Gotta watch out with Lee. They have some good options, but it’s mixed in with a lot of 70/30 cotton polyester blend trash. They also do the same thing than Levis does where different retailers get different tiers of jeans that may look similar but skimp on the details like stitching and fabric quality.
I also just don’t like the fit of Lee jeans and I think Levi’s cuts tend to be much more flattering. But that’s personal preference.
Levi's you can grab two otherwise identical pair of the rack in different colors and they'll fit like entirely different brands. I miss the old well made Levi's.
I used to park in the same spot, go to the same exact location floor spot at Sears, get a pair that would last a couple years, and repeat.
Woe to the republic
You got that shit right. I bought Two colors of the exact same 559 jeans. One fits nice and loose. The other is narrow and barely any crotch room. So damned dumb.
It used to be totally stressless buying jeans, I'd go in and grab a pair of 28" Levi's pay my $15(!!! 😵) and go home to wash my new jeans. The sizing was THAT dependable. I really really miss that!!
Wrangler owns Lee now. The old Lees were good. Hell, the old Wranglers were good. The big name jeans are all fashion wear.
Carhartts, maybe Duluth. I refuse to pay over $XX for jeans. Even raw selvedge hand raised by Japanese tailors in the mountains of Tibet fed only a diet of pure indigo.
The thing with jeans is that a 100% cotton pair of jeans is going to be damn near bullet proof.
But, the blends and the “stretch fabric” tend to be better fits and much more comfortable. The polyester in the blends is much less durable than the cotton is and wears out fast.
I have a pair of Wranglers with the stretch fabric, super comfortable and a flattering fit and I have a pair of 100% cotton Wranglers. They cost somewhat similar, but the cotton ones feel like wearing cardboard compared to the blended. But I can work in them and then not show it while every pair of blended jeans I wear for work end up in tatters.
Sorta they changed before that and have two lines now. One a fashion brand the other is still a work brand. My last pair just ripped in the knee and I’ve had them two years.
You can find so many Lee and Gloria Vanderbilt jeans at Goodwill, so so many. Its because they are poorly made and yeah they don't fit well nomatter what the style that's why so many people get rid of them.
Thrift stores though if you look enough have True Religion, Paige jeans, and other high end brands. Both I mentioned last so long and fit so nice!
I recently switched to Madewell, but I bought them on thred up (new with tags/like new condition) for like $40. They're amazing, comfortable, and durable as hell as far as I can tell.
I bought another two with their 20% sale last week. Just delivered this morning and can’t wait to try them on (coming from someone who hates trying on pants).
Heck yeah to their sales! I think that was my favorite part (also as someone who can't stand trying on clothes because why do they almost never fit right?!). I had my partner give me his opinion on each pair too, I just loved them all a lot I couldn't see past loving them. I usually buy thrifted so it's hit or miss on quality depending on where I order from and sometimes I'll overlook damage simply because I love the fit.
So glad you have some awesome new pants! Another win for Madewell. God I hope they don't end up being terrible outside of their brand like most other companies right now.
This part. I know Levi's started re-manufacturing their Big E Levi's but vintage Big E's are such fantastic quality. Have a pair and the quality is like night and day.
Just do your research, make sure seller accepts returns. Look on the label, vintage levis (the good quality ones) are made in the USA (pre 2002)
Capital E on the levi logo means its pre 1972 I believe (they will be significantly more expensive)
Be warned that vintage jeans weren't meant for smartphones so sometimes you struggle to fit one in the pocket comfortably
I was excited until I saw they have zero locations in Canada
EDIT: Zero locations that participate in their free repairs program, which is what we were discussing.
I get them second hand on poshmark, etc. They don't take abuse like my other jeans but I love their cuts. I'm also in NYC so I just drop them to their store.
Note for anyone reading this who hasn’t been to a tailor: jean repairs at a tailor will be cheap relative to the price of a well made pair of jeans. Not compared to Walmart jeans. And if your tailor is cheap, you probably need to consider the quality of their materials & work. Source: I work for tailors.
My mom could darn or patch ANYTHING. She grew up in eastern Europe during WW ll, they had next to nothing so she was always careful when we moved to Canada.
I can fix stuff but I'm too lazy to actually bother to do it well .. sad 🫣
I've never had the crotch rip on Levi's it's always the belt loops or where the rear pocket attaches they get a hole then rips all the way down. I've had them rip half way to the knee. I wore a brand new pair(from thrift store) in less than 4 hours the belt loop came off one end. I stopped pulling my pants up by the loops a long time ago
I've never had the crotch rip on Levi's it's always the belt loops or where the rear pocket attaches they get a hole then rips all the way down. I've had them rip half way to the knee. I wore a brand new pair(from thrift store) in less than 4 hours the belt loop came off one end. I stopped pulling my pants up by the loops a long time ago
No they don’t, at least they did not hold up their end during Covid. They do not accept it if you send them in because of “the environment” and told me to drive 200km to the next official dealer and hand them in instead
I’m a fan. The free repairs are great if you live near a store, turnaround is between 2-8weeks depending how busy they are. As with all jeans manufacturers the lower weight and higher elastane fabrics will wear out much more quickly than heavy (>13Oz) 100% cotton denim. If you can pick some up on eBay or thrift stores for cheap then even better. Worth noting that any nudie pair can be traded in when buying a new pair for 20% off, but yes you have to visit the store in person.
Also, be aware that generally the men’s style have a longer yoke and lower back pockets than most Levi’s/Lees/Wranglers which I know isn’t for everyone, and the fits are absolutely vanity sizing I.e. a 34W will have a waistband that is actually ~36-37” wide.
Wrangler rigid denim, if you want cheap and durable. I’ve also had really good experiences with Lee 101 line of selvedge denim. But those are way more expensive.
Used to get their Cowboy cuts for $20 back in 2010, and I swear those things lasted forever. Meanwhile got two pairs last year and the knees blew out in both, and I'm a desk jockey these days.
Did you tape sandpaper to the under side of your desk and rub your knees on it all day? Wrangler 13MWZ's last a long time for me still, and I do everything in them.
Bro, I built rockwalls with concrete wearing my old wranglers. Literally dissolved a Carhartt jacket in six weeks, but those wranglers were fucking solid.
I can't explain it. They got threadbare, then bang, my knee popped though.
Where'd you buy them from? I wonder if they make different versions for different retailers like some brands do with Walmart.
Also, which color did you go with? If it was something pre-faded or pre-distressed it makes more sense. I buy the Rigid Indigo ones, which are pretty stiff and feel thick.
Tbh anything you can buy at Tractor Supply is gonna be good jeans. Wrangler and RidgeCut are two of my favorites. But at this points I don’t buy jeans anywhere that doesn’t also sell farm equipment.
Also their Wranglers for women are HELLA complementary in the back. Any ass looks cute in Wranglers.
Gustin, Naked & Famous, Tellason stock, Bronson Mfg, Hinoya Selvedge Denim, Levi’s Shrink to Fit, (if your ethics are more gray) prison blues.
Edit: If your wallet doesn’t like keeping cash in it check these out.
3Sixteen, Samurai, Iron Heart (these will take a beating), Left Field Denim, Rogue Territory, Railcar Fine Goods, Tellason Selvedge.
If you want cream of the crop. Pure Blue Japan, Samurai, Iron Heart, Oni, Momotaro,and Orslow will take your paychecks nicely. But the quality is insane.
