Few pieces of clothing are as versatile, enduring, or essential as a great pair of jeans. The right jeans can anchor your wardrobe, serving as a foundational piece for countless outfits. But get them wrong, and you could find yourself grappling with constricting fabric, an awkward cut, and an unfortunate saggy bottom.

To help you find the perfect fit, we researched hundreds of men’s jeans and tried on 36 pairs in person. We also enlisted a panel of testers representing various body types and aesthetic preferences to share their insights on the top contenders’ fit, style, comfort, and quality.

From our thorough evaluation, five clear favorites emerged. Our picks include a classic-looking pair of Levi’s that never goes out of style, a flattering and lightweight pair priced at just $50, and a high-quality option made from thicker denim for added durability. Additionally, we have two standout choices made from raw selvedge denim, known for its ability to mold to your body and develop a distinctive fade pattern over time. One of these pairs is especially thick and sturdy—priced under $100, it’s a fantastic entry point into the world of raw denim. The other pair features a lighter-weight Japanese raw denim, which significantly speeds up and eases the often arduous selvedge break-in process, making it a comfortable choice right from the start.

A classic pair for everyday wear: Levi’s Premium 511 Slim Fit Men’s Jeans.

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The research

A great-looking pair for everyday wear: Levi’s Premium 511 Slim Fit Men’s Jeans

A flattering, lightweight pair for $50: Uniqlo Men’s Slim-Fit Jeans

A sturdy, exceptionally well-made pair: Buck Mason Ford Standard Jeans

A sturdy raw selvedge pair for under $100: The Unbranded Brand UB101 Skinny Fit

A raw selvedge pair that’s unusually easy to break in: Naked & Famous Super Guy Natural Indigo Selvedge

Other good men’s jeans

Why you should trust us

How we picked and tested

The competition

Sources

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A great-looking pair for everyday wear: Levi’s Premium 511 Slim Fit Men’s Jeans

It doesn’t get any more classic than a pair of Levi’s: They are, after all, the original American blue jeans. Today, the brand offers a dizzying array of styles to choose from, but our testers favored the clean, trim look of the Levi’s Premium 511 Slim Fit Men’s Jeans. These well-constructed jeans are cut slim through the leg but still give your calves and ankles room to breathe, and they have a touch of stretch for comfort. Unsurprisingly, they’re built to last—and they cost less than a hundred bucks.

They have a versatile slim-straight cut. 511 jeans are broadly appealing and easily wearable; all of our testers were able to find a great fit, using descriptors like “slimming” and “flattering.” These jeans sit just below the waist and are cut slim throughout, with a straight leg that doesn’t taper at the ankle, leaving room for the legs to breathe.

This pair is available in more inseam lengths than any of our other picks, from 28 to 36 inches. “The length and width is perfect on me,” said one panelist, who tested a size 29 waist by 30 length. “There’s no need for a belt, and the length works well with different shoes or boots, too. Honestly, they fit so well that I bet I could even do some plumbing without exposing my butt to the world.”

Waist sizes on Levi’s Premium 511 jeans go up to 42; the non-premium 511 jeans (which differ in fabric quality but not in cut) are additionally available in Big & Tall sizes up to 58.

They’re well made and well priced. These are terrific jeans—and they’re under $100. Aside from the Buck Mason Ford Standard Jeans, which cost around $50 more, no pair was as well-loved by our panel. Compared with other similarly priced options, the 511 material felt sturdier and higher quality, and these jeans barely shrank in our laundering tests (about 2.5 inches across all dimensions).

The pair that we tested was 99% cotton with 1% elastane—enough stretch to help make them especially comfortable, but not so much that they struggled to return to their original shape. Many of the current washes—which we have not tested—include more stretch (2% elastane), plus a blend of cotton and Lyocell. This blend may result in a softer, more drapey material. Keep in mind that the exact fabric composition may vary depending on the wash that you choose.

We decided to test the Levi’s Premium version of the 511 jeans—versus their non-premium counterparts, which are around $40 cheaper—because the brand claims that the Premium version is more durable, with more stitches per inch. Indeed, we found them to be solidly constructed, with neat, even stitching. One of our testers, Standard & Strange’s Neil Berrett, liked the fabric’s subtle visual texture, but he wished that the jeans had stronger bar tacks (the dense stitches used to reinforce high-stress areas).

