Darn Tough socks

[rebeccmeister]

It makes me inordinately happy anytime I encounter a well-made item, and by now these socks have been adequately tested to the point where I am willing to declare allegiance. I'd like to feel this way about Smartwool socks, but those are definitely second.

The trouble with the rise in popularity of novelty socks has been a marked decline in quality and durability, which is highly aggravating.

Now. What is the pants equivalent for Darn Tough socks? I'm getting really close to just giving up and sewing my own. I have liked certain styles of Lee slacks, but they also jump between shoddy manufacturers too much. I had a pair of thrifted Dockers that were adequately substantial, but aren't manufactured anymore.

Clothing is such a crazy hassle in this country, to the point where I start thinking maybe I should just go to Australia or something to pick up a lifetime supply.  We need a Slow Fabric Movement.

Comments

[manintheboat.livejournal.com]

Agreed on all fronts!
I get shirts from eshakti or lillikoiclothing.com
But I've found nothing for trousers. Some Lee's do fit, but they aren't super awesome.

[ivy]

If you don't need to look professional, these. If you do, these. Super expensive but they have worked really well for me.

[manintheboat.livejournal.com]

Do you know of any wool trousers?

[rebeccmeister.livejournal.com]

Man. I waited too long to order from someone called B. Spoke Tailor, who made amazing (but expensive) wool cycling trousers. At this point I think I'd just be happy if I could find a source of good wool to make my own.

The most maddening thing is that S can often pop in to a Goodwill and find men's wool trousers in his size, just like that.

[rebeccmeister.livejournal.com]

Ooooooo, nylon + spandex blend, too! Those look highly practical. Thank you!

[tylik.livejournal.com]

I love Duluth - if you can get the right fit out of them, and if they have what you want. The build quality is great.

(I have to either call in the lifetime warranties on done of my durn tough socks - and I fell bad, I got plenty of wear - or but I bunch more. They are my favs.)

[tylik.livejournal.com]

...I did tell you about Adequate Pants, yes?

[rebeccmeister.livejournal.com]

I don't think so, actually. Do say more...

[tylik.livejournal.com]

It's not very helpful. A Seattle friend has announced that her big idea with which to win riches is to start a store called Adequate Pants. You can go there and find pants - not super stylish, or super anything, but they fit and they're well made. She thinks she would make millions and possibly be deified. (Or maybe I just think the latter.)

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

Lucky Jeans have managed to last for over a year. I had a pair fail when I tore them picking up a snowblower and one of the tines cut through the thigh, and another pair started to go south from being sprayed with hot welding debris, but the latter are still wearable.

[rebeccmeister.livejournal.com]

I used to buy Lucky jeans, and then the particular cut/etc that fit me perfectly went out of style, and I got sad and stopped paying attention to their jeans. Sigh. I suppose I should just go back.

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

They're not as acute-damage-resistant as some, but they seem to do okay for chronic damage: they don't have unexplained massive seam failures and they're less likely to have big holes wear out over my sit bones while the rest of the jeans are still in near new condition.

[bluepapercup]

I like to buy jeans from Sierra Trading Post, but I don't recall if you do mail-order shopping. I've had good luck with French Dressing Jeans in the past, and STP has them at very reasonable prices.

Most hard-wearing pants brands (including Duluth, Carhartt, Lee, and others) don't fit me in a way that's tolerable or workable so I just find jeans where I can and wear them out fairly quickly.

[rebeccmeister.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I feel somewhat fortunate that Lee jeans seem to fit me reasonably. I've been on pants-shopping trips where I've tried on 20-30 different pairs and never found a good fit. So aggravating!

I will do some mail-order shopping, although I try to avoid it so as to minimize the amount of packing materials I have to deal with.