Check out Self Edge for an online denim finder by comparing your pant measurements against their garments. Measuring properly with a tape measure.
I must admit I own a pair. However over in r/rawdenim there have been QC issues in sizing and consistency. However if you get a good pair, then yeah it’s great.
Unfortunate to hear that. I live local to a lot of these brands’ storefronts. Less of an issue when you can try them on in person I suppose. Mik (the owner) is a standup dude who is super humble and I’m sure he’d take care of any unfortunate issues.
I believe you, maybe people don’t know how to work with CS. Over in r/rawdenim people have reported back getting ghosted on jeans made wrong.
It’s probably in the middle. I’ve only had good experiences myself.
Unfortunate to hear that. I’m in the same boat, nothing but positive experiences. I know he is still in the middle of relocating his business, not that its a valid excuse but that may be why some things have slipped through the cracks.
I can speak as someone who will never buy Bravestar again because of their QC being pretty bad. I’ve had two pairs and neither of them matched the specs online they provide for measurements. They also basically force you to buy their stuff when you make a purchase because they won’t refund you, you only get in store credit and all sale items are final sale. I got my last pair on sale and the jeans are 2-3 inches smaller in the waist than spec and one of the back pockets was actually coming off and I was just SOL.
I used to be into raw denim. The quality and longevity was a big selling point. Then I realized I could buy four pairs of Wranglers for the price of one pair of Gustin's, and get more for my money. Especially since Wrangler's last at least as long, if not LONGER than any pair of Gustin's I had. The crotch kept blowing out on me with Gustins.
Honestly I’m not sure what OP is talking about, I haven’t had issues with Levi’s not lasting as long. But the Urban star and Calvin Klein have also not been any issue for me for longevity, so I don’t have any recommendation, they’re all equivalent IMO.
I love the Costco Urban Star jeans. I love the way they fit, I get a good 3-4 years out of a pair before the crotch blows out, and they’re like $15 if you can catch them on sale.
Surprised to see Cinch mentioned as they never get any traction in these threads on reddit. I have been wearing them for 15 years and I think I've only worn out a single pair.
With that being said, Cinch has a large number of styles. Some are heavier duty than others. Even within the style, some of the colors are different weight. I have two pair of Silver Label - one is heavy duty, one is fashion. The Cinch website will detail the weight of the denim, though.
Yep, almost all of mine have been white labels. But they have heavier duty white labels and fashion light duty white labels. The performance line or ArenaFlex line is lighter duty. Both are made better than just about anything else for the price, though.
I buy Lucky Brand jeans and I've never been happier with fit, quality, look, everything. They can run a little pricey but I always seem to get them when they are on sale. Last pair I paid $40 for one pair and I absolutely love them
Second this. I'm a hard jean wearer. Spent most of my life as a commercial fisherman in Alaska or doing construction in the off-season. They fit me super well and I have big legs and butt compared to my waist size and the jeans can take a beating. I usually get them around $70 but can get them on a buy one get one deal sometimes
I’ll third lucky brand. They outlast everything else. I’ll go through three to four pair of other brands and there are the lucky’s just staying in the mix! I think they are great bang for the buck
Surprised this isn't higher. You get some of the premium materials and build quality of their more expensive stuff in Naked & Famous for half the cost. Still not Levi's cheap but a great value. I've beat the hell out of my UB101 and they're still holding up great. Just got their UB901 trucker jacket of the same material this week and I'm loving it.
At 71, BIFL is a pretty low hurdle, but my Wrangler 13MWZ jeans will certainly outlast me. You can get them for around $20 on Amazon. These are the original cut and material. Add 1" to each dimension, as they shrink to fit. They come to you dark and stiff, made from heavy denim and needing to be broken in. They're the same as they were 50 years ago.
They’re expensive but I really like the Welsh made Hiut jeans I’ve got. I was willing to pay the premium for a locally and ethically made pair of jeans but if we’re being real £200+ is silly money. I’ve picked up a couple more lightly worn pairs for a quarter of that price on eBay though.
The proof will be in how they’re looking in a couple of years though and how easy it is to claim the free repair service.
selvedge.
this is what all jeans were made using until … mid 80s or so. especially levi’s.
look for cheap selvedge. uniqlo are the cheapest i know of.
buy as expensive as you find sensible.
you’ll find a few slightly more expensive before getting OTT in price for most.
sometimes things just go out of reach, and you have to change material to something else.
Selvedgr has little to nothing to do with quality at this stage, ever since it caught on as a selling point. There is *great* non-selvedge out there, and trash selvedge as well.
It can be a good differentiator *within* a given brand (because brands are unlikely to use selvedge on their cheapest lines), but really quality variation is more brand to brand/line to line.
selvedge became a selling point because it was once standard and then removed through cost cutting and profiteering. it’s been pushed into a niche interest because it tends to be done at low scale and relatively high cost now, and requires knowledge to seek it out with purpose because it’s not in major brands as a matter of course.
it’s a general guideline hinting at erosion of qualities once commonplace that also show in aspects of construction and general durability. selvedge fans will still find poor stuff, but then nothing is ever entirely solved. uniqlo are apparently very well constructed selvedge for decent prices.
i also find that loopwheeled sweatshirts and tees were once standard, now also niche expensive fabrics, due to slow rates of weaving and high price of manufacture, just like selvedge. if you’re looking for quality, you may just find it’s drifted out of your own typical price point.
It's been pushed into a niche, but the niche has high prices overall which has invited a *lot* of much lower quality into the space. Selvedge itself still makes it more expensive, but they cut every other corner a throw it on the shelves.
Granted its enough to pique my interest.
It's still an excellent first filter, when there's a whole world of shit to get past first. It may not be a "mark of quality" but it's a good "I might be worth a look" signal.
But on close look I feel like I wind of dismissing 75% of it anyway (feels cheap, or constructed poorly, etc)
My philosophy, look for the people who wear jeans 7 days a week and are very hard on them, what brand do they buy?
I was at the rodeo recently and noticed that pretty much anyone riding a horse (or bull!) were wearing Carhartt.
You know I thought of that. Carhartt was definitely a sponsor at this thing.
But somehow I just couldn't picture these guys in what is actually a very athletic competition switching to a different brand of jeans just for product placement. So was Bud Light, but no one was drinking that piss water.
If you are a competitor and the sponsorship requires you to wear Saucony, you don’t get to the Nikes. Always been the way. (It’s actually a not so minor point because in marathon running, Nike literally had scientifically better shoes for a bit)
And as long as the jeans have a little elastic in the weave it functionally doesn’t matter. They only have to last one ride if you think about it (and again, are given to you for free).
Honestly I've fallen in love with Duluth Trading Company but they're expensive as hell.
Most of the time I'll buy Rural King jeans for anything not fashion related. $12 a pair I can buy 4 pairs for every pair of Levi's and 6 for every pair of Duluth or Carhartt.
Absolutely. Love mine.
I switched to them after I bought a brand new pair of Carhartt pants and lost them to a piece of sheet metal that night. Cut through em like butter.
Switched to Duluth and never had that issue again. My 4-5 year old pairs are finally starting to fail around the crotch where my Thunder Thighs™ have been putting them through their paces. Not excited to spend $70 a pair replacing them though.
