The Best Men’s Jeans
Few articles of clothing have had as much universal appeal over the span of generations as jeans. Not just any pair of jeans will do, though, and we know that it can take some searching to find a pair that's equal parts stylish, functional, and comfortable. To help you find the right pair for your needs, we've highlighted a few of the best ones out there.
What to Look For
Taking comfort, style, and durability into account, we vetted the top contenders on our list to ensure they’ll be a good fit for you and your lifestyle. For example, if you’re looking for an all-occasion pair of denim, we suggest opting for the regular-fit jeans from Levi’s, which come in a large variety of washes. On the other hand, if you’re in the market for relaxed-fit jeans, the carpenter pair from Dickies is a great straight-leg option. These jeans even have a utility pocket designed to hold tools when doing handiwork. Check out the rest of our favorite men’s jeans below to upgrade your wardrobe.
Levi’s Men’s 505 Regular Fit Jeans
A little bit of everything
This venerable clothing company has been producing timeless and iconic jeans for over 150 years, so it’s no surprise that their most popular pairs capture everything we love about denim. Levi’s standard regular-fit jeans, known as the 505, are tough, stylish, and versatile all at once. Jean fashions come and go, but this is a pair you can expect to still look good in a decade from now. Plus, if you treat them well, they may have plenty of life ahead of them at that point.
Pros:
- We’re impressed by the enormous color variety offered here. You can choose from all the most popular denim washes as well as some more unique hues.
- Despite their classic design, the materials that these jeans are comprised of lend them a contemporary twist. The 1% elastane gives these just enough stretch to add flexibility without sacrificing their durability.
Cons:
- These aren’t as heavy as some of Levi’s jeans. If you’re used to denim with a bit more heft, this pair might not be for you.
Wrangler Authentics Flex Waist Jeans
The price is right
Often, clothing manufacturers try to stand out from the competition by adding new embellishments to classic pieces. But Wrangler Authentics seems to know that when it comes to jeans, you don’t always need to reinvent the wheel. This five-pocket style features heavy-duty zippers and buttons, a timeless silhouette, and a little bit of stretch so that these always feel comfortable.
Pros:
- Considering the quality, it’s hard to believe these are priced so affordably.
- We love the way this pair looks when it’s paired with a nice pair of boots.
Cons:
- Though these are durable, the comfort provided by the stretch waistband does come at the cost of longevity.
Dickies Relaxed Straight-Fit Duck Carpenter Jean
Work hard, play hard
When denim jeans were invented, they were designed for the working man. The pants that gents at the time were wearing simply couldn’t provide the type of resilience that industrial workers, such as miners, needed, but jeans solved that. Dickies’ Duck Carpenter jeans embody the design philosophies behind the original denim jeans: they’re tough, practical, and built to last. But this pair also accomplishes something the old ones couldn’t: they’re heavy-duty and comfortable.
Pros:t
- We appreciate how deep the pockets are on these pants. You’ll be able to fit plenty in each of them.
- We love the richness of the color on these. And aside from that, this color is very easy to pair with other clothes.
Cons:
- Those with very muscular thighs might find the fit a little too tight.
Amazon Essentials Athletic-Fit Stretch Jean
I can adapt
Though few might have expected it when Amazon started as an online marketplace decades ago, today, people all over the country wear clothes produced by the company. That’s because, as this pair of athletic-fit jeans demonstrate, Amazon offers mid-tier clothing at budget-tier prices. Similar to slightly pricier competitors in terms of looks and quality, this pair has a lot to offer. Plus, it comes in all sorts of colors, so it should be easy to find one that fits your wardrobe.
Pros:
- We appreciate how accurate the sizing is here. These tend to fit true-to-size, so you won’t have to go through a tedious back-and-forth process between ordering and returning jeans that don’t fit.
- These are a happy medium between trendy and classic. That means they appeal to a very wide customer base.
Cons:
- The jeans are advertised as having a bit of stretch to them, but they’re not very stretchy at all.
Naked & Famous Denim Men’s Weird Guy Tapered Leg
Denim dreams
If you’re looking for a pair that stands out from the crowd, you’ve certainly found it. The revered Naked & Famous brand produces all sorts of premium-tier denim fits, and the Weird Guy fit is one of their most popular. Aside from the universally appealing cut of the fabric, it’s the quality of the denim itself that wins so many fans. The denim is both raw and selvedge, which essentially translates to this: These jeans are going to last a long time, and they’re going to take on a look that’s unique to your body as you wear them. Expect unique fades, creases, and whiskering the more you wear them.
Pros:
- These only weigh 13 ounces, which is pretty light when it comes to jeans. That makes them a pair that can be worn for most of the year.
- These are so comfortable that you could practically wear them to bed. Jokes aside, some folks choose to do exactly that, mostly to speed up the “wear-in” process by which raw denim takes on its characteristic fades.
Cons:
- These do require a bit more care and attention than standard jeans. For example, they should only be washed in cold water, and they should never be machine-dried.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I wash my jeans?
This depends on a few factors: namely, the fabric composition, the climate, how much you sweat, and whether the jeans look or smell dirty. Certain types of denim, like raw denim, should be washed as infrequently as possible — perhaps once or twice a year. But for more standard denim, it’s probably a good idea to wash it every 3 to 10 wears.
What are jeans made out of?
Historically, authentic denim has always been made of pure cotton. In recent years, though, we’ve seen deviations from this “rule”; these days, it’s not uncommon to see jeans that are made from 98% cotton and 2% elastane, for example. That’s because clothing producers discovered that, by adding a small amount of elastane or other similar materials, the denim would become a little bit stretchy for added comfort and flexibility.
About the Author
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