I know I'm getting older and change is inevitable. However, most (if not all) clothing is made outside the United States but the biggest change I have noticed is how flimsy the jeans have become from all the manufacturers including Levi - Strauss, Wranglers etc. The material is thin when they are new even before they are worn and then it gets worse from there. The kicker is the kids that buy this garbage and the manufacturers already put holes and rips in the and sell them for a higher price if they have rips or holes then the ones that don't.

I'm from another generation, but when I was a kid when you got a new pair of Levi's - they were stiff and material was thick. You actually had to break them in and they lasted quite awhile - now they don't look like they will make it a month - less if they have pre - destroyed them at the factory. I understand "Lucky Brand" jeans are made in the USA but don't know about the quality or price.

Change is not always a good thing - but it's inevitable and sometimes it goes full circle. Rant over - carry on....

From what I have seen of Lucky Brand jeans they are flimsy and expensive. Looks like they are made more for fashion then function. I found a discount store that sells irregulars for 9-12 bucks, Wrangler, Levi, Lee and lesser known brands. Only trouble is finding my size.

Wranglers are really the only ones that work for me. Levi's are strange; they all seem to have a low waist, at least on me.

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Cheers, Charles
SWCA #2442

You might try Lee jeans. I have had the best luck with them. I buy from a VF Outlet store in Branson, and they are about $20 a pop. Still same old jeans that I have worn for past 40+ years.

If you do a search you will find we had this discussion once before. It also started with our bodies aging, flimsy material, etc. I have bought Wranglers and then paid to have them tailored and get a good fit that way. NO gun person should ever wear Levis. They are very anti 2nd Amendment, Boy Scouts and a lot of other what I consider to be decent and American institutions. A friend recommended these:

http://www.grandriverclothing.com/home-1

I buy work jeans at walmart. Whatever. ..so long as they fit and are cheap. I work around chemicals, thinners, oil, battery acid, sharp objects....etc..etc. they last about a year.no complaints.

My going out jeans are more expensive but not thick material. Kinda what you described minus the holes. I haven't bought none work related jeans since about 08 or 09

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 2

What dog gone says. Lee blue jeans seem to be the same, and theyfit my diminishing butt.
I hate buying levis, but they make he only cargo shorts that fit me.

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Halfway and one more step

I've been wearing Levi's and wranglers for 40-50 years and haven't noticed any difference

I agree. They are about the same, but I don't think they put as much "sizing" in them to give people that "stiff new" feeling like they used to. It eventually washes out to give you that "broke in" feel.
I mostly a Wrangler type guy from Walmart, last long enough for me. The Wrangler Rodeo style from Tractor Supply are little bit different denim, but fit like a glove and last too.

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Dick

Last pair of Wranglers I bought were mis-marked as to length and I need to have them shortened, but they seem to be as good quality as ever. I like the brand.

Actually my favorite jeans presently are a pair of Dickies. Good fit, good fabric, good price.

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Oh well, what the hell.

I wear only Carhartt B01 pants which are both union made and made in the USA.

Make sure they are the 'Men's Double-Front Work Dungaree and B01'.

You might want to try a pair of Diamond Gusset jeans. They're made right here in Tennessee.

As a boy I wore Levis at $3.98 each. I have not worn Levis in a very long time and the last price I saw on them was $34.00 each. Ouch. Sorry to hear they have gone down in quality as well as way, way up in price.

These days I wear Wranglers that I pay about $10.00 to 12.00 each for and I buy a few pair when they go on sale. They are not as good as the old Levis, but I am not as good as I used to be 50 years ago either.

I no longer worry about looking cool, I just want to cover my wrinkles and sags to protect those I come in contact with. I also like cargo shorts and in Texas that is often more comfortable than jeans.

I wear a lot of Carhartt, they last.
tb

Please don't buy Levis........
Thanks

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frontsightnsqueaz

I'm a Carhartt fan. Pockets deep enough for a j-frame and 7 sturdy belt loops. I usually buy B18 style and have ordered from Dungarees.net a few times. Carhartt B18 jeans seem to run true to size, they are 15 oz sturdy material and the zippers aren't cheapies.

Carhartt Jeans for Men at Dungarees Carhart Store

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God spelled backwards is dog.

Another vote for LEE jeans.

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Doesn't hasta call me Johnson

Prison Blues Jeans
"Made on the inside to wear on the outside"
There's no doubt where THESE come from!
Very heavy duty jeans.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

I remember growing up trying to break in a new pair of Levi's which took at least a year before they were comfortable, and they did last a little longer but they were pretty expensive even way back then. I once was washing a load in the dorms in college at Okla. State and walked away from the washer and someone stole the whole load which was soaking wet! I wore Levi 501s and 505s mostly and I knew I could grab my size off the rack and they would fit perfectly. But now my body is changing for the worse and I have to waste a bunch of time trying different jeans on till I find some that fit, but I usually don't pay over 20 bucks. I think I paid more than that for Levis back in the 1980s.

Double LL's from LL Bean. Might cost a buck or two more but built like a tank and fit like a glove. With only one or two exceptions, the only jeans I've worn for darn-near 30 years and still made the same!

