Customer Reviews Levi's® Mens Deleted

Buyer Beware; Levis has changed the cut once again! Now the 501 STF fits more like their Mid-50's anti-fit model, with a bit more room in the leg and seat. The denim is different, too; 12.5 oz vs. 13 oz. The color is better (truer indigo, but still probably chem dye to save cost) and crocks (looses dye) less easily. Tone on tone stitching on the outside leg seam gives a "selvedge appearance" at a distance. Less detail on the tag is traded for better back pocket shape (cut and trade mark arcuate) and thread color. I'm also 6', 195 lbs, and I exercise frequently, so I need the length and width. Buy true to waist/hips (measure yourself with a tape where you like your jeans to "ride"). Get 2 to 3 inches of extra length (err on the side of caution with MIM jeans). Levis guide is "generous" and historical but size and materials have changed over time. If you do go with their prescribed standard, realize that your leans will be "loose" fitting. Rinse them before you wear them to set the dye. I prefer salt. Some use vinegar. Some use both. (Chemistry suggests this is all phooey, BTW.) Levis recommends Dr. Bonner's Soap (smells great, but costs an arm and a leg). Soak them in the tub for 30 to 60 minutes in cold water (minimal shrink), warm water (moderate shrink) or hot as Heck water (maximum shrink). Don't worry about what's left in the tub, what's lost is lost and can never be blue again. NEVER PUT THEM IN THE DRYER! The high heat causes the collagen in the cotton fibers to contact rapidly, and it will make the yarn swell and burst--a very bad look indeed. Dry flat for best color retention. Hang dry is an option, but remember the dye will migrate (in the direction of gravity) and the denim will stretch at points of strain. But that's good when you get them on, because Boy-howdy is that denim stiff as a board. Break 'em in like a San Francisco prospector with some deep knee bends (only when fully dry or the knees will balloon out and stay that way). The waistband will have the most "give," but with time, body heat and brute force, the rest of the jean will conform to your shape over time. This denim is raw and alive. No factory faux-embellishments. Whiskering happens with time and love. Don't mess with the process. And if you're wanting for steppin' out jeans, these aren't it, buddy. You're not going to wash them for what feels like forever. Which is fine, because when you're at the office they're going to be airing out on the peg in your room waiting for a motorcycle ride, barn chores or some other hard wearing weekend activity. Then after about 6 months to a year (which is probably pushing it), you'll give them a bath, and they'll look just like the ones James Dean, Steve McQueen and Paul Newman wore. Style is subjective. I like a little bit of a cuff. Not to show off an expensive selvedge line (the sartorial equivalent of buying a hundred dollar cheeseburger and forcing everyone around you to watch while you eat it), but because I'm tall, self-conscious of that fact and realize a little extra fabric and contrasts offsets that. If you're short, you can cuff, too just don't go crazy with it. Otherwise you'll look like you borrowed those jeans from your much taller and more stylish brother. To sum it all up: these are a great jean, but not for the faint of heart; you really get as much style out of them as you are willing to put in; they can be tough to size, and the idiosyncratic nature of Levis manufacturing and distribution decisions is debatable; they're better than before (but sadly, still not as good as they were); and they're an affordable option for those that balk at the idea of superexpensive pairs of urban cowboy, dandy chic, jeans; if they were MADE IN USA with USA COTTON DENIM, at the same or similar price point, they would be PERFECT; for now this is not only the best Levis 501 out there, it is the BEST JEAN FOR THE MONEY, north or south of the Mason-Dixon and east or west of the Mississippi. Don't buy the hype. Save your money. Buy the jeans, the original, the Levis 501 Shrink-to-Fit. P.S. Yes, you're not insane: they totally did make the buttonholes just a little too small this time. What were they thinking, right? At least they stitched all the way around. Just use your jackknife (which should honestly be free with purchase of four or more pair) to open 'em up a bit. Better? I thought so. I know, the jeans were totally worth it. But seriously what's up with the buttonholes?

Great alternative to $100-$200 jeans in terms of fabric feel and wear. I have 26" thighs and this cut gives me a nice snug fit that skinnier-legged people get from slim fit options. Also, I hate low rise jeans because 1. they show your crack whenever you bend over. 2. they don't fit over people who actually have a butt. 3. because they don't fit over a bubble butt, the waist is always loose. These pants overcome all 3 of those issues for me. Finally, the raw (ish?) denim is great. My first pair has worn in with really cool character and they form fit to my body.

These are just your classic Levi's 501 jeans, the kind you had to buy in the '60s because that is all there was. The thing I like about the shrink to fit jeans is that they are not already 50 percent worn out like stone washed jeans. And, yes, that means they last twice as long. I also like the idea that I am earning that comfortable worn look by wearing them instead of buying them pre-worn.

