Customer Reviews Levi's® Mens 501® Original

I've been wearing 501's for years, I liked ordering from Zappos, free shipping, I could find the size I need. I love dark, thick jeans that you can put them in the dryer for as long as you need to, to get them tighter. Love them.

Like these but better if they were a zipper fly

I’m a woman, typically size 4 or 6. I’ve tried the 501 jeans for women and they are now so high waisted and narrow in the knees that, without any stretch, they’re just really uncomfortable to sit in. I tried men’s 501 for a lower rise and that part was good. However, a 28 in women’s 501 translates to about a 30 in men’s, so I had to return. I ultimately found the 502 taper jeans in size 29 were better. Mid-rise, a little stretch, but the pockets and other elements look more like the 501 jeans I used to wear. They’re a great boyfriend jean - they even nip in at the waist.

Same great fit and style but the black fabric is a lighter weight fabric from the regular jean material, which is disappointing. Otherwise they are great!

These are great jeans at a great price. They fit true to size straight off the shelf. I wish there were more choices in my size so I could buy multiple pairs and save on postage costs to Australia. Go Zappos!

Pants were exactly as ordered. A little upset that order could not be modified immediately after hitting the submit order and contacting customer service. But very pleased with the fast shipping and the price.

These jeans are great except for one detail: Adding one inch to the waist is not enough. I suggest adding at least 2" to the waist and the recommended 3" to the inseam. I normally wear a 32/32 or a 33/32 Levi's jean, which are a little bit long but a 30 inseam is much too short. I ordered these shrink-to-fit 501s in a 34/34. The length is perfect -- probably just over 31". The waist, however, is very tight, even tighter than a normal 32" waist jean. Fit aside, these jeans are great. The 501 shape is classic -- not too baggy, not too tight. The indigo dye, gold stitching, and red label are old-school but not old-man. The jeans are very cool, I just wish the waist fit was better.

This review is for the 501 Shrink-to-Fit jeans - not to be confused with the 501 Originals! These are sturdy jeans with sly, simple stylings and an unbeatable value. Surprisingly comfortable given their burly construction. Denim is a bit thicker than most jeans I've worn, and the stitching along the seams is super tight with no loose ends. I expect to be wearing these without holes or frayed ends for a long time to come. I also expect I'll never again pay 2-3 times as much for shoddily-constructed jeans from obscure or "designer" brands. One slight complaint: the black color is actually a really dark blue. This wasn't an error on Zappos part, just a less than accurate color description supplied by Levi's. I also knocked one star off because the Shrink-to-Fit is difficult to wash without causing severe shrinkage. If you read Zappos product description this shouldn't come as a total surprise, but I was initially dismayed by just how much shrinkage occurred during the first wash. I put the jeans in cold water on a gentle cycle for 15 minutes and had them in the dryer for another 15 on low heat. Fortunately, I pulled them out while still damp and was able to stretch the jeans almost back to their original size and shape. If you're thinking of buying these, you should definitely go up one full size from your preferred waist and inseam measurements. I also recommend looking at Levi's Shrink-to-Fit care guide on their web site. I'm 5'11" and 170 lbs, with long skinny legs. I'm a 32W in most jeans, but I bought these 501's with a 33W and 30 inseam. After a couple careful washes they now fit perfectly around my waist, but due to shrinkage, the length comes up just a tad short. I'll probably go with the 31 inseam next time. Big shout out to Zappos for their top notch service and free shipping! Seriously. I'm a practical guy on a budget who generally hates shopping. I don't believe in customer loyalty, and I don't write online product reviews. But here I am demonstrating both!

Bought 3 Levi\'s 501, same size, style, etc. and got 3 different fits! One of my 34x32s were 2 inches longer in the inseam (mislabeled?) and one with a waist at least an inch smaller. The sizing differences were out of the bag with the tags still on, so no washing\/shrinking. The styling is awesome and the material is very nice (although different from jean to jean as well). I\'d still recommend giving these a shot since Zappos has amazing shipping, but I would recommend buying multiple pairs and sending one back if need be.

Just note that these are darker stonewash, not medium stonewash. Otherwise the great reliable 501s we've spent our lives wearing.

