Levi’s 501 Jeans: Are They Worth It? (In-Depth Review)

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Levi’s is perhaps the most iconic American jean, starting out as a heavy-duty workwear item and soon becoming a stylish fashion piece. Today, Levi’s jeans remain popular all over the world, but are they truly a great investment? Let’s take a closer look at their 501 model in this installment of our Is It Worth It? review series to find out.

The History of Levi’s 

The company was founded in May of 1853 when German-Jewish immigrant Levi Strauss (born Löb Strauß) moved from New York to San Francisco to open up the west coast branch of his brother’s dry goods and clothing business.

To this day, the headquarters of the Levi’s brand is still based in San Francisco, in particular, Levi Strauss Plaza or Levi’s Plaza as it is more popularly known since 1981.

Levi Strauss
Levi Strauss, (image above) founded the company along with Jacob Davis in May of 1853 [Image Credit: Levi Strauss]

When the company started, it was selling dry goods and wholesale items. A Latvian-Jewish immigrant named Jacob Davis would purchase bolts of denim fabric from the household department of this business. He noticed that customers were purchasing quantities of excess denim to repair parts of their clothes. This gave him the idea to use copper rivets to reinforce the stress points of the clothing – areas such as pocket corners and the base of the trouser fly.

The problem was Jacob Davis didn’t have enough money to purchase the patent for the design. Therefore, it was proposed that he and Levi Strauss go into business together. Levi accepted the offer. In 1873, the patent was granted and the pair began making their denim overalls.

Levi's 501 dark wash rinsed jeans with copper rivets with the image zoomed in on the smaller right pocket
Jacob Davis thought of introducing copper rivets on jeans however he did not have enough money to patent the design.

The first pair of Levi’s 501 jeans were manufactured in 1890. Unfortunately, the company records before 1906 were lost, so not even Levi’s knows the origin of the 501 number, but we do know that it simply ties into the original riveted jeans. 

Levi Strauss passed away in 1902 at the age of 73, but the company was taken over by his nephews. Descendants of the Strauss family run this business to this day. Until the 1920s and 30s, jeans were very much viewed as workwear. For more information about the evolution of the 501 model, check out Heddel’s comprehensive guide

The Iconic ‘Workwear’

With the denim fabric being much tougher and more resilient than what’s being offered today, it was seen as an ideal thing to wear in harsh work conditions. Indeed, it was the hard-wearing nature of the jeans, which saw an increase in popularity among the general public. People would return from vacations with tales of their own hard-wearing jeans.

The jeans were also popular during the Second World War and were even listed as an essential commodity. This also saw a change in design to the 501 model, where a rivet at the base of the fly and a cinched part of the waste at the back of the jean were removed to conserve materials. These features have since remained vacant on the 501 model.

Levi's jeans - the ideal workwear on a display case
Earlier versions of Levi’s jeans were deemed as the ideal “workwear” (Image Credit: Levi Strauss & Co.)

Of course, we can’t talk about jeans without talking about the 1953 film “The Wild One” or the 1955 film “Rebel Without A Cause.” In these films, Marlon Brando and James Dean, respectively, wear jeans in their roles.

This signifies the change in society with the creation of subcultures with greasers, mods, and rockers. Appealing to the younger post-war generation, jeans were being seen as a rebellious departure from style from what their parents and grandparents were wearing. Jeans had made their mark in history as much more than just workwear.

James Dean shows off the fit of his blue jeans in Rebel Without a Cause.
James Dean shows off the fit of his blue jeans (in this case, Lee Riders) in Rebel Without a Cause.

Levi’s capitalized on a move toward a much more casual style in the 1960s and 70s when the “blue jeans craze” was born. The company did face some financial troubles in the 1980s and 90s due to competition from other jean brands such as Dockers, Lees, and Wranglers.

That being said, the company has remained more or less profitable until the present day, with the 501 model remaining one of the most popular items they sell. The brand’s lineup has gone on to expand to include women’s, children’s wear, and a full range of casual items to go along with this denim collection.

A Closer Look at Levi’s 501

It’s worth mentioning that there are over 40 different style options available under the 501 model on the Levi’s website. Not only that, but the 501 style might be finished in different fabrics or have different details. If that wasn’t confusing enough, some styles aren’t the same all over the world and some are area specific.