They're so good I don't even know who comes in second place!

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paws for friendship

When I started wearing Levis (1959) I was a freshman in high school and they were great. Back then they didn't have all the silly numbers and they were straight leg, button fly, shrink to fit jeans. They didn't come in all the fruity colors or already worn out looking they were BLUE JEANS for cryin' out loud!!! They were darn near bullet proof. If you look for that style today it's called the 501. They are hard to find these days.

My parents thought I was nuts because of the way I did them when I got a new pair.
1. wash them in the hottest water possible
2. dry them on the clothes line in the sun
3. Repeat steps one and 2
4. Repeat step one.
5. Put them on while they are still wet and let them dry on you. They were a shrink to fit jeans you would expect to lose about an inch in the waist and maybe 1 1/2 inch in the inseam.

A lot of trouble for sure but no other bluejeans I've ever found in my life fit me as well as the old Levis. Today these 505 are about as good as I can do.

When I started school on the first day of my senior year I had 3 brand new pair. I wore them all year and all through my military years and for several years after I got out. I finally had to get new ones because the old ones no longer fit me around the waist. But they still had their shape and no holes or tears.

I eventually had to stop getting the 501s because of the button fly. My arthritic hands were having problems and I went to the 505 jeans. Preshrunk, straight cut but they have the zipper fly. They aren't a patch compared to the original American made Levis and only last about 3 years before they lose their shape and just don't look nice anymore.

I still wear my levis but I don't love 'em like I used to. They are just the closest I can get to the old 501s

Life goes on....

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Real men love cats!

There are Wrangler's outlet store. I found camo Wranglers (for working in the yard) for $10-$20. $20-$25 for Wranglers and Lees.

Levis, Wrangler, AND Carhartt are made overseas.

A few Carhartt products ARE made in the US - but their jeans are NOT one of those products.
Last pair of Carhartt jeans I got were "hecho en Nicaragua." Such a nice place.

You can still get the super-stiff Levi's.
The are still as uncomfortable as they ever were.
Levi's 501® Shrink-to-Fit™ Jeans - Postal w/ Black Fill - Jeans
When you were a teenager, you could buy the stiff "shrink-to-fit" Levi's a bit large, and grow into them as they shrunk to the shape of your body.
I'm not into that these days.

I prefer Levi's "relaxed fit" 550's.
They don't have some stupid low-cut waist, nor do they sag in the butt.
If you are a 300-pounder, you know things about clothes-buying that I (thankfully) will never know.

If you want US-MADE jeans, they can be had.
I even bought a couple pair.
They're OK.
See All American Clothing Co: Traceability: Every Jean Has A Story.

I wrote a review at US made jeans for union haters - The FAL Files

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WWSSD?
What would Skeeter do?

They all feel about the same to me but Lee's seem to fit best. But I can buy 2 pairs of Wranglers or Lee for what a pair of Levi's cost.

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Why duck?? It's a 9mm!

As a senior in high school, 1967, I remember being able to purchase a pair of Levi's for $7.99 Even then the price was high but not like they are now. Now, you're lucky if you can find a pair of them on sale for $39. Regular price for Levi's is around $49. I've given up on paying that ridiculous price. I buy Wrangler's at Wal Mart now for $14.00 a pair. Never thought I'd wear what I consider "cowboy jeans" but Levi's has gone and priced themselves out of my league.

Relaxed fit 550 Levi's work for me.
There was a girl at one of the factories I worked at that was wearing thread bare, holey jeans. I said, "'bout time for some new jeans, don't ya think?" She said, "these are new, I just got them."

I love the Good Will and Saint Vincent's second hand stores.
Still getting the britches for under $8 and happy to help out.
It never fails that my size is the most popular though.
What the heck anyhow?
When I was 232 pounds nothing could be found now at 170 it is still a problem.

I wear Wranglers I get at Tractor Supply, but I also wear Cabelas jeans they fit well and wear well also, Ive had good luck with the Ball Room jeans from Duluth Trading.

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Carpriver.

Probably the sturdiest jeans you will ever find are those from
Men's Workwear, Women's Work Wear, Work Clothing
(Duluth Trading Co.)

The denim ones are pretty sturdy, but for the ultimate, they make jeans out of the same material used to make fire hoses. They refer to them as "heroically durable Fire Hose® canvas" jeans.

An interesting feature is that they have an extra gusset in the crotch to make them roomier "down there". Hence the nickname "Ballroom Jeans".

The website states that their stuff is made in the US.

I can't see much (if any) difference between Lee and Wranglers. So I just buy which ever is cheaper.

I tried Rustlers but if I got the ones that fit in the waist, my butt looked like I had a full diaper.

Levis 517 boot cut fit the best. But I refuse to pay their price.

I do wish Lee & Wrangler gave you a choice between buttons and zippers. No matter how much beer a fellow might drink, I don't think anyone ever had a "trouser accident" with buttons.

I still like Wrangler's, but I can remember when they stood up by themselves.

I went jean shopping last week as all my black jeans for the office were pretty much shot. I hate jean shopping as it always reminds me of my changing width to height ratio :-) Looked at the Levies but they were $58 a pair!! Are they nuts?? I can get a couple of magazines and a pound of powder for that!!
Ended up with a pair of $12 Walmart cheapies and a pair of ($25) wranglers. Good for another year.