The Levi’s Premium 511 Slim Fit Men’s Jeans sit just below the waist, with a straight leg that’s cut slim throughout.

They come in lots of washes and materials. The 511 jeans are available in an ever-evolving selection of well over a dozen washes, with varying levels of distressing stretch (and stretch content). The same cut also comes in numerous material variations, such as corduroy and sateen, with prices ranging from less than $50 to more than $300.

Although it’s great to have so many options, that variety also makes it hard for us to guarantee that the pair you choose will be comparable in fit and feel to the ones we tested. (For the record: We tried the Levi’s Premium 511 jeans in Chain Rinse-Dark Wash, which is no longer available online.)

Flaws but not dealbreakers:

• The bar tacks (densely stitched reinforcements at the belt loops, fly, crotch, and back pockets) on this otherwise well-constructed pair could be hardier.
• This style is available in many different washes and materials, so we can’t promise that every variation will fit as nicely or hold up as well as the ones we tried.

Specs:

• Material: Fabric composition varies based on the wash selected. We tried a pair made from 99% cotton 1% elastane; also available in 70% cotton 28% Lyocell 2% elastane.
• Waist sizes: 26 to 42
• Inseams: 28 to 36 inches
• Rise: 10.25 inches (measurement taken from a size 32)

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A flattering, lightweight pair for $50: Uniqlo Men’s Slim-Fit Jeans

For $50, the Uniqlo Men’s Slim-Fit Jeans are surprisingly great. They’re made from a comfortable, stretchy fabric, they have clean, consistent stitching, and their slim, straight cut looked good on all our testers. Sure, they make some trade-offs: The material is thinner than that of our other picks, and the front pockets are small and flimsy. But these jeans are a pretty unbeatable value.

They’re slim and flattering. Sitting just below the waist, the Slim-Fit Jeans have a versatile, slim cut that skims the legs without feeling too tight. All of our testers, wearing pairs with waist sizes from 29 to 44 inches, liked their look.

Note: At the time of our testing, these jeans were available in waist sizes 27 to 44. Unfortunately, Uniqlo has since scaled back its offerings; the largest waist size currently available is 40.

The Slim-Fit Jeans come in 32- and 34-inch lengths only, so they were slightly long on some of our testers. But Uniqlo offers free alterations for denim purchases over $20 made directly from its website.

They’re stretchy and comfortable. The Slim-Fit Jeans are thin and relatively unstructured; they feel lighter, softer and more drapey than our other picks, so testers found them easy to move around in. However, this is also likely to make them less durable and more prone to stretching out with wear.

This pair shrank less in the washer and dryer than our other picks—only about 2 inches, across all dimensions—which could be a pro or a con, depending on how stretched out they get, and how you like your jeans to fit.

The pair we tested was made from a blend of 98% cotton and 2% elastane. Uniqlo has since changed the material composition of these jeans, and most washes are now made from 96% cotton, 3% polyester, and 1% elastane or spandex (though you still may be able to find pairs like the ones we tried), so they will be a bit less stretchy. We have not retested them since the update.

The Uniqlo Men’s Slim-Fit Jeans have a slim, leg-skimming cut that looked great on all our testers.

They’re surprisingly nice for the price. For $50, the Slim-Fit Jeans over-deliver. They feel well constructed, with clean and consistent stitching throughout. “They’re a lot higher-quality than other inexpensive options I’ve seen,” noted one tester, Chubstr’s Bruce Sturgell.

That said, they didn’t outperform our more expensive picks in terms of quality. Compared with the other jeans we recommend, the Slim-Fit Jeans have thinner fabric, shallower front pockets, and a shorter, flimsier zipper.

Flaws but not dealbreakers:

• We’re disappointed that Uniqlo no longer makes these jeans in waist sizes 41 through 44.
• This pair’s thin, stretchy fabric is less structured and durable than that of our other picks and more prone to losing its shape with wear.
• Testers disliked the shallow front pockets, which are made from a thin, insubstantial-feeling material.
• The zipper is especially small and doesn’t feel as sturdy and smooth as the zippers on our other picks.

