Shop Now At Levi's
Most Popular Products
Customer reviews for 501® Original Shrink-to-Fit™ Jeans - Rigid
501® Original Shrink-to-Fit™ Jeans - Rigid
Raw, rough, and as pure as jeans can be, Shrink-to-Fit™ is the real deal. Before 1984, this was the only way you could get your jeans. Not washing them for 6 months and dragging them behind cars was all part of the breaking-in process. These are for all you denim purists who want to leave a mark—every crease, tiny hole, paint splatter, and fray will be your very own.
Overall rating:
(365 reviews) 348
Rating breakdown (365 reviews)
5 *
239
4 *
63
3 *
17
2 *
20
1 *
26
Recommended by:318 out of 36587% of reviewers
Customer reviews for 501® Original Shrink-to-Fit™ Jeans - Rigid
Review 1 for 501® Original Shrink-to-Fit™ Jeans - Rigid
Overall rating:
Your quality is not near what it used to be.
PostedDecember 7, 2012
MW55
from:Scappoose, OR
Fit:
Runs Very Small
Runs Very Big
Runs somewhat big
I have been wearing 501's for over 55 years and have worn the same size for at least the last 30 years.
This last batch (4 pair of Rigid 501's shrink to fit size 33-31) I just purchased are not the same Levis I have owned all these years. They did not shrink as much, they seem to be the relaxed fit style, they just don't fit the same and the material seems to be thinner.
These were made in Egypt and I don't remember buying ones that were made there before. Is this why the quality is so low?
All in all I am very dissapointed in your product.
This last batch (4 pair of Rigid 501's shrink to fit size 33-31) I just purchased are not the same Levis I have owned all these years. They did not shrink as much, they seem to be the relaxed fit style, they just don't fit the same and the material seems to be thinner.
These were made in Egypt and I don't remember buying ones that were made there before. Is this why the quality is so low?
All in all I am very dissapointed in your product.
No, I do not recommend this product.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 2 for 501® Original Shrink-to-Fit™ Jeans - Rigid
Overall rating:
Great Jeans... with a catch.
PostedJanuary 25, 2013
Fit:
Runs Very Small
Runs Very Big
Runs true to size
These truly are great jeans. There is nothing else like the 501 STF, BUT there is a problem. These jeans will fit totally different depending on where they are made. The 501's that are made in Egypt are longer per size and have a much roomier cut, great for people with a muscular leg structure. The 501's made in Mexico are shorter per size and have a noticeably slimmer cut, obviously better for folks who enjoy the slimmer fitting jean. This has been my experience over multiple pairs and it is always the same. It is easier for me just to buy them from the Levi's store. Then I get just what I want. Hopefully this helps in some way.
I recommend this product!
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Comments (3)
Comments (3)
Utah501Fan
Posted February 21, 2013
I should have clarified, but yes going to the store and looking at the labels. I am lucky I suppose in that I am within driving distance of a Levis brand store. Just as an FYI, I have seen 36" length STF's at Sears as well as some of the more "Western" style clothing stores as a regular stock item. I do agree with you in the fact that most department stores, if they stock them at all do not stock longer than a 34" leg. I am 6' 1" and the 36" leg works for me, provided they are the Egypt made version. The version from Mexico end up to short, because they started to short even though they are tagged the same. In the end however it is all part of what makes 501 STF's such a journey.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
KAB1
Posted February 17, 2013
I assume you mean physically going to a store location and looking at the labels to detrmine where they are made. That may be a problem for those over 6'-0" tall. I have yet to find a store that stocks s.t.f. 501's with inseams longer than 34". It seems to me they don't understand the concept of "shrink to fit" and that a 34" inseam actually means a 31" inseam. I have actually written emails to a couple of major retail stores in hopes of getting them to stock my 36"x38" size. ( I'm 6'-2" and usually buy 34"x34" in all other pants / jeans and that size is always found in stores). The response to my emails indicates they just don't get it and claim it would be an "unusually tall size" that wouldn't sell.
+2points
2of 2voted this comment as helpful.
Jetskier
Posted January 30, 2013
Yes, we learned the same thing. Bought 3 pairs of identical size, and the fit varies from snug to baggy depending upon where they came from.