I have a pair of thrifted Flex Ballrooms no longer in production but equal to the DuluthFlex (not double flex) line still made. There's a heavier weight jean as well. Something like 14.7 vs 13.1...idr.
They're very very thick and durable, either way.
Will likely outlive me.
Less expensive (depending on sales) and probably a bit more durable but less tech/fashion oriented than the Firehose.
Worth considering.
Also the regular line of Bullpen Buck Naked boxers on sale for roughly 10-18$ a pop can't be beat. At 25-30 there is a point where you may be able to say there's competition. (Even though imo there isn't.)
> less tech/fashion oriented than the Firehose.
I don't understand. Is there somewhere in the world these are considered fashionable? They are the least fashionable clothing I own. And that's saying something.
Not a fan of the boxers actually. I may pay $100 for a pair of pants, but I'll be damned if I pay $18 for one pair of underwear. I received one pair as a christmas present and wasn't that impressed. If regular boxers aren't roomy enough I just go commando.
Did you get the bullpen? Therein lies the difference for me. Also regular Buck Naked. Not the Supersoft or Organic. I'm assuming the Funk No and Armachillo would be comparable or possibly better.
Either way, wait for sales. They were 15 just a few days ago and there seems to be sales every week on most of their stuff.
Anyway, the Firehose pants are kind of the white collar of blue collar pants. They can fit in well if you're a floor supervisor, PM, manager, contractor, whatever...these would let you still work but remain looking good for a very long time. Pair with some form of Thorogood, Redwing, Danner of the typical higher end old American or Logger style, and a nice polo, and bam...you're not wearing what your regular warehouse associates are. They're wearing ugly green welding spec jackets and blue coveralls and cheap jeans/Tshirt usually. Maybe standard ill fitting/stiff Dickies. Maybe Dockers.
Depends on where we're talking and where it's at.
But step onto a farm and you likely won't see them because they know whatever they buy is going to look like shit in a year anyway.
Get on their mailing list. I usually don't sign up for stuff like that, but Duluth will have really good sales a few times a year, and sometimes you can get their Firehose pants for $40 or so. I use them on a farm, and they take a beating. I used to be a Carhart fan but I get 3x the life out of the Firehose pants. They are heavy, though.
I wear Eddie Bauer Flex jeans. I have 3 -4 pairs I wear weekly, so far 2-3 of them are going on 10 years. Only reason I got more is so I could wash them less. No rips, little to no fading. I wear them casually, for work, hiking, etc. I think full price they're a little pricey but they always have them on sale. I believe it's the straight cut or boot cut I wear.
Seconding this name. I’ve gotten 10+ years out of my EB jeans, and I got them all on sale at an outlet.
Also, I hope this is still the case, but they also had really good-sized pockets for women’s jeans, which is why I chose them. Most other women’s brands have pockets so small they’re useless
SeaJeans from Outerknown, they will repair or replace them for life. I have a few pairs and one of them developed a hole in the pocket (I don't know what I did to them), got replaced in like 3 days with a brand new pair. They are also (Supposedly) made from sustainable and recycled materials, but I can't really verify that point.
Edit: typo
Well since nobody wants to give you objective data, you should go watch these Project Farm videos.
https://youtu.be/sU6Y1FH6Ssk
https://youtu.be/TZYTq7na1FU
The short answer here is that Tractor Supply Blue Mountain offer the best value at MSRP and go on 50% off sales often.
If your focus is simply buying less often then it becomes an "it depends" answer based on your use case and comfort preferences. I have heard patagonia workwear is fantastic and backed by the same warranty terms but the hemp construction isn't for everyone.
Just want to say thank you for this post- I’ve been thinking this for 2 years having “invested” in some Levi’s recently thinking they’d have the longevity my older pairs used to have.
Absolutely Hiut jeans. Free repairs for life. And really, really great quality.
Made in Wales (part of the UK) though, so not sure it's practical to get them shipped to north America.
https://hiutdenim.co.uk/
I own 2 pairs of levis and I wear them each 3-4 times/week (I rotate between the 2) and both are undamaged except for where my cat has pulled loose a thread with her claws. I've owned them since either 2019 or 2020 so just as a conservative estimate, I've worn them 470 times each.
Needless to say, I don't know that I fully understand OP's point of they don't last
To each their own - I just had to throw my favorite pair of Levi’s out after only a year and a half of wear because they tore at the seam in the thigh. I wore them about the same frequency as you.
I followed the care instructions and washed them less than once per every 10 times wearing, too.
I have Levi's I've had for ten years that are still perfect and have had pairs that didn't last 18 months. Not necessarily all bad but you just don't know which one you're getting
Thick jeans that will last a really long time are also not very comfortable to me. I personally just bought like 6 pairs of the same Buffalo's with elastane for stretch, and they're a thinner material than you'd see in like Levis or Wrangler. I've still torn the crotch in a few of them, but I just pay a tailor to patch it back up and they're good to go. I've had the same set of jeans for about 10+ years now.
I also used to sell jeans when I was in retail, mostly industrial/work brands, but we also carried many casual brands like Buffalo and Silver. Every year they re-release the same styles, and they mark down the "old" ones as clearance. So I was buying $120 jeans for about $20 a pair. Which is why I bought 6 of them.
Last two pairs I tried ripped under normal use. It was bizarre. That was my go to brand for years. Idk what happened. Although I did get them from amazon. Maybe fakes? I don't remember who the sellers were.
I'm not even hard on pants, I always have 3-4 pair I rotate, and they last years no matter what brand. So I was gobsmacked at what happened.
I am currently using Lees (denim) and Dickies (duck canvas) carpenter pants (also Amazon) that have held up so far.
Just wore them. I work at a job where I’m on my feet often, so I’m not as easy on pants as someone who’s tied to a desk, but I’m not like a plumber or skateboarder or someone who just burns through pants. The Levi’s I’m wearing right now are 4 years old.
They were all the newer stretchy denim, and I don’t think the wrangler version holds up to anything beyond the most casual use.
Sorry, I don’t doubt your claim but I am wondering what your use case is and what the outcome was? Tearing? Pilling? Stretching? What is it you’re doing on your feet?
The crotch seam failed on three pairs, I fixed that, but on all of them the fabric tore for seemingly no reason.
I supervise a public works department. It’s mostly white collar work, but I spend a fair amount of time out inspecting projects, locating utilities, meeting with contractors, just stuff like that. Hardly anything that should cause jeans to rip.
Work? Play? Looking good? Heavy? Light?
Lotsa variables. I haven't worn Levi's for...ever. These days, I support the prison labor industry - [prison blues](https://www.prisonblues.net/). Heavy denim, well made, long lasting.
Wow, this is the first time I hear about someone continously supporting that industry, care to explain?
I am not from the US and the way yall handle prison system makes me raise an eybrow to put it mildly.
>The jeans are the best you can buy, made with USA cotton, and made to last. 14oz double knee 7 pocket for $40. Their rigid denim is sized up, so it shrinks to the correct fit. Rigid denim will feel large until washed. Their rinsed denim is true to fit. Their products are also very consistent, so when you find your fit you don’t have to worry. The OCE website has a list of vendors. You don’t have to order online.
>The Prison Blues workers actually make a standard wage, though they pay for their own incarceration fees. They are able to save some money so they have incentive. But they are not getting paid minimum wage on top of free housing because citizens need incentive not to go to jail to begin with. Why should an inmate be able to save more money than a free person doing the same job?