Specs:

• Material: Fabric composition varies based on the wash selected. We tried a pair made from 98% cotton 2% elastane; most washes are 96% cotton 3% polyester 1% elastane or spandex.
• Waist sizes: 27 to 40
• Inseams: 32 or 34 (free alterations available through Uniqlo’s website)
• Rise: 10 inches (measurement taken from a size 32)

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A sturdy, exceptionally well-made pair: Buck Mason Ford Standard Jeans

It’s unlikely that any pair of jeans could last forever—but the Buck Mason Ford Standard Jeans feel like they just might. Stylish and well constructed, these easier-fitting straight-leg jeans are made of midweight denim with some stretch, so they’re both exceptionally durable and comfortable. Everyone on our testing panel loved wearing them; they were the most highly praised pair that we tried.

They have a cool, classic fit—but they go only up to size 40. The Ford Standard Jeans are cut straight and easy through the hip and thigh, with a subtle taper from knee to ankle.

They come in just one inseam length—33.5 inches—which was too long on some of our testers, who wore them cuffed. But Buck Mason offers free hemming services at its stores, if you are able to visit a brick-and-mortar location.

Unfortunately, the Ford Standard Jeans are available in a narrower range of sizes than our other picks, from waist sizes 28 to 40 only. We hope to see Buck Mason expand its offerings.

The fabric is thick, stretchy, and comfy from day one. The Ford Standard Jeans are made with 14-ounce denim (a measurement based on how much a square yard of the fabric weighs). It’s the sort of thick, substantial material that’s usually found on hard-wearing raw-denim jeans. But unlike 100% cotton raw denim, which doesn’t have any give, the Ford Standard pair’s fabric includes 2% elastane for stretch, so they’re comfortable from the first time you put them on.

Compared with the lightweight Uniqlo Slim-Fit Jeans—which are also made with 2% elastane, and stretch out quickly as you wear them—the elastic recovery on the Ford Standard Jeans is excellent. These jeans maintain their shape over many wears.

This pair shrank more after washing and drying than some of our other picks—about 4 inches across all dimensions—but that didn’t drastically affect their fit.

The Buck Mason Ford Standard Jeans are cut straight through the hip and thigh, with a slight taper from knee to ankle. 

Their high-quality details stand out. The Ford Standard Jeans aren’t the cheapest, but they deliver a solid value. They have strong, even stitching, as well as solid rivets, and their belt loops are tucked and sewn into the waistband for extra durability. They also feature a button fly, which is much less likely to break than a zipper and easier to replace if it does. (A button fly does require more manual dexterity to operate, though, and it isn’t to everyone’s liking.)

You can return these jeans up to a year after the original date of purchase—the longest return window for any pair that we found, and a testament to their quality.

Flaws but not dealbreakers:

• The Ford Standard Jeans shrank a bit more after being laundered than our picks from Levi’s and Uniqlo —about 4 inches overall— though that didn’t noticeably affect their fit.
• These jeans are offered in only one inseam length (33.5 inches) and limited waist sizes (40 inches max).

Specs:

• Material: 98% cotton 2% elastane
• Waist sizes: 28 to 40
• Inseam: 33.5 inches
• Rise: 11.75 inches (measurement taken from a size 32)

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A sturdy raw selvedge pair for under $100: The Unbranded Brand UB101 Skinny Fit

Raw and selvedge denim—yep, we’re treading into real denimhead territory now—can be a little intimidating. For the uninitiated: Raw denim refers to jeans made from material that’s unwashed and untreated, while selvedge refers to denim that has been shuttle-loomed, with a self-finished edge. These qualities are often, though not necessarily, found together in the same jeans. Connoisseurs love raw and selvedge jeans for their distinctive look and unique break-in—over time, they mold to your body, and their color fades attractively.

If you’re ready to dip a toe into this world—but don’t want to break the bank with a super-pricey version—The Unbranded Brand’s UB101 Skinny Fit jeans are a great place to start. These slim-straight jeans are an appealing introductory pair, as they’re substantial, flattering, and well constructed.

They’re a terrific value. It’s not difficult to spend $300—or even $1,300—on a pair of raw selvedge jeans. But the UB101 jeans come in at under $100; in comparison with the other budget raw selvedge pairs we tested, they impressed us the most and felt like the highest quality. Their construction is solid, and their fabric, a 14.5-ounce indigo selvedge denim, is the thickest and most substantial of any contender in this guide.

