2022 test12 productsWorkwear & Safety Gear
Which Jeans Brand Wins?
We compared 12 jeans options head to head. Origin USA came out on top. See the measured results, the runner-up, the budget pick, and a link to the full test video.
Winner
Origin USA
Price shown in test: $124
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Runner-up
Duluth
Price shown in test: $75
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Budget pick
Duluth
Price shown in test: $75
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The measured results
Every number below is read straight from the test. Scroll sideways to see all measurements. Products are listed in the order they finished.
| Product | Back pocket strength | Pocket fabric puncture resistance | Overall measurable average | Breathability | Belt loop strength | Comfort/fit rating | Crotch/leg blowout | Abrasion resistance | Denim puncture resistance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Origin USA$124 | the Origin jeans move into the lead at a very impressive 322 lb before the pocket tore loose | the Origin came out on top at 11.7 lb | the Origin USA jeans came out on top with an average finish of 3.7 | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested |
| 2Duluth Double Flex$75 | not tested | not tested | not tested | the Duluth offer the best breathability yet at very close to 34 | the Duluth jeans have by far the strongest belt loops at 248 lb | the Duluth offer a very good fit and are the most comfortable with the best possible rating of one | not tested | not tested | not tested |
| 3Best Made$160 | the Best Made jeans are very light at 26 oz, but still held up really well at 213 lb | not tested | not tested | not tested | the Best Mades are very lightweight jeans, but they still demonstrated very good strength at 163 lb, which is just good enough to move into second place | not tested | the Best Made's are one of the lightest jeans in the lineup, but they're also one of the strongest as well. 571 lb before the crotch area tore | not tested | not tested |
| 4Ariat Rebar M4$50 | the Ariats proved to be even more durable than Levi's at a very impressive 314 lb | not tested | not tested | not tested | the Ariats did very good on the rear pocket strength test, and they did extremely well in this test, too, at 162 lb to take the lead from the Wranglers | not tested | not tested | the jeans with the most resistance to abrasion are the Ariats at 11 passes | not tested |
| 5Wrangler 13MWZ$40 | the Wranglers are designed for cowboys, and their back pockets offer by far the most strength yet at 169 lb | Wrangler 8.5 lb | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | the Wranglers finished in second at 15.7 |
| 6Levi's 501$45 | the Levi's are almost indestructible with a very impressive 284 lb or 115 lb stronger than the Wranglers | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | the Levi's also performed very well at 14.6 lb to move into second place behind the Wranglers |
| 7All American Clothing$65 | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | the All Americans did by far the best at 669 lb | not tested | the All Americans did by far the best at 18.2 lb |
| 8Eddie Bauer$50 | not tested | the Eddie Bauer's move into the lead over the Wranglers at 4,318 g or about 9.5 lb | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | the Eddie Bauer's crotch also outlasted the leg area of the jeans, finally giving up at 414 lb | not tested | not tested |
| 9Redhead$20 | the Redheads move into the lead at 133 lb or 23 lb better than the Rustlers | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | the Red Heads are very durable, making it to 492 lb before finally blowing out | not tested | not tested |
| 10Rustler's$13 | the Rustlers move into the lead over the Rural Kings at 110 lb | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | the Wrestlers did even better than the Rule Kings and the Kirkland, making it six passes to move into the lead | not tested |
| 11Rural King$10 | not tested | not tested | not tested | the Rural King jeans offer very good breathability at around 29.5 mph | not tested | not tested | the Rural Kings refused to give up, and the leg tour before the crotch did at 507 lb | not tested | not tested |
| 12Kirkland$11 | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | the Kirklands did 33 lb better than the Rural Kings at 121 lb before the threads ripped through the denim | not tested | not tested | not tested | the Kirklands performed even better than the Rule Kings at 14.3 lb |
How it was tested
- breathability airflow test
- back pocket strength/durability test
- belt loop strength test
- crotch/leg blowout strength test
- pocket fabric puncture resistance with a 16-penny nail
- denim puncture resistance
- knee abrasion resistance with 180-grit sandpaper (passes to wear through)
- subjective comfort and fit rating
“the Origin USA jeans came out on top with an average finish of 3.7”