The pants feel great and look amazing. They seem very old fashioned, but in a good way. I thought they would be tighter, but they fit great and will definitely be getting a lot of wear and tear from me. Love them and for the price, I can’t beat it.
Levi's Men's 501 Original Fit Jeans (Also Available in Big & Tall)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars | 92,345 ratings
Price: 47.24
Last update: 12-26-2024
Product information
Collapse All Expand All
Item details
| Global Trade Identification Number | 00039307480734 |
|---|---|
| UPC | 039307480734 |
| Customer Reviews |
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars
(92,345)
4.4 out of 5 stars |
| Model Name | 501 Original Fit Jeans (Also Available in Big & Tall) |
| Age Range Description | Adult |
| Best Sellers Rank | #126 in Clothing, Shoes & Jewelry (See Top 100 in Clothing, Shoes & Jewelry) #3 in Men's Jeans |
| ASIN | B0018OQQT6 |
| Style Number | 00501-0193 |
| Brand Name | Levi's |
Materials & Care
| Material Type | Cotton |
|---|---|
| Product Care Instructions | Wash And Dry Inside Out With Like Colors, Liquid Detergent Is Recommended |
| Fabric Type | 100% U.S. Cotton |
Measurements
| Inseam Length | 30 Inches |
|---|
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Style
| Front Pleat Type | plain |
|---|---|
| Rise Style | Mid Rise |
| Apparel Closure Type | Button |
| Fit Type | Regular |
| Seasons | Fall |
| Pattern Style | Solid |
| Color | Medium Stonewash |
| Occasion Type | casual |
| Leg Style | Straight |
| character | Sports |
| Style Name | 501 Original Fit Jeans (Also Available in Big & Tall) |
| Pants Form Type | Jeans |
Features & Specs
| Front Pocket Count | 2 |
|---|---|
| Pocket Description | Basic 5 Pocket |
Top reviews from the United States
LEE5.0 out of 5 stars Great Price and Looks
Dendy5.0 out of 5 stars Levi’s 501’s
The 501’s are classic jeans which have remained the same for many years. They are good quality and a good fit. They wash well and previous pairs have lasted for years and kept their shape.
Okay Honey, Yes Dear5.0 out of 5 stars Finally Jeans for Tall Men!
Levi’s Men’s 501 Original Fit Jeans have been a game-changer for my 6’7” husband. Finding jeans that fit well and look great has always been a challenge, but these jeans tick all the boxes.
The Pros:
Perfect Fit for Tall Men: These jeans fit my tall husband perfectly, something that’s hard to find. They’re available in Big & Tall sizes, making them ideal for taller frames.
Great Quality Fabric: The fabric is durable and high-quality, holding up well to regular wear and washing.
Versatile Style: These jeans look fantastic whether dressed up or down. My husband loves wearing them out, whether it’s for a casual outing or a more dressed-up occasion.
Comfortable: Despite his height, the jeans are comfortable and don’t restrict movement, making them a pleasure to wear.
The Cons:
Limited Color Options: It would be nice if there were more color options available in the Big & Tall sizes, but the current selection is still very good.
We managed to pick these jeans up on a deal, which made them an even better purchase. My husband has always struggled to find jeans that fit his tall frame well, but these Levi’s 501 Original Fit Jeans have solved that problem. The fit is excellent, and the quality of the fabric means they’ll last a long time. He feels confident and comfortable in them, which is a big win.
Compared to other jeans we’ve tried, Levi’s 501 Original Fit stands out for its superior fit and quality. Many other brands don’t cater well to taller men, but Levi’s has done an excellent job with these.
Overall, Levi’s Men’s 501 Original Fit Jeans are a fantastic choice for tall men. The fit, quality, and versatility make them a great addition to any wardrobe. If you’re tall and struggling to find jeans that fit well, I highly recommend giving these a try. They’re worth every penny!
The Pros:
Perfect Fit for Tall Men: These jeans fit my tall husband perfectly, something that’s hard to find. They’re available in Big & Tall sizes, making them ideal for taller frames.
Great Quality Fabric: The fabric is durable and high-quality, holding up well to regular wear and washing.
Versatile Style: These jeans look fantastic whether dressed up or down. My husband loves wearing them out, whether it’s for a casual outing or a more dressed-up occasion.
Comfortable: Despite his height, the jeans are comfortable and don’t restrict movement, making them a pleasure to wear.
The Cons:
Limited Color Options: It would be nice if there were more color options available in the Big & Tall sizes, but the current selection is still very good.