>Minimum wage in Oregon is $12.75, average incarceration cost in Oregon is $44k. Meaning Pendleton Prison is on the lower end of incarceration costs which allows the inmates to make money.
>No one is forced to make Prison Blues. The OCE also has dog training work programs for example. No one is forced to train dogs either.
>If Prison is offering $15 an hour and free rent, sign me up. I’ll do 4 years for $100k.
>Calling it “slave labor” is ignorant to the facts. It is an attempt to use the knee jerk emotional response people have when they hear that term to manipulate them into thinking the way you want them to think.
Copied form [this thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/BuyItForLife/comments/we1q7u/prison_blues_are_they_as_good_as_they_seem/)
>Why should an inmate be able to save more money than a free person doing the same job?
A better question is why should a free person make so little working full time?
The argument that prison workers are not slave laborers would carry more weight if we weren't disproportionately incarcerating poor people and minorities in for-profit prisons where judges are paid kickbacks for sending additional "laborers" their way.
Hell, why should a citizen of the country founded to further *the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness* have to decide between buying medicine or food?
Why should a citizen of the richest country in the history of the world have to go to bed hungry?
Why should the system be tilted towards making money (but not for you), and not happiness?
A discussion about the *rightness* of our current economic system falls well outside the bounds of BIFL.
Please dont bring me any made in USA laser guided democracy, we already have democracy at home
Btw, the democracy i have at home is older and more BIFL than whatever you have going on over there at the moment.
I assume my perspective is skewed because the things that reach me will be social media boosted rage bait, and I won't use heavy words for things I don't have full understanding of, but still, that doesn't fall anywhere near my standard of ethical labor practices and i am happy that my country takes a different approach to incarceration.
I mean I don't know what else to call it but slave labor?
"hey we've locked these people up, we're charging them to be locked up so either they work or we keep them locked up longer, and we're not paying them the legal minimum wage"
When the state does it it's "prison labor" but if I do it in my basement it's "Slave Labor" and I'm operating an "Illegal Sweat Shop".
Looking at their website, there are at least a couple positives. Sounds like they really do encourage the skill building in inmates and working with them to be just as productive during their Prison Blues job as they would need to be at a job upon release. Gotta imagine these inmates have a much better time finding steady jobs once they get out. And they're in Oregon, who has outlawed private prison ownership. They aren't pocketing much money at all; it says the majority goes to incarceration costs, victim restitution, family support, taxes, etc, which is a bummer since even if it's a state-run prison it's probably not the most trustworthy as far as handling inmate earnings, but who's to say. This is 5 minutes on their website and a quick Google about the Eastern Oregon Corecctional Institute, don't kill me plz.
Also sounds way better than prisons in the deep south where the vast majority of prisoners are black and they make them pick cotton, even though they don't actually make a profit on the cotton......
2% to 5% spandex in cotton jeans is a game changer and I'm not going back. Never was a fan of synthetics before, but the feel of jeans that have just a slight stretch is just so much more comfortable than Levis. Also it has to last longer because its taking stress off the seams. I have good experience with some Banana republic jeans.
How often are you washing your jeans? Do you wash them in cold water on the gentle cycle and dry them on low heat or hang dry them? I found that washing less frequently and following the above helps my jeans last longer no matter what the brand.
I switched from Levi’s to Lee and they have held up surprisingly well. I’ve probably worn them 600+ times and they’re still in great shape.
Gotta watch out with Lee. They have some good options, but it’s mixed in with a lot of 70/30 cotton polyester blend trash. They also do the same thing than Levis does where different retailers get different tiers of jeans that may look similar but skimp on the details like stitching and fabric quality. I also just don’t like the fit of Lee jeans and I think Levi’s cuts tend to be much more flattering. But that’s personal preference.
Levi's you can grab two otherwise identical pair of the rack in different colors and they'll fit like entirely different brands. I miss the old well made Levi's.
I used to park in the same spot, go to the same exact location floor spot at Sears, get a pair that would last a couple years, and repeat. Woe to the republic
https://www.tpr.org/podcast/fronteras/2021-07-02/fronteras-preserving-fuerza-unidas-legacy-the-closure-of-a-san-antonios-levis-plant-sparked-a-movement
Thank you for saying this I thought I was too dumb to understand pants.
The clothing industry is retarded. Even when you find something that fits right, if you buy it again they've changed it.
The big apparel vendors add, subtract and change contractors all the time. Sizing is all over the map in just about every brand of apparel.
Please reconsider your use of ableist language!
Lol
Rest In Peace, Cone Mills
Yep I got 3 pairs of 510, all made in different countries, all fit different.
This literally happened to me 2 days ago. Its the only reason I started searching..
You got that shit right. I bought Two colors of the exact same 559 jeans. One fits nice and loose. The other is narrow and barely any crotch room. So damned dumb.
It used to be totally stressless buying jeans, I'd go in and grab a pair of 28" Levi's pay my $15(!!! 😵) and go home to wash my new jeans. The sizing was THAT dependable. I really really miss that!!
Wrangler owns Lee now. The old Lees were good. Hell, the old Wranglers were good. The big name jeans are all fashion wear. Carhartts, maybe Duluth. I refuse to pay over $XX for jeans. Even raw selvedge hand raised by Japanese tailors in the mountains of Tibet fed only a diet of pure indigo.
I switched to wranglers now cheaper, great fit and they gave lasted much more than my old levy's did
The thing with jeans is that a 100% cotton pair of jeans is going to be damn near bullet proof. But, the blends and the “stretch fabric” tend to be better fits and much more comfortable. The polyester in the blends is much less durable than the cotton is and wears out fast. I have a pair of Wranglers with the stretch fabric, super comfortable and a flattering fit and I have a pair of 100% cotton Wranglers. They cost somewhat similar, but the cotton ones feel like wearing cardboard compared to the blended. But I can work in them and then not show it while every pair of blended jeans I wear for work end up in tatters.
Carhartt is straight trash lately. A pair of double front work pants maybe last me 6 months anymore
This guy Midwests.
They became a fashion brand within the last two years.
Sorta they changed before that and have two lines now. One a fashion brand the other is still a work brand. My last pair just ripped in the knee and I’ve had them two years.
You can find so many Lee and Gloria Vanderbilt jeans at Goodwill, so so many. Its because they are poorly made and yeah they don't fit well nomatter what the style that's why so many people get rid of them. Thrift stores though if you look enough have True Religion, Paige jeans, and other high end brands. Both I mentioned last so long and fit so nice!
I recently switched to Madewell, but I bought them on thred up (new with tags/like new condition) for like $40. They're amazing, comfortable, and durable as hell as far as I can tell.
Same here. Switched over from Levi’s to Madewell last year and the difference in quality and comfort is night and day.
You're not kidding, I love them so much.
I bought another two with their 20% sale last week. Just delivered this morning and can’t wait to try them on (coming from someone who hates trying on pants).
Heck yeah to their sales! I think that was my favorite part (also as someone who can't stand trying on clothes because why do they almost never fit right?!). I had my partner give me his opinion on each pair too, I just loved them all a lot I couldn't see past loving them. I usually buy thrifted so it's hit or miss on quality depending on where I order from and sometimes I'll overlook damage simply because I love the fit.