Kyle sitting on a Chesterfield chair wearing a green jacket and the 501 original fit jeans in rinse-dark wash.
Kyle wearing the 501 original fit jeans in rinse. (dark wash)

We decided to go with the most classic pair we could find, so for this review, we’re looking at the 501 original fit, rinsed in dark wash, or if you’re in Europe, the style might be called “one wash.”

Iconic Styling Details of the 501 Jeans

We chose these jeans because they are a classic mid-blue color with tan stitching – kind of the quintessential jeans if you will. 

They feature the Levi’s red tag on the left-hand side of the right back pocket. There are two back pockets, two front pockets at the hip, and the right pocket also has a traditional, smaller pocket right below the waistband. Fun fact: this pocket was actually designed to carry a man’s pocket watch while he was at work.

Kyle showing the right pocket of the Levi's 501 jeans
Fun fact: The smaller pocket was originally meant for the pocket watch!

There’s also a leather-looking patch on the back of the waistband, above the right back pocket, which has a vintage styling and a light tan beige color. The company’s wording and logo appear here in red. This is similar to what was shown in the older styles of their workwear jeans. Characteristic of the 501 model, the jeans are finished with a button fly.

The buttons and rivets at the stress points are made of a copper-colored alloy, but we couldn’t find much information on their website to really tell us what metal this was. Although the original rivets were made of copper, we doubt that’s the case today. Copper has a chemical reaction with moisture and this could cause discoloration on the jeans.

Denim Fabric: The Classic Blue Jeans

With the different finishes available within the 501 style, it’s easy to see how there’s a difference in fabric that is used and how in recent years, the 501 has been more about focusing on fit rather than staying true to the original 501 model.

The finish we’ve chosen is made of 100 cotton denim, which is machine-washable, although the Levi’s website does state that you should wash your jeans sparingly; at most, once every ten wears. Naturally, this will help prolong the life of your jeans as each wash will break down the fibers and also increase the fading on the jeans.

Leg part of Levi's 501 denim cotton jeans
This model is 100% cotton denim and is machine-washable.

It’s important to note that these jeans are not made from a selvedge denim. Selvedge denim, particularly from Japan or Turkey, is considered of the highest quality among manufactured jeans. This is where you can see the edge of the bolt of fabric that the jeans were made from on the outseam of the jeans.

Although selvedge denim is of the highest quality, it’s also very expensive and needs to be made on vintage looms. Levi’s materials and manufacturing all take place in places like Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Indonesia to save on production costs. The denim in these jeans is not of the same high quality of selvedge, but they are a good, strong, and sturdy cotton, which has a great color.

501 denim cotton fabric
Although the 501 jeans were not made from high-quality selvedge denim, they were made of good, strong, and sturdy cotton.

A good benefit here is that these jeans will not have as long of a break-in period as selvedge jeans would. So, they can be more comfortable in a shorter time span.

We Chose The ‘Original’ Straight Fit

The 501s are a straight fit jean. They sit just above the hip with a medium rise and no tapering in the leg. I was quite surprised by the medium-rise on these jeans. Given that this is the original model of the 501, I expected it just a little bit higher on the waistband.

It’s worth mentioning that there are several different versions of the 501 model within the Levi’s vintage clothing lineup. However, the style that we’re going to be reviewing today is the readily available 501 model from the standard collection.

501 Levi's straight cut jeans
The 501s are straight-fit, medium-rise jeans with no tapering in the leg.

It’s not an uncomfortable fit by any means, and I can certainly understand the move toward a lower rise in the waistband, given the trend for things to be a little bit more casual in recent years. It’s easy to see how medium-rise can be considered a higher rise in today’s market with so many jeans and trousers being made available with such low rises.

That being said, I was impressed to find a full range of sizes being made available in single increments, so you can find the perfect size for your waist. I found that by going about an inch less than my normal trouser size, I was able to get a great fit straight away.

An image focused on the straight fit legs of 501 jeans
The straight fit on the legs is well suited for a classic menswear wardrobe.

The straight fit against the leg is preferable for a much more classic wardrobe and will work with a number of items and a classic wardrobe as well.