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Dave

I still wear Levi's, once a winter I'll pop into Kohls and get a new pair. You have to feel for the right ones, many of the new cuts are that flimsy smash and they're garbage. Only the original cuts are still made with real denim, like my 527's or the 501's. Go to Kohls and feel around!

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Still just a kid at heart

I still favor the Wrangler 13mwz but they sure arent the quality I grew up with. Shame.

I agree on Lee jeans. They were the most comfortable jeans I've ever owned. They are hard to find. Now I have an excuse to go to Branson. They used to be made in Missouri. Not sure where they are now made.

Most of the time I wear wrangler cargo pants. I wear Kirtland jeans [costco] when I wear jeans. @ $13.98 they cost what lunch does and last a lot longer.

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Front sight and squeeze

I hear HABAND jeans are good but I don't know first hand.

I buy Faded Glory jeans at Walmart for $10 a pair.

They last long enough I guess.

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

Heavy denim happens somewhere around 14 oz per square yard. Google: heavy denim jeans. Tons ov'em

Amazon.com: Key Apparel Men's Heavy Duty Traditional Fit Garment Washed Indigo Denim Jean: Clothing@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41AD0iU4tvL.@@AMEPARAM@@41AD0iU4tvL

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Bob

Nothing gets between me and my Calvins

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Sure you did

As you have noticed our bodies mutate and deform as we get older. Always got Levis when I was young but now they fit horribly AND Levis donates money to all sorts of BS liberal causes.

Not sure where they are made but Key jeans found at various farm stores fit ok. Also try LL Bean jeans, they fit nice.

In school us poorer kids wore Levi's while the rich kids wore khakis Later on us poor kids wore Levi's & T shirts while the rich kids wore slacks, sport coats, Penny Loafers with Argyle socks. Now I wear Wranglers that I get in our local discount store for under 10 bucks when on sale.

Basic Wrangler jeans and the Faded Glory brand from Wally world.
They both run about $11 a pair. I absolutely destroy jeans at work- I run a pipeline company's yard. We fix everything, from pickup trucks to tools to loaders and backhoes. They last long enough, and when they get too dirty, or they finally tear apart, I feel no remorse. I can't justify Levis, Carhart or Dickies work jeans. At anywhere from $40-60 a pair.... they are just not that much stronger or that much more durable.

I suppose I am the one to buck the tide; jeans are actually a BETTER value than they were when I was 16. That was 26 years ago now..... and Levis 501's cost $25-30 a pair then. And in reality??? They did not last that much longer. The new Levi's feel like they were meant for a girls' tushy, not for getting under a truck and cussing as oil rains down on you!!

Lord knows I surely won't!!!

This may be a funny story concerning denim trousers. Years ago I went to the FBI Academy in Quantico for some training. We were told that blue denim trousers were not acceptable and were not to be worn. So, I bought some black denim Levis trousers to wear. They were not amused. What can I say. No blue denim, but they didn't say anything about black denim. If I was a real anti-establishment rebel, I would have been wearing a blue denim dress.

I wear whatever the wife buys for me. Lately they have been Members Mark brand from Sam's Club.

Well, I did not know about Levi's outlook on 2A and the anti-gun beliefs. Imagine that, Levi-Strauss against guns and people who legally carry them, all from a manufacturer that supplied cowboys for years and years. Good to know - I just threw out my last pair of Levi's and there won't be another pair in my closet.

When I was in High School the rich kids wore Levi's and us poor kids wore JC Penny Jeans. I quit wearing Levi's in the 1980's because the pockets wore out before the jeans did. A friend of mine was working for Levi and he was fired because he was a conservative gun owner. He sued and won.
I wore Dickies for a while but now my blue jeans of choice are Diamond Gusset made in Tennessee.

For years I went in whatever store and bought my size Wranglers or Lee but they didnt fit me so good BTW have never tried them on ever. So last week Im in Sears walked by and saw jeans on sale. I tried on about 10 pairs all different kinds in dressing room and after all these years found jeans that actually fit me,they looked good.I bought 2 pair.

I wore Levi's most of my life and really liked them.
But now giving them my money just doesn't make ANY sense to me - I feel like I might as well be sending some to PETA too.

Your company wants to spend money to put anti-gun and/or anti-hunting people in office?
You need to get your coins from someone other than me!

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In dog years I'm dead.

I've been wearing the standard Wranglers 13MWZ for more years than I can remember.

One reason, I can still get them for less than twenty bucks a pair. Another reason, if you'll notice, the heavy seam on Levis runs down the inside of the leg. On Wranglers, the heavy seam runs down the outside of the leg.

I know that doesn't seem like that big of a difference, but when you're in the saddle for five or six hours, believe me, you'll appreciate having that seam on the outside.

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Pack light and cinch tight.

The only Dickies jeans I've ever bought I got on sale for about nineteen bucks. Sounds as if they're normally pricier than that. Mine fit well and are well made. May have to watch for them to go on sale again.

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Oh well, what the hell.