I ordered a couple pairs of Levis and they had flaws in them. I was not happy about this but Zappos took full responsibility for this and totally took care of the problem making me a very happy customer. :-)

I love these jeans. I did the laying-in-the-bathtub thing (in the hottest water I could stand) for about half an hour and then wearing them until they were almost dry several times to get them to be where I wanted them to be, and then I machine washed them a couple of times. Even after soaking in them, though, they did not shrink as much as they did when I laundered them. But now they are perfect and fit great and I am going to order another pair soon. But this next pair I will try to avoid laundering for as long as possible, just to keep them a bit stiffer.

I have been wearing 501 STF jeans for over 50 years. They cannot be beat anywhere. Yes they have changed some (not for the better) but still are the best going. Allow for the shrinkage you newbies. It is not that hard to figure out your size. If you can not read and apply the instructions then don't buy them! I will continue to wear them as long as Levi Co. continues to make them. I work hard and need something that will last and these jeans will do. My advice is get them and allow two more inches in length and one inch in waist for shrinkage. Is it really that hard? You will not be disappointed!

Hey Hey my my, I finally needed a new pair and with reservations went the distance and ordered them from good and fair and reliable ZAPPOS. I am happy as a hippie in the 60's...or at least a dude in the now. These pants work and they are not far from the oldie goodie feely touchy that once was the Levi of then. They are great and Zappos is super. Many thanks to Zappos and the spirit they work in and around and send your way! Cheers FIVE STARS!

I grew up on Levi's 501's, and still have a couple of pairs of the good old Made in the U.S.A. preshrunk 501's (waist 38, inseam 34, circa 2000) that I break out sparingly. The newer preshrunk 501's have changed in cut and fit so much over the past few years that I don't even recognize them any more. Waistwise, I'm a "36" now, but the thighs are so narrow that I have to peel them off my legs. If I try on a 38 x 34 preshrunk now, I look like Urkel - the waist sits a good inch above my navel. On a whim, I tried a pair of the 501 Shrink to Fits, 38 x 36 - and after a few washings, they match up virtually identically to my old reliable U.S. made 501's. I didn't exactly follow the "never wash your jeans" guide, because you know what...I work in my jeans, I don't walk up and down the street trying to look cool or anti-cool in them, and they get dirty! The first wash, hot water, inside out, agitation in the washer for about an hour, then after the wash spin cycle I pulled them out and put them on, wearing them wet for about five hours until they were mainly dry to the touch. I then wore them a couple more times before wash #2 (inside out, hot water, with detergent, four hour agitation / soak, warm rinse, hang dry). Since then, I've worn them twice a week, washed them in hot water with about a one-hour agitation each time, and (get ready to gasp, hipsters) dried them in the dryer. I've washed them this way three times now, and they now fit exactly like my old 501's. I even held them up and compared the various measurements - waist and thighs are identical, the inseam is about 1/4 inch shorter but that's fine because the old 501's are slightly fraying on the cuff. They've faded to the point now where they are lighter than the dark indigo preshrunk 501's that Levi's currently sells. I will now just wash them with the rest of my jeans (warm wash, with detergent, dry them in the dryer) and let them fade over time - you know, like jeans should. I'll be buying a couple more pairs soon so I can retire the US made 501's and break them out only on special occasions.

These are just what I wanted. Do follow sizing guide carefully. They shrink a lot in length and a fair amount in width. Also note that these bleed. A color catcher sheet in the washer helps. Don't wash with your light colored shirts! Even with cold water. Great fit once you shrink them.

For the last 5 years Zappos is the only place I shop for my 501's. They always have my size and you can't beat free overnight shipping.

Excellent service. Website easy to navigate. Had exactly what I was looking for - which the physical stores did not have the size I was looking for. And fast/free shipping. What more could one ask for?!

These are great once sized appropriately and don't follow the Levi's guide. I normally wear a 32x32 in most pants. I'm a slim medium build, with large legs (cyclist). I followed the Levi's guide and sized up to a 33x36 for my first pair. The waist didn't shrink at all, and might have stretched a bit since wearing after my first soak. The inseam did shrink a bit, but expect to wear them with stacks or cuffs. Comfortable "relaxed" fit, but I wanted a more trim appearance. I just bought a second pair in 31x36. These are just about perfect after the initial soak. The waist is snug, not uncomfortable, and I expect it to stretch to a nice fit with repeated wear. Same with the thighs. The inseam shrank similarly to my first pair. Not "skinny" by any means, but a nice trim athletic look.

Zappos is always fast on delivery and has great prices. I'm still wearing the old 501 button fly shrink to fit jeans. Thanks for continuing to carry this product. They have fit me for over 35 years.

With all the jeans out there today, the best, the original is the 501 button fly. It does not have all the flash, bells and whistles. This is the jean that made Levi Strauss Inc. It has no equal. It has been over 20 years that all these jeans have tried to catch. Just like the original Corvette split window fastback, the pack has been trying to catch it. They never will. If Levi messes with this masterpiece, they are certifiably crazy. Great fit, great look, and you do not have to take out a mortgage to own a couple of pair. I own 5 pair, and you would not be able to get them out of my hands if my house was on fire. Hail to the King...Long may he reign.

