Some debates are easy to settle: well-done steak is a crime, airport beer has no time zone, and wet cleans better than dry.
Meanwhile one debate has been dividing DUDE-kind for decades: Are you supposed to pee through the zipper hole, or undo your pants and go over the waistband?
A post on r/AskMen thread recently raised the question, with one guy declaring that he goes over the waistband "99% of the time" because navigating the zipper is unnecessarily complicated.
His opponents had a simple rebuttal: They're not undoing their belt and untucking their shirt every time they take a piss.
Both sides make compelling points. So we're settling this by spending way too much time investigating the pros and cons.
The Case for Going Through the Zipper
Your zipper exists for a reason.
If you're wearing a belt, tucked-in shirt, or dress pants, undoing everything at the urinal can turn a 30-second leak into a wardrobe change.
The zipper method keeps the infrastructure intact. Your belt stays buckled, your shirt stays tucked, and your pants stay up. You unzip, find your way through the fly, handle your business, and reverse the procedure.
For DUDEs wearing a suit or chinos, this makes a lot of sense.
There's also the matter of discretion. At a crowded urinal, opening your entire waistband can feel like bringing more equipment onto the job site than necessary.
The zipper gives you a small access point, but that's also its biggest problem.
The Case Against the Zipper
Getting through the fly can require more maneuvering than the zipper lobby would have you believe.
First you unzip. Then you have to clear whatever shirt might be blocking the way. Then you navigate the opening in your underwear. Then you pull everything through a hole barely large enough for your hand to fit inside.
You have escaped, except now there's a metal zipper sitting dangerously close to one of the most sensitive pieces of equipment you own.
Even if nothing gets caught, the fly can press against you and interfere with your stream. Suddenly you're adjusting angles and wondering why you didn't just undo one button.
And getting everything back inside isn't exactly a carefree experience either. Every guy who's seen There's Something About Mary understands why the zipper deserves your complete attention during this stage.
What About Going Over the Waistband?
For casual pants, Team Waistband has a strong case.
There’s no threading, zipper contact, or trying to manipulate multiple layers of fabric. The obvious downside is that you have to loosen your pants.
With sweatpants or basketball shorts, that's barely an inconvenience. In jeans with a belt, it's more involved. With dress pants and a tucked-in shirt, you've now created additional work for yourself after the piss is over.
There's also one important rule for waistband users: Don't pull down too far. You're taking a leak, not getting ready for your annual physical. The entire men's room doesn't need to see your ass because you decided the zipper was inconvenient.
Which Way Should You Pee?
Unfortunately, there is no official ruling from the International Urinal Association.
Your pants have a zipper for easy access, so using it makes perfect sense—especially if you're wearing a belt or tucked-in shirt.
But the waistband method is undeniably easier when you're wearing casual clothes. If you're in sweatpants, attempting to route yourself through the fly is solving a problem that doesn't exist.
Our ruling is therefore annoyingly practical: Use whichever route requires the least amount of plumbing.
Sweats? Waistband.
Suit? Zipper.
Jeans? You're a grown man. Assess the situation.
Either way, remember that the objective here is getting urine into the urinal without getting any on yourself, the floor, or the innocent DUDE standing next to you.
How you get there is between you and your pants.
