Levi’s 501 vs. Gap Authentic Fit

Levi’s 501 – $48.00 vs. Gap Authentic Fit – $54.50

These are two denim heavyweights.  One’s a grizzled veteran, the other is a brand new fit from a leading retailer.  Both are reasonably priced, often on sale, and widely available.  Both could become a your favorite pair of “nice” jeans.  You know, that pair you’d wear on a date.  So how do they stack up against each other?

Here’s the tale of the tape:

WINNER:

Final score, 4-2 in favor of the Levi’s 501 Straight fit.  But this was far from a blow out.  Gap’s new Authentic fit won the fit and looks categories.  These pairs of jeans really are almost identical, but the pair from The Gap doesn’t pull as much on your rear when you sit down.  There’s not much of a break in the legs of the Levi’s, and there’s just enough of a relaxed bit of fabric on the Gap Authentic Fit to make someone wonder: “is that the world’s most subtle boot cut?”

Tough to beat the button fly of the 501s.  But the deep navy on the pair from The Gap looks a little better than the more true blue on the 501s.  The cost is a tossup because both go on sale so often that one could easily beat the other in price.  And as far as country of origin goes… wouldn’t it be nice to find a pair of jeans that are still made in the USA for under $100?

Final Conclusion: Levi’s for more casual stuff, Gap for when you’re more dressed up.  Get both.

Don’t forget to read up on our 10 Commandments of Denim