Best men’s jeans: The most durable and stylish denim legwear options

Elevate your everyday looks with our pick of the best jeans from the most reputable and respected brands
Paddy Maddison
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Published on 20 December 2022

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The best mens jeans have been the backbone of casualwear for well over a century. Tough, simple and versatile, they started life as workwear down mines and on ranches in the Western United States. Several decades later, theyd made their way into mainstream menswear via the pop-culture icons of the 40s and 50s. Soon everyone was wearing denim, and the humble jeans place as the worlds default everyday legwear was set in stone.

Chances are youve owned your fair share of jeans over the years. Its also likely that youve never managed to find the perfect pair. Thanks to the ubiquity of jeans, denim shopping is a difficult thing to get right. With so many options out there, whittling things down and sorting the wheat from the chaff can be tricky, and theres always some aspect that gets compromised.

To take the trial and error out of the process, weve rounded up a selection of jeans that have proven their worth. Theyre the best options in the category when it comes to key criteria such as comfort, fit, quality and value for money. And, in some cases, all of the above. Whether youre looking for something simple and budget friendly or you want to splash out on some heavyweight, premium Japanese denim, youll find something that fits the bill here.

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What is raw denim?

When shopping for jeans you might come across the term raw denim. This is the name given to denim in its post-dyed, unwashed state. That means all of the indigo dye is still in the fabric and will naturally wear off over time. It might sound like a bad thing, but a lot of people like the natural fades and whiskers (thats the name for the lines on the back of the knees and the upper thighs) it creates.

In fact, theres a whole style subculture that revolves around raw denim and the goal of creating the perfect worn-in pair of jeans over time. It can be uncomfortable and stiff at first, but it loosens up and moulds to the wearers body over time in a way that pre-washed denim just doesnt. The major caveat is that in order to allow the fades to form, you need to refrain from washing your jeans for up to six months.

Should I buy selvedge jeans?

Another common term in the world of jeans is selvedge. This refers to the type of denim. Specifically, denim that has been made on a traditional machine called a shuttle loom. This denim is unique in the fact that the fabric is finished with a neat, crisp edge. Its often white with a small red line that is visible along the seam when the legs are cuffed. Is it better than regular denim? Most of the time, yes. Generally speaking, its a marker of quality, and people who wear it like the clean finish it gives to a pair of jeans.

What fit should I buy?

There are lots of options out there when it comes to fit. Choosing one is largely a matter of personal preference, but certain fits work better on some body shapes than others. The general idea is to balance out your proportions. For example, if you have thin, skinny legs, youd be best to go for a slim jean as opposed to anything overly tight or baggy. If your legs are particularly wide, youd be better off with a straight leg instead. Tapered fits can work well for muscular guys with big thighs.

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Price: £65 | Buy now from House of Fraser

Without the Levis 501, jeans as we know them today simply would not exist. These were the jeans that started the entire five-pocket, riveted-denim revolution, and theyre still being made to this day. They feature a classic straight-leg fit, a mid rise and are available in more wash options than its possible to list here. Theyre famously tough, versatile and affordable, which is a big part of why theyre as popular today as they were when they first launched almost 150 years ago. Theyre an excellent option for anyone looking for a traditional pair of jeans with no frills that are unlikely to break the bank and, even less likely, to ever go out of fashion.

Key specs Fit: Straight; Selvedge: No; Wash: One wash

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Price: £39.90 | Buy now from Uniqlo

Uniqlo has a reputation in the menswear community as being one of the few high-street chain stores worth buying from. Its famous for doing wardrobe staples remarkably well, and at prices that leave plenty of room for manoeuvre. The brands selvedge denim is perhaps the best example of this. The jeans look and feel like a pair that would set you back three times as much from anywhere else, with a classic straight fit and rich indigo colour. Theres also a slim-fit version available for those who prefer a narrow leg.

Key specs Fit: Straight; Selvedge: Yes; Wash: Raw

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Price: £155 | Buy now from End Clothing

Parisian brand A.P.C.s jeans are often talked about as being the gateway to the world of raw denim. This is because theyre made using fairly decent Japanese denim that fades well, but theyre a lot more affordable and accessible than what some might call the real deal. The Petit New Standard is the labels slim-fit model, and its an excellent mid-range option for anyone who wants a form-fitting jean that doesnt stray into skinny territory. One thing to note is that theyre only available in one leg length, the idea being that youll have them adjusted and wear them cuffed (the case with a lot of raw-denim jeans).

Key specs Fit: Slim; Selvedge: Yes; Wash: Raw

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Price: £270 | Buy now from Goodhood

Made in Japan from high-quality selvedge denim, OrSlows 105 is essentially an elevated spin on Levis iconic 501. It boasts the same familiar fit, but with premium details and construction that put it head and shoulders above the competition in terms of quality. This particular model has what OrSlow calls a two-year wash, which gives the jeans a realistic lived-in look, similar to a well-worn pair of raw-denim jeans. The tricky thing here is sizing. All the available sizes are Japanese so be sure to carefully check the conversion chart before spending your money.

Key specs Fit: Straight; Selvedge: Yes; Wash: Mid

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Price: £349 | Buy now from Son of a Stag

If youre after some real Japanese raw denim, and money is no object, then these outrageously heavy, regular-fit jeans from Samurai are about as good as it gets. Made in Osaka from 24oz denim, theyre about as heavy-duty as jeans can be and are designed to develop unique fade patterns as they age. Yes, theyre expensive, but these are the sort of jeans youll keep for decades, taking pleasure in the knowledge that theyll simply get better and better with every wear.

Key specs Fit: Straight; Selvedge: Yes; Wash: Raw

Buy now from Son of a Stag

Written by

Paddy Maddison

Paddy Maddison is a freelance lifestyle writer with a decade's experience covering topics around fitness, outdoor pursuits, men’s style and consumer goods. He has been a freelance gear tester for The Independent for the last five years, where he has reviewed everything from high-performance road bikes to running shoes. He’s also a regular contributor to a number of specialist magazines where he writes monthly features on trends in fitness, tech and fashion. His work has appeared in publications including Esquire, Men’s Health, GQ, Cyclist, Stuff magazine and Oracle Time.

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