Has anyone noticed the poor quality of Levi's jeans.

[Budnicks]

I used to love silver tab Levi's. And of course they stopped making them. I have been wearing Carhartt ever since. Expensive, but I easily get 5+ years out of one pair.

yep Carhartt's denim for me too
haven't bought any Levi's for over 20+ years now

used to buy the Levi's 501s relax fit & 505's stretch fit I think it was

Duluth Trading
has some good jeans too, their 16 oz. 'Ballroom' jeans are nice
sturdy tough *** jeans
I quit buying when I found out the 'material' were outsourced
they have Made in USA on some products too

 

[GetX'd]

I don’t wear jeans a lot. But always have 3 pair around. They don’t need to be quality or sexy - just need to fit the way I like them. I usually do Old Navy at their 30% off sales.

I think the OP should put his up for sale at the local HS……

 

[1967coronet]

When we closed the shop I kept 4 pair of my grey Red Kap uniform pants.
Those things wear like iron and do not rip.
I keep a few pair of Rustlers around also.

 

[eldubb440]

I discovered bib overalls when I got tired of pulling my pants up

 

[moparedtn]

I gave up on Levi's decades ago - quality went to **** when their stuff started being made overseas.
Then they got all political, so that helped make the decision easier. Wound up in Wranglers off the
shelf wherever for a while....then got tired of the whole crap quality thing from all of them.

Like with parts for Fred, I decided to see if I could find American-made stuff out there still and,
come to find out, sure enough, there's a company about an hour from here that's been at it for over
a century and still does all sorts of clothing in-house, using USA materials and sewing it up right there
in Bristol, TN.
LC King: LC King Mfg - Outfitting Craftsmen since 1913
Wife and I have been there more than once and you can even take a quick tour of the manufacturing floors
while you're there. I have several pairs of their POINTER BRAND carpenters jeans and a couple 5-pocket
versions, too.
By going to the factory/store in person, they even offer tailoring free of charge - they take the measurements,
then ship the just-completed jeans to you in a couple days. Amazing...

This stuff lasts for YEARS and the difference in quality is palpable. They aren't cheap by any stretch - but short
of my body size changing anytime soon, I can't forsee these britches wearing out ever.

 

[XS22J8R]

I had issues with Levi’s splitting in the back where the top of the back pocket was sewn in. The last time that happened was with a new pair I doubt I’d worn more than a time or too. My *** isn’t that fat so 0 excuse for that! I haven’t bought a pair of Levi’s since then.
Wranglers and Lee since, have yet to split the back open of either of those brands.

 

[MarPar]

Carhartts are good [ and expensive] but stopped using those due to their stance on the jab.

Did not know this. Damnit and I just bought a bunch of stuff from them.

 

[QuickBpBp]

Levi’s were all I use to wear for work but after many pairs blowing out like that I buy Lee jeans no issues other than trying to find normal sizes. Most 32W are sold out and only have 40w and 30l…

 

[moparvinson]

I had issues with Levi’s splitting in the back where the top of the back pocket was sewn in. The last time that happened was with a new pair I doubt I’d worn more than a time or too. My *** isn’t that fat so 0 excuse for that! I haven’t bought a pair of Levi’s since then.
Wranglers and Lee since, have yet to split the back open of either of those brands.

I have 2 newer pair that have also split from the corner of the back pocket. Time to try something else.

 

[Detective D]

Levis were good in the 90's, or part of the 90's.
I used to buy 560 relaxed fit. All the trendy stuff was way to tight on my upper legs, so no 505's or silver tabs or any of that crap.
Then they got really thin. I had a couple pairs anyway, but they wore through where the top corners of the back pockets sew on, making little holes for my undies to show through, and eventually rip in an unsightly fassion.
Then they up and totally quit making 560's. It was fine, by then I had moved on.
I tried a few department store brands. Not even sure what they all were, but they were like $20. Hard to find my size. In the 560 in my young days I wore 38x34. Cheap department store pants I had to go to 40x34. But they fit good, and seemed to wear evenly and lasted long enough I got my $20 out of them.
I called them "Pamida pants" because that was the store. No you have never heard of it, they had like 4 locations in NE WI. Then ShopKo bought them up. I miss the store(ShopKo went under) because it was a mini-walmart without all the friggen BS.

Anyway, I discovered, through some internet reviews, Ariat M3's. BEFORE they went to a national distribution program. These things were thick and brilliant, and nice colors, and lasted well.
Then they went to a national distribution. Then the pants got thinner. Then they basically quit making M3's. Then they had some relaxed fit, but they are FR.
As an aside, anyone else notice the profound amount of FR clothes out there now? In case you didn;t know, basically every FR additive(plastic) they could affordably use is a carcinogen.

Anyway, further review hunting lead me to Nautica relaxed fit. Roomy enough for me in 40x34, seemed well constructed, lasted a long time, price was right.
Have to be mindful of Nautica. If one pair costs $45, and another costs $25, guess which one is actually good?
I have a bunch of these right now, but last I checked the relaxed fit sizes have all bombed over to the $25 side.....

