• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Modest Man

  • .
  • Start Here
  • Blog
  • About
  • Outfit Ideas
  • Free Guide
Home / Blog / Clothing and Style

Where To Buy Athletic-Fit Jeans for Men (10 Options)

Published on March 30, 2022 by Ryan Hallstrom · Clothing and Style May contain affiliate links (what's this?)

If you’re a guy with an athletic build, you probably struggle to find jeans that fit. Here are 10 places you can buy athletic-fit jeans.

Table of Contents

  • What Do We Mean by “Athletic?”
  • How Should Jeans Fit?
  • Quick Take
  • Where To Buy Athletic-Fit Jeans for Men (10 Options)
    • Levi 511’s
    • Levi 531’s
    • Levi 541’s
    • Levi 505’s
    • Levi 501’s
    • Lee Men’s Athletic Fit Tapered Leg Jean
    • Barbell Apparel
    • Everlane
    • Jimmy Au’s for Men 5′8″ and Under
  • Which Athletic Jeans Will You Try?
David wearing patterned shirt light wash jeans small
Photo @threadability

If you’re a guy with an athletic build, you probably struggle to find jeans that fit. Today we’ll review 10 different pairs of athletic-fit jeans for men.

What Do We Mean by “Athletic?”

“Athletic” isn’t a very precise word when referring to someone’s physique. Using the term “Athletic body type,” one might be referring to the sinewy silhouette of a jockey or the burly build of a highlander caber tosser. 

Athetic Types Side by Side

While “athletic build” can mean many different things, for the purpose of this article, we’re referring to guys with thighs and or backsides that are larger than their waists.

Finding the perfect fit for men with an athletic body type (per our definition) can be frustrating. Almost all off-the-rack clothing brands create sizes to fit as many people as possible.

However, this system often overlooks “size minorities,” such as athletic men. While you can certainly get jeans adjusted by a tailor, most men would prefer to find jeans that fit off the rack. 

How Should Jeans Fit?

While how jeans fit is essentially a matter of personal preference, the general consensus is that most guys look best in jeans that fit close to the body but are not overly tight. 

See our complete guide for how jeans should fit. 

Quick Take

Here are our top recommendations: 

Our Pick
Levi's Men's 531 Athletic Slim Jeans
Levi's Men's 531 Athletic Slim Jeans
$47.70

Levi 531’s offer an athletic fit without sacrificing a sleek, modern look. These jeans are great for active men who are on the slim side.

Buy Now
01/28/2023 02:15 am GMT
Budget Pick
Lee Men Performance Series Athletic Fit Tapered Jean
Lee Men Performance Series Athletic Fit Tapered Jean
$43.20

Lounge around the house or go to the office in these super comfortable extreme motion jeans from Lee.

Buy Now
01/28/2023 12:44 pm GMT
Upgrade Pick
Barbell Apparel Straight Athletic Fit Jeans
Barbell Apparel Straight Athletic Fit Jeans
$99

Barbell is the heavyweight in the realm of athletic-fit jeans. They’ve spent years fine-tuning their fits. Try them out– you won’t be disappointed.

Buy Now

Read on for more info and the complete list…

Where To Buy Athletic-Fit Jeans for Men (10 Options)

Below we’ll review ten different pairs of athletic-fit jeans. 

Levi 511’s

Levi’s are readily available and come in many styles, washes, and sizes at affordable prices. What more can you ask for? Before reviewing jeans for other brands, we’ll start off our list with five different Levi’s options for athletic men. 

Levis Mens 511 Slim Fit Stretch Jeans
Levi’s Mens 511 Slim Fit Stretch Jeans

Levi 511’s are a solid choice for a lot of guys– including many athletic men. However, these jeans are quite narrow above the knee, so 511’s won’t work for you if you have huge thighs. 

For a similar fit but with more room above the knee, try Levi 531’s.

Levi 531’s

The 531 are athletic slim-fit jeans. With a 13.5” leg opening, they have a more aggressive taper below the knee than 541’s but still have extra room built into the seat and thighs. 

Levis Mens 531 Athletic Slim Jeans
Levi’s Men’s 531 Athletic Slim Jeans

Levi 531’s are best for guys that are athletic but on the slimmer side (a body type that most clothing brands overlook). 