Breaking them in requires some patience. At first, the UB101 jeans were heavy and stiff; our tester thought they felt strangely unnatural. Slowly but surely, though, they began to soften up and mold to the body, and after a month of diligent wear, they were comfortable and easy to move in.

They have a slim, untapered cut—and come in only one inseam. The UB101 jeans fit close through the hip and thigh, with a straight cut from the knee down. The company calls them a “skinny fit” jean, but unlike most skinnies, these don’t taper at the ankle.

If these are too, well, skinny for you, The Unbranded Brand also makes tapered, straight, and relaxed tapered fits. (Or, if you prefer even skinnier, the company’s tight fit is cut skinny all the way from hip to ankle.)

We like that the UB101 jeans are available in waist sizes up to 44, though there’s only one inseam length—34 inches—so you may need to cuff or tailor these jeans if your inseam is shorter. They look fine cuffed, but if that isn’t your cup of tea, the company offers free hemming, which you can request online at the time of purchase; just note that once the jeans have been hemmed, they’re no longer returnable.

The UB101 jeans are offered in just one inseam length, 34 inches. They look good cuffed, but the company also offers free hemming. 

They have a sleek, minimal look. The UB101 jeans are indeed “unbranded”; they have a blank patch on the back where branding would typically go, as well as unadorned back pockets and smoothly polished copper buttons and rivets.

A couple of quibbles with their design: The button fly is unusually short and difficult to use, making these jeans more cumbersome to put on and take off than other pairs. And the back pockets are narrower than we’d like, which isn’t ideal if you carry a lot of stuff.

Flaws but not dealbreakers:

• The button fly on the UB101 jeans is short, making it harder to fasten and unfasten.
• The back pockets are slim and narrow.
• These jeans feel especially stiff at first and take longer to break in than our other picks.
• They’re available in only one inseam length, 34 inches. Free hemming is available through The Unbranded Brand website, but hemmed jeans are final sale.

Specs:

• Material: 100% cotton
• Waist sizes: 27 to 44
• Inseam: 34 inches (alterations available directly through The Unbranded Brand website)
• Rise: 10 inches (measurement taken from a size 32)

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A raw selvedge pair that’s unusually easy to break in: Naked & Famous Super Guy Natural Indigo Selvedge

Like all raw selvedge jeans, the Naked & Famous Super Guy Natural Indigo Selvedge pair will mold and conform to your body, developing a unique fade pattern with wear. But unlike most raw selvedge jeans, these won’t try your patience and goodwill in the process. These slim-fitting, tapered jeans are made from a relatively lightweight denim, which allows them to break in quickly and easily, delivering that comfy and stylish payoff in a matter of weeks rather than months (or even longer).

They’re made from sought-after Japanese selvedge. Many denim enthusiasts consider Japanese denim to be the best in the world. The Super Guy pair’s 12.5-ounce fabric is a bit lighter than a lot of selvedge—in comparison, The Unbranded Brand’s UB101 selvedge pair is 14.5 ounces—but it doesn’t feel insubstantial, and it’s high quality, so it will still wear beautifully over time.

While these jeans certainly aren’t inexpensive, similar offerings made from Japanese selvedge can cost at least twice the price.

They break in pretty fast for raw selvedge. Because of their lighter weight, these jeans have a shorter and easier break-in period than their heavier raw selvedge peers, including the UB101 pair. At first, the Super Guy jeans felt tight. But within a couple of weeks of regular wear, they had molded to our tester’s thighs and calves—quick by raw selvedge standards—and become comfortable.

This pair’s 12.5-ounce fabric is lighter than most raw selvedge denim, allowing for a faster, easier break-in. Photo: Naked & Famous

They have a close, tapered fit. The Super Guy jeans are the slimmest of our picks, hugging the hips and thighs and gently tapering from the knee down. They’re available in just one inseam length, 34.5 inches, but you can request alterations online free of charge.

If you prefer an easier cut, Naked & Famous offers a variety of fits, including the Weird Guy (standard tapered), the Easy Guy (laid-back, athletic fit), the Strong Guy (high-rise relaxed), and the Groovy Guy (classic bootcut). All styles come standard with a garish leather brand patch on the back, though for around $10, you can replace it with something more understated.

Flaws but not dealbreakers:

• The large leather tag on the back of the pants features a reclining topless woman. You can upgrade to something simpler for about $10 or just use a seam ripper to remove the tag.
• These jeans are available in only one inseam length, 34.5 inches, but you can get them hemmed for free via the Tate + Yoko website. Hemmed jeans are final sale.