Other Factors to Consider When Buying Levi’s 501s 

We’ve already touched on some of the confusion around some of the different fit differences within the 501 range, but things get even more confusing when it comes to the price.

Image of Kyle's lower body showcasing the 501 jeans and his Red Wing Boots while reading a magazine. The price of the jeans is also captioned in the photo.
This 501 jeans Kyle is wearing for this review costs $59.50 in North America alone.

Levi’s seems to base much of their pricing based on location. For example, the pair of 501 jeans that we’re looking at today can be found for $59.50 if you’re in North America, or £75 if you’re in the United Kingdom. Even with a fluctuating exchange rate, that’s still quite the difference in price.

Our Experience Buying 501s

Levi’s can be found in department stores, outlet stores, and can be a staple when vintage shopping. But in determining their worth, we decided to go straight to Levi’s to find a brand new pair. 

The in-store experience was actually quite good for us. The assistant we spoke to was knowledgeable, not too pushy, which made for a great experience. It’s worth noting that the service was above what we expected for a company that’s so large and has over 500 stores across the world, and then that everyone’s experience might be the same.

The in-store experience was above expectation.
The in-store experience was above expectation. (Image Credit: Levi Strauss & Co.)

The service was really useful to us. After shopping around on the Levi’s website, it was great to get some assistance in looking for the exact style that we wanted. This is because the website in itself can be a little bit confusing. With such a large range of products and so many different styles and finishes within those products, we found it quite challenging to find the exact thing that we were looking for.

Although the online store has some detailed images about the products that you’re looking at, it would have been great to see some more information about the metals found in the buttons and rivets and maybe some images showcasing how the jeans might fade over time as things are going to be unique to your jeans as they’re supposed to get better with age and look unique to what you’re wearing.

Levi's 501 dark rinse jeans website sample image
The website has some detailed images but it would’ve been nice to have some additional information about the product.

All that being said, the 501 jeans that we purchased are a great pair of jeans. They are a classic style that epitomizes blue jeans, and it’s easy to see how Levi’s is so popular all over the world.

Are Levi’s 501s Worth It?

On average, yes. We think that they’re worth it. Naturally, as the price of Levi’s jeans can fluctuate from different locations, it can be easy to assume that it might be more worth it if you purchase in one location than the next.

Of course, we’re not advocating that you need to go travel across the planet just to buy a pair of jeans, but our point is that the price difference across locations is something to consider. 

Levi's jeans red tag at the left side above the back pocket
Is Levi’s 501 worth it? We think it is!

O balance, with a pair of jeans that we’ve reviewed today coming in under $100 or £100, the overall make, quality, and material is something that I would expect at this price point.

The 501s might not work as well for someone who cares more about the current trends and the latest fashions. As the overall style of the Levi’s jeans 501 model hasn’t changed much over the years, it can be seen as more of a dealbreaker. These jeans are meant to be timeless, not fleeting. With that in mind, the Levi’s 501 model will work wonderfully with someone who has a more classic style and fit. The fit of the modern 501s is surprisingly versatile for a wide range of body types.

Smiling Kyle wearing a green jacket, dark wash Levi's 501 jeans, and brown Red Wing Boots
The good thing about the 501 jeans? It will look great with the other pieces that you already have in your classic menswear wardrobe!

For regular readers of the Gentleman’s Gazette, we can imagine that these are going to be the ideal jeans for you to include in your wardrobe as the straight fit, the deep blue color will be an ideal thing that will work well with a lot of things in your wardrobe. Perhaps, even a piece of soft casual tailoring.

Will you invest in Levi’s 501 jeans? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Reader Comments

  1. The 501s jeans i think are ok for some people to wear year around, but for me i have notice in the summer that wearing blue jeans especially “Levi’s or other blue jeans are very hot to wear here in the south for all day casual wear! I rather wear something a lot more comfortable for all day.

