Customer Reviews Levi's® Mens 501® Original Shrink-to-Fit Jeans

I have been in desperate need of pants for a while, and being a poor college student, it's difficult for me to justify spending so much money on a pair of jeans. However, from the reviews it seemed like there was no match for the quality and durability of these things, so, when a sale came up, I dropped fifty dollars on these. I was skeptical at first, but from the moment they arrived, I was sold. These are, without a doubt, the most comfortable and well-fitting jeans I've ever owned. They're raw denim, so they're heavy duty, and I've been wearing them every day for about a month with no visible wear, and every day I wear them they form more and more to my body. (Levis actually advises against machine washing) the amount of money I spent on these could have easily got me two pairs of lower quality Levis, but you're really paying for quality and durability when you buy these. It's worth it, especially in the long run.

Just discovered these bad boys. I'm an odd size 35x31 and you can't get odd sizes in normal jeans, but 36x34 STF's get me the best fitting jeans I can buy. Like one dude said don't make it complicated, I do an initial soak to wash out most of starch and excess dye then throw in washer and dryer for a couple of cycles to wash out newness. Then wear and enjoy, they will only get better with time.

I bought three pairs, they all varied in size. Each pair has there own personality. You can wash and dry and break them in as needed to get the right fit. Just like the jeans you had when you were a kid. Would recommend.

The jeans I bought for my son were perfect. They came so fast, the price was right, and I reveled in the fact that they could be returned if not satisfactory. I've never had a better online shopping experience.

The price of these Levi's for my husband was such a good deal compared to everyone else's prices and free shipping they were here in three days. This was the quickest order that I have ever received and when I called to make sure my order went through it was person not a machine and she was very helpful. I will definitely make more purchases here!

My super slim adult son loves these jeans. He's a 27 X 32 and just as the description reads (guaranteed to shrink!), he washed the 28 X 34 and they fit him perfectly. Thanks for offering this item.

I can't pretend to be a long-time wearer of Levi’s STFs, just a recent convert. Despite Levi's recommendation of ordering a size large on the waist, don't do it! After shrinking, they'll shrink an inch, but it'll stretch right back out, so it's best to stick with whatever you normally wear in Levi’s. Do order at least two inches long on the inseam, though, since that will shrink significantly and won't go back. After that? Just wear them, and the rest will happen over time.

I love these jeans. I wear them while riding my motorcycle. They provide durability and protection. My advice is to not wash them. Ever.

These can be the best jeans you ever owned if you are willing to do a little work. I took a hot shower with these on then wore them until they are dry. They fit okay before, but now they fit perfectly and are super comfortable despite how stiff and rigid they are to the touch. I haven't washed them yet, but I plan to wear them as long as possible between hand washing for maximum comfort and so they naturally distress with a good amount of contrast.

I wore this pants when I was younger and as I got older, I wasn't able to find my size, so I tried other brands, but none were as comfortable. Now that I found that Casual Male XL has my size, I won't wear any other jean!

I have always enjoyed the feel and fit of Levi's 501 Shrink-to-Fit. Zappos had the best price around, and I decided to try them. Zappos provided a competent and enjoyable shopping experience, even sending follow-up emails to let me know my order had been shipped and when to expect it. I'll definitely shop Zappos again!

I got these jeans as a gift. Here in Zappos they have the best deal, fast and free shipping and a lot of sizes and colors.

Love Levis 501s. These were advertised as shrink to fit and so I chose an inseam length 2” longer than normal. They have not shrunk at all after 2 washings on “hot” and two drier sessions on “hot”. Buy your normal size.

These are jeans for the long-haul! I wore them WET-to-dry and it takes a while to break them in, but these are like the ones I got in my teens. Back then I had to go through the same suffering to get a true custom fit that is comfortable, and if you're patient that's what you'll get. They start out dark and stiff, and gradually soften up, lighten up and conform to whatever shape you have. They are men's jeans, I suppose, but I'm a woman and they're great.

