Customer Reviews Levi's® Mens 501® Original Shrink-to-Fit Jeans

I've been wearing this jeans for over 30 years. I don't bother going through any special shrinking method. I just throw it in hot wash immediately after purchase (before wearing) and dry in hot dryer. While I'm at it I usually wash the new ones with the old ones for several laundry cycle so any color bleeding would just transfer to other 501s. it takes a few wash/dry cycles to completely shrink it, but once it's shrunk it fits me perfectly. I suppose since I don't take care to do any careful shrinking as recommended I do get some wrinkles along the seams sometimes and excess color rubbing off at such wrinkles, but that's the charm of this type of jeans anyway. after wash/dry they always go on a bit snug, but stretch out just enough to be comfortable. I'm female (yes. I fit in man's 501 better than woman's) and for pre-shrunk size, i wear 28-30. but for shrink-to-fit, I buy 28-32 as it shrinks in the inseams much more than the width. Once you figure out the right size to get the post-shrunk size, buying it just based on size has never failed me.

After reading numerous articles on how to properly shrink 501s, I believe I have found the correct way to ensure a good fit. First put them on without underwear, sit in a tub of hot water for 30 minutes and drink some Basil Hayden. Take your pants off (make sure to draw the blinds first, oops!) and put in wash for 2 cycles with fabric softener in rinse cycle. Put wet pants on (more Basil Hayden as needed) and sit for 1 hour. Take pants off (blinds still closed) and hang by one belt loop overnight. Pants are ready to wear next day after hangover clears.

There are a couple different ways you can approach making these jeans your own. If you want to keep the dark color and customize the fading, then buy 1 size larger in the waist and 2 to 3 in the length; soak in hot water and hang to dry a couple times to shrink; wear as long as possible without washing, then soak and hang dry. It will take some time to soften. If you want wash and wear: for a close fit buy 1 up in waist and 2 to 3 in length; for a slightly relaxed fit go up 2 in the waist. They'll still conform to you, but may take a bit longer. I live in Alaska and hang drying takes forever in the winter. I keep a couple going in each fit. I wash everything in cold and dry on medium (perm press) at the warmest. I've been wearing Levi's 501 for more than 35 years and am hooked on the buttom fly. Started buying the prewashed, but Levi's changed the fit a few years ago and the STF seem better. I'm female and these fit better and last longer than women's jeans. I HATE stretch denim.

Order your natural waist size, and about 4 inches longer in the inseam. Cuff those legs. Wear 'em dry. And when you just can't stand it any longer, give 'em a lukewarm soak in Woolite Dark for 20 minutes. Don't wash them too often after that. You want those paint and grease stains to get set, and for those really high contrast fades to come into their own. All good things with time.

I bought four pairs (I lost some weight and my old jeans would not stay up!), all shrink to fit, sand, grey, black and original blue. Other than the fact that our washer uses almost no water and spins them dry, so after a stint in the dryer they came out wrinkled. But a couple more washes and they were just like the jeans I remember from college! The fit is great and my wife likes the way they hug my back side.

Got here fast, looks nothing like the picture, it's ten times better! Great product, will buy more pairs from here.

Zappos was great! My order was at my door the next day. I purchased 501's and had to send a pair back. The sent me a replacement pair (again the next day) and requested the pair be sent back at no cost to me. The transaction was easy and swift. Zappos is my place for Levi's orders from now on. Thank you for great service and satisfaction.

Great pair of jeans. Look and feel like the $200 jeans in stores. Hopefully they'll stand the test of time.

My husband is 6'1", 165 pounds, with a 30" waist and muscular rear/legs. We consistently have fitting issues due to all of these factors. It is quite a process to shrink these jeans down (soak in the tub, partially dry, then wear them without bending at the knee until fully dry -- rinse, repeat; hot iron if necessary to shrink the knee if he bends), but he has successfully accomplished a fantastic fit. We do not launder these jeans, so cannot attest to how they change after being washed in a machine.

Great! No problem with a usually hard to find size and color. And I received it so fast. Thanks!

Much much baggier in the leg than older 501s. Levis must have changed it’s sizing. Wish I had known that before buying.

These are the classic blue jeans with the button fly and the thick denim. They will shrink in the wash so buy them 1" larger in the waist and 3" longer in length, then wash them in hot water. I think they're great.

Love this company...shipping and return policy the best out there. Prices are fair. Shipping is immediate in most cases. Phone assistance is excellent. You have to allow for shrinkage on the shrink to fit items, and that is an individual thing. Waist usually plus 2", length 2-3" depending on your taste.

Thank you Zappos! You are my son's best friend! I bought these for my 15 year old 6'5.5" foot son. He found the site and begged me to buy them. I love your policy and the quick delivery method. I'll be back...because shopping at department stores for someone his size is really a headache. You have made my life easier! "I'll be back!"

