Jeans that don't rip for people that don't wear jeans correctly

December 2, 2023 9:35 AM

My partner doesn't wear his jeans on his hips like they are designed to be worn. He sags them some (possibly for sensory reasons). But he doesn't remember to raise the legs of the jeans before he sits down. This has resulted in a lot of ripped jeans. Where can I find jeans that can hold up against this type of wear pattern?

We have gotten Old Navy and in the past that was fine but has he has developed more of a middle aged spread, he sags them more and the problem has gotten worse. He does wear a belt but I don't know if it's just not tight enough or if he needs low rise pants or what. He won't wear a jogger style hem or pants with an obvious taper.

I was thinking of trying skinny jeans with a lot of stretch, but he uses his pockets for lots of stuff and I doubt he will like the obvious sign of things in his pockets. So I guess we need roomy pockets but tight on the waist otherwise? With a stretchy crotch and straight legs? Does that exist?

posted by crunchy potato to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (13 answers total)

Where do they rip? Knees, butt, inner thigh?
posted by mskyle at 9:49 AM on December 2, 2023 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: They tend to rip right below the zipper on either side. Like where the leg meets the pelvis.
posted by crunchy potato at 9:55 AM on December 2, 2023

I can recommend Mugsy Jeans as super comfortable. Perhaps the not wearing jeans as designed issue is caused by them being too tight in the crotch/butt, and if so, Mugsy Jeans might fix that because they are very stretchy and comfortable to wear at the natural waist/hips area. I am a person with more hips/thighs than most men, but I want to wear men's style jeans, and these have been great for my exact problem.
posted by blnkfrnk at 10:21 AM on December 2, 2023 [2 favorites]

Have you tried the Duluth Trading Ballroom jeans? They have an extra gusset in that region.
posted by Gable Oak at 10:57 AM on December 2, 2023 [7 favorites]

Seconding the Duluth Trading suggestion - SO of Past Unusual also had issues with jeans ripping, usually around the knees, and the combination of the slight stretch and much more movement/work-focused design seems to have eliminated that issue. I've been told they are also much more comfortable, so a win all around.
posted by past unusual at 11:07 AM on December 2, 2023 [1 favorite]

DU/ER jeans also have the extra gusset, they’re the only jeans I’ve worn that haven’t suffered from ripping after a few years.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 11:09 AM on December 2, 2023 [1 favorite]

Are the jeans he's wearing 100% cotton, or do they already have some spandex? If not, I'd try some stretchier jeans. The Gap has some decent ones.
posted by sagc at 11:49 AM on December 2, 2023

Response by poster: I have been buying jeans that have some stretch for the last few years. I am seeing now this "athletic fit" and wonder if that would solve the problem.
posted by crunchy potato at 2:19 PM on December 2, 2023

Wrangler jeans tend to be cut with a looser, roomier "U"-shaped crotch, instead of the "V" shape of other jeans. Wrangler has some jeans with a small amount of spandex in the weave (usually 1%), and they market this as "active flex" or "comfort flex". Usually, if you can drill into the product details, instead of the denim being 100% cotton, it'll be 99% cotton and 1% spandex. I find that even in tighter-fitting jeans, this little bit of spandex adds just enough give that I've not had any issues with jeans tearing when I sit or squat.
posted by xedrik at 2:50 PM on December 2, 2023 [1 favorite]

Kirkland jeans (Costco) might work. They have some stretch, good pockets, a relaxed fit except at the waist, and if they don't work out they're only ~$20-30 a pair.
posted by zippy at 3:50 PM on December 2, 2023

Adding another vote for Duluth Trading.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 6:38 PM on December 2, 2023

I've been wearing athletic fit old Navy jeans for years. They fit pretty well, but tend to stretch out after washes and despite my belt end up riding lower than I intended. This has resulted in the crotches tending to blow out from friction/stretching from walking & etc. (I work as a carpenter so the jeans get put through their paces movement-wise)

The thing that has worked for me my partner patching them up. It's cheap and the patches wear much better than the original, but kind of hinges on having access to someone who is willing & able to do the repairs! (Thanks, R!)

This only sort of answers your question!
posted by rhooke at 7:16 PM on December 2, 2023 [2 favorites]

What about performance fabric pants instead of jeans? There are a lot of fabrics that are more flexible and durable than denim. Lululemon has the (pricey but well reviewed) ABC pants, Old Navy has some similar items, I bet Target, Nike, etc do too.
posted by maleficent at 4:00 PM on December 16, 2023