Levi's jeans have a reputation for being tough and rugged. They fit well and stay put during wild action. Use a belt for even better fit. Five pockets keep your keys and coins safe when you go swimming. The front pockets are more secure.

The button fly has the advantage that it can't get jammed by mud or sand like a zip. The buttons stay put whilst a zip my wear out and slide down.

We've tested the Shrink-to-Fit 501XX (STF) and the regular 501. The STF felt a bit baggy and stiff when new. This soon changed after our tests.

Dry Test:

We've climbed across the rocks on the beach and hiked through the hot tropical forest of northern Thailand. In both places the jeans were quite comfortable. The fabric is robust enough to protect you from minor scrapes when you scramble across a wild coastline to get to an exclusive beach.

Swim Test:

The Levi's 501 jeans are great for swimming. They are tight enough for easy swimming, but loose enough to move freely. They feel good in the water and look cool with tight fitting T-shirts and hoodies.

Divers like jeans for wreck diving to protect their skin or wetsuit.

Summary:

You may prefer the shrink-to-fit (STF) versions as they fit better the more you soak them. The trick is to keep them on while they dry. You better do that in a warm climate. We've tested our jeans in the wild canyons and lakes of northern Thailand which was great fun.