Specs:

• Material: 100% cotton
• Waist sizes: 27 to 44
• Inseam: 34.5 inches (with alterations available from the Tate + Yoko website)
• Rise: 10 inches (measurement taken from a size 32)

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Other good men’s jeans

If you want a comfy pair in an extra-slim cut: The J.Crew 484 Slim-Fit Jeans in Japanese Stretch Selvedge Denim are made from a hefty, durable fabric with just a hint of stretch for comfort. Two of our panelists loved the slim, tapered fit; our other two panelists, however, complained that these jeans were cut too slim all around. The construction on this pair was inconsistent—some of the bar tacks (the dense stitches used to reinforce high-stress areas) “look like they were sewn on a Friday just before closing time,” quipped one tester. And the sizing is pretty limited, too: The largest waist size available is 38.

If you want a plus-size pair that’s roomier up top: The Levi’s 541 Athletic Taper All Seasons Men’s Jeans (Big & Tall) are cut with extra room in the seat and thigh, and they have a nice amount of stretch for comfort. “They’re a great fit for bigger guys who have thicker thighs,” said Chubstr’s Bruce Sturgell, who wears a size 44 waist. These jeans are available up to waist size 58.

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Why you should trust us

For this guide:

• We researched hundreds of pairs of men’s jeans and tested 31 in person.
• We enlisted a panel of four people to test the most promising contenders.
• We interviewed denim experts, including Kiya Babzani, co-founder of Self Edge, and celebrity menswear stylist Ashley Weston.
• Like all Walletrays journalists, we review and test products with complete editorial independence. We’re never made aware of any business implications of our editorial recommendations. Read more about our editorial standards.

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How we picked and tested

There are far too many jeans to test comprehensively, so we focused on men’s jeans with a slimmer cut to narrow the field. We researched hundreds of pairs and selected 30 styles to inspect, wear, and launder. To ensure durability, we measured the jeans before and after machine washing and drying to confirm that they wouldn’t shrink too drastically.

From this initial selection, we advanced 11 pairs for further testing with our panel, which included Thorin Klosowski (size 29 waist, 30-inch inseam), a Walletrays staffer; Neil Berrett (size 34 waist, 32-inch inseam), co-founder of Standard & Strange men’s retail stores; Bruce Sturgell (size 44 waist, 30-inch inseam), founding editor of the big-and-tall men’s style site Chubstr; and Aliotsy Andrianarivo (size 33 waist, 28-inch inseam), founder of This Fits, a menswear-deals blog.

We evaluated the jeans according to the following criteria:

Fit: Slim jeans should fit comfortably—neither too loose (baggy and relaxed) nor too tight (skinny). We prioritized styles available in a wide range of waist sizes and, ideally, inseams to accommodate various body types.

Style: We sought versatile, wearable cuts that would stand the test of time. Our focus included models with both straight and tapered ankles, while avoiding extremes in either direction.

Fabric: Classic blue jeans are typically made from denim, a sturdy cotton twill weave. Most jeans we tested were at least 98% cotton, with a small percentage of elastane (spandex) for added stretch. We also evaluated jeans that were 100% cotton, which have no stretch; while they can be less comfortable at first, they hold their shape better over time and appeal to those who prefer their traditional look and feel.

Comfort: We assessed how each pair felt during wear, including how easy it was to move in them during daily activities.

Construction: We meticulously examined every pair, checking seams, hems, bar tacks, rivets, buttons, and zippers to evaluate quality and durability. We also assessed the size and sturdiness of the front and back pockets.

Value: Denim prices vary widely, but we focused on jeans in the $30 to $200 range to find options that deliver quality without breaking the bank.

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Decoding raw and selvedge denim

In addition to testing 30 pairs of standard jeans, the author of this guide also tried six pairs of raw selvedge denim jeans, wearing them regularly for two months. Due to the nature of raw and selvedge denim—characterized by their stiffness and longer break-in periods—we opted not to have our panel test those pairs.

Raw denim is unwashed and untreated, making it stiffer and more prone to bleeding indigo compared to washed denim. However, it fades beautifully and conforms to your body over time, resulting in a truly unique look and fit tailored to you.