We managed to pick these jeans up on a deal, which made them an even better purchase. My husband has always struggled to find jeans that fit his tall frame well, but these Levi’s 501 Original Fit Jeans have solved that problem. The fit is excellent, and the quality of the fabric means they’ll last a long time. He feels confident and comfortable in them, which is a big win.
Compared to other jeans we’ve tried, Levi’s 501 Original Fit stands out for its superior fit and quality. Many other brands don’t cater well to taller men, but Levi’s has done an excellent job with these.
Overall, Levi’s Men’s 501 Original Fit Jeans are a fantastic choice for tall men. The fit, quality, and versatility make them a great addition to any wardrobe. If you’re tall and struggling to find jeans that fit well, I highly recommend giving these a try. They’re worth every penny!
R. R. Smith4.0 out of 5 stars These are SHRINK-TO-FIT
I eagerly purchased these jeans in a great color: black with black fill. However, I was surprised (and not in a good way) when the package arrived, and I saw that the pants were shrink-to-fit.
I didn't see that detail mentioned anywhere on the page.
I didn't see that detail mentioned anywhere on the page.
Justin5.0 out of 5 stars Really really nice.
Picked these up for $30 which I think was a steal. Never been a button fly guy but now I probably will hate going back. Excellent quality and fit.
Blue Fairy5.0 out of 5 stars Comfortable
I really like these levis, they are practically the only levis that I wear. They fit me the way I like and they are comfortable. They generally last me a long time and I have never had any issues with them. I will definitely buy them again.
Dan5.0 out of 5 stars They are just like I remembered!
These are just like when I was in high school, nice fit and they feel great! You can’t go wrong with a classic look, don’t over think it just go for it….. anyways that’s my humble opinion.
BikeMaster3.0 out of 5 stars Are they Real Levi's...or not? Jeans haul review!
*****Updated 11-15-2023 - original 2020 review follows below this Update:
---Refuting the refuter of my Jeans Haul full assessment and review from March 2020.******
My review from 2020 was and remains a factual assessment of the jeans I received, whose objective was to inform consumers amidst conflicting, inconsistent and fake-hype reviews so they could make informed choices and decisions with their time and money. Many have probably already proven to themselves the accuracy of the info I provided.
Refuting March reviewers claims:
1). No. Amazon does *not* verify Levi’s authenticity. They admit it themselves. Just because something is in an Amazon warehouse doesn’t mean it isn’t counterfeit. Again, Amazon readily admits this. Counterfeiters *can* reproduce goods it is counterfeiting; and do it pretty well, too.
2). Perhaps the march reviewer received a real pair of rare throwback to former quality 501’s, counterfeit or otherwise. I did not. Nor did many other people who bought them. Not from Amazon or the dept store that rhymes with Nacies. Nacies *does* have quality control in its commerce wheelhouse. Still, those paper-thin, grey, cardboard stiff 501’s came straight from them, and thus from Levi’s, because Nacies isn’t Amazon and isn’t gambling its reputation or business on counterfeit products. Counterfeit or not, that is what Levi’s is selling in Nacies as a “501” jean - and based on historical 501’s, that is tantamount to false advertising. Nobody would touch that 501 in that store and buy it; they’d know immediately that Levi’s 501’s, as we knew them, were now a thing of the past.
3). I included location of manufacture because it may or may not have something to do with quality. The ones I kept came from Bangladesh; that may mean nothing in terms of quality, but I wanted to let reviewers know the origin on the tags and let them decide for themselves. Being manufactured in Egypt means low labor costs (or sweat shops? Do the research!) for Levi's, *not* that you're getting Egyptian cotton. Can't believe I need to explain that one.
4). As a consumer of a product I have worn daily for decades, I have the right to express in a review whether or not I think the quality lives up to what is and was an iconic, flagship American product. No, it does not live up to what it is marketing as a 501 jean to consumers at an increased price. Not the pairs that I and thousands of other reviewers on ALL sites and stores have received. These reviewers report multiple tears on wearings of up to 5 sequential replacements for the 501’s they just bought that just ripped or blew out - 5 times/order replacements in a row. Levi’s almost doubled the price of these 501’s people report not lasting 2 months and having total material failures (non-reparable), so NO, I do not believe they are the same quality as the former 501’s from last decade and beyond. What I reported has also been reported by many others. My review was intended to give people an honest assessment to save them the time, money & hassle of a common Amazon problem - bait & switch: believing you are buying one thing (sturdy cotton jeans that last a decade) and receiving something different, and for a doubled price (paper thin, stiff pants that rip out in 2-4 months, if that long). Again, all problems Amazon readily admits is in their commerce wheelhouse.