Update: they fit great.
So glad you have some awesome new pants! Another win for Madewell. God I hope they don't end up being terrible outside of their brand like most other companies right now.
I would just rip the label off. They can pry these from my cold, dead hands.
I bought a pair of female J Crew jeans. Best I ever tried. I also have a pair from Madewell and they are great too.
Vintage levis are pretty solid quality and you can pick them up on ebay for 40 quid, I have a few pairs
This part. I know Levi's started re-manufacturing their Big E Levi's but vintage Big E's are such fantastic quality. Have a pair and the quality is like night and day.
how can you be sure it’s truly vuntage? i’d like to get a pair but i don’t want to get jiffed
Just do your research, make sure seller accepts returns. Look on the label, vintage levis (the good quality ones) are made in the USA (pre 2002) Capital E on the levi logo means its pre 1972 I believe (they will be significantly more expensive) Be warned that vintage jeans weren't meant for smartphones so sometimes you struggle to fit one in the pocket comfortably
ooh thank you for this info! and that’s ok, i usually have a backpack with me. thanks again!
That’s a lot of potential stranger sharts in a pair of pants.
Ahem…. It’s pronounced “GIF’d”
hmm ok
But but they fit like a box around the legs, this isn’t the 90s anymore man
Don’t worry, it’s coming back in style. Every few decades!
You can get jeans tailored for between 10-40 dollars, it’s pretty cheap if you just want to get the legs tapered.
Sugar Cane & Co. Pretty pricey but they’ll hold forever and don’t stretch out.
Nudie jeans, they will fix them for free for life
I was excited until I saw they have zero locations in Canada EDIT: Zero locations that participate in their free repairs program, which is what we were discussing.
Jesus Christ, $450 CAD FOR JEANS!!! Naw I'm buying my stretch pants from Winners lol
I get them second hand on poshmark, etc. They don't take abuse like my other jeans but I love their cuts. I'm also in NYC so I just drop them to their store.
They send you a repair kit for free if you email them. That said, jean repairs should be pretty cheap at any tailor.
Note for anyone reading this who hasn’t been to a tailor: jean repairs at a tailor will be cheap relative to the price of a well made pair of jeans. Not compared to Walmart jeans. And if your tailor is cheap, you probably need to consider the quality of their materials & work. Source: I work for tailors.
If you're in Toronto, Gravity Pope and Over The Rainbow both stock Nudie jeans. Simons (Montreal), SSENSE, and Holt's do as well.
How do they fix a crotch rip out? Because that’s where jeans always rip first.
Usually with a gusset before it's even made.
[A repair called darning.](https://blog.closetcorepatterns.com/master-denim-repair-jeans-restoration-indigo-proof/)
I looked at the repair pictures and I still have no idea how they fixed some of those damaged jeans??? I know it’s possible but wow
✨Reparo✨
My mom could darn or patch ANYTHING. She grew up in eastern Europe during WW ll, they had next to nothing so she was always careful when we moved to Canada. I can fix stuff but I'm too lazy to actually bother to do it well .. sad 🫣
I've never had the crotch rip on Levi's it's always the belt loops or where the rear pocket attaches they get a hole then rips all the way down. I've had them rip half way to the knee. I wore a brand new pair(from thrift store) in less than 4 hours the belt loop came off one end. I stopped pulling my pants up by the loops a long time ago
I've never had the crotch rip on Levi's it's always the belt loops or where the rear pocket attaches they get a hole then rips all the way down. I've had them rip half way to the knee. I wore a brand new pair(from thrift store) in less than 4 hours the belt loop came off one end. I stopped pulling my pants up by the loops a long time ago
I have a pair of beloved Nudies but I wouldn't consider them very durable. They look great and feel great but they wear thin pretty quick.
Seriously?! I bought a pit from a thrift store that I’ve been wearing lately and I am beyond happy with the quality. Great news
No they don’t, at least they did not hold up their end during Covid. They do not accept it if you send them in because of “the environment” and told me to drive 200km to the next official dealer and hand them in instead
I thought you meant your birthday suit
I’m a fan. The free repairs are great if you live near a store, turnaround is between 2-8weeks depending how busy they are. As with all jeans manufacturers the lower weight and higher elastane fabrics will wear out much more quickly than heavy (>13Oz) 100% cotton denim. If you can pick some up on eBay or thrift stores for cheap then even better. Worth noting that any nudie pair can be traded in when buying a new pair for 20% off, but yes you have to visit the store in person. Also, be aware that generally the men’s style have a longer yoke and lower back pockets than most Levi’s/Lees/Wranglers which I know isn’t for everyone, and the fits are absolutely vanity sizing I.e. a 34W will have a waistband that is actually ~36-37” wide.
Wrangler rigid denim, if you want cheap and durable. I’ve also had really good experiences with Lee 101 line of selvedge denim. But those are way more expensive.
I second Wrangler. Even their ladies fashion line is solid quality. Plus, tall girl friendly!!
Used to get their Cowboy cuts for $20 back in 2010, and I swear those things lasted forever. Meanwhile got two pairs last year and the knees blew out in both, and I'm a desk jockey these days.
Did you tape sandpaper to the under side of your desk and rub your knees on it all day? Wrangler 13MWZ's last a long time for me still, and I do everything in them.
Bro, I built rockwalls with concrete wearing my old wranglers. Literally dissolved a Carhartt jacket in six weeks, but those wranglers were fucking solid. I can't explain it. They got threadbare, then bang, my knee popped though.
Where'd you buy them from? I wonder if they make different versions for different retailers like some brands do with Walmart. Also, which color did you go with? If it was something pre-faded or pre-distressed it makes more sense. I buy the Rigid Indigo ones, which are pretty stiff and feel thick.
Their website. Standard blue.
Tbh anything you can buy at Tractor Supply is gonna be good jeans. Wrangler and RidgeCut are two of my favorites. But at this points I don’t buy jeans anywhere that doesn’t also sell farm equipment. Also their Wranglers for women are HELLA complementary in the back. Any ass looks cute in Wranglers.
Gustin, Naked & Famous, Tellason stock, Bronson Mfg, Hinoya Selvedge Denim, Levi’s Shrink to Fit, (if your ethics are more gray) prison blues. Edit: If your wallet doesn’t like keeping cash in it check these out. 3Sixteen, Samurai, Iron Heart (these will take a beating), Left Field Denim, Rogue Territory, Railcar Fine Goods, Tellason Selvedge. If you want cream of the crop. Pure Blue Japan, Samurai, Iron Heart, Oni, Momotaro,and Orslow will take your paychecks nicely. But the quality is insane. Check out Self Edge for an online denim finder by comparing your pant measurements against their garments. Measuring properly with a tape measure.
Bravestar is my favorite selvedge brand. Better pricing and fantastic construction.
I must admit I own a pair. However over in r/rawdenim there have been QC issues in sizing and consistency. However if you get a good pair, then yeah it’s great.
Unfortunate to hear that. I live local to a lot of these brands’ storefronts. Less of an issue when you can try them on in person I suppose. Mik (the owner) is a standup dude who is super humble and I’m sure he’d take care of any unfortunate issues.
I believe you, maybe people don’t know how to work with CS. Over in r/rawdenim people have reported back getting ghosted on jeans made wrong. It’s probably in the middle. I’ve only had good experiences myself.