    1. Hi Richard,
      I’d say it’s because 501s have a tight weave not having been designed with hot weather in mind. Come to think of it, most jeans aren’t compared with say lightweight chinos, tropical weight wool or linen (even linen-cotton blend) dress pants. I say ‘most’ because contrary to my initial belief (no jeans were designed for warmer weather) Centeno at RMRS has written an article and created a video to suggest otherwise: https://www.realmenrealstyle.com/hot-weather-jeans/

    2. I agree. Here in Texas, when summertime arrives, just break out the Bermuda Shorts.

      1. Honestly, I wear jeans day in and out, even in the 100+ weather in Central Texas. Granted, I’m typically wearing Dickies brand jeans and working outdoors in high dust, abrasion and splinter environments but they work well for me.

  2. I have worn 501s since I was in high school, rarely being without a pair. I have even worn them in my overweight period.

    I don’t think others compare, but then I have only had a couple of others.

    1. Not worth it they have become light weight not enough belt loops priced w ay to high

    2. Levi’s 501 Jean’s, the shrink – to – fit are great for young men, but when you hit 30+, they are no longer comfortable.
      During my college years Levi’s 501 was my go-to pair of pants.

  3. Photo of James Dean in your 501 article looks like Lee Riders to me. Sincerely CHH

        1. Your comments are appreciated, gents! We were referring less specifically to Levi’s in our brief digression on jeans in film, but your keen eye is impressive. The image caption has been updated, as well. Thanks for watching!

  4. “The company did face some financial troubles in the 1980s and 90s due to competition from other jean brands such as Dockers, Lees, and Wranglers.”

    Don’t imagine financial problems were caused by Dockers since they own it. It began as their non denim casual pant division, think khaki pants.

  5. 501 Levi jeans with button fly have been my go-to jean for decades. Any attempt to try other brands have been disappointing.

  6. I must have owned about 50 pairs of Levi’s jeans over the years, most of them 501’s. The oldest pair I still have in my closet is from 1973, and is a selvedge denim.
    In your article you write that the denim comes from various places in the far east, but I don’t think that is the case. Although the jeans are assembled in various locations, the actual denim that is used for 501 jeans is all 01 denim, produced by Cone Mills in South Carolina. The great thing about 501’s is that they really adapt to your body with wearing, which makes them your unique jeans. It’s true that sometimes they’re not fashionable, but they’re always stylish.

    1. Cone Mills closed a few years back. Another victim of corporate America’s quest for lower labor costs, and cheap foreign labor despite diminished quality.

  7. 501 Levi jeans with button-fly have been my go-to jeans for decades. Any attempt to try other brands did not go well.

  8. THOSE JEANS ON JAMES DEAN ARE NOT LEVIS AND NEITHER WAS BRANDO WEARING THEM IN THE WILD ONE.

    1. Mr. Betz appears correct about J D jeans, I think Lee Riders, don’t know about Brando.

  9. I got tired of purchasing Levis. For almost 4 years in a row, they would break exactly on the clock after a year. I do have some older pairs, that although faded refuse to break even after 10 years. I believe they changed the fabric composition along the way. Anyways, I did some research decided to shift over to Japanese denim, certainly pricier but quite happy so far but as you rightly mentioned took a while to be able to break them in.

    1. I wore 501 Shrink-to-Fit, the original 501 I believe and the fabric was like cardboard. It would take a couple on months of washing before the fabric (a) shrunk to fit well and (b) actually became comfortable. I don’t know what changed but the 501 fabric is not nearly as stiff as it used to be nor as durable. So no, I will not buy them again. My jeans from Costco have the weight and durability of the old 501 fabric.

  10. Levi’s are a great company selling decent quality jeans. But the fit is really important with jeans and I would suggest to try on different models and styles to get that right over just going for the 501 because it’s classic. For me the 501 never really worked as I’m wiry and short and prefer a low waist. If you’re a taller guy with more flesh on your frame the 501 may work much better than for me. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable wearing them and can combine them with your other wardrobe.

  11. I retired my Levi’s years ago…
    Too tight in the crotch/rise too low. I changed over to Orvis canvas hunting pants. Just as serviceable and a lot more comfortable.

    JL

  12. I wish you had considered the shrink-to-fit model. Somewhat harder to find but definitely the classic. They are much more durable and I also prefer how they fade. I don’t think I’ve worn any other jean for about 35 years.

  13. I love my women’s original 501s. Now all I can find that are 100% cotton have holes in them and are almost $100. The others have elastin in them. I have some I have had for years. Just need new ones. 100% cotton. Not all ladies want stretch. Thank you.