501 in Tidal blue size 34x32. They fit good, true to size. Color is good, pretty dark blue. Two things to note, the dye on the tidal blue will bleed every wash (4 so far) and DO NOT dry these on high, they will shrink unbelievably.

I purchased the 501s in the rigid, shrink-to-fit version. I recommend buying your normal waist size and buying at least 2" longer in the length, possibly more. I found that the length shrunk quite a bit with a few washes/soaks. The waist doesn't shrink a ton and will likely stretch back out with wear. Overall these are cool pants, and for the price they're a fun project at worst.

The fit of the pant is great. The pant is longer than the length suggested. I will have to spend extra to get it altered to the desired length. Otherwise, I liked the Zappos service. I was able to exchange 32x30 for 32x29 without hassles (but still longer than my usual 32x30). The pant has a stiffer texture than I imagined.

Among all those varieties of jeans available these days, Levi's 501 has to be the very original design and, more likely than not, the best. Though yours truly never tries to pretend to be a jeans connoisseur, the styling and materials used are much the epitome of integrating form with function - bar none. The only complaint should be around the other-than-brass buttons. It's hard to tell exactly of what alloy they are, but most definitely not the very classical brass. That's very much a pity that today's product doesn't seem to be following the good, old tradition Levi's has been preserving for so long. Just in case, the jeans come with button, instead of zipper, fly. Allegedly this was how they were made some more than 100 years back. The question naturally comes to: If button fly, why not brass buttons? Purchase at Zappos was a charm as the site offers a wide range of colors, variants, and, best of all, the size for yours truly.

Love the jeans. Wore them all the time in high school. Only problem is the suggestion for the shrinkage of the length; mine maybe shrank an inch and that was after several washes; they are still too long.

I've worn Levi's 501 for over 50 years but I'm finding in the past few years the sizes have changed. I've actually worn the same size for quite a number of years but for the past few years it has been hit and miss on getting "the right fit" with what seems to be the only sizing option at purchase time. It seems now when I buy Levi's 501 36x29 the crotch length is about 10" or 10 1/2" from the crotch to the waist band whereas it used to be 9" or 9 1/2". And the width of the pant legs were also roughly the same though now they seem to be an inch wider. With the apparent new sizing they've gone to, the Levi's are very baggy on me whereas my older Levi's (same size) fit perfectly. My wife tells me it's time to move away from Levi's to another brand to find a better fit. As much as I have enjoyed Levi's over the years I think my wife is right - it's time to leave the Levi's brand.

I never knew that jeans still came with button down flys. Dark ages.

First let me say that these 501's arrived lightning fast, and were just as I ordered. Zappo's service is stellar, as usual. However, I don't know what has happened to Levi's, I've been wearing 501's for over 40 years, and these just aren't the same. They've changed, got thinner, stiffer, I don't know how to explain it. I only know that Zappo's was the only place that I could find the "Real feeling 501's" for the last couple of years, so I was disappointed to learn that the thinner, not 501 looking/feeling ones had infiltrated Zappo's stockroom. I guess it's time to try other brands, for the first time since the '70's.

Fit and color were off. Traditional 501 buttoned fly is an issue if you're in a hurry. Exchanged these for the Snap & Pop version which is a misleading name given the same buttoned fly.

The cut and hardware is as I remembered from 30 years ago, but the fabric is different; hard-to-describe-different; don't get your hopes up that it's the same product from the 1980's.

My husband wears size 40 in Dickies brand jeans and the fit is very comfortable. He tried the same size in these Levi 501s and couldn’t even close the buttons. He would have needed at least size 44 to get them closed!! He also thought the fabric looked too wrinkled and the back rise was very low. Sent them back and will continue searching...

The pants felt like cardboard at first (which I guess is to be expected), but even after 5 washes, the denim is stiff and hard in the Shrink to Fit. Plus, I ordered exactly by the measurements recommended and they shrank about 50% more than they noted. Zappos was great as always though! Fast shipping!

Stiff and uncomfortable (but I knew that before I bought them). Even though they are straight leg, the legs are skinny. Great color, good style for going out at night, but not everyday wear. If you want softer ones, don't buy the shrink to fit.

It would be ok if it zip fly not button fly and I don't like straight cuts. Why don't you make a 501 relaxed boot cut? everybody would like that