Looking for jeans similar to 501 shrink-to-fit

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I've worn Levi 501 shrink-to-fit for the last 35+ years... every once in a while I buy 5 pairs, wear them for years, gradually moving a pair into my "stained" and eventually "torn" pile, and when I run out of the "nice" pile, I buy a new stack. It's been at least 7 or 8 years now because since I've taken to wearing Carhartt work pants I'm not destroying the Levis like previously.
I still like the fit and feel of the Levis for "casual" wear. Alas, I'm having trouble finding jeans in my size (which thankfully hasn't changed).

Has anyone else gone from the 501 s-t-f jeans to something else that fits the same?
(Button fly please)

 

[Hughman]

Why not stick with what you know...

Levi's® 501® Shrink-to-Fit™ - Shop Shrink-to-Fit Jeans | Levi's® US

Levi's® 501 shrink-to-fit™ jeans are raw, rough, and as pure as jeans can be. Browse our complete collection of original shrink to fit jeans at Levi's®.

www.levi.com

 

[ning]

Why not stick with what you know...

Levi's® 501® Shrink-to-Fit™ - Shop Shrink-to-Fit Jeans | Levi's® US

Levi's® 501 shrink-to-fit™ jeans are raw, rough, and as pure as jeans can be. Browse our complete collection of original shrink to fit jeans at Levi's®.

www.levi.com

They haven't had my size for a month, so I'm exploring my options.

 

[Peter 315]

I've worn Levi 501 shrink-to-fit for the last 35+ years... every once in a while I buy 5 pairs, wear them for years, gradually moving a pair into my "stained" and eventually "torn" pile, and when I run out of the "nice" pile, I buy a new stack. It's been at least 7 or 8 years now because since I've taken to wearing Carhartt work pants I'm not destroying the Levis like previously.
I still like the fit and feel of the Levis for "casual" wear. Alas, I'm having trouble finding jeans in my size (which thankfully hasn't changed).

Has anyone else gone from the 501 s-t-f jeans to something else that fits the same?
(Button fly please)

Wow button fly, I hate button fly....Lol

 

[ning]

Wow button fly, I hate button fly....Lol

I like the fit, and you can tear them open if you're in a hurry. Buttoning them takes a few seconds, not a big deal. Just have to be a bit more careful when you've got a burn pile because those buttons can get hot...

 

[deserteagle71]

When I first moved to Nevada in the 60s Levi 501 button-fly jeans were the thing. All the cowboys and miners wore them. Then, I think in the early 90s, Levi Strauss went "woke", and anti everything most rural people stood for. I remember news articles about Levi Strauss refusing to sell their jeans to farm supply stores. Now you'll not find one cowboy or miner wearing Levi jeans around here. Anything but, but most went to Wrangler. Seeing as the original Levi jeans were produced primarily for miners, that's how low the company has fallen. Found this quote in a Western magazine:

So it's been close to 30 years ago that I stopped wearing my button-fly 501s. I still have a whole stack of size 33x36 shrink-to-fit sitting on a shelf in my closet. One of these days I'll give them away to someone who wants them...and won't care about being seen wearing them in this community of cowboys and miners.

 

[KennyG]

Jeans are a personal preference thing. I used to wear Levis but got annoyed with the price and the fit seemed to change. I wore Lees for quite a while but the last ones I got seemed to be cheaper fabric. I just changed to Wranglers and like them. I've given up on local stores because of the limited selection of sizes and colors. I order them from Amazon now because I can always get the size I want.

 

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When I first moved to Nevada in the 60s Levi 501 button-fly jeans were the thing. All the cowboys and miners wore them. Then, I think in the early 90s, Levi Strauss went "woke", and anti everything most rural people stood for. I remember news articles about Levi Strauss refusing to sell their jeans to farm supply stores. Now you'll not find one cowboy or miner wearing Levi jeans around here. Anything but, but most went to Wrangler. Seeing as the original Levi jeans were produced primarily for miners, that's how low the company has fallen. Found this quote in a Western magazine:

View attachment 805096

So it's been close to 30 years ago that I stopped wearing my button-fly 501s. I still have a whole stack of size 33x36 shrink-to-fit sitting on a shelf in my closet. One of these days I'll give them away to someone who wants them...and won't care about being seen wearing them in this community of cowboys and miners.