Levi 541’s

Levi’s 541’s are the brand’s original version of athletic-fit jeans for men. They have extra fabric in the thighs and added room in the seat. 

Levis Mens 541 Athletic Fit Jeans
Levi’s Men’s 541 Athletic Fit Jeans

541’s are great for men who can’t wear slim-fit jeans but want something with a more modern look than some of Levi’s more relaxed models. 

For reference, the leg opening is about 15.75”. 

Levi 505’s

For an even more relaxed fit and a slightly higher rise, test out some Levi 505’s.

Levis Mens 505 Regular Fit Jeans
Levi’s Men’s 505 Regular Fit Jeans

Many weightlifters swear by them.  

Levi 501’s

The 501’s are advertised as the “original” Levi’s fit. These have more of a straight-leg fit than the other Levi’s offerings on our list. Most men will look better in jeans that have some tapering to them. However, 501’s can be a good option for men with larger than average calves (yeah, I’m talking about you cyclists).

501 Original Fit Jeans
Levi’s 501 Original Fit Mens Jeans

If you do opt for a pair of 501’s, make sure that you get the length right. With a looser fit, you’ll want to stay between a slight break and a full break.

Search “Levi’s 501’s” on Google images, and you’ll find that most of the photos show men wearing jeans that “puddle” at the bottom– not a good look. 

Lee Men’s Athletic Fit Tapered Leg Jean

As an alternative to Levi 541’s, consider Lee Men’s Performance Series Extreme Motion Athletic Fit Tapered Leg Jean (Whew, that’s a mouth full!). With prices starting at just over $20, you don’t have much to lose. 

Lee Mens Performance Athletic Fit Jean
Lee Men’s Performance Athletic Fit Tapered Leg Jean

These jeans are built with comfort in mind. For what it’s worth, the reviews compare them to “maternity pants for men” and “stretchy sweatpants.” 

Barbell Apparel

In his Barbell Apparel review, The Modest Man contributor Robert Ordway claims that Barbell Straight Athletic Fit Jeans “put Levi 541’s to shame.”

Barbell Apparel Straight Athletic Jeans
Straight Athletic Fit in Dark Distressed

If you’re athletic and you’ve ever searched for clothes online, then you’ve probably come across Barbell Apparel. 

One key to Barbell’s success seems to be offering jeans to athletes of many shapes and sizes. Not many other jeans brands receive accolades from both men who are “5’8″ 127 pounds ”with big shoulders and narrow hips” and 6’1” 260-pound gym rats.

Everlane

We’ve reviewed Everlane several times here on The Modest Man. It’s a brand that offers quality clothing options at reasonable prices. 

Everlane 4 Way Athletic
Everlane Athletic Fit Performance Jean

If you’re looking for quality organic athletic jeans, look no further than Everlane’s Athletic 4-Way Stretch Organic Jean. These jeans have extra stretch built-in for added comfort and are available in sizes down to 28×28. 

I love Everlane’s site because it allows you to sort comments by the height and weight of the reviewer. Of course, height and weight don’t always relate to body type, but this can still be a useful tool that allows you to easily sort through hundreds of reviews.

Jimmy Au’s for Men 5′8″ and Under

Jimmy and his son Alan run “the nation’s only and the world’s largest clothing store dedicated to short men.” 

Jimmy Aus retail shop

Alan recommends their classic fit jeans for athletic men, though he says their modern fit can work too (for a somewhat slimmer fit). Jimmy Au’s jeans use “forgiving denim fabrics with 2-10% stretch depending on the fabric.” 

If you’re a shorter guy that struggles to find clothes that fit and find yourself anywhere near Southern California, be sure to pay them a visit. Seriously, nowhere else will you come across as many racks of hard-to-find sizes. While they don’t currently have an online shop, they do take orders by email ([email protected]). 

See our full review of Jimmy Au’s. 

Which Athletic Jeans Will You Try?

Finding athletic-fit jeans doesn’t have to be complicated. Search online or go to a store near you and buy a few pairs. Return what doesn’t fit, keep what does. It’s as simple as that. 

What denim brands offering athletic-fit jeans did we miss? Share in the comment section below to help out other athletic guys. 