Selvedge denim, on the other hand, is woven on a shuttle loom, which creates a self-finished edge that doesn’t fray. This unique process is why it was originally called “self-edging fabric”; around the turn of the 15th century, workers abbreviated the term to “selvedge.”

While the terms “raw” and “selvedge” are often used interchangeably, it’s important to note that a pair of jeans can be either, both, or neither. Understanding these distinctions is key to selecting the right pair that suits your style and comfort preferences.

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Why is raw selvedge so expensive?

Although it is possible to find reasonably priced raw and selvedge denim, it has a well-deserved reputation for being eye-wateringly expensive. To understand this phenomenon, we spoke with Kiya Babzani, co-founder of the Self Edge specialty denim boutiques.

Simply put, these high-quality fabrics take more time and money to produce. Unlike mass-manufactured denim, selvedge is woven on vintage shuttle looms, a process that contributes to its durability and unique character. Raw denim—often, but not always, selvedge—is typically made in small batches. The priciest fabrics often come from countries like Japan and the United States, where labor costs are significantly higher, reflecting the craftsmanship and attention to detail involved in their creation.

This combination of traditional production methods and high-quality materials is what makes raw and selvedge denim a worthwhile investment for those seeking exceptional style and longevity in their jeans.

Super-premium raw denim from Left Field NYC (left), and the same type of jeans worn for more than a year (right).

When you shell out for raw selvedge denim, one of the key qualities you’re investing in is uniqueness. “Let’s say that two people start wearing the same style of raw denim jeans today,” explained Babzani. “In a year, their jeans will look drastically different from each other, simply because their bodies and lifestyles are different.”

While raw denim starts out stiff, it gradually molds to your body, developing a fit and character that is as unique as its wearer. Over time, it becomes superbly comfortable, allowing for easy movement and a personalized fit. A good pair of raw selvedge denim jeans should last you north of a decade, beautifully distressed and shaped by your individual experiences, all without any rips. This exceptional durability and the distinctive fade patterns are what make raw denim a treasured addition to any wardrobe.

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The competition

This is not a comprehensive list of everything we tested; some styles from previous iterations of this guide are no longer available. However, the selections highlighted here reflect our thorough research and hands-on evaluation of various jeans, focusing on the best fits, styles, and fabrics currently on the market. As trends and inventory change, we continuously update our recommendations to ensure you have access to the most relevant and high-quality options available in men’s denim.

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Under $50

The straight-legged H&M Slim Jeans were tighter and less comfortable than other jeans we tested, especially around the crotch.

We found loose threads around the waist and ankles of the American Eagle AirFlex+ Slim Jeans. They’re made from a scratchy-feeling blend of cotton, recycled polyester, and elastane; also, they shrank a whopping 6 inches after we washed and dried them.

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$50 to $100

The Levi’s 501 Original Shrink-To-Fit Men’s Jeans are raw denim jeans with a forever-classic straight leg. But we found some loose threads on them, and we think The Unbranded Brand’s UB101 pair is a better introduction to raw denim.

Some of our testers loved the Levi’s 512 Slim Taper Fit Men’s Jeans, but their narrow, tapered fit didn’t feel as universally wearable as the straight leg of our Levi’s 511 pick.

We disliked the small, slim pockets on Everlane’s The Slim 4-Way Stretch Organic Jeans and found the buttons shiny and distracting.

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$100 and over

The Buck Mason Maverick Slim Jeans are a comfy, well-constructed pair of slim-cut jeans made from 13-ounce raw selvedge Japanese denim, but their pockets are unusably slim.

The raw denim Dstld Men’s Slim Jeans felt coarse to the touch. And they shrank notably—around 6 inches—when we washed and dried them.

The stretchy, borderline-skinny Joe’s Jeans The Asher pair contains an unusually high percentage of polyester, which makes these jeans feel thinner and less comfortable.

The RRL Slim Narrow Stretch Denim Jeans have a distinctive debossed label and wide, embroidered pockets. But they run small, and they shrank nearly 6 inches in the dryer.

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Sources

1. Kiya Babzani, owner of Self Edge, phone interview, October 13, 2020
2. Ashley Weston, celebrity menswear stylist, phone interview, October 13, 2020
3. Bruce Sturgell, founding editor of Chubstr.com, phone interview, March 3, 2021