Well that's my size.
How much do you want for them?

 

[oosik]

I buy jeans from Cabela. They are tough and comfortable. Don't cost a fortune. My current pair are grass stained/ paint and glue spots and seriously bleach stained. Look like something from "The Walking Dead".

Covers my body - that's what counts. Go well with my grey sweat shirts.

 

[lman]

I bought a couple pairs of jeans at Rural King a couple of years ago for $8. I'm still wearing one pair. They're not as heavy duty as some, but it's hard to pass up $8 jeans. I think they're about $12 now. I'm not afraid to get on my knees or get a little grease on these cheap jeans.

 

[ponytug]

Kirkland brand is $14, but a zipper fly...

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I also buy the Kirkland brand jeans from Costco. Mainly because they're cheap. They used to be much heavier material 10-15 years ago, but like everyone else it seems, they have become thin and cheap. I can still get a few years out of them before they're bad enough to land in the rag pile.

I haven't bought Levi 501's since the 80's. They became stupid expensive and they cheapened them up compared to when I first started wearing them in the 60's.

I started wearing Duluth Trading "fire hose" cargo pants for work about 5 or 6 years ago, and they are fantastic. The "stretch" fabric ones are more comfortable due to a tighter weave (thread count?) on the fabric. The originals were like burlap sacks to wear (itchy), but they wore like iron. I've not tried their blue jeans.

I've never been able to wear Wranglers, as they have zero crotch room for "the boys".

 

[Torvy]

Fond memories of a young lady ripping open the buttons on my 501s in the 80s, but I digress.

Different 'models' of jeans have different thicknesses of material and wear. You cannot simply say brand X is tougher than brand Y. I mostly go with Sam's cheap ones nowadays. They last a few years and then become patches or shorts or dog bed stuffing.

 

[rgr33]

Another vote for. Duluth brand jeans, They are a little pricey, but once you wear them, you know they are worth it.
Tough, comfortable, often discounted in their ads.

 

[ericm979]

I find that modern levis wear out too fast when used as work pants. Usually in the knees. Maybe I kneel more than most people. I got some double front loggers pants from Baileys that cost about the same as 501s but are made from thicker material and last far longer. They make single layer pants too.

I like that Levis is progressive and working to reduce discrimination inside their company. Thanks for bringing that to my attention. Their jeans are still too thin for work pants though.

 

[scootr]

I find that modern levis wear out too fast when used as work pants. Usually in the knees. Maybe I kneel more than most people. I got some double front loggers pants from Baileys that cost about the same as 501s but are made from thicker material and last far longer. They make single layer pants too.

I like that Levis is progressive and working to reduce discrimination inside their company. Thanks for bringing that to my attention. Their jeans are still too thin for work pants though.

Levis? Their pants and their loyalty are too thin for me.
Wranglers, baby! Every Cowboy wears em.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

53-24 is a hard size to find, I can guess that.

 

[TimberFarm]

Levis to me were always too expensive. I wore Wranglers in high school and then they went up in price so I found Mavericks. They had a high waist and fit excellent and wore excellent. Then they went out of business I guess.
Then I switched to Rustler because Kmart always had them on sale for $8. They didn't fit as well as Mavericks. Trouble was KMart never had my size. Always waist sizes like 38-50. Then Kmart went under and I buy Rustler on Amazon. They always have my size.

 

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Levi's are definitely no longer work pants for me, casual wear only. I agree that fabric gets thinner and thinner... as far as their cost, it's why I've always bought a stack, I search high and low until I find somewhere that's got them uncommonly cheap and then get enough for the next many years... that's now, but I'm just not finding the size either, let alone a good price.

I may have to get one each of a few different ones and try them out for a while, but I hate getting clothes that I end up not liking...

 

[Oaktree]

I also buy the Kirkland brand jeans from Costco. Mainly because they're cheap. They used to be much heavier material 10-15 years ago, but like everyone else it seems, they have become thin and cheap. I can still get a few years out of them before they're bad enough to land in the rag pile.

Don't have Costco's around here, but I used to like the Sam's Club Members Mark jeans. Haven't had a membership there for years (nearest store is 2+ hours away), so I don't know how they compare today.
Tractor Supply Blue Mountain ones fit well.

I don't make buying decisions on the manufacturer's politics, but I've never been able to wear Levis. They just never fit right.