These 501s shrank to the right size... but it was then cleat that they were NOT the same as the original 501s. These have much tighter straight legs. I called Zappos... told the girl my observation. She was clue and told me to check with Levis directly. I felt let down.

I have a small waist (30) in the majority of pants with vanity sizing. Technically my waste is 32, like most advertised 30 waist pants. Anyway, my advice is get your normal size. If you wear a 30 in Levi's then get a 30. The larger the pants, the more the shrinkage, so that rule may not apply if you're a 38, for instance, but I know nothing about that. . With that size, the waste shrinks a hair but stretches back out after an hour of wearing. Buy 2 inch minimum longer in length. The 8 inch pant leg opening is how all jeans should be. Good pants if you want a slim fit but have big calves and most slim fitting pants are like a Chinese finger trap on your calves. After having really nice selvedge denim, however, the quality of these jeans is crap in comparison. But for 40 bucks, you can't really go wrong... But I'll never pay more than 40 for them. . I always soak them by themselves in bath tub with scalding water and dry hot in dryer, before I wear them. If I like the way they shrunk, they will never go in a dryer again. Otherwise I wear them till dirty and then repeat that scalding water and then hot dryer process until they've shrunk enough. If they shrink "too much" they will stretch back out where they need to to be comfortable. Wash them rarely after that and hang dry. I dislike when you get too much color bleeding and the white weft gets stained the warp color. Eventually with wear, that sorts itself out tho.. but I try to avoid that from happening by not putting them in the actual washing machine. Even during the shrinking process, I do it by hand in the tub.

fits well

I purchased these jeans because I loved the 501 shrink-to-fits I wore as a kid, and I loved how they shrank to fit me exactly. These, although the same great quality I remember, were too big after washing and drying in hot water. I ordered according to the specs that said to order 1 inch larger in the waist than my measurement where the waist would hit me, but I think I should have just ordered my regular waist measurement. Since I have washed them, I don't think I can return them, so I will give these to a lucky man with a 34 inch waist and possibly reorder in my correct size. Also, they did not shrink nearly as much in length as they should have either. Still a great pair of jeans, though, and surprisingly comfortable for non-stretch heavy denim.

They don’t make them like they used to. I have been buying 501/shrink to fit/button fly for more than 30 years. Never had another brand (although I did get a pair of the boot cut Levi’s back in the 90’s when I went through my cowboy boot wearing phase) until about 3 years ago I couldn’t find shrink to fit in the stores anymore so I got a couple of preshrunk 501’s. The shrink to fit’s last forever, and getting a new pair every couple years made sure I had enough in my closet. Anyway, the pair I just got (March 2020) are unlike any of the shrink to fits I’ve ever had. The denim was somewhat soft to begin with instead of the absolute rigid cardboard like feel as before. After washing and drying they did not shrink up as much. And after washing they were very soft feeling and did not have any faded creases that are typical of my 501’s from yesteryear. I can still see the creases from the original washing on jeans that are over 6 years old and yet these new ones don’t have any. These jeans might be good jeans, but they are not the same as they used to be. Nothing bad (yet, time will tell if they last as long) to say about them just they are not the original quality.

This is a working man's jean. The entire construction, make-up, stiching, ponts to durability. The bidy and pant leg is wide.Wider than I really like. But, I am keeping them because I love the firmness and rigidity of them.

I bought 2 sizes too big lengthwise and washed jeans inside out delicate cycle with other denim and then wore them dry. Suddenly my most comfortable pair of jeans. These say made in Mexico. The previous pairs rom 2 years ago said made in Egypt and were inferior to the Mexican ones, my opinion.

With 501s, you know what you are getting fitwise. Need more colors such as brown or khaki.

These are the old school shrink to fits.

I have been wearing Levi's my entire life 501's os all o wear all colors for dress and work. The only thing is now days the material if cheeper (thin and not fluffy) and my length is off .

Original. the black color isnot exactly black but is a cool modern wash.