Levi's Men's 501 Original Fit Jeans (Also Available in Big & Tall)

A Jean in Name Only?I ordered several pairs & sizes, hoping a couple would pan out and be - Real Levi's. (Not a review for "skinny" or tight fitting legged jeans, just standard pants-jeans)Here is what occurred:You can't fully review 501's right out of the bag (due to the need to do the shrink-to-fit wash first). I noticed that both pairs were made in different places - one pair from MEXICO, one pair from EGYPT. Both seemed to be the same lightness in weight and stiffness of fabric, and were a medium grey-blue. Yuck. They felt like paper; super thin (tear risk?) and weightless...and a morose grey-blue. They resembled nothing I would associate with the heavy, strong, lush indigo of the 501's I used to easily be able to find and buy at a mid $40 price point. 501's of former decades were deeply indigo, shrink-to-fit and would become soft, strong, durable and glove-like to wear. I wondered, after receiving these, if such jeans even existed anymore. After reading favorable reviews at (a dept. store that rhymes with Jaycie's), I decided to order my 501's through them instead, since they actually pay attention to the *quality* of product they sell - whereas Amzn is rife with counterfeit issues and sellers trying to offload junk merch. I returned both pairs of 501's I got thru Amzn. They were a bad counterfeit of themselves and the Levi's 501 label shouldn't be on them At All and is for people who don't know what real jeans were/felt like in decades prior.The other three pairs were ordered in different colors of fade styles - indigo dk stonewash, medium stonewash and light stonewash 505's. Two of the three pair were made in MEXICO - the light and medium - and one of the legs on the light was a bit longer than the other. Mostly, they were stiff and almost what I would call paper-thin. Chinos have more body than that! Basically, they were junk, so I returned those, too.The last pair in the box was the dark stonewash 505's. As soon as I picked up the jeans in their plastic bag, I could tell these jeans were different.Even in the bag, I could tell by the weight, drape, indigo color and softness that these were like the Real Levi's I had purchased years ago. They were manufactured in .......wait for it......BANGLADESH. Keeping these.If you remember or experienced real jeans and real Levi's/501's, you know what Levi's are supposed to be and feel like. There are differences in quality and origin now on each pair of Levi's "jeans" that are - literally and figuratively - all over the map.Whether the dark stonewash will hold up as well as last pair remains to be seen, but I would get another pair of these without hesitation, though only from a walk-in-and-feel-them myself department store from now on.So, it will be interesting to see where "those" (dept. store) 501's were made when they get here. My faves/former 501's were made in HAITI......a decade ago; I suspect the new dept. store 501's will be from Egypt.....but I Expect Actual Authentic 501's from them, not paper-thin, junky, counterfeit product - the dept. store reviews didn't mention bad quality for 501's!UPDATE! Received the 501's from the dept. store. They were made in EGYPT but look different than the dark grey blue of the Amzn ones. These look and feel "more" like Real 501's, but my old/faded 501's still outweigh them. The weight of the denim is still Much thinner than they used to be (built-in obsolescence to force more sales). The 505's dark stonewash I just got are FAR heavier in weight. The newer 501's can be termed 501 - 2.0, as they are still about chino weight right out of the bag. Holding them in one hand, they weigh like fluff. The 505's are legit heavy and this pair has ALL the Levi authenticity paraphernalia - the label on the inside pocket is crisply lettered; rivets are copper on both sides.The other Levi's jeans numbers being sold report bad quality all around; this has been a problem with Levi's for a decade now. If you have to have your olde 501's, try that dept. store avenue mentioned, where you can feel their quality and return them if they don't pan out.Bottom line seems to be that Levi's as a brand and product is no longer legit Levi's but a cheap, sold-out, profit-driven company that no longer gives a dang about quality almost at all. As such, their "jeans" are embarassingly low quality and the weight of the product should no longer qualify them to be jeans at all. They feel like, even newish, they could tear on you in a second...and unflatteringly, at that! On the Levi's site, a pair of "vintage" (closer to real?) 501's is $285 a pair. On EBAY, they go for hundreds of dollars, too.A good alternative to this brand, since they don't seem to be loyal to their own flagship product (??!!), is a brand that rhymes with dangler or a brand that isn't just producing junk. (This site keeps changing these names to prevent you from getting the info, but I will keep editing until the full truth is known!)So now we know (more). Only 505's from my haul & dept store made the grade. I am keeping the 501's from the dept store for nostalgia, but it seems like Levi's has all but phased out....well, Levi's....at least what we call Levi's, or used to.I suggest shopping for jeans in person to gauge the weight and color of the product offered, always be able to return them if they fail, and if you find a good brand making legit, heavy jeans, stock up while you can.Levi's has bailed on the quality and weight of their iconic flagship product.I am shopping elsewhere for a brand that stands behind it's products and whose product can stand up to the necessary rigors of being called a Jean!Caveat Emptor!WEAR CLEAN UNDERWEAR! These current-era jeans feel like a potential rip hazard at any time. Would never have thought (or occurred!) a pair of Levi's would tear out on you on a "day out," like way into Disneyland or deep into a big-day convention/excursion, but these feel like they would and would leave you hanging out (ummm, literally) without hesitation or solution. I will never wear these new-era pairs without wearing (cotton) bike shorts underneath and/or carrying a back-up pair of pants or shorts! They DO have that creepy "I could fully tear out at any moment" feel to the jeans fabric now. I wouldn't even call that a pair of jeans at all; you could build roads without worry in former-Levi's!UPDATE: I washed both pairs - the 505's and 501's. The 501's are still very thin and almost paper-weight. I don't expect they will last long, and will probably have to use legit denim to patch/repair them to not just have wasted the cost buying them at all. I assume the cost of making the authentic indigo 501's became too costly, driving up the prices consumers say they'd rather pay but really wouldn't - and here's why. Most bought 501's because you could buy them affordably (they were comfortably priced), dig ditches during the day and dress them up for dinner at night - yes, after a wash, the Same Pair! They were amazing. Now, if the same pair were $120 instead of $40, you'd be a lot less likely to wear those in ditch digging - or any practical, workhorse task and and more likely to reserved them for rare-wear due to their cost/availability...and this would result in less sales. The prices of 501's now discounted at $60 for the paper-thin non-indigo "jeans" probably means the prices would be around $100 a pair...and that would give buyers pause. Basically, the 501's are historic; these are nothing like those were and I won't buy another pair of Levi's 501's. The 505's are slightly heavier after the wash, still, and still indigo. I might buy another pair someday. However, they are still wayyyyy thinner than the 501's or 505's I bought 10 years ago.The 501's still have the button-fly I prefer, otherwise they'd get no stars. The 505's get 3 stars for a heavier weight, softer and more authentic fabric/feel, and their indigo authentic color.Well, this has been a denim learning experience!Good luck and shop Very Cautiously, 'cuz they just don't make jeans - or much else - like they used to!

