The Best Men’s Jeans for Casual, Everyday Wear

A quality pair of jeans can be your go-to trousers for almost any occasion, from work to a date to a night out. They can also be found at just about any price and in an array of styles and washes. However, the sheer endlessness of available options can make searching for a new pair feel like a full-time job but don’t freak out. We’ve figured out the best brands to buy from for you.

While die-hard denimheads embrace a fuller, workwear-influenced shape that references the 1950s, many guys are opting for a slimmer, more classic silhouette — sometimes with a bit of stretch. Never should they fit like yoga tights, but jeans with a cut that’s just a little closer to the body and streamlined through the leg remain an important part of every man’s wardrobe. On the opposite end, wide-leg jeans are just as in. Again, you shouldn’t take the trend to an extreme, but relaxed-fitting jeans have never been more flattering.

Jeans are versatile — they can be worn raw or washed and faded; there are cheap pairs; pairs made from hemp; expensive reproductions from Japan; and so on and so forth. “Denim has transcended all social classes and levels of fashion,” says Kiya Babzani, the cofounder of Self Edge, the world’s leading selvedge denim retailer, which started, fittingly, in the Mission District of San Francisco.

How to Buy Better Jeans

When buying good jeans, your focus should rest on two things: fabric then fit. High-quality jeans are often made from selvedge denim, a fabric that ages over time in a way that reflects the lifestyle and habits of the wearer. Even if you choose a pre-washed pair, though, they’ll fade and rub and shred in their own way, too, but less obviously.

Raw denim typically develops two distinct types of fades: whiskers, which are long creases found around the waist and crotch area, and honeycombs, which are fades behind the knees that look like honeycombs. Though a new pair of jeans made from raw selvedge denim can take up to a year to break in, the results are unique, and well-made denim will continue to age in a graceful manner for many years. “You don’t know how good a jean is until it’s worn in,” Babzani says.

Like I said, most jeans are offered in different washes and can even come pre-distressed. But according to Todd Barket, owner of now-shuttered Unionmade in San Francisco, these jeans “can feel inauthentic sometimes, like the work has been done for you.” Over time, selvedge jeans become an expression of yourself, and transforming them with constant wear is a dedicated hobby for some folks. For others, jeans are just clothes — a casual alternative to chinos.

Try Them on

“Always buy jeans in person. Go into a retail store, try them on and feel them. You’ll be able to get the fit right and compare the fabric. Any manufacturer can make any fit of jean, but the fabric is what makes one brand stand out from another,” Babzani says.

Focus on How They Fit

“If you’re buying quality denim, start with the fit. You want your jeans to feel good and suit your body. When buying unwashed, raw denim, make sure the fit is a little tight because they will stretch after a few wears,” Barket says.

4 Things to Consider Before Buying

Wash

Denim traditionally starts out as a deep, dark, inky-blue fabric dyed with indigo. The magic happens once the fabric is stitched into jeans, the five-pocket style, and gets washed in massive — and increasingly eco-friendly — washing machines. Sometimes stuff is tossed in to achieve sand- or stone-washed effects, all in an effort to make a pair feel softer and broken in. Other effects include using high-tech lasers to burn designs into the fabric and jeans literally being torn and repaired to mimic the scars and blemishes of a well-lived life.

• Dark Wash: Though even the darkest wash jeans are still decidedly casual, these pairs have what it takes to make it in a serious setting. Pair it with a crisp white shirt, a lightweight sweater and a blazer for work.
• Light Wash: Go a little lighter for date night. Keep it clean, but feel free to go for whiskering — those thin, faded lines across the front that look like you’ve been standing and sitting in this pair forever—or some light faded effects across the seat and thighs.

Distressing

Some abrasion here and there, usually a bit paler, more faded. More emphasis on points of wear like the butt, thighs, and pockets. Great for a tailgate or other similarly casual settings. Most brands make their own distressed jeans nowadays. They can either be made this way using lasers, as mentioned above, or more manual methods like stone- or acid-washing.

Stretch

Twill refers to the way denim is woven (this method causes those diagonal lines you can see if you look very closely), and this method is what makes denim so tough and so stiff. In an attempt to keep up with the increasing demand for clothes that work hard and look good, most modern denim makers now sneak a little stretch fiber into their jeans for comfort and flexibility.