I might go to the local fleet farm and try Dickies. They make some good stuff elsewhere, like socks and work shirts.
moparedtn also pointed out a USA made brand, I will for sure go check that out.

Not to tip my hand to much, but I have been digging on ebay for NOS 90's(and older) with tags stuff when I can find it. I picked up some union made carharrt that way, some Work N Sport(fleet farm) denim, couple other things. I won't buy it unless it is long lost NOS stuff, and USA made. But I realize my wardrobe can't rely on this lol.
I just bought a new belt from local leather worker at the flea market(he has a shop in his home garage where he will do custom work too for you) for $40. Genuine leather(thick, not layered walmart BS). Pays to shop local sometimes.

Pay for what you get, and make sure you get some good quality. There is some out there yet.

 

[eldubb440]

my bibs are Dickies....... are they cool? or are they the Bobos of bib overalls? I'm new to the game and I'm pretty rough on them

in other words, if I wear my Dickies to West Virginia; will I blend in, or look like a tourist?

 

[QuickBpBp]

in other words, if I wear my Dickies to West Virginia; will I blend in, or look like a tourist?

I would think you could atleast get on the cast for moonshiners..

 

[eldubb440]

I would think you could atleast get on the cast for moonshiners..

that's pretty much the look I'm going for

 

[guy gadbois]

I gave up on Levi's decades ago - quality went to **** when their stuff started being made overseas.
Then they got all political, so that helped make the decision easier. Wound up in Wranglers off the
shelf wherever for a while....then got tired of the whole crap quality thing from all of them.

Like with parts for Fred, I decided to see if I could find American-made stuff out there still and,
come to find out, sure enough, there's a company about an hour from here that's been at it for over
a century and still does all sorts of clothing in-house, using USA materials and sewing it up right there
in Bristol, TN.
LC King: LC King Mfg - Outfitting Craftsmen since 1913
Wife and I have been there more than once and you can even take a quick tour of the manufacturing floors
while you're there. I have several pairs of their POINTER BRAND carpenters jeans and a couple 5-pocket
versions, too.
By going to the factory/store in person, they even offer tailoring free of charge - they take the measurements,
then ship the just-completed jeans to you in a couple days. Amazing...

This stuff lasts for YEARS and the difference in quality is palpable. They aren't cheap by any stretch - but short
of my body size changing anytime soon, I can't forsee these britches wearing out ever.

thanx for the link; was looking for Pointer brand a couple of years ago and they seem to have disappeared [?]
Roundhouse is basically order from the factory also. Made in Oklahoma [but don't hold that against em...] As stated, Duluth makes some good stuff but it is beginning to slide down also.

 

[kiwigtx]

I used to buy Levi's when I was younger...possibly Silver Tab also...zip fly. I hated the button fly when it was all you could get. Although they do say that the sheep get accustomed to the sound of a zipper being worked.....

The problem I had with Levi's even back the 80's and 90's was the pockets wouldn't last that long with car keys in them....always getting holes in the pockets. That and the front of the knee and lower thigh area always getting worn out from wearing leather tool pouches, or crawling through roof spaces.

It got too expensive, so I started buying cheaper trousers and had fewer problems. Now I wear casual type trousers but never jeans any more. I also found that you tend to sweat more in denim than regular cotton trousers.


Me in 1988 wearing Levi's . . . .

Didn't need a belt in those days.....ahhh the good old days.

 

[OKDart]

That started happening to me 20 years ago. I think 501s are still original quality, but all the others I've tried don't last long. And me with a 36" inseam, blue jeans are about the only pants I can find that aren't over 3 digits in price $***. And the boot stores are about the only place that'll stock my size.

 

[Kern Dog]

What did the gal look like standing in front of you.....

If she looked like this:

...Then I would be buying new pants frequently too.

 

[cr8crshr]

I grew up wearing Levis and gravitated to their casual line...Dockers. Great lineup, and always fit comfortably. That is until their quality went to SH*T!!! Now mostly Deluth jeans or the more casual easy on the wallet, sportswear clothing as I no longer work and like the ease of washing and wearing them...cr8crshr/Bill

 

[Duke15]

Levi’s jeans are not what they used to be.
I’ve had several pairs blow out like this lately.
All I was doing was getting up and down while doing some plumbing repairs. Jezzzzz

View attachment 1672758

View attachment 1672759

I stopped buying Levi’s too expensive and they have gone woke. Now I buy Rustlers, Wranglers, or some other cheap jeans from Farm & Fleet, Costco, or Menards. Look like Levi’s and wear better. My problem is after a few years they rip at the back pockets probably from my wallet being overloaded.

 

[MarPar]

I stopped buying Levi’s too expensive and they have gone woke. Now I buy Rustlers, Wranglers, or some other cheap jeans from Farm & Fleet, Costco, or Menards. Look like Levi’s and wear better. My problem is after a few years they rip at the back pockets probably from my wallet being overloaded.