Which Jeans Brand Wins?
2022 test12 productsWorkwear & Safety Gear

Which Jeans Brand Wins?

In our test 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.

The verdict
Origin USA
Winner

Origin USA

Price shown in test: $124

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Duluth
Runner-up

Duluth

Price shown in test: $75

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Duluth
Budget pick

Duluth

Price shown in test: $75

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The quick take

The short version of why each pick lands where it does, built straight from the measured results.

WinnerOrigin USA$124

the Origin USA jeans came out on top with an average finish of 3.7

Runner-upDuluth$75
Budget pickDuluth$75

The measured results

Every number below is read straight from the test. Products are listed in the order they finished.

Back pocket strength

  • 1Origin USA

    the Origin jeans move into the lead at a very impressive 322 lb before the pocket tore loose

  • 3Best Made

    the Best Made jeans are very light at 26 oz, but still held up really well at 213 lb

  • 4Ariat Rebar M4

    the Ariats proved to be even more durable than Levi's at a very impressive 314 lb

  • 5Wrangler 13MWZ

    the Wranglers are designed for cowboys, and their back pockets offer by far the most strength yet at 169 lb

  • 6Levi's 501

    the Levi's are almost indestructible with a very impressive 284 lb or 115 lb stronger than the Wranglers

  • 9Redhead

    the Redheads move into the lead at 133 lb or 23 lb better than the Rustlers

  • 10Rustler's

    the Rustlers move into the lead over the Rural Kings at 110 lb

  • 2Duluth Double Flex
    not tested
  • 7All American Clothing
    not tested
  • 8Eddie Bauer
    not tested
  • 11Rural King
    not tested
  • 12Kirkland
    not tested

Crotch/leg blowout

  • 3Best Made

    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

  • 7All American Clothing

    the All Americans did by far the best at 669 lb

  • 8Eddie Bauer

    the Eddie Bauer's crotch also outlasted the leg area of the jeans, finally giving up at 414 lb

  • 9Redhead

    the Red Heads are very durable, making it to 492 lb before finally blowing out

  • 11Rural King

    the Rural Kings refused to give up, and the leg tour before the crotch did at 507 lb

  • 1Origin USA
    not tested
  • 2Duluth Double Flex
    not tested
  • 4Ariat Rebar M4
    not tested
  • 5Wrangler 13MWZ
    not tested
  • 6Levi's 501
    not tested
  • 10Rustler's
    not tested
  • 12Kirkland
    not tested

Belt loop strength

  • 2Duluth Double Flex

    the Duluth jeans have by far the strongest belt loops at 248 lb

  • 3Best Made

    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

  • 4Ariat Rebar M4

    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

  • 12Kirkland

    the Kirklands did 33 lb better than the Rural Kings at 121 lb before the threads ripped through the denim

  • 1Origin USA
    not tested
  • 5Wrangler 13MWZ
    not tested
  • 6Levi's 501
    not tested
  • 7All American Clothing
    not tested
  • 8Eddie Bauer
    not tested
  • 9Redhead
    not tested
  • 10Rustler's
    not tested
  • 11Rural King
    not tested

Denim puncture resistance

  • 5Wrangler 13MWZ

    the Wranglers finished in second at 15.7

  • 6Levi's 501

    the Levi's also performed very well at 14.6 lb to move into second place behind the Wranglers

  • 7All American Clothing

    the All Americans did by far the best at 18.2 lb

  • 12Kirkland

    the Kirklands performed even better than the Rule Kings at 14.3 lb

  • 1Origin USA
    not tested
  • 2Duluth Double Flex
    not tested
  • 3Best Made
    not tested
  • 4Ariat Rebar M4
    not tested
  • 8Eddie Bauer
    not tested
  • 9Redhead
    not tested
  • 10Rustler's
    not tested
  • 11Rural King
    not tested

Pocket fabric puncture resistance

  • 1Origin USA

    the Origin came out on top at 11.7 lb

  • 5Wrangler 13MWZ

    Wrangler 8.5 lb

  • 8Eddie Bauer

    the Eddie Bauer's move into the lead over the Wranglers at 4,318 g or about 9.5 lb

  • 2Duluth Double Flex
    not tested
  • 3Best Made
    not tested
  • 4Ariat Rebar M4
    not tested
  • 6Levi's 501
    not tested
  • 7All American Clothing
    not tested
  • 9Redhead
    not tested
  • 10Rustler's
    not tested
  • 11Rural King
    not tested
  • 12Kirkland
    not tested
All measurements (4 more)+

Breathability

  • 2Duluth Double Flex

    the Duluth offer the best breathability yet at very close to 34

  • 11Rural King

    the Rural King jeans offer very good breathability at around 29.5 mph

  • 1Origin USA
    not tested
  • 3Best Made
    not tested
  • 4Ariat Rebar M4
    not tested
  • 5Wrangler 13MWZ
    not tested
  • 6Levi's 501
    not tested
  • 7All American Clothing
    not tested
  • 8Eddie Bauer
    not tested
  • 9Redhead
    not tested
  • 10Rustler's
    not tested
  • 12Kirkland
    not tested

Abrasion resistance

  • 4Ariat Rebar M4

    the jeans with the most resistance to abrasion are the Ariats at 11 passes

  • 10Rustler's

    the Wrestlers did even better than the Rule Kings and the Kirkland, making it six passes to move into the lead

  • 1Origin USA
    not tested
  • 2Duluth Double Flex
    not tested
  • 3Best Made
    not tested
  • 5Wrangler 13MWZ
    not tested
  • 6Levi's 501
    not tested
  • 7All American Clothing
    not tested
  • 8Eddie Bauer
    not tested
  • 9Redhead
    not tested
  • 11Rural King
    not tested
  • 12Kirkland
    not tested

Overall measurable average

  • 1Origin USA

    the Origin USA jeans came out on top with an average finish of 3.7

  • 2Duluth Double Flex
    not tested
  • 3Best Made
    not tested
  • 4Ariat Rebar M4
    not tested
  • 5Wrangler 13MWZ
    not tested
  • 6Levi's 501
    not tested
  • 7All American Clothing
    not tested
  • 8Eddie Bauer
    not tested
  • 9Redhead
    not tested
  • 10Rustler's
    not tested
  • 11Rural King
    not tested
  • 12Kirkland
    not tested

Comfort/fit rating

  • 2Duluth Double Flex

    the Duluth offer a very good fit and are the most comfortable with the best possible rating of one

  • 1Origin USA
    not tested
  • 3Best Made
    not tested
  • 4Ariat Rebar M4
    not tested
  • 5Wrangler 13MWZ
    not tested
  • 6Levi's 501
    not tested
  • 7All American Clothing
    not tested
  • 8Eddie Bauer
    not tested
  • 9Redhead
    not tested
  • 10Rustler's
    not tested
  • 11Rural King
    not tested
  • 12Kirkland
    not tested

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

From the test video verdict.

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