Levi's Men's 541 Athletic Fit Jeans (Also Available in Big & Tall)

UPDATE 9/2023: I finally had to wash these, and was sad to find that they do shrink in the wash. So the 30 inch length that was perfect for me before washing is now too short. They're also less soft now that I've washed them. I will order a new pair in the 32 length and try to get the length tailored since they aren't offered in a 31 inch length. Seriously, finding jeans like these is like finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. It's virtually impossible, so it feels almost miraculous when it does happen. I have decently large thighs (from cycling and other things), and calves, and a decent size rear. Most men's jeans are too straight, so they're too tight across the thighs (showing pocket lines and underwear lines), or too saggy in the butt, or the legs are just plain too tight, or they're too baggy and look messy. I'm a tall, muscular guy with a decently athletic build. I don't claim to be a model or anything, but pants shouldn't look as sloppy on me as they tend to. I shouldn't have to pick between pants that fit like skinny jeans and pants that make me look like I have absolutely no sense of fashion (i.e. the infamous baggy, shapeless, "dad jean" fit). I see tall, muscular guys in movies and tv shows that have great fitting jeans that complement their muscular builds without looking like skinny jeans, and I think to myself "people love this look, so why can't I find that pants that fit like that?" It turns out, pants like that do exist. These Levi's 541 Athletic Fit pants in the Native Cali color fit, feel, and look amazing. They're beautifully manly pants, without being too "cowboy" or too "hip". They're very neutral, allow you to wear them with leather dress shoes, boots, or sneakers, without looking too weird. The fit around the hips/but is great, with enough room for them to sit where you want them to (not low-cut skinny jeans or saggy hipster jeans), so you shouldn't have issues with "plumber's crack", as long as you get the right fit and wear a belt. The fit around the thighs is also great. Depending on what size you order, they have enough room that they don't show pocket lines or underwear lines, and unlike many pants, they're actually cut in such a way that if the pants fit well at the waist, the thighs aren't too tight. These come in 1 inch sizes, you can experiment to find the right fit for you. I find that both the 36 and the 35 waist fit me well. The 35 I do fold up the pockets to avoid pocket lines, and that size gives me more of a "custom-made for me" look. The 36 has a little more room, so the lines aren't an issue so far, but they aren't quite so fitted, but they also aren't straying into "dad-jean" territory. I also love that even though they have extra room in the seat and thighs, they aren't too tight in the calves, OR too wide and shapeless at the ankle. As I mentioned, my legs are different widths at the thigh, knees, calves, AND ankles, so finding jeans that fit ok in all places is incredible. The fit being right at the ankles makes for a nice modern look that can work with a variety of footwear. If the ankles were wider, they would splay out at the show and give more a bootcut or dad-jean look that doesn't look good with sneakers or other snappy fits. The one downside is that the length varies. I had to buy two pairs of the same length to find one that fit right. The other pair was slightly too short. I haven't washed these yet, and I'm reluctant to do so until I really have to. It's possible that doing so will change my rating. But right now, they fit perfectly, and the color is so black that I can wear these with a formal black vest and a button down and it looks great. I'm sure the dye will fade over time the more I wear these, and then they'll become more casual-wear jeans. But for now I love these just the way they are.

As someone who hits the gym regularly, finding jeans that fit my thighs without being too baggy at the waist has always been a challenge. These jeans have been a game-changer. The extra room in the seat and thigh areas provides the comfort I need, while the tapered leg gives a modern silhouette without being too tight. The flex fabric moves with me, whether I'm lifting weights or just lounging at home. I've worn them to the gym, out with friends, and even to casual workdays, and they've held up great. The quality is top-notch, and they maintain their shape and color after multiple washes. If you have an athletic build and struggle to find jeans that fit well, I highly recommend giving the Levi's 541 Athletic Fit Jeans a try. They offer the perfect balance of comfort, style, and durability.

This particular style of Levi's is a good match for those with an athletic build. There's plenty of room in the waist and seat, but form-fitting in the legs. Most of all, the taper at the calf is excellent. In my opinion, the taper is much better than that on the 550's. The material is different than one might expect from Levi's. It's not 100% cotton. It does have a bit of stretch. At first, the material may seem a bit thinner than a typical pair or Levi's. This had me wondering if those sold on Amazon were in fact legitimate Levi's, and not some ripoff. After a little investigation, it appears these are in fact legit Levi's. This particular cut, the 541's, are hard to find at my local stores. That's why the purchase was made via Amazon. If you're a weightlifter or someone with an athletic build, you'll most likely enjoy these jeans.

Ordered these because, like many others here, I've got bigger thighs and a butt that are the limiting factor on the cuts of jeans I can wear. I was specifically looking for jeans that can be appropriate for work and evenings. I was a little hesitant after seeing some reviews here talking about the different material ratios and fits of the different colors. I can confirm that this is accurate, but that's something that's pretty common when you're talking about jeans. I did, however, expect that after looking at the Levi's website, seeing which washes had the 98/2 cotton/elastane ratio that those washes would fit the same. That wasn't the case either though, and that's why I'm giving them 4 instead of 5 stars. The two colors I went with at first were the Midnight and the Timberwolf. Both arrived with tags that marked them as "stretch," which made me feel kind of weird. They both do, in fact, have a bit of give to them, but you don't have to worry about them looking or feeling like you're putting on yoga pants. They are roomy where they need to be while looking neat and thus can be used for work like I wanted. However, I'd say that the Midnight wash was slightly larger than I was expecting while the Timberwolf were somewhat smaller, or rather, they just fit more snugly than the Midnight ones. They're probably closer to what I expected the size to be, but it was odd that there was any difference for two pairs of pants supposedly in the same line (541) and made from the same material "98% Cotton, 2% Elastane." Regardless, they still both were cut the way I was looking for in terms of their general shape if not necessarily the specific fit on the waist. Color-wise, the Midnight pair look exactly as pictured, while the Timberwolf are darker than what's pictured above. The Levi's site has a more accurate color for them if you take a look there. I prefer the color I received to what I saw above, but just know they will be darker. I also wanted a darker blue pair, but did not read good things about The Rich or Rigid Dragon here. I was apprehensive, but decided to try The Rich to see for myself. I was pleasantly surprised. They're definitely a fit closer to the Timberwolf than the Midnight, which I guess is why some people said they're a bit more "rigid" but I've had those rough old Levi's in the past and these are certainly not anything close to that. They also look like they're going to bleed, so I'm going to need to do the whole cold water + vinegar wash on them before I wear them. Overall these are good pants for anyone with a build that's got more meat in the butt/thigh region and struggling to find comfortable and stylish jeans in the straight or slim(mer) style. Just be mindful that not all the washes are created equal in terms of the fit or feel and that there may be some color deviations from what you see above.

6’6” 240 40x38 I was a bum athlete with bigger glutes and thighs, and these pants give room everywhere but do not get baggy anywhere. They were so useful that, without realizing it, I started using the back pockets for everything—not just my wallet—because they were that comfortable. If I had to say one thing, they are not the thickest, but unironically they can mimic how cowboy-cut jeans feel if you get them long enough. They are not bootcut, though, and they fit well over Docs.

My husband loves these jeans/pants. Stretchy but don’t get too stretched out looking. His have a slimmer fit than the photo here.

My husbands favorite pair of jeans. The cut gives his thighs room, and they look good on him!

These are by far my new favorite jeans. The 541 cut fits me perfectly and the extra room in the seat and thighs helps prevent my pants from slipping down in the back whenever I sit or bend over, like other snug fitting mid-rise jeans will do. ;)