We were amazed at how quickly my husband's Levi's 501 Jeans arrived! There is, of course, nothing compromised in the quality of Levi's, so that wasn't even an issue; however, this was the lowest price we could find and shipping was free so there was no question we would use Zappos!

Amazing jeans! I absolutely love them. I soaked them for about an hour in hot water, in the bath, and tossed them in the dryer and they fit extremely well. I purchased 1 inch larger in the waist and 2 inches longer in the length. I have room in the waist so I would probably get the waist true to size and the length turned out perfect. I did purchase another pair in a different color and got my normal waist size and 2 inches longer in the length and the waist is perfect and the length could be a little longer. I would suggest getting what you normally wear in the waist and adding 3 inches to the length and possibly 4-5 inches if you want to roll them up.

Great jeans. They are very stiff at first. They take a couple of wears to get soft. The color is a bit more on the purple side that I would have liked, but overall a great pair of jeans.

Great fit, still breaking them in so they are still pretty stiff, but they are so much better built with stouter material then the other Levi styles on the market today. And with Zappos they came to me quick through the mail.

Okay, I've figured out how to get 501 STFs to fit like a thin-straight jean. Other reviewers have complained about the bagginess of the butt and the legs -- this will remedy that. The trick is order 1-3 sizes down from your true size. Obviously the lower you go in size, the tighter they are going to fit. You want them where you can barely, but somewhat comfortably, button the top button. They should feel very snug at first, though! They will loosen up over the next 2 weeks. Instead of soaking the entire pair of jeans, only soak the legs. Leave the entire waist, back and crotch areas dry. Use very hot water for maximum shrinkage. Hang dry. Do not wear your jeans while wet/damp. This causes warping that you cannot fix. Repeat hot soaks up to three times. Then wash every 60 wears. I developed this method after tons of research and frustration with previous pairs. I'm one month in on a pair using this method and they are fabulous, perfect fit. Another tip: get a longer inseam than you would think, probably 3-4 inches longer than normal. You can always cuff or get therm hemmed, but there's no way to correct short pant legs. When you do finally wash the entire jean, my advice would be to jump in a pool or the ocean on a warm day and let them dry on you. This will ensure the waist does not shrink too much. Then you can do a normal detergent wash. Good luck!

Old school dungarees. Stiff, rugged, like a canvas rucksack from a 1950's camping trip. Nobody will mistake you for wearing your wife's jeans, but they also don't look like you picked them up them at a tractor supply outlet.

Just the old stand by 501's my husbands been wearing since high school, same great jeans! But Zappos is wonderful...got them in s couple days, no travel or shopping time or gas spent, same price as in the store, but paid no tax or shipping fee. Awesome!

These are the real deal. Shipped quickly. Knowing your size up front, ordering from Zappos is a no-brainer as they have the best pricing and availability plus no driving to the mall where the SO gets to do some "collateral" shopping.

I added 3 inches to my normal waist size and 4 inches to my normal inseam. This achieved the fit I got when I last bought 501 shrink-to-fits in the mid-'90s. Then I only had to add 1" to my normal waist size and 3" to the length but for some reason the current versions are shrinking much more.

Levi's 501 Original Indigo STF denims. Love them. I haven't worn them in about 30 years, when my body began to change too much. Now I'm lean again, and found my right size, and I am so happy to be wearing these again! Scroll the reviews to find the long one on how to break them in, though. Short version: Soak them in cold water, hang to dry. Wear them. Do it again (or was in cold). Always hang to dry, never in a dryer. After 2 or 3 of these, the length will stop shrinking, and the waist will stop shrinking. For women, they sit lower than your waist generally, so don't measure at your narrowest part. I have very long legs. I bought 32/38, and it seemed like they were way too long. But after 3 times, they are where I want them...long enough to go low with any size heel, and a wee bit too long with no heel.

This is my first pair of Levi's 501 denim. I have had many other styles of Levi's before, and I was somewhat surprised to read about the care of the 501, the shirking to fit process and wearing as long as possible without washing seemed unflattering. As I read more about the style and wear of these 501 pants I became interested. The reviews from many were consistent about ordering a few sizes up to shrink accordingly, I am 6'7" and wear a 34 waist with a 38 inseam, a size that is difficult to say the least. I could not really order up according to the size recommendations, 1" larger in the waist, 4" longer for the inseam. I took a chance and went with my regular 34-38, they fit well when I tried them on for the first time. For the first soak, I decided to wear them in the tub with lukewarm water for 30 minutes. After I stood up to drain them, I patted them down to where I could walk around in them for a while without leaving puddles everywhere. After walking around for a bit, I hang-dried them overnight. The button fly took some getting used to but the pants fit great, I do not need a belt for them and the length is still long enough for me. These are not my stepping out jeans by any means but I really like the look and feel (sturdy), I am about two weeks in on the breaking in period and these are well on there way to becoming my favorite, perfect pair of jeans. I am not sure if I want to go back to the other styles of Levi's now.