Levi's Shrink-to-Fit 501's

[VR6ofpain]

Has anyone else tried these out? I read this blog the other day and had to try them out.

http://blog.nedsferatu.com/501_shrink_to_fit

Picked them up yesterday at the Levi's outlet and soaked them, then wore them wet for a few hours. After that I washed them in the machine and put them in the drier just enough to get mostly dry. Hung dry them for the rest. Today they fit pretty well. I almost think I didn't need to go +1 in the waist as indicated in the label of the jeans. Amazingly going +4 on the inseam left me with an almost perfect length (the recommend +3, but I didn't want to risk them being too short).

Anyone else?

http://us.levi.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2076855

 

[Aevum]

Levis are trash since they stopped making them in the US,
my last few pairs have been disapointment after disapointment,

 

[VR6ofpain]

Levis are trash since they stopped making them in the US,
my last few pairs have been disapointment after disapointment,

With such a strong statement, I would hope you could explain why you feel this way?

I personally feel Levi's makes a great product for the money. BTW, you can still get US made Levi's. Look for the "Capital E" designs. You pay for it though, as they all are priced north of $100.

 

[rm71]

Levis are trash since they stopped making them in the US,
my last few pairs have been disapointment after disapointment,

Interesting. They used to make Levis in Australia and they lasted me for ages. Since production is now in Pakistan, the quality seems to have deteriorated some what.

 

[Triple Beam]

I'm wearing a pair right now. My method is too soak them and let them hang dry until they are just damp (vs drenched). I can't stay in soaked jeans all day and I don't think it really is necessary to sit in the tub with them on, like some people think.

Hey, the quality is pretty good. I think it is hard to beat them for $35 bucks a pair. The ones I have on were made in Mexico. They seem to be made well, and I am not paying $100 for a pair of Levi's.

 

[Dpflaum]

I'm also wearing a pair of Levi's right now. I tend to shred jeans in a matter of months (following the wear them every day method) and these have held up for 6 already with no noticeable loss of color or quality. That's already longer than the last pair I spent $50+ and these only cost me $30.

 

[RichGem]

Myself, I prefer the pre-shrunk 501s and then getting them tailored in the waist and seat. Somehow, the inseam never comes out right for me with the shrink-to-fit.

 

[thebikingengineer]

The inseam on my 501 STFs shrunk a little more than I'd like on the initial soak, but as I'm 22 and it's summer I can pull it off a bit of high-water cuff no problem. I've got around 200 wears in them and they're wearing quite nicely. Watch for knee stretch, I rode my motorcycle with them a lot so maybe it's just me but the knees are a bit more stretched than I'd prefer. The fading is pretty nice so far, they've settled into a great blue color as I would expect. Not as much contrast as my APCs, but quite good considering what I paid. Also, the waist will stretch right back out to where it started, make sure to wear a belt.

 

[Desdinova]

the quality of Levi's has definitely gone downhill since they started making them overseas.

 

[tblech]

this is not a new technique, my parents used to do this in the early 70s with their skin tight bell bottoms

 

[Desdinova]

this is not a new technique, my parents used to do this in the early 70s with their skin tight bell bottoms

they were doing this back in the 50's

the difference is that we have had pre-shrunk denim for the past 25 years.



They are just selling you unwashed denim that has yet to shrink. Cool idea. They save a manufacturing step and tell you how great it is.

 

[bamafan64]

Bought my last pair approx. 15 years ago, after almost 15 years of being a loyal Levi's customer. Their quality had really started to slide at that point but their prices were still heading upwards. If I got a year out of them without a hole appearing I counted myself lucky. I also had a problem with some of the political movements they supported. I emailed my displeasure and they emailed back telling me to take a hike. I did. Hiked down to my nearest Carhartt dealer and have been a loyal Carhartt man ever since.

 

[johnmrson]

Levis used to be the only jeans I wore but I now find that their sizing is all over the place. I'm a 42 inch waist and 31 inch leg. I can try on 3 pairs now with the same label on and they all fit very differently. The last pair I has shrunk to a 39 inch waist and 30 inch leg before they were donated to the Op Shop. I'm happy in GAP or Country Road jeans these days.

 

[VR6ofpain]

Guess everyone else hates Levi's?

I really like their 517 Boot Cut and now their 501 STF. My previous standbye was the 527 Boot Cut, but now I find them too low rise and tight in the crotch. The 517 and 501 have lot of space in the crotch, so they are much more comfortable.

I had a brief stint with Lucky Brand Jeans (the USA made variants), but I grew to find them too tight. They are comfortable though, with spandex being 4% of the material used in the demin.

 

[toucanlamp]

I wonder what entails quality in jeans? I have pairs from the GAP that cost maybe $30 on sale that I bought four years ago or so and are still in solid shape.

Then my cousin spends $270 on Hugo Boss jeans and within a couple months the fabric starts to look worn.

 

[johnmrson]

Guess everyone else hates Levi's?

Not at all. I'd love to wear Levi's again but until they go back to making a product that I'm happy to buy then I 'll buy other companies jeans.

 

[GarageBoy]

I like the fade, I hate the easily worn out fabric.

 

[Walker]

I were American Eagle jeans and the "distressed" look is the style these days. Your cousin is just hip.lol The more you wash these American Eagle jeans the more they look distressed.

I wonder what entails quality in jeans? I have pairs from the GAP that cost maybe $30 on sale that I bought four years ago or so and are still in solid shape.

Then my cousin spends $270 on Hugo Boss jeans and within a couple months the fabric starts to look worn.

 

[Kouros]

I only wear Ralph Lauren 867 jeans since I am difficult to fit. Nothing fits me better. They are $95 but I get them on sale for $70 and they are well worth it.

 

[Fugazi Dave]

FWIW I am still satisfied with Levi jeans. I have had five pair kick the bucket on me in the last six months, but I'd had all of them for about eight years so I'm not going to complain. Levis 529 FTW!