Stretch also helps keep jeans from getting saggy, so they look great all day. Most companies limit the mix to one or two percent of overall material makeup, using fibers like lycra or elastane. Others are adding performance fibers to denim, like Coolmax, for moisture and temperature management. (These fibers help keep you cool if you wear jeans in the summer.) While our recommendations include some of these materials, many are 100 percent cotton.

Care

While some serious denim aficionados insist on never washing your jeans, the reality is that most guys should wash their jeans. The experts at Denimhunters, a subscription-based denim learning platform, have found that if you don’t wash raw denim, the fiber may become brittle and break prematurely.

Here’s some tips for keeping jeans fresh but not stripping them of their color too quickly:

1. Wear your jeans regularly to break them in.
2. Wash your jeans on a cold-water cycle, inside out, with a mild detergent like Woolite Dark, Tide Natural or Dr. Bronner’s. Yes, even raw denim.
3. Avoid using a dryer to preserve fibers and size. Instead, air dry jeans by hanging them or lying flat.
4. Repeat the wear, wash and dry cycle as needed.
5. Office or sedentary lifestyle? You can get away with washing your denim once every two to three months.
6. Ask for darning services at your local tailor to repair small holes and tears. This process recreates the original fabric using only needle and thread.

Remember that dirt kills fibers. Wash those jeans and air dry to preserve them well.

Alex Goldberg, head of merchandising at Buck Mason, recommends keeping it simple: “There’s a lot of schools of thought out there on the internet. I keep things straightforward and avoid getting too precious. Cold wash infrequently and hang to air dry. And please don’t put them in the freezer.

Learn more about breaking in and caring for raw denim, according to experts.

Buying Raw Denim

There’s an overwhelming amount of information concerning the proper way to handle raw denim and it’s an easy way to get boggled down in the message board minute. The truth is: there are no hard rules with raw denim. “What makes raw denim so special is that the end result – and process – is uniquely yours,” says Jason Pecarich, founder of Seattle-based store Division Road. “There is no right or wrong way to wear your jeans.”

We advise sticking to midweight denim, around 13 to 15 ounces, as Pecarich says it “will still feel substantial, have longevity and give you that stiff raw denim feel and can help prevent overstretching.” Don’t rely too heavily on size charts, either — your body is unique and there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to fit. Pecarich says it comes down to “having a fit where you like the silhouette with the understanding that a certain level of tightness is not possible without added stretch components in the fabric.”

Unsanforized and shrink-to-fit may further confuse things, but if you’re up for the challenge, Pecarich says you should shrink your denim just enough to fit your hand in the waistline tightly. To shrink, cold soak your jeans in a tub or sink for 30 to 45 minutes, lightly agitate the water with your hand to help remove the starch inside the fabric, then hang dry until they’re damp. You can also opt for the washer and use the rinse cycle with no spin. At that point, put them on, go about your day, and let the jeans finish drying on your body. “This will help control the shrink and the denim will form closer to your body type,” Pecarich says. If you need them to shrink a bit more, let them hang dry longer.

Levi

Best Overall Men's Jeans

Levi’s 501 Jean

• $80.00 at Levi

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Fit: Regular, Straight Leg
• Washes: 23
• Waist: 24 to 46, depending on wash
• Inseam: 29 to 36

No other garment has aged nearly as well as the historic Levi’s 501. The quintessential blue jean comes in all shades, washes and distressing. No matter where you start, it’ll get better with every wear and every wash, which is really what blue jeans are all about. These button-fly, straight-leg jeans work as well with a pair sneakers as they do boots. Plus, they’re available in big and tall sizes and stretch cotton for the perfect fit.

Learn more about Levi’s rich history in our brand breakdown.