Clothing and Style athletic, denim, Men's Jeans

Related Posts

Jeans for shorter guys
Jeans for Short Men: Avoid These Mistakes & Look Amazing
the best jeans for short men
17+ Places to Buy Short Inseam Jeans for Men [2023 Guide]
Nudie Jeans review
Nudie Jeans Review + Fit Comparison (Read This Before Buying)
Selvedge & Raw A New Appreciation of a Classic - featured
A Beginner’s Guide to Raw and Selvedge Denim

About Ryan Hallstrom

TMM's Senior Editor, Ryan Hallstrom is from Horseheads, NY, the only town in America named in honor of military packhorses. When he’s not writing about menswear, Ryan enjoys reading, whittling, running, and perfecting his penmanship.

Background: In 2021, Ryan graduated from Brigham Young University where he majored in American Studies and Russian. Before completing his schooling, he had a wide range of job titles including finish carpenter, usher, elevator operator (yes, that’s a real job), landscaper, tour guide, and more.

In January 2022, Ryan began working full-time as The Modest Man’s Senior Editor. In this role, he not only edits all articles prior to publication but also is a frequent contributor to the blog. He enjoys crafting in-depth product reviews (often testing items in extreme environments), helpful self-improvement articles, and detailed clothing guides.

His interest in men’s style stems from the examples of men in his family:

“Growing up, a lot of the men I looked up to dressed well. My dad is always clean-shaven and makes sure that he looks presentable before heading out the door, and my grandfather, who owned and operated a dairy farm, usually wore work pants with a sharp crease and a button-up work shirt.”

However, it wasn’t until the end of high school that Ryan began to care about how he looked. Gradually, over the next few years, he started to dress better and learn about style. “Finding clothes that fit helped me to become more confident. I find that when I try to dress well, I feel better.”

Expertise: Ryan has loved writing since an early age, and in college began contributing to and editing for university publications. After college, he began freelance writing and editing. He’s written from blogs and magazines such as Real Men Real Style, Life in the Finger Lakes, and Gentleman Within.

An avid traveler who spends plenty of time outdoors, Ryan appreciates clothes, footwear and accessories that can take a beating. His reviews often include long-term, thorough testing in extreme weather conditions.

Ryan has also spent more time in a suit and tie than most guys, so he's well qualified to write about classic menswear, business casual and formalwear.

More Articles by This Author

Facebook LinkedIn

Join the Club

Never miss a post, plus grab this free guide (instant download). No spam. Ever.

Subscribe Now

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Ask Me Anything Cancel reply

    Got questions? Want to share your opinion? Comment below!

  1. Rich says

    March 30, 2022 at 9:11 am

    As someone who has struggled with this problem, I have been doing well with American Eagle’s stretchier denim. It helps that they go to larger waist sizes, and the smaller leg opening looks good with most sneakers if going for a streetwear-inspired look. They have been leaning heavily into more distressed-looking jeans, but they have some excellent regular cuts with no distressing.

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Join the Club

Never miss a post, plus grab this free guide (instant download).

No spam. Ever.

Subscribe Now

Top 5 Favorites for Fall & Winter 2022

  1. Thursday Boots Captain – still the best Goodyear-welted boot under $200 (full review here) 🥾
  2. Matte for Men SPF Lotion – because you should be using moisturizer with SPF
  3. Darn Tough Wool Socks – possibly the best boot socks you can buy 🧦
  4. Hamilton Khaki Mechanical – perfect everyday mechanical watch under $500 (Amazon/Jomashop)
  5. Flint & Tinder Waxed Jacket – great fit, perfect weight for fall 👍🏼

Trending Articles

Men over 40 style

How to Dress Well In Your 40s and 50s (and Beyond)

Fashion brands for short men

Where to Buy Clothes for Short Men (2022 Guide)

Seiko 5 SNK805

31 Great Watches For Small Wrists (Updated for 2023)

Best Business Casual Shoes for Men

Top 8 Best Business Casual Shoes for Men (2023 Guide)

Business casual outfits

The Complete Guide to Business Casual Style for Men

Topics

  • Clothing & Style
  • Outfit Ideas
  • Fitness
  • Product Reviews
  • Dating & Confidence
  • Grooming
  • Men of Modest Height
  • Income Reports

Footer

The Modest Man logo

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Home • Blog • Resources • Contact • Advertise

 

Privacy Policy & Affiliate Disclosure • Terms & Conditions

 

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

 

Copyright © 2023 The Modest Man (Registered Trademark)