I hate wardrobe questions on the OB, but it's come to this.......

Seems like anything i can find locally is half the weight and lasts about 30% as long as the stuff I used to buy.

I need some jeans that can actually stand up to ranch work. Thorns, brush, etc. My old Army gear is holding up better than any pair of jeans I can find, but that stuff has a ton of miles on it already and i'm not really looking for the militia look when I swing by the local DQ after bustin' my backside in the heat all day.

I was looking at giving the Duluth trading gear a shot. Any other req's?

Carhart

levi's workwear jeans

Duluth stuff is good.

https://www.sheplers.com/wrangler-936-cowboy-cut-rigid-slim-fit-jeans/010367.html?dwvar_010367_color=7001#start=2

The cheapest Wranglers they sell.

Starch these twice and they're like body armor.

Not jeans, but I have a couple pair of the Duluth firehose pants. They've held up to the brush in San Saba and Ozona for 2-3 years now. They're tan though.

For $19.99 Wrangler Originals, 13MWZ, or whatever cut you prefer is going to be your best bet.

I've got a basic, no frills, pair of Cinch jeans from Cavenders that seem to have substantially thicker denim than my other jeans.

They aren't cheap so watch for a Duluth sale, but the Firehose and Firehose Flex are solid. The regular Firehose pants are extremely tough and durable but they are very, very hot and kinda heavy. I wear the Flex ones 90% of the time.

Wrangler 47MWZ.

The double kneed Carhartt logger jeans are about as tough a jean as you'll find.

Mountain Khakis Original Mountain Pants have been my go to for years.

thanks

Wrangler

Where are you guys finding the Wrangler with the thicker denim? My husband wore Wrangler for years and when I was buying them I would get three or four pair of the nice thick denim. But the last time I went and bought them, I could only find one in his size and so he went out and all he could find was some that were a lot thinner and didn't fit him well at all. He hates them. He would go back to the original ones if he could find them. Normally he tries on clothes and gets what he needs and then if he wears something on the regular then I go and buy more for him since he works so hard to support the family and doesn't particularly care to shop. I looked at (in no particular order): Target, Penny's, Tractor Supply, Academy, etc in BCS and then went online but the reviews were indicating that Wrangler changed something in their design. Obviously a lot of people were NOT happy with the redesign per the reviews, but if you all know where to find the old style, or what the actual style is called (I will check that # that Civil94 posted) then I would be appreciative of the info.

Am I being naive by asking what is wrong with standard Levi's?

Mine also!

I have not detected a change in the Wrangler 13MWZ offering, either in thickness or fit (well, other than an occasional need to increase waist size...not Wrangler's fault).

I actually wrote MK customer service a number of years ago complaining the pants were great but their pockets sucked. They wore out before they pants did. I got a reply saying they were aware and were fixing the problem, and they have.

Here's a pair that gave out in Chipata after about 10 years.
https://instagr.am/p/BhJR-GPA3a3

SteveBott said:

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Am I being naive by asking what is wrong with standard Levi's?

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Levi's are not work jeans. They're thin and not durable. Styling is also far too hipster for me on most of theirs.

That's not even commenting on their recent political tirades against anyone that owns a firearm.

Duluth Trading has a sale of the FireHose pants right now. FYI I ordered a pair to try out

Thanks for the reply! I may order another pair. There are so many styles, we could have easily mistakenly picked up a pair with some sort of fashion treatment to the denim. Ugh. Jeans should be jeans.

Filson

DO NOT BUY the Wrangler denim cargo jeans online. They are thin, cheaply made, and wear out FAST! I bought three pair and they all are showing holes at the pocket corners from very little time in the field.

I have one pair of Duluth Firehose Cargo Jeans that I have had about 4 years and I feel like they will probably make another four years easily.

I have gotten to where I only wear Cargo jeans because I keep my phone and other stuff in those big cargo pockets. I have a closet full of work jeans that I never wear because I want the cargo pocket.

Another recommendation for Duluth Firehose Flex pants. I have the carpenter's model and they are my favorite and most comfortable pair of pants by far. I wear them in the cactus and mesquite and they are tough as nails. Wrangler original/13MWZ if I need an actual jean.

I'm a big Duluth fan for pants, the firehouse pants are the best, but their jeans are what OP is looking for, 30-40% heavier than Levi's, triple stitches versus double stitching at the seams, etc. I've even got a pair lined with flannel for the winter that are super comfy in the cold.

Thanks everyone. While I can appreciate the 13MWZ, I'm not 20 anymore and, well, they just don't fit.

I'm going to take a sampling from several of the suggestions and see what holds up in the brush and thorns best. clearing brush to build fences and pens. spending most of the time on foot, so we'll see what the trade offs are for durability, movement, and sweating your backside off.....

thank heaven Duluth's stuff is on sale...ouch!

How long and well a pair of jeans will last basically depends on 3 things, weight/quality of denim, finish/laundering, and construction. The Wrangler construction is excellent and they use 13 or 14 ounce denim for their regular jeans. As does the basic unlaundered Levi's.

If the jeans are made in the America's, the denim likely came from one of two places, both are good mills. But if you buy prewashed and faded jeans there is always the chance that the laundry process was real harsh on the denim. Some of the jeans might be 9 or 10 ounce denim, which is what the skinny and fashion jeans are, and that will not last.

Washing jeans in a lot of soap breaks down the fabric some, I always try to wash my jeans with little if any soap. Some buddies that worked for jeans plants told me that years ago.

Rustler jeans from Walmart are made either by VF, or their now Jeanswear spinoff company, or one other maker. They use very good quality Denim for those, but the cuts are a little tight. If you can find Wranglers or Levi's made in Mexico or the Central American countries it will be good quality denim. The Levi's out of Africa and Middle East seem to be light in the ounces, I won't buy them.

SteveBott said:

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Am I being naive by asking what is wrong with standard Levi's?

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Levi's = Million+ donated to gun control groups including liberal Bloomberg.

I wear Texas Jeans. Made in the US (NC) and reasonable and comfortable

Quit levis, dockers and anything made by them, 50yrs ago when they stopped their financial support to the Boy Scouts of America for not allowing queer scout leaders followed by their support of organizations and causes I do not believe in.Took me 35 yrs to get a classmate and best friend to quit them. .

Love my Duluth fire hose pants. They where pricey but well worth every penny.

I just saw an advertisement. Duluth has 40% off pants & shorts this weekend