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
Review 3 for 501® Original Shrink-to-Fit™ Jeans - Rigid
Overall rating:
Jeans that are more than just jeans
PostedFebruary 5, 2013
webandvideodude
from:Greenville, SC, USA
Age: 45 - 49
Gender: Male
Fit:
Runs Very Small
Runs Very Big
Runs somewhat big
Shrink to fit 501's are more than just jeans that you buy at the store, because they become an ongoing project, allowing you to make them your own, unique pair of pants. From the process of shrinking them to fit me, to purposely avoiding washing them for long periods of time to get the wear patterns that make them so distinctive, I feel an attachment to my jeans, almost like a personal piece of art that I just happen to wear. I've worn pre-shrunk Levi's, including 501's, and other brands of jeans as well, but they already came with a personality that wasn't cultivated by me, so they were still just pants. Shrink to fit 501's are NOT just pants. As a guy in my 40's, it is sometimes hard to break out of the "Dad Pants" corporate dress pattern, but these 501's have reminded me that you can still wear pants that look cool and fit like you are in your 20's without looking like a doofus. These pants are timeless in their appeal and character.
The fun process of getting the fit right was made simple through a strong online community of people who provide tips and tricks for how to get the fit just right. In addition, a quick phone call to the flagship store in San Fran put me in touch with an extremely helpful employee who answered my questions about what Levi's recommends. While I didn't catch his name, his passion for the product he sells came through in the call, a true sign of quality.
I recommend this product!
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 4 for 501® Original Shrink-to-Fit™ Jeans - Rigid
Overall rating:
501 Shrink To Fit
PostedDecember 13, 2012
CCSour
from:Sturgis, SD, USA
Age: 60+
Gender: Male
Fit:
Runs Very Small
Runs Very Big
Runs true to size
I have worn Levi 501 Shrink to Fit since High School 1967 and would not wear anything else.
I recommend this product!
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 5 for 501® Original Shrink-to-Fit™ Jeans - Rigid
Overall rating:
The fabric is very thin, the air goes right through it.
PostedNovember 1, 2012
tomi
from:utah
Age: 50 - 54
Gender: Male
Fit:
Runs Very Small
Runs Very Big
Runs true to size
Have always worn 501's. All of them, until now, have been made of thick, stiff denim. These new jeans are different, very lightweight. I am disappointed-needed them for winter.
No, I do not recommend this product.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 6 for 501® Original Shrink-to-Fit™ Jeans - Rigid
Overall rating:
Tough and versatile.
PostedSeptember 17, 2012
Lobster
from:Ohio
Age: 20 - 24
Gender: Male
Fit:
Runs Very Small
Runs Very Big
Runs true to size
I was apprehensive about purchasing shrink-to-fit jeans, but I'm glad I did. I usually wear between 30-30 and 31-31 (depending on the fit), but as per the instructions, I got bigger, 32-32 (the tag actually said to increase the inseam by three inches, but the store didn't carry 32-33.) I put them on before washing them and I looked like a kid wearing his dad's clothes.
Apparently, the best way to get these jeans to fit is to wash them and put them on wet, allowing them to air dry and contour to your shape. Some people even bathe in them. That wasn't practical for me, so I washed them in cool water and tumble dried them on low heat until they were just slightly damp, then put them on and went about my business.
The end result is a very versatile pair of jeans that feels like it was custom made for me. Stylish enough to wear for a night out and tough enough for hard labor, they're extremely comfortable and could be dressed up or down. They're just a tad looser than the jeans I usually wear (I'm into slim fits, otherwise they'd be 5/5 stars for me), but not baggy by any means. Made of heavyweight denim, they are perfect for approaching cool weather, and they feel sturdy and, well, authentic. I expect to be wearing them for years to come. A worthwhile addition to any wardrobe.
I recommend this product!
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 7 for 501® Original Shrink-to-Fit™ Jeans - Rigid
Overall rating:
501s
PostedAugust 16, 2012
TJG1
from:New Hampshire
Age: 60+
Gender: Male
Fit:
Runs Very Small
Runs Very Big
Runs true to size
Not enthused. These are not the Levis I used to buy. The material is lighter weight, the construction isn't solid, the pockets are tiny ... I'm not enthused. I have been wearing Levis since I was 6 years old, back in 1948. Up until perhaps 10 years ago the quality remained top-notch. Not so now. Quite sadly I will migrate to another brand of jeans ... or perhaps away from jeans altogether.
No, I do not recommend this product.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 8 for 501® Original Shrink-to-Fit™ Jeans - Rigid
Overall rating:
Not good for skinny guys
PostedDecember 15, 2012
Hapaguy58
from:Denver, CO
Fit:
Runs Very Small
Runs Very Big
Runs somewhat big
I'm 6'2" and a whooping 160lbs. These jeans are too big in the legs and seat for me. The waist fits perfectly and true to my 33 size pre-wash.