  14. Lees is the brand I prefer, tried levi’s and just don’t like how they fit and besides lees are about $20 bucks cheaper and I started buying lees at the old Army- Navy store back in Ticonderoga, N.Y for five bucks a pair.

  15. Now, in my sixth decade, I can say that I’ve worn Levi’s 501 or 505 jeans for 40 years. They are terrific garments, sturdy, stylish and affordable. While I now wear Railcar, I’d still recommend Levi’s to anyone seeking quality and affordability.

  16. I’m a long-time rider and Wranglers have always been my choice for comfort and durability in and out of the saddle. I tried a pair of 501s many years ago, but found them not as suitable. Oddly, the weave of the denim “twisted”in the legs. Of course they were popular then and are now for non-riders.

  17. Steve Jobs also wore Levi 501 Jeans. Marilyn Monroe wore Levi woman’s jeans. They are great jeans but some of us older folks need a zipper fly due to arthritis in fingers.

  18. To answer your question in the Re: “Would you buy Levi’s 501?”. NO.
    I have never owned a pair of jeans in my life. Since I’m not a cowhand, oil-rig worker or car-mechanic.
    There is nothing denim would do for me other fabrics wouldn’t do.

  19. I gave them a try some years ago but found they will not hold up any better than more economically priced ones. Jeans, to me, are pants to wear for physical activities, be they work or leisure. If I want to look my best, jeans are not an option.

  20. I am a 66 year old woman, I have been wearing 501s shrink to fit since high school. Never have bought the women’s 501s. Love the men’s shrink to fit, only problem has been finding 28 waist in the stores. Internet fixed that problem. Only jeans I ever buy!!!!

  21. Levi’s 501 jeans are the only jeans I wear! I am a die-hard, loyal, dedicated fanatic! I will never wear any other brand, nor any other style! My only disappointment is that when I sent Levi’s a demo tape of a song that I wrote about these iconic jeans, it was returned to me with a note saying that they don’t accept advertising submissions from outside the company.

  22. I come from the other side of the world-Indonesia, and I am very proud when I use the legendary 501 product, and I use it every time & event … 501 accompanies me during formal and casual events

  23. No, Levi does not fit me well. I do better in wrangler or Lee. It is a nice look though, and the button fly is classic.

  24. I gave up on Levi’s more than 20 yrs ago, the fabric quality is garbage anymore & not worth the price tag

  25. I do miss denim jeans. Unfortunately even Levi’s, my favorite 501s, all include stretch to the fabric. I want cotton denim jeans. Please tell me where to find true denim without the added stretch.

  26. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences with the 501 jeans, everyone! :)

  27. I have been wearing LEVI’S since a baby.. they’re a national treasure…& popular ‘trousers’ with gold prospecting populous out West. When I’ve the time I ‘upgrade’ a new pair by pulling all the mystery-metal rivits and replace them with custom-machined titanium rivits & zippers. BILLY BADASS!

  28. I have worn 501s for many years. The last 5 years or so they are junk. I have two pairs that aren’t 6 months old and the crotch has ripped out of them. Same thing that happened to all my others. Sad but can’t waste money on them any longer.

  29. I love my 501ct. I have wore Levi’s for over 20 years. I do not wear any other jeans. I have over 20 pairs of 501 CT Levi’s.

  30. I am a retiree from LS&CO. Yes, they do source the 501 denim from many countries now. Japan is especially good at producing this weight of denim. Cone Mills was the best….Levi’s bought everything they could make. Original agreement was a handshake. Lasted many decades.

  31. I’ve worn 501s since the early 1980s and been satisfied. Just bought another pair from the official “Levis” site and when they arrived I noticed the fabric seemed much thinner. Getting out the kitchen scale, my 4-year-old pair weighed 25oz and the new pair weighed 16.9oz, a 32% drop (same size). Yes, whomever controls Levis/Dockers has decided to move down market. But top management will keep or increase their bonuses. I’m on my way to return the two pair right now, and am searching online for American made pants to replace them. C’est la vie!

  32. They’re not the same jeans anymore, very poor quality denim, not enough belt loops and leg opening too wide. Bruhl jeans are the best now.

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