APC

Best Upgrade Men's Jeans

A.P.C. Standard Jeans

• $270.00 at APC

• Country of Manufacture: Macau
• Fit: Straight Leg
• Washes: 1
• Waist: 27 to 36
• Inseam: 34 to 36

Often the gateway for those getting into raw denim, A.P.C. is known for its purely minimal aesthetic and its jeans are noted for birthing a new generation of denimheads. The Standard is a re-release of A.P.C. Original jeans, complete with a high-rise, wide fit, and straight leg. The brand makes a bold claim and though it hasn’t come close to surpassing the 501, its stripped-down details gives way for Japanese raw selvedge denim to take the spotlight and make it a go-to. The denim is smooth hand, fades rather quickly, and looks damned good cuffed. While the brand offers plenty of other washes of its other jeans, grab this classic in Indigo, cuff them up and beat them (and wash them) to hell to get the fade you desire.

wrangler

Best Bargain Men's Jeans

Wrangler Cowboy Cut Original Fit Jean

• $40.00 at wrangler.com
  $49.00 (18% off)

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Fit: Bootcut
• Washes: 11
• Waist: 27 to 52
• Inseam: 30 to 40

Wrangler has been making jeans since 1947, 75 years after Levi’s was launched. Noted for their affordability, the quality of the denim used varies depending on the store — they make affordable lines exclusive to retailers like Walmart and are almost always on sale at Amazon — but they are generally good jeans. The Classic Cowboy Cut is essentially its 501 — it’s a fair-priced jean that flatters most body types. These bootcuts sport a full seat and thigh, sit right at the waist and can fit right over your cowboy boots if you’re prone to yee-haws.

Everlane

Best Stretch Men's Denim

Everlane 4-Way Stretch Organic Jean

• $98.00 at Everlane

• Country of Manufacture: Vietnam
• Fit: Slim
• Washes: 6
• Waist: 28 to 38
• Inseam: 28 to 34

Everlane’s jeans come from a highly-respected Japanese denim mill but at a price point of less than half of what you’d typically expect. Weighing a middle-of-the-road 11 ounces, the denim is made with a touch of two-way stretch, just enough for comfort and not so much to qualify as yoga pants. They come in various washes to satisfy a wide range of blue jean lovers, and fit slim through the hip and thigh with a slightly tapered leg. They’re also part of Everlane’s Uniform collection, a mainstay line that ensures a replaced item should your jeans suffer rips and tears.

Todd Snyder

Best Slim Fit Men's Jeans

Todd Snyder Slim Fit Stretch Jean

• $158.00 at Todd Snyder

• Country of Manufacture: Vietnam
• Fit: Slim
• Washes: 6
• Waist: 28 to 38
• Inseam: 30 to 34

When American designer Todd Snyder’s eponymous label launched a denim collection, it sought to simplify jean shopping by dividing denim into three categories: Stretch, Selvedge, and Small Batch. Snyder’s Stretch line is perhaps his most popular, available in an array of washes and wears, and featuring a nearly undetectable amount of stretch. This 12.5-ounce denim is a slim fit jean with a broken-in feel for instant comfort and a versatile style to dress up or down as needed.

J Crew

Best Bargain Raw Denim Men's Jeans

J. Crew 770 Jean

• $128.00 at J Crew

• Country of Manufacture: Vietnam
• Fit: Straight Leg
• Washes: 6
• Waist: 28 to 44
• Inseam: 28 to 34

J.Crew makes several denim styles that come in a spectrum of shades and fades, some feature stretch, and all come in several different fits. These, for example, are made from Indigo-dyed raw selvedge Japanese denim. They sit below waist and straight through the hip and thigh, tapering below the knee.

Tactics

Best Wide Fit Men's Jeans

Pass~Port Workers Club Jeans

• $100.00 at tactics.com

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Fit: Wide Fit
• Washes: 4
• Waist: 28 to 38
• Inseam: 32

Leave it to a skateboard company to make some of the best wide-fit jeans you can buy. Australian brand Pass~Port makes baggy, wide-fit jeans that are wide all the way down––no taper, no crop. One of our testers owns a pair and loves the triple-stitched construction, 16-ounce cotton and back pocket stitched logo, but notes that he should’ve sized down from his usual waistline size for a better fit.

Courtesy

Best Organic Cotton Men's Jeans

Taylor Stitch Democratic Jean

• $188.00 at taylorstitch.com

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Fit: Straight Leg
• Washes: 8
• Waist: 28 to 38
• Inseam: 34

Before, the availability of Taylor Stitch’s denim depended on the brand’s Workshop schedule, which acts as an incubator for the company’s new clothes. Now, they have mainstays like the Democratic Jean, which is made from 13-oz. 100 percent organic cotton Indigo selvage denim. They’ll break in nicely and actually earn its fades and flairs.