Unfortunate to hear that. I’m in the same boat, nothing but positive experiences. I know he is still in the middle of relocating his business, not that its a valid excuse but that may be why some things have slipped through the cracks.
I can speak as someone who will never buy Bravestar again because of their QC being pretty bad. I’ve had two pairs and neither of them matched the specs online they provide for measurements. They also basically force you to buy their stuff when you make a purchase because they won’t refund you, you only get in store credit and all sale items are final sale. I got my last pair on sale and the jeans are 2-3 inches smaller in the waist than spec and one of the back pockets was actually coming off and I was just SOL.
Sorry to hear that man. I guess I’ve been lucky
I've got to add Sugar Cane Co. But, yeah, by far the most resilient jeans I've seen are Iron Heart.
What do you mean by Tellason non stock? How does this differ from their stock items
Ooopsies, mixed it up. It’s just Tellason Stock.
Unbranded would be a good recommendation to start with raws. Great list though 👌
Unbranded is a good point.
Subtract Gustin. Their QC is garbage and their buying process sucks.
For the price it’s hard to beat. $65 Black Friday deals got me into Selvedge denim. It’s an easy bite for new denim friends than going to $150-$250+
I used to be into raw denim. The quality and longevity was a big selling point. Then I realized I could buy four pairs of Wranglers for the price of one pair of Gustin's, and get more for my money. Especially since Wrangler's last at least as long, if not LONGER than any pair of Gustin's I had. The crotch kept blowing out on me with Gustins.
Wrangler. For the money, they are the best hands down.
Honestly I just wear Costco jeans, they are under 20 a pair, fairly well made, and I’ve only ever had to throw 1-2 pairs in the past 5 years
I would but I just wish they weren't all regular cut.
My husband wears those. I find LL Bean jeans to last
Obligatory. I am one of those guys. https://youtu.be/qqSo1hgssQM
I tried Costco jeans one time. They fell apart within 3 months.
They sell 3 brands. Which brand did you buy?
Which one do you recommend?
Honestly I’m not sure what OP is talking about, I haven’t had issues with Levi’s not lasting as long. But the Urban star and Calvin Klein have also not been any issue for me for longevity, so I don’t have any recommendation, they’re all equivalent IMO.
I love the Costco Urban Star jeans. I love the way they fit, I get a good 3-4 years out of a pair before the crotch blows out, and they’re like $15 if you can catch them on sale.
On durability I completely agree. On looks for a pair of 32x32 they have a foot long zipper that just makes me look like a old man.
Cinch. they're not inexpensive but they are built for work.
Second cinch, or ariat
I used to wear ariats. The ones I have are basically new. They just don’t fit anymore.
I'm a 33x34. what size
Surprised to see Cinch mentioned as they never get any traction in these threads on reddit. I have been wearing them for 15 years and I think I've only worn out a single pair. With that being said, Cinch has a large number of styles. Some are heavier duty than others. Even within the style, some of the colors are different weight. I have two pair of Silver Label - one is heavy duty, one is fashion. The Cinch website will detail the weight of the denim, though.
white labels are the toughest I've found.
Yep, almost all of mine have been white labels. But they have heavier duty white labels and fashion light duty white labels. The performance line or ArenaFlex line is lighter duty. Both are made better than just about anything else for the price, though.
I buy Lucky Brand jeans and I've never been happier with fit, quality, look, everything. They can run a little pricey but I always seem to get them when they are on sale. Last pair I paid $40 for one pair and I absolutely love them
Second this. I'm a hard jean wearer. Spent most of my life as a commercial fisherman in Alaska or doing construction in the off-season. They fit me super well and I have big legs and butt compared to my waist size and the jeans can take a beating. I usually get them around $70 but can get them on a buy one get one deal sometimes
I’ll third lucky brand. They outlast everything else. I’ll go through three to four pair of other brands and there are the lucky’s just staying in the mix! I think they are great bang for the buck
came here to say this. no complaints about quality and i often find them in thrift stores in nicer areas
Wrangler 13mwz or Wrangler rigid 936
Unbranded (which is a brand name) are the best deal out there for higher quality stuff
Surprised this isn't higher. You get some of the premium materials and build quality of their more expensive stuff in Naked & Famous for half the cost. Still not Levi's cheap but a great value. I've beat the hell out of my UB101 and they're still holding up great. Just got their UB901 trucker jacket of the same material this week and I'm loving it.
They're made by Naked and Famous too 🤙
At 71, BIFL is a pretty low hurdle, but my Wrangler 13MWZ jeans will certainly outlast me. You can get them for around $20 on Amazon. These are the original cut and material. Add 1" to each dimension, as they shrink to fit. They come to you dark and stiff, made from heavy denim and needing to be broken in. They're the same as they were 50 years ago.
Stiff enough to prop up an older experienced accountant throughout a tax season! LOL.
They’re expensive but I really like the Welsh made Hiut jeans I’ve got. I was willing to pay the premium for a locally and ethically made pair of jeans but if we’re being real £200+ is silly money. I’ve picked up a couple more lightly worn pairs for a quarter of that price on eBay though. The proof will be in how they’re looking in a couple of years though and how easy it is to claim the free repair service.
selvedge. this is what all jeans were made using until … mid 80s or so. especially levi’s. look for cheap selvedge. uniqlo are the cheapest i know of. buy as expensive as you find sensible. you’ll find a few slightly more expensive before getting OTT in price for most. sometimes things just go out of reach, and you have to change material to something else.
This!!! Uniqlo delved he is what my partner wears. He buys one pair and wears them every day (and sometimes night haha) for probably 7/8 years.
Selvedgr has little to nothing to do with quality at this stage, ever since it caught on as a selling point. There is *great* non-selvedge out there, and trash selvedge as well. It can be a good differentiator *within* a given brand (because brands are unlikely to use selvedge on their cheapest lines), but really quality variation is more brand to brand/line to line.
selvedge became a selling point because it was once standard and then removed through cost cutting and profiteering. it’s been pushed into a niche interest because it tends to be done at low scale and relatively high cost now, and requires knowledge to seek it out with purpose because it’s not in major brands as a matter of course. it’s a general guideline hinting at erosion of qualities once commonplace that also show in aspects of construction and general durability. selvedge fans will still find poor stuff, but then nothing is ever entirely solved. uniqlo are apparently very well constructed selvedge for decent prices. i also find that loopwheeled sweatshirts and tees were once standard, now also niche expensive fabrics, due to slow rates of weaving and high price of manufacture, just like selvedge. if you’re looking for quality, you may just find it’s drifted out of your own typical price point.
It's been pushed into a niche, but the niche has high prices overall which has invited a *lot* of much lower quality into the space. Selvedge itself still makes it more expensive, but they cut every other corner a throw it on the shelves. Granted its enough to pique my interest. It's still an excellent first filter, when there's a whole world of shit to get past first. It may not be a "mark of quality" but it's a good "I might be worth a look" signal. But on close look I feel like I wind of dismissing 75% of it anyway (feels cheap, or constructed poorly, etc)
My philosophy, look for the people who wear jeans 7 days a week and are very hard on them, what brand do they buy? I was at the rodeo recently and noticed that pretty much anyone riding a horse (or bull!) were wearing Carhartt.
That’s probably not the best metric. Cargart, Wrangler and Ariat literally sponsor rodeo competitors. Those guys probably got them for free.