These are REAL Levi's 501s. I don't know what all the griping is about from the highest viewed review dated 2020. It's 2023 people. These 501s are coming direct from Levi Strauss & Co. through Amazon. They aren't knock offs, fakes, or counterfeit 501s. I got mine and they have all the button stamps ink stamps, and codes that Levi's have always had through the years. I've been wearing Levis for 50+ years, so I have a little experience. I've tried all the other jean brands, and even the high end jeans, and even the brands inspired by Levi's, and still keep coming back to Levi's 501 STF. The 501 STF is still the benchmark for rugged denim that shrinks to perfectly fit your body. I'm 5'11 185 lbs. I order W35 L36. After FOLLOWing THE INSTRUCTIONS - wear them in the tub on a hot day, then go out and do some ranch or yard work. Let them dry and shrink to fit your body. After a few wear and cold washing cycles, they shrink down to W34 L32-33 depending on how warm you dry 'em. They'll still fit over western boots, too. If you like your denim stiff and raw, order your actual size. Although, I've yet to meet someone who actually does this. Seems that it would be a little uncomfortable.Some reviewers say they aren't the same 501 as they were decades ago. Question for them...What these days is the same as it was decades ago? I can't think of much, including myself.And what's all the griping about where they're made? Yeah-Yeah, I'd love for them to still be made in the good 'ol USA, by USA workers, but that's not in the cards these days. Thank politicians and trade deals for that. The pairs I ordered were made in Egypt. I was curious, so I searched this out. Have you seen the online videos of this state of the art manufacturing facility? It's pretty impressive - with what appears to be modern equipment and high tech, good quality processes in place to ensure consistency. And what's not to love about Egyptian cotton? The 501's I have that are a few years old are now thick and soft - the product of washing them inside out and drying properly. This also ensures uniform fading of the denim so they will look great too.Bottom Line, if you want a pair of jeans that will fit you perfectly, and last years, I recommend going with the 501 Shrink to Fit (STF). If you don't want to invest the time to break them in and have a pair of jeans that fit you perfectly, you can buy the already pre-shrunk 501 versions. If the buttons bug you, go with the zippered 505s. The 505 is supposedly the same as the 501 but with a zipper. Although, I don't believe Levi's makes 505s in a STF version anymore.

Shrink-to-fit jeans always feel a little tougher than other Levi’s jeans I have owned. There is something about the button fly (only found on 501’s) that just makes the feel and fit so much better.I do the self sizing method versus just throwing them in the washer/dryer. Your mileage may vary. Here is what I do.1) Buy the jeans two sizes bigger in waist and 1 size bigger in length (There might be some trial an error if you make the wrong choice.)2) Poor a hot bath (not too hot. DO NOT burn yourself. Just make it a little warmer than usual.)3) Get a good book and an ice cold drink4) Put the jeans on and get in the bathtub.5) Enjoy the warm water, push air bubbles out of the jeans, make sure they are seated at your waist6) Hang the jeans up (DO NOT wring them out. Let them drip dry. Outside is best to allow for dye drips7) Clean out the tub (makes your family a little happier)8) After they are dry/shrunk, I normally wash in COLD water with other jeans. Gets rid of excess dye.9) DO NOT DRY in a dryer. Only line dry.Enjoy some of the best fitting jeans you will ever own.

I have been buying Levi 501's for decades. These are no different than the ones I bought 20, 30, 40 or more years ago. Yes they are now manufactured all over the globe now and not in the USA. Other than that, they are the same. Same style, same color same fabric and on and on. I did not weight them or count the number of threads per inch but to me they are the same 501's I wore as a child. My suggestion is if you are so concerned about the heritage of your 501 jeans you might want to find a different product and maybe get a life in the process.

I absolutely love Levis 501 jeans. Have worn them for years. I am a woman, but I always have worn the men's jeans because I hated the women's jeans. The women's jeans stick out in the hips. I am finding it harder and harder to find these jeans, and the price is atrocious. There are other 501s but they are extremely ugly with rips and tears in them. I couldn't get them in medium stone wash anymore, so had to go to the light or dark.

Found the pants I wanted, and when I received them, they are the ones I saw and purchased, so bonus I got what I actually purchased

Great

fast delivery. great fit. no problems. will order again

Just what I was looking for all this time. Comfort is spectacular and their fit is like a glove. They look great too. Cheaper than the retail store. Not too wide or skinny they're a good dress pant.