Levi’s may be the reigning jean in this category (well, most categories), but Carhartt’s hard-wearing denim and tough-as-nails construction make its jeans a better value. The denim is truly beefy, tipping the scales at 15 ounces, and the all-cotton material means you don’t have to worry about stretchy elastane giving out on you after a few months.
They have a versatile mid-rise that can be worn at the waist or slung a little low near the hips and the generous seat and thighs mean your tree trunks will have space to breathe while the tapered leg streamlines the silhouette—sounds a lot like these jeans are cut more like jeans from a high-fashion brand…and yet they’re just $40.
Best Baggy Athletic-Fit Jeans: Abercrombie & Fitch Athletic Loose Jeans
Materials: 99% cotton, 1% elastane | Fabric Weight: 14 ounces | Sizes: 28×28-40×34 | Fly: Zip | Colors: Varies | Thigh: 27″ | Leg Opening: 16″
If your athletic build means that so-called relaxed-fit jeans fit more like straight-fit jeans which fit more like skinny jeans, then you’re probably automatically factoring that in when you’re shopping. But if you want a pair of relaxed fit jeans that takes into account your muscular legs and actually look, well, relaxed, then Abercrombie’s got your back legs.
A&F’s Athletic Loose jean is cut with a properly generous seat and thighs while maintaining a roomy yet tastefully tapered cut to the hem. As for the washes, you can expect the usual light washes, mid washes, and dark washes, but we love that Abercrombie’s expanded color palette includes denim in black, brown, and gray, along with one badass camo pattern.
Best Bootcut Athletic-Fit Jeans: Wrangler Cowboy Cut Original Fit Jeans
Materials: 100% cotton | Fabric Weight: 12-15.25 ounces | Fly: Zip | Sizes: 27×30-54×40 | Colors: Varies | Leg Opening: 16.75″
Okay, so we did say that fit is relative. Different people can make a straight cut jean look like a skinny jean and vice versa. The bootcut silhouette can’t really be finagled. Slinky, sleazy dressing and cowboy aesthetics are extremely on-trend (a resurrecting and reinventing of Y2K fashion), so if you’re gearing up to look your grooviest or rarin’ to get your rootin-est, Wrangler’s Cowboy cut jeans are the pair to step your fancy boots into. But as tempting as it may be, don’t opt for the Wrangler’s slim fit version of the Cowboy cut—the original is better suited for your build.
Best Athletic-Fit Jeans for Fashion Guys: Our Legacy Third Cut Jeans
Materials: 100% cotton | Fabric Weight: 12-15.25 ounces | Fly: Zip | Sizes: 28×32-36×32 | Colors: Varies | Thigh: 28” | Leg Opening: 20″