5). I, along with many others who did not receive the *special* 501’s the march reviewer must have, also have the right to express our disappointment that a company built on a flagship product so many relied on, has completely ditched its dedication to the perpetuity of at least that one product. We also have the right to free speech (like my 2020 review), to shop other brands instead and to make informed decisions, like walking away from Levi’s, from fraudulent corporations, manipulative marketing, counterfeit products, etc.
6). People will also understand the validity of my review when they prove to themselves the quality, or lack thereof, of the jeans they receive. I did try to warn them. Just because fake reviews try to hype bogus or inferior products, the consumer will soon figure out the truth I mentioned when they get those gray, stiff, paper-thin pants faking jeans, as march reviewer said, “with all the right tags & stamps,” etc.
I don’t want tags or stamps instead of what I bought and expected in Levi’s quality. Those last two words used to mean something; they no longer do, except to warn buyers to go elsewhere for good product. You can put an apple label on an orange; that doesn’t make it one.
7). A company can make many decisions and choices. Some respect their customers and get better, retaining them and the integrity of their dedication to their product quality. Starbucks was opening 3 stores a day in N. Y., but they *never* changed their product, store to store, or started selling bad coffee.
8). Amazon admits a Massive counterfeit problem. Doesn’t mean counterfeiters can’t occasionally make a decent pair of knock-off jeans, like what March reviewer must have received. March reviewer is right on one point, not much is as it used to be. That is why buyers need to be informed & shrewd about where they place their commerce voice/dollars, and behind what company’s products and values.
9). Fake reviews/reviewers and their obvious issues hyping inferior product at doubled prices do not benefit the public in any way. Nor do the AI fake reviews flooding Amazon, yet another Amazon integrity breach. Who watches “online videos of state of the art Egypt jeans manufacturing”? I’m guessing someone from ***Levi’s social media marketing**** and/or trolls trying to obscure the truth. Read that March review closely! You’ll notice the virtually-AI #hype#. Plus, it’s total bs. The Rigid 501’s were paper thin junk. But trolls can try to keep costing consumers money with those fake reviews. Buyers will soon know those reviews hyping these products are patently false as soon as they touch those “jeans.”
Either way, Caveat Emptor! Whoever you choose to believe, just make sure you get free returns on that Levi’s order! You just may need it.
Now, excuse me while I go order another “I told you so” shirt.
BTW, I checked eBay today. Authentic 501’s, the legit kind from former decades, were going for $425.00. As even March reviewer noted, what is like it was years ago? This is why reviewers try to help each other to steer clear of bad products. Well, some of us do anyway.
*Today, I ordered 2 pairs of Wranglers and will order a couple pairs of Lee jeans tomorrow. I will report back when I receive them as to whether they are as their reviews claim - sturdy and likely to last 10 years. I fully expect to send them all back but hoping to get lucky enough to receive one decent pair. Fingers crossed. We still have cowboys in America. They aren’t wearing bike shorts on the range. The quest for the classic American jean continues, for me and many others (some of whom also hate shopping). I will let you know if I discover the Indigo pot-of-gold in a brand or product, that there may be at least a singular resource for jeans where we can all go for reliable quality, material integrity & fortitude, and fair prices for expectations happily met for buyer and seller alike.
____________
A Jean in Name Only? (The 2020 review)
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!
---Refuting the refuter of my Jeans Haul full assessment and review from March 2020.******
My review from 2020 was and remains a factual assessment of the jeans I received, whose objective was to inform consumers amidst conflicting, inconsistent and fake-hype reviews so they could make informed choices and decisions with their time and money. Many have probably already proven to themselves the accuracy of the info I provided.
Refuting March reviewers claims:
1). No. Amazon does *not* verify Levi’s authenticity. They admit it themselves. Just because something is in an Amazon warehouse doesn’t mean it isn’t counterfeit. Again, Amazon readily admits this. Counterfeiters *can* reproduce goods it is counterfeiting; and do it pretty well, too.
2). Perhaps the march reviewer received a real pair of rare throwback to former quality 501’s, counterfeit or otherwise. I did not. Nor did many other people who bought them. Not from Amazon or the dept store that rhymes with Nacies. Nacies *does* have quality control in its commerce wheelhouse. Still, those paper-thin, grey, cardboard stiff 501’s came straight from them, and thus from Levi’s, because Nacies isn’t Amazon and isn’t gambling its reputation or business on counterfeit products. Counterfeit or not, that is what Levi’s is selling in Nacies as a “501” jean - and based on historical 501’s, that is tantamount to false advertising. Nobody would touch that 501 in that store and buy it; they’d know immediately that Levi’s 501’s, as we knew them, were now a thing of the past.