I've been wearing Levi's jeans for most of my adult life. Up until a couple of years ago, I wore 505's with a zipper fly. Then Levi's changed the 505 "original fit" to "straight fit". I am very slim with almost no visible hips and found the straight fit jeans wouldn't stay up. So I tried 501's. I found the 501's fit much better, and I got used to the button fly. So then I tried 501 shrink to fit. The STF's are wonderful! The waist is a bit higher than non-STF and you can control the shrinkage to get a perfect fit. I buy the STF's in my true waist size, and 1 inch longer inseam. I wear as long as possible before washing, then hand wash with Dr. Bronner's soap and vinegar. The "rigid" color looks much lighter than in the picture, but darkens to classic Indigo color after the first wash. Zappos has great selection of sizes, much better than other retailers.

I had been buying designer jeans for a long time. I still love them for sure. But there's something really cool about designing your own jeans. And you really can do that with with Levis' 501 STF. I've bought three pairs at different sizes and have had success with all of them. One is shrunk to be baggy (for skateboarding), the other loose but fitted for everyday wear, and the last pair is slim fitted for snazzing it up a bit. Great jeans and a fun experiment at a low cost!

The usual great 501s, but this black is more like faded black. It's not the deep full black of other Levis.

Love Levi jeans. I bought these to fit and just dry clean them. My other pair I usually get +2 sizes in waist and length and wash in cold water to keep the neat Levi color.

Love these jeans. They fit great even after washing. Be sure to follow the wash instructions and buy a size bigger than you are.

I am a woman that consistently wears a 27 in Levi’s, lucky brand and gap jeans. I ordered this jean in a 28 and it wouldn’t even come close to buttoning at my waist! Like, it fit as if it were a size 25. I would say, size way up. And that was before even considering shrinking them. I have reordered a size 30 and will see what happens with it.

I can't figure out what's wrong with these Levis. My husband has always worn 33x34 501 shrink-to-fit Levis. I ordered his usual size but these never shrunk in the length. They are at least 4 inches too long after being washed and dried two times.

This is the first pair of Levi's Rigid 501Original Shrink-to-Fit Jeans that I have purchased in a long, long time. They are not quite as stout a fabric that I remember them being, however, I am pleased with how they have washed up and shrunk; and how they fit afterwards. I usually wear a 31-30 in the 501 pre-washed jeans, so following the Levi's suggestion I purchased a 32-32 (no 33 inseam available), washed them in hot water, and dried them on low heat for 20 minutes, then on medium heat for another 20 minutes with very good results!

If you are Tall or Extra-Tall, but slender, you MUST buy these jeans! These are by far the best way to go in jeans in my personal opinion but as far as the science of best fit for jeans on a tall frame, you can't beat "shrink-to-fit". That's the key. The other jean styles are way to roomy here and there, or they plain just don't make the waist small enough. They're designed for big or literally big AND tall. That's not me. The other jean styles, like "comfort" and "relaxed" are also pre-shrunk so reduce shrinkage after purchase so you're stuck with the way they fit pretty much. If they're way to roomy, they're going to stay that way for the most part. So I couldn't find 501s in the size I needed for forever but now I've found them again in the size I need, 38" x 38". And for a great price too!! Remember to order like 2" too long in inseam and at waist! For me, the best results were achieved by washing them two times in regular warm water and then dry at medium to high temp. ON THE FIRST TIME ONLY. (Before first wearing) After that, wash only sparingly and at low temperatures then dry at low temp or air dry. (Jeans should not be washed all the time like regular clothes btw) So mine ended up perfect at about 36" waist and about 37" inseam which is what I needed. Perfect! And they look fantastic and fit to my body just right. It even makes my keister look great even though I've lost weight and it was shrinking and flattening. Bonus! If you have a hard time with pants and think is because you don't have good proportions or something is "off" about you. FORGET THAT NOISE! You just didn't have the right knowledge to buy successfully. Now you do. Good Luck!

If you treat these properly they aren't stiff. You just have to break them in. Plenty has been written about how to shrink these the "right" way. These are just jeans, not some precious artisanal cheese. Just wash and wear. I will say though that I do follow Levi's recommendations to not wash jeans too frequently. There's really no need unless they are visibly stained or getting funky. I never put jeans in the dryer. I read a lot about these shrink to fit jeans regarding how much bigger to buy in order to allow for shrinking. After buying a couple of pairs I've realized that you should pretty much buy your normal waist size and a couple inches longer in the leg. At least that's what works for me.

These jeans were for my husband and they are fantastic. You can no longer find this size. I love Zappos. The jeans came the next day, perfectly packaged. What great customer service.