jeans to blow.

For my thick-thigh beauties, it’s a good idea to check your jeans every time you put them on. Feel along the crotch area for any thinning of the fabric or small tears. If you notice anything, invest in some denim patches right away (we’ll discuss those in more detail below)!

2. Wearing Improperly Fitting Jeans

When denim is stretched too much over time, the fibers will break down under the pressure. This means it won’t take as long for your thighs to rub the material away.

Alternatively, if you wear jeans that are too loose and slide down all day, that can also cause a rip in the crotch. The sliding down puts more stress on the groin area seam while yanking them up all day puts more stress on the inner thigh seam.

3. Wearing Your Jeans While Exercising

While jeans aren’t many people’s go-to running pants, a lot of people wear jeans while cycling their commute or on a hike. It’s best to avoid that as the constant movement causes friction that starts slowly wearing down the fabric.

4. Not Caring for Your Denim Properly

Many people think jeans need a wash after every wear. This should be avoided because high heat washing and drying cause the jeans to shrink, making them too tight and putting undue stress on the fabric. The tumble movement of the dryer can also break the fabric down.

5. Wearing Lightweight Denim

Lightweight denim looks great (we love these Virjinya Jeans by G-Star Raw), but it is the least durable weight of denim because of its thinner yarn and looser weaving. This makes it more susceptible to damage, and it will lose its original shape and start to thin more quickly than thicker denim.

G Star Raw Virjinya Slim Jeans
Lightweight denim may wear quicker if you wear the wrong fit or use it for more physically intensive tasks

4 Ways to Reduce Jeans Wear and Prevent Crotch Blowouts

You can reducing jeans wear and prevent crotch blowouts by wearing jeans that fit properly, avoiding activities like cycling or hiking in jeans, caring for your jeans properly, and buying jeans made of heavier weight denim. 

Read below for more detailed tips!

1. Wear Properly Fitting Jeans

Jeans should fit your waist comfortably, but not too loosely. A gap between your back and the waistband of the jeans means the jeans will probably slide down all day, putting stress on the crotch seams. You can tell if a pair is too tight if you notice wrinkling on the inner thighs. Either way, remember it’s the jeans, not you that has to fit properly!

2. Avoid Exercising in Jeans

Exercising in jeans more than likely means continuous thigh rubbing, putting stress on the groin area seams, and causing a not-so-cute rip. If you normally commute to work in jeans, it’s best to change into them once you arrive to reduce friction.

3. Care For Your Jeans Properly

Denim is a low-maintenance fabric that does not require a wash after every use. Jeans should only be washed on your washer’s gentle cycle with cold water if you notice stains or a smell. After being washed, avoid a machine dry and hang dry them instead. If you’re pressed on time, learn how to dry jeans fast!

4. Wear Heavier Weight Denim

Nudie Jeans Tuff Tony Heavy Selvadge.jpg
Tougher, thicker denim will last longer (image by nudiejeans.com)

Heavyweight denim is more durable because it’s more tightly woven with thicker yarn. If you find yourself going through lots of jeans because of a rip in the crotch, buy heavier-weight denim. Heavyweight denim is a great way to make jeans last longer, especially for people with big thighs. If you want more detail and specific recommendations, check out our guide on denim weights.

2 Ways to Repair Jeans After a Crotch Area Rip

If you are in ripped jeans crisis management, it’s time for a little denim therapy! Here are two tried and true methods for repairing your jeans after a crotch blowout.

1. Use Denim Patches

Denim fabric patches, like these patches by ZEFFKA (Amazon), are a great way to repair your jeans and make them last long beyond the first rip.

Glue-on and iron on denim patches are the easiest to use, but not as long-lasting as sewn-in ones. For all of them, you’ll want to first cut the loose threads around the rip. Then, you’ll cut your patch to slightly bigger than the size of the hole. Finally, attach it with glue, an iron, or a needle and thread.

2. Sew Repair Small Holes and Rips

For small tears at the crotch, there’s no reason to attach a patch. Instead, start by cutting away the loose threads around the tear. Then, take a needle and thread, or use a sewing machine if you know how, and begin to sew the hole shut. It’s best to sew over the spot several times to make it strong.

Final Thoughts on Ripped Crotches

Even though it can feel life-shatteringly embarrassing to rip your pants, it’s a very common problem! It’s not your fault–denim fabric naturally wears out with each use. You can keep your jeans from ripping sooner by having your jeans fit properly, not exercising in them, and caring for them well.

If a rip does happen, take a deep breath! You can easily repair it with a patch or a needle and thread. If all else fails, grab yourself a new pair of sustainable denim. Most pairs are made of durable organic cotton, so they’ll last longer and are good for the planet!

Megan Lemon

Megan Lemon

Megan is a sustainability writer based in Fiji, where she lives with her partner in the house they built themselves. In her free time, she free dives, spear fishes, and takes long walks on the dirt roads.