3). I included location of manufacture because it may or may not have something to do with quality. The ones I kept came from Bangladesh; that may mean nothing in terms of quality, but I wanted to let reviewers know the origin on the tags and let them decide for themselves. Being manufactured in Egypt means low labor costs (or sweat shops? Do the research!) for Levi's, *not* that you're getting Egyptian cotton. Can't believe I need to explain that one.
4). As a consumer of a product I have worn daily for decades, I have the right to express in a review whether or not I think the quality lives up to what is and was an iconic, flagship American product. No, it does not live up to what it is marketing as a 501 jean to consumers at an increased price. Not the pairs that I and thousands of other reviewers on ALL sites and stores have received. These reviewers report multiple tears on wearings of up to 5 sequential replacements for the 501’s they just bought that just ripped or blew out - 5 times/order replacements in a row. Levi’s almost doubled the price of these 501’s people report not lasting 2 months and having total material failures (non-reparable), so NO, I do not believe they are the same quality as the former 501’s from last decade and beyond. What I reported has also been reported by many others. My review was intended to give people an honest assessment to save them the time, money & hassle of a common Amazon problem - bait & switch: believing you are buying one thing (sturdy cotton jeans that last a decade) and receiving something different, and for a doubled price (paper thin, stiff pants that rip out in 2-4 months, if that long). Again, all problems Amazon readily admits is in their commerce wheelhouse.
5). I, along with many others who did not receive the *special* 501’s the march reviewer must have, also have the right to express our disappointment that a company built on a flagship product so many relied on, has completely ditched its dedication to the perpetuity of at least that one product. We also have the right to free speech (like my 2020 review), to shop other brands instead and to make informed decisions, like walking away from Levi’s, from fraudulent corporations, manipulative marketing, counterfeit products, etc.
6). People will also understand the validity of my review when they prove to themselves the quality, or lack thereof, of the jeans they receive. I did try to warn them. Just because fake reviews try to hype bogus or inferior products, the consumer will soon figure out the truth I mentioned when they get those gray, stiff, paper-thin pants faking jeans, as march reviewer said, “with all the right tags & stamps,” etc.
I don’t want tags or stamps instead of what I bought and expected in Levi’s quality. Those last two words used to mean something; they no longer do, except to warn buyers to go elsewhere for good product. You can put an apple label on an orange; that doesn’t make it one.
7). A company can make many decisions and choices. Some respect their customers and get better, retaining them and the integrity of their dedication to their product quality. Starbucks was opening 3 stores a day in N. Y., but they *never* changed their product, store to store, or started selling bad coffee.
8). Amazon admits a Massive counterfeit problem. Doesn’t mean counterfeiters can’t occasionally make a decent pair of knock-off jeans, like what March reviewer must have received. March reviewer is right on one point, not much is as it used to be. That is why buyers need to be informed & shrewd about where they place their commerce voice/dollars, and behind what company’s products and values.
9). Fake reviews/reviewers and their obvious issues hyping inferior product at doubled prices do not benefit the public in any way. Nor do the AI fake reviews flooding Amazon, yet another Amazon integrity breach. Who watches “online videos of state of the art Egypt jeans manufacturing”? I’m guessing someone from ***Levi’s social media marketing**** and/or trolls trying to obscure the truth. Read that March review closely! You’ll notice the virtually-AI #hype#. Plus, it’s total bs. The Rigid 501’s were paper thin junk. But trolls can try to keep costing consumers money with those fake reviews. Buyers will soon know those reviews hyping these products are patently false as soon as they touch those “jeans.”
Either way, Caveat Emptor! Whoever you choose to believe, just make sure you get free returns on that Levi’s order! You just may need it.
Now, excuse me while I go order another “I told you so” shirt.
BTW, I checked eBay today. Authentic 501’s, the legit kind from former decades, were going for $425.00. As even March reviewer noted, what is like it was years ago? This is why reviewers try to help each other to steer clear of bad products. Well, some of us do anyway.
*Today, I ordered 2 pairs of Wranglers and will order a couple pairs of Lee jeans tomorrow. I will report back when I receive them as to whether they are as their reviews claim - sturdy and likely to last 10 years. I fully expect to send them all back but hoping to get lucky enough to receive one decent pair. Fingers crossed. We still have cowboys in America. They aren’t wearing bike shorts on the range. The quest for the classic American jean continues, for me and many others (some of whom also hate shopping). I will let you know if I discover the Indigo pot-of-gold in a brand or product, that there may be at least a singular resource for jeans where we can all go for reliable quality, material integrity & fortitude, and fair prices for expectations happily met for buyer and seller alike.
____________
A Jean in Name Only? (The 2020 review)
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!