Levi's 501 Original review

The Levi's 501 is the reference point for every other jean on this list. Levi Strauss & Co. dates it to the patent for copper rivets on work pants granted on May 20, 1873, and in 2023 the company marked 150 years of the 501 with a yearlong celebration. Its defining details are a button fly and a straight leg. In 2025 Levi's added the 501 Curve, which keeps the button fly and straight leg but uses a high rise, a more contoured hip-to-waist ratio and extra room in the seat and thigh to stop back gapping, after hearing that the classic 501 did not fit some curvier customers. When it opened the anniversary in January 2023, the company said the 501 family had grown nearly 30% compared to the year prior. The weak spot in our research is price and fit data: levi.com blocked our requests, so we could not confirm a US price, rise or size range, and we scored value conservatively.

Who it is for

shoppers who want the original straight leg jean

Price

See vendor pricing (USD check pending).

US price check pending. See the vendor pricing page.

Key features

• Traced to the patent for copper rivets on work pants granted on May 20, 1873
• Button fly and a straight leg, the details Levi Strauss & Co. calls the legacy of the original 501
• 501 Curve, introduced in 2025, keeps the straight leg and button fly with a high rise and a more contoured hip-to-waist ratio
• The 501 Curve adds extra room in the seat and thigh to remove back gapping
• Sold on levi.com and in Levi's stores

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: The longest documented history of any straight leg jean on this list, back to 1873
• Strength: A dedicated 501 Curve cut for curvier bodies that keeps the classic straight leg
• Strength: Levi Strauss & Co. said in January 2023 that the 501 family grew nearly 30% compared to the year prior
• Weakness: Levi.com blocked our requests, so we could not verify a current US price
• Weakness: We could not check rise, inseam or size runs on levi.com from our location
• Weakness: A button fly takes longer to close than a zip fly

Key facts

• Origin: Rivet patent granted May 20, 1873
• Closure: Button fly
• Curvy cut: 501 Curve, launched 2025
• US price: Check pending

Where it ranks

Levi's 501 Original is No. 2 in our Best Straight Leg Jeans verdict.