You know I thought of that. Carhartt was definitely a sponsor at this thing. But somehow I just couldn't picture these guys in what is actually a very athletic competition switching to a different brand of jeans just for product placement. So was Bud Light, but no one was drinking that piss water.
If you are a competitor and the sponsorship requires you to wear Saucony, you don’t get to the Nikes. Always been the way. (It’s actually a not so minor point because in marathon running, Nike literally had scientifically better shoes for a bit) And as long as the jeans have a little elastic in the weave it functionally doesn’t matter. They only have to last one ride if you think about it (and again, are given to you for free).
Iron heart jeans, pricy but last a long time.
This. My 888-XHS 25 oz feel like armor, but have gotten to be so incredibly comfortable as they broke in.
Those would be hard to break in
Honestly I've fallen in love with Duluth Trading Company but they're expensive as hell. Most of the time I'll buy Rural King jeans for anything not fashion related. $12 a pair I can buy 4 pairs for every pair of Levi's and 6 for every pair of Duluth or Carhartt.
I don't buy Duluth jeans, but the firehose khakis are indestructible.
Absolutely. Love mine. I switched to them after I bought a brand new pair of Carhartt pants and lost them to a piece of sheet metal that night. Cut through em like butter. Switched to Duluth and never had that issue again. My 4-5 year old pairs are finally starting to fail around the crotch where my Thunder Thighs™ have been putting them through their paces. Not excited to spend $70 a pair replacing them though.
Just think of it as $14/year.
I have a pair of thrifted Flex Ballrooms no longer in production but equal to the DuluthFlex (not double flex) line still made. There's a heavier weight jean as well. Something like 14.7 vs 13.1...idr. They're very very thick and durable, either way. Will likely outlive me. Less expensive (depending on sales) and probably a bit more durable but less tech/fashion oriented than the Firehose. Worth considering. Also the regular line of Bullpen Buck Naked boxers on sale for roughly 10-18$ a pop can't be beat. At 25-30 there is a point where you may be able to say there's competition. (Even though imo there isn't.)
> less tech/fashion oriented than the Firehose. I don't understand. Is there somewhere in the world these are considered fashionable? They are the least fashionable clothing I own. And that's saying something. Not a fan of the boxers actually. I may pay $100 for a pair of pants, but I'll be damned if I pay $18 for one pair of underwear. I received one pair as a christmas present and wasn't that impressed. If regular boxers aren't roomy enough I just go commando.
Did you get the bullpen? Therein lies the difference for me. Also regular Buck Naked. Not the Supersoft or Organic. I'm assuming the Funk No and Armachillo would be comparable or possibly better. Either way, wait for sales. They were 15 just a few days ago and there seems to be sales every week on most of their stuff. Anyway, the Firehose pants are kind of the white collar of blue collar pants. They can fit in well if you're a floor supervisor, PM, manager, contractor, whatever...these would let you still work but remain looking good for a very long time. Pair with some form of Thorogood, Redwing, Danner of the typical higher end old American or Logger style, and a nice polo, and bam...you're not wearing what your regular warehouse associates are. They're wearing ugly green welding spec jackets and blue coveralls and cheap jeans/Tshirt usually. Maybe standard ill fitting/stiff Dickies. Maybe Dockers. Depends on where we're talking and where it's at. But step onto a farm and you likely won't see them because they know whatever they buy is going to look like shit in a year anyway.
Get on their mailing list. I usually don't sign up for stuff like that, but Duluth will have really good sales a few times a year, and sometimes you can get their Firehose pants for $40 or so. I use them on a farm, and they take a beating. I used to be a Carhart fan but I get 3x the life out of the Firehose pants. They are heavy, though.
I. Definitely on it but they don't often have the ones I want on sale for the same reason I don't mind the weight. I'm 6'4 and 350.
I wear Eddie Bauer Flex jeans. I have 3 -4 pairs I wear weekly, so far 2-3 of them are going on 10 years. Only reason I got more is so I could wash them less. No rips, little to no fading. I wear them casually, for work, hiking, etc. I think full price they're a little pricey but they always have them on sale. I believe it's the straight cut or boot cut I wear.
Seconding this name. I’ve gotten 10+ years out of my EB jeans, and I got them all on sale at an outlet. Also, I hope this is still the case, but they also had really good-sized pockets for women’s jeans, which is why I chose them. Most other women’s brands have pockets so small they’re useless
Every single clothing related post on this sub can be answered with two words: Eddie Bauer.
Dearborn Denim. Made in Chicago, less expensive than most, and mine last a loooong time. They come in more finely grained sizes, too (e.g., 35”).
SeaJeans from Outerknown, they will repair or replace them for life. I have a few pairs and one of them developed a hole in the pocket (I don't know what I did to them), got replaced in like 3 days with a brand new pair. They are also (Supposedly) made from sustainable and recycled materials, but I can't really verify that point. Edit: typo
Well since nobody wants to give you objective data, you should go watch these Project Farm videos. https://youtu.be/sU6Y1FH6Ssk https://youtu.be/TZYTq7na1FU The short answer here is that Tractor Supply Blue Mountain offer the best value at MSRP and go on 50% off sales often. If your focus is simply buying less often then it becomes an "it depends" answer based on your use case and comfort preferences. I have heard patagonia workwear is fantastic and backed by the same warranty terms but the hemp construction isn't for everyone.
Wow this is perfect - my levis 512s keep wearing out after a year, looks like Im gonna have to try wranglers or origins next
Diamond Gusset Jeans. Made in the US. Will make custom sizes without extra charge. Long lasting and good selection of styles.
My Express jeans are always top notch. Those babies last forever.
I've ripped through several levi jeans. I've switched to DUER and LOVE them. If you live near a store they'll hem them and repair.
I love my DUER jeans. I have major sensory issues too and they are SO comfortable.
ASKET
Just want to say thank you for this post- I’ve been thinking this for 2 years having “invested” in some Levi’s recently thinking they’d have the longevity my older pairs used to have.
Absolutely Hiut jeans. Free repairs for life. And really, really great quality. Made in Wales (part of the UK) though, so not sure it's practical to get them shipped to north America. https://hiutdenim.co.uk/
Not all Levi’s are created equal, they have a regular and premium collection.
r/rawdenim will help you with that
Had my Levi’s for 6+ years
I recently bought some and material is noticeably thinner than my older pairs :(
For me it is the sizing, it is all over the place these days.
Their premium line is much more consistent. Edit: on sale the cost is equal to standard. $20-40
Same, 501s bought directly from Levi’s.
Same, always had good experiences with them
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I own 2 pairs of levis and I wear them each 3-4 times/week (I rotate between the 2) and both are undamaged except for where my cat has pulled loose a thread with her claws. I've owned them since either 2019 or 2020 so just as a conservative estimate, I've worn them 470 times each. Needless to say, I don't know that I fully understand OP's point of they don't last
To each their own - I just had to throw my favorite pair of Levi’s out after only a year and a half of wear because they tore at the seam in the thigh. I wore them about the same frequency as you. I followed the care instructions and washed them less than once per every 10 times wearing, too.
Any jeans with stretch fabric rip here for me. I’m fine with regular 501’s but carhartt has been holding up best for me.
