Thread: Levis. Just about- Yes, the finest pair of Denim.

Originally Posted by jockeys

+1
when I was a kid, a pair of levi 501s would last until you outgrew 'em, maybe some holes in the knees from power sliding, but that was rare. the denim was twice as thick as other jeans.

nowadays, the denim is paperthin and they come unsewed at the seams. anymore if i want sturdy denim stuff, i go with dickies (still made in ft worth, tx) or carrhart.

For those members who live in other countries and may feel that the "made in USA" crowd are nationalistic "ugly" Americans ..... this country used to have an economy based on manufacturing rather than consumerism. Workers earned a decent wage and could get by on one job rather than two and three and the wives could afford to stay home and raise their kids if they chose to.

Regrettably the entrepreneurial spirit overcame the love of country of some and they killed the goose that laid the golden egg for the almighty bottom line and the term "offshore" became part of the lexicon. I for one have nothing against other countries prospering but not at the expense of American labor. Unfortunately the cow already left the barn so closing the door now may be of no use.

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

I dont buy Levis anymore, they are poorly made of inferior material and slave labor. They are not of the same quality they used to be and yet they demand a superior price. I used to be a huge fan, but now I pass on them. I remember when it would take 6 months to a year to break in a pair. In a years time these days they will be worn out.

Part of that is due to stone washing which came into fashion some time ago. Stone washed jeans are worn mechanically which reduces the lifespan of the fabric.

That, and it is also a thinner weave of the strings when making the fabric.
But many people like them being softer to the touch even though it comes at the cost of durability.

I still remember when I was working in a clothing store at the age of 18 or 19. This rather hot woman came in and had me feel her thigh to help her find a pair of jeans of the same material. I've been a follower of soft jeans ever since

Levi's are nice, but I think Wranglers (the real ones not WalMart ones) are some of the best. I won't say absolutely the best as I haven't tried every option. Rustler is pretty good too for about $10.

I dont know what the weight of their denim is anymore, but I remember it being 20+ oz in the day, some tough stuff the working man could rely on.

They changed the cut, too. Now its less leg width, lower and more waist.
Doesn't fit me as good, so I wear Diesel.

Originally Posted by Kees

But they don't come in size 36/38 so I never had one.

Yes they do, just not in Europe. I prefer to do my jeans shopping in the US, both for size (mr. lardass here needs a 38 or 40 ) as well as for price ($40 vs €70 or somewhere in those ranges).

I think all of my current ones are from marlboro. But I buy them in that store because the people who work there (in my local marlboro shop) don't look like the usual clerk duchebags. The manager even give me dicsounts when he is there.

They seem durable enough for the occasional bikeride, running to catch the bus or playing football in a park with some friends(real football, not the american type where they play with their hands).

But certainly, if I treated them as I did my childhood pants my mother bought back then, they would tear/wear faster.

When I was a young man, longer ago that I will admit, Levis were "shrink to fit", heavy, dark indigo, and would wear like iron. But back then I wore 29X29 . Truth be told, a pair was not comfortable until they had been washed around 50 times.

I wear Diamond Gusset jeans now. Made right here in Tennessee. Yes, they are more expensive, and I don't mind because they are a local product that will never be carried by the Wal-Marts of the world.

I bought two pairs of 29-32s pre shrinked 501s a couple months ago last year, and my favorite of the two just wore out both knees and wallet pocket.

Now I wear the other pair more often since it has way less wear, but I need to buy more, since they were the only jeans I feel comfortable wearing in public/non work situation.

too bad cause they're $50 a pair. I think next time around I'll buy the 505 or 529 boot cuts.

I don't know, I really need to bring a female unit along for opinions.

I think some Levi boot cuts and a nice pair of non western "cowboy" style boots would look pretty darn good on me.