No, I do not recommend this product.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 9 for 501® Original Shrink-to-Fit™ Jeans - Rigid
Overall rating:
great fit
PostedNovember 2, 2012
Jay30
from:Ohio
Age: 30 - 34
Gender: Male
Fit:
Runs Very Small
Runs Very Big
Runs true to size
I usually wear 31x34 and upped to 32x36 for shrink to fit. Perfect.
I recommend this product!
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 10 for 501® Original Shrink-to-Fit™ Jeans - Rigid
Overall rating:
Not the 501's they used to be!
PostedOctober 15, 2012
shanson
from:Kingston, IL
Age: 45 - 49
Gender: Male
Fit:
Runs Very Small
Runs Very Big
Runs small
What happened to Levi's quality? I've been wearing shrink to fit 501's for 30 + years. They are thinner than they used to be. They shrink more than they used to after the initial wash. The waistline seems too narrow in proportion to the jeans. No longer a working class jean. Very disappointed, Levi Strauss would be too.
No, I do not recommend this product.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 11 for 501® Original Shrink-to-Fit™ Jeans - Rigid
Overall rating:
the best
PostedAugust 22, 2012
Hugadoon
from:Monterey California
Age: 60+
Gender: Male
Fit:
Runs Very Small
Runs Very Big
Runs true to size
hard to convince me they are unchanged from my youth -but still my fave--too bad they can't still be made in SF
I recommend this product!
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 12 for 501® Original Shrink-to-Fit™ Jeans - Rigid
Overall rating:
Aint The Same Anymore
PostedAugust 3, 2012
64pan
from:Sacramento, CA
Age: 55 - 59
Gender: Male
Fit:
Runs Very Small
Runs Very Big
Runs true to size
I'm disgusted with levi strauss! I've been buying 501 original shrink-to-fits since 1969 and they now feel like girl pants! They used to be rough n tough and used chaffe your legs and peel your frickin hair off. Their thread count went down as well as the overall quality! But I'll keep wearing em cuz I'm a BIKER!
No, I do not recommend this product.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 13 for 501® Original Shrink-to-Fit™ Jeans - Rigid
Overall rating:
501 button fly shrink to fit
PostedJanuary 3, 2013
Don59
from:Dallas, TX, USA
Age: 55 - 59
Gender: Male
Fit:
Runs Very Small
Runs Very Big
Runs somewhat big
I love Levi's jeans, I have always worn 501's since I was a boy, I am now almost 60 years old, and the shrinkage has remained the same for me, I buy them 2 inches larger in the waist and 2 inches larger in the length. I always just wash them normally in the washer, I have read that some people wash them in the bath tub or in the sink with hot tap water, but I personnally don't think it matters much, just wash them separately for the fist few washes because the dyes will turn your other clothes a shade of blue. These jeans have not changed much in the fifty + years I have been wearing them, I do wish the front pockets were deeper, other than that, they can't be beat, buy them you love them...
I recommend this product!
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 14 for 501® Original Shrink-to-Fit™ Jeans - Rigid
Overall rating:
They Shrink....
PostedNovember 9, 2012
luckyjim
from:Minnesota
Age: 50 - 54
Gender: Male
Fit:
Runs Very Small
Runs Very Big
Runs somewhat small
Add 1" to the waist and 2" to the length and you'll be happy...
I recommend this product!
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 15 for 501® Original Shrink-to-Fit™ Jeans - Rigid
Overall rating:
Buy true to size
PostedNovember 30, 2009
Urnganow
from:Nashville, TN
Age: 30 - 34
Gender: Male
Fit:
Runs Very Small
Runs Very Big
Runs true to size
If you're not going to machine dry them and you're going to wear them for days/weeks between washes, buy them in your ACTUAL waist size. They'll stretch to fit like your preshrunk 501's after a couple of wears. The length, however, will not come back. You should buy them at least 2 inches longer than your normal preshrunk length size to accomodate the shrinking process. It took me buying, shrinking and wearing about 6 pairs of Shrink To Fit 501's to figure this out. Once you get the size thing figured out, they're the best jeans on the planet.
I recommend this product!