Buck Mason

Best Japanese Denim Men's Jeans

Buck Mason Ford Standard Jean

• $145.00 at Buck Mason

• Country of Manufacture: Import
• Fit: Straight Leg
• Washes: 5
• Waist: 28 to 38
• Inseam: 33.5 33.5

Buck Mason builds most of their jeans from soft-washed Japanese denim. The brand also boasts pairs at both ends of the fading spectrum. From Dark Wash to White, there’s something for everyone — like the Ford Standard Jean, which one reviewer called “what the Levi’s 501 Jean should be.” These have a mid-rise with a straight fit through the hip and tapering at the leg.

Courtesy

Best Heavyweight Men's Jeans

25oz Selvedge Denim Straight Cut Jeans

• $420.00 at

• Country of Manufacture: Japan
• Fit: Straight Leg
• Washes: 2
• Waist: 28 to 44
• Inseam: 35

Originally made for bikers by a veteran of the Japanese garment industry, Iron Heart makes jeans weighing anywhere from 14 to 25 ounces. Some are selvedge, while others non, but every pair is durable and beloved by denimheads all over. This pair is the heaviest the company sells for a rough-but-breathable 100% cotton denim that’ll take a while to break in. If you’re a patient jean wearer, this is the challenge for you.

UNIQLO

Best Budget Big Jean

Uniqlo Wide-Fit Jeans

• $50.00 at Uniqlo

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Fit: Relaxed
• Washes: 2
• Waist: 27 to 38
• Inseam: 34

If you need big jeans for cheap, Uniqlo has the answer. These loose-fit jeans are wide all the way down without a taper for a fully relaxed style. Customers say the fit is perfect and the quality is surprisingly solid, but note: if you’re looking for something ultra-wide and baggy, these won’t fit the bill.

gap

Best 90s Style Men's Jeans

Gap Loose Jeans with Washwell

• $63.00 at GAP
  $80.00 (21% off)

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Fit: Loose
• Washes: 1
• Waist: 28 to 42
• Inseam: 28 to 34

Leave it to a mall brand to craft an excellent ‘90s-esque jean. Gap’s ’90s Loose Jeans are an ode to the grunge era, with a loose leg and a relaxed fit through the seat and thigh. The perfect summer jean, these are bound to give you proper airflow.

Outerknown

Most Sustainable Men's Jeans

Outerknown Local Straight Fit Jeans

• $148.00 at Outerknown

• Country of Manufacture: Vietnam
• Fit: Straight Leg
• Washes: 6
• Waist: 28 to 38
• Inseam: 30 to 34

Outerknown’s collection of S.E.A. Jeans emphasize sustainable manufacturing. The organic cotton comes from the Candiani mill in Milan, Italy, and each pair is made by Saitex, an innovative, eco-friendly Vietnamese factory. Plus, every pair comes with a lifetime guarantee. They’re just how jeans should be: comfortable and a breeze to blindly put on in the AM.

Courtesy

Widest Stretch Men's Jeans

Mott & Bow Straight Oliver

• $118.00 at

• Country of Manufacture: Honduras
• Fit: Straight, Skinny, or Slim
• Washes: 3
• Waist: 30 to 42
• Inseam: 30 to 34

If you’re someone who has to wear jeans with some give, for whatever reason, you won’t go wrong with Mott & Bow’s blue bottoms. They offer a bunch in interesting washes with up to 18 percent stretch. Most pairs are 99 percent cotton and 1 percent elastane, which means they look rather traditional but have technical features galore.

Courtesy

Best Budget Regular Fit Men's Jeans

Lee Regular Fit Straight Leg Jean

• $44.00 at

• Country of Manufacture: India
• Fit: Straight Leg
• Washes: 8
• Waist: 28 to 38
• Inseam: 28 to 36

As of 2019, the same parent organization that owns Wrangler also owns Lee. They’ve maintained their affordability, though — $44 for most pairs — while still being made from 100 percent heavyweight cotton. The Straight Leg Jean fits as it should: neither too tight nor too slim, and with enough room in the seat to feel secure but not suffocated.

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