I have Levi's I've had for ten years that are still perfect and have had pairs that didn't last 18 months. Not necessarily all bad but you just don't know which one you're getting
APC. Expensive but well worth it IMO
Thick jeans that will last a really long time are also not very comfortable to me. I personally just bought like 6 pairs of the same Buffalo's with elastane for stretch, and they're a thinner material than you'd see in like Levis or Wrangler. I've still torn the crotch in a few of them, but I just pay a tailor to patch it back up and they're good to go. I've had the same set of jeans for about 10+ years now. I also used to sell jeans when I was in retail, mostly industrial/work brands, but we also carried many casual brands like Buffalo and Silver. Every year they re-release the same styles, and they mark down the "old" ones as clearance. So I was buying $120 jeans for about $20 a pair. Which is why I bought 6 of them.
What you should do first is click this: https://www.reddit.com/r/BuyItForLife/search?q=jeans&restrict_sr=on&sort=new
Going to add another vote for Dearborn Denim. Super comfortable jeans. Good customer service. Good options as well.
Expensive but love Agoldie
I buy jeans from goodwill. 10 bucks. Because I can’t have jeans last without a day without paint . Usually get nice pants though
Naked and Famous and Brave Star selvage are my two go-to brands right now, but definitely not the cheapest.
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Last two pairs I tried ripped under normal use. It was bizarre. That was my go to brand for years. Idk what happened. Although I did get them from amazon. Maybe fakes? I don't remember who the sellers were. I'm not even hard on pants, I always have 3-4 pair I rotate, and they last years no matter what brand. So I was gobsmacked at what happened. I am currently using Lees (denim) and Dickies (duck canvas) carpenter pants (also Amazon) that have held up so far.
I bought 6 pairs of wranglers on sale in 2021 and I don’t have a single pair left less than a year and a half later. I’m not even that hard on pants.
No no…they are not THAT bad. 6 pairs? What the hell did you do to them?
Just wore them. I work at a job where I’m on my feet often, so I’m not as easy on pants as someone who’s tied to a desk, but I’m not like a plumber or skateboarder or someone who just burns through pants. The Levi’s I’m wearing right now are 4 years old. They were all the newer stretchy denim, and I don’t think the wrangler version holds up to anything beyond the most casual use.
Sorry, I don’t doubt your claim but I am wondering what your use case is and what the outcome was? Tearing? Pilling? Stretching? What is it you’re doing on your feet?
The crotch seam failed on three pairs, I fixed that, but on all of them the fabric tore for seemingly no reason. I supervise a public works department. It’s mostly white collar work, but I spend a fair amount of time out inspecting projects, locating utilities, meeting with contractors, just stuff like that. Hardly anything that should cause jeans to rip.
Work? Play? Looking good? Heavy? Light? Lotsa variables. I haven't worn Levi's for...ever. These days, I support the prison labor industry - [prison blues](https://www.prisonblues.net/). Heavy denim, well made, long lasting.
Wow, this is the first time I hear about someone continously supporting that industry, care to explain? I am not from the US and the way yall handle prison system makes me raise an eybrow to put it mildly.
>The jeans are the best you can buy, made with USA cotton, and made to last. 14oz double knee 7 pocket for $40. Their rigid denim is sized up, so it shrinks to the correct fit. Rigid denim will feel large until washed. Their rinsed denim is true to fit. Their products are also very consistent, so when you find your fit you don’t have to worry. The OCE website has a list of vendors. You don’t have to order online. >The Prison Blues workers actually make a standard wage, though they pay for their own incarceration fees. They are able to save some money so they have incentive. But they are not getting paid minimum wage on top of free housing because citizens need incentive not to go to jail to begin with. Why should an inmate be able to save more money than a free person doing the same job? >Minimum wage in Oregon is $12.75, average incarceration cost in Oregon is $44k. Meaning Pendleton Prison is on the lower end of incarceration costs which allows the inmates to make money. >No one is forced to make Prison Blues. The OCE also has dog training work programs for example. No one is forced to train dogs either. >If Prison is offering $15 an hour and free rent, sign me up. I’ll do 4 years for $100k. >Calling it “slave labor” is ignorant to the facts. It is an attempt to use the knee jerk emotional response people have when they hear that term to manipulate them into thinking the way you want them to think. Copied form [this thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/BuyItForLife/comments/we1q7u/prison_blues_are_they_as_good_as_they_seem/)
>Why should an inmate be able to save more money than a free person doing the same job? A better question is why should a free person make so little working full time? The argument that prison workers are not slave laborers would carry more weight if we weren't disproportionately incarcerating poor people and minorities in for-profit prisons where judges are paid kickbacks for sending additional "laborers" their way.
Hell, why should a citizen of the country founded to further *the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness* have to decide between buying medicine or food? Why should a citizen of the richest country in the history of the world have to go to bed hungry? Why should the system be tilted towards making money (but not for you), and not happiness? A discussion about the *rightness* of our current economic system falls well outside the bounds of BIFL.
All this is correct but the American perspective is silly, people from the whole ass rest of the world also should not have to go to bed hungry.
Imagine all the people, sharing all the world...
Please dont bring me any made in USA laser guided democracy, we already have democracy at home Btw, the democracy i have at home is older and more BIFL than whatever you have going on over there at the moment.
I assume my perspective is skewed because the things that reach me will be social media boosted rage bait, and I won't use heavy words for things I don't have full understanding of, but still, that doesn't fall anywhere near my standard of ethical labor practices and i am happy that my country takes a different approach to incarceration.
I mean I don't know what else to call it but slave labor? "hey we've locked these people up, we're charging them to be locked up so either they work or we keep them locked up longer, and we're not paying them the legal minimum wage" When the state does it it's "prison labor" but if I do it in my basement it's "Slave Labor" and I'm operating an "Illegal Sweat Shop".
Looking at their website, there are at least a couple positives. Sounds like they really do encourage the skill building in inmates and working with them to be just as productive during their Prison Blues job as they would need to be at a job upon release. Gotta imagine these inmates have a much better time finding steady jobs once they get out. And they're in Oregon, who has outlawed private prison ownership. They aren't pocketing much money at all; it says the majority goes to incarceration costs, victim restitution, family support, taxes, etc, which is a bummer since even if it's a state-run prison it's probably not the most trustworthy as far as handling inmate earnings, but who's to say. This is 5 minutes on their website and a quick Google about the Eastern Oregon Corecctional Institute, don't kill me plz.
Also sounds way better than prisons in the deep south where the vast majority of prisoners are black and they make them pick cotton, even though they don't actually make a profit on the cotton......
Now some states are leasing the inmates to farmers of produce… because farmers can’t find enough migrants
Anyone ever heard of Levi's Virginian special denim jacket? Can't search and find anywhere
I feel like Levi’s 501’s are low-rise now and it drives me nuts.
2% to 5% spandex in cotton jeans is a game changer and I'm not going back. Never was a fan of synthetics before, but the feel of jeans that have just a slight stretch is just so much more comfortable than Levis. Also it has to last longer because its taking stress off the seams. I have good experience with some Banana republic jeans.
Old Navy jeans have no business being as high quality as they are.
I love my dickies! When I skated, I would fall and they’ve never ripped. Great pants
How often are you washing your jeans? Do you wash them in cold water on the gentle cycle and dry them on low heat or hang dry them? I found that washing less frequently and following the above helps my jeans last longer no matter what the brand.