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 16 for 501® Original Shrink-to-Fit™ Jeans - Rigid
Overall rating:
Levis 501 Jeans my favorite since 1954
PostedJanuary 3, 2013
LBwheat
from:Wichita, KS, USA
Age: 60+
Gender: Male
Fit:
Runs Very Small
Runs Very Big
Runs somewhat big
I've been wearing 501's since I first purchased a pair in 1954. The quality has always out performed my expectations plus the styling is unbeatable.I like the button fly and the orange stitching with copper rivets. I have always liked the shrink to fit style because it seems to mould the pants to me shape. Over the last 60years my size has gone from 28/32 to 35/32 today they still out perform any other clothing that I've ever owned. Another great thing about the shrink to fit is the blue changes every time that they are washed. When I first wash a new pair I always place my most worn 2 or 3 pair of 501's in the same washingso the bleeding of the new dye overwashes the old 501's giving them a nice crisp new blue color.
I recommend this product!
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 17 for 501® Original Shrink-to-Fit™ Jeans - Rigid
Overall rating:
Can't Beat Original Levis
PostedNovember 12, 2012
LynnT
from:Arizona, USA
Age: 55 - 59
Gender: Female
Fit:
Runs Very Small
Runs Very Big
Runs true to size
My husband had worn these for many many years! He won't wear any other jean
I recommend this product!
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 18 for 501® Original Shrink-to-Fit™ Jeans - Rigid
Overall rating:
I love my jeans. I am a thin woman with slim hips; I buy men's jeans by waist and length.
PostedSeptember 8, 2012
Steffi5
from:Palo Alto, CA, USA
Age: 50 - 54
Gender: Female
Fit:
Runs Very Small
Runs Very Big
Runs true to size
I can't believe Levi took off one of the fly buttons! There were 5; my new pants only have 4 buttons, and it isn't enough. The crotch puckers when I sit down, and I don't like the change.
I recommend this product!
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 19 for 501® Original Shrink-to-Fit™ Jeans - Rigid
Overall rating:
Needs fit restoration
PostedJune 2, 2011
levis501fan
from:Alabama
Age: 50 - 54
Gender: Male
Fit:
Runs Very Small
Runs Very Big
Runs true to size
Back in 1970 everyone was wearing 646 bell bottoms, including myself. My mom told me to buy some 501s which I did and I have been wearing them ever since. I began collecting them in the 1990s and probably have over 60 pairs of vintage 501s in my size.
Today's 501s are not the masterpieces that Levi's used to make. I have some of the more recent imported 501s but only use them for work rather than wearing in public. The jeans material is not as soft as it used to be so they are less comfortable. The fade is also not as beautiful. But my main disappointment is the loosening of the 501 fit. This was a mistake not because they don't fit as well and don't look as good (I could live with that), but because the looseness allows the third and/or second fly button to pop out when walking. This happens with every modern pair I own and was never a problem for my previous 30 years. Unfortunately, the 100 year secret of engineering a button fly was not passed down to the current Levi's design staff.
Levi's 501s have always been changing, in both design and from being manufactured by hand to by machine. The jeans made before 1993 had a higher waist and fit more like a 505. I consider the jeans made from 1993-2000 to be the gold standard of 501s. I feel the post-2000 period is just a phase that 501s are going through and it will pass. Levi's marketing thought by changing the fit, heavier people will buy 501s. But since they are losing their traditional buyers, who are not overweight, they will revert to old faithful. I am looking forward to the advertising campaign that should rival old/new Coke.
I recommend this product!
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 20 for 501® Original Shrink-to-Fit™ Jeans - Rigid
Overall rating:
STF 501
PostedDecember 31, 2009
nickname
from:Virginia
Age: 18 - 19
Gender: Male
Fit:
Runs Very Small
Runs Very Big
Runs somewhat big
IGNORE LEVI'S SIZING ADVICE
These do shrink during the initial hot soak but not nearly as much as levi's says. Buy them true to size or even 1 size down in the waist and 3 inches longer in the inseam. My first pair of these I followed levi's sizing advice and they turned out awful. The waist only shrunk about an inch leaving them an inch too big from the start and about an inch too short in the inseam. Then after about of month of wear, the waist stretched back out to the pre-shrink size (38). I ended up tossing them in the closet and getting another pair true to size in the waist (36) and 3 inches longer in the inseam and they were perfect, albeit a tad snug in the waist. The waist has, again stretched out an inch after a month of wear so they're perfect now.
Keep in mind however, these are not that great as far as fading goes. I first washed them after putting 8 months of hard wear into them and the fades were not nearly as good as what I expected. If you're looking for a pair to keep dark or just as an introduction to raw denim, then these will do. However, if you want higher-contrast fades, look elsewhere because STF 501's will not provide.
I recommend this product!
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.