Jeans that actually fit "athletic" or thicker thighs
For over a decade, finding the right-fitting jeans has always been somewhat tricky — but there are some staples that just might work for those of you that have larger thighs
I was a skinny kid growing up; skinny to the point that I was told I needed to gain a few pounds before they would allow me to join the military.
Fast forward a few years later, and I was basically in the gym or doing some form of resistance training nearly everyday, including doing heavy squats. My thighs effectively ballooned to the point where I no longer sized pants for my waist — I sized them for my thighs.
Since most mass-market producers like Levi's and Wrangler don't have size charts that list the thigh width, or really any measurements other than inseam and the vanity waist size, it was somewhat of a struggle for me to find anything that actually fit.
But over the years, I have found several fits from a couple of popular brands that stand out above the rest.
Levi's jeans that fit larger thighs
Bear in mind that there are going to be a lot of different fits from a brand like Levi's that work. These are the ones I have the most experience with —
Levi's 541 athletic tapered fit jeans
This used to be my go-to many years ago, and is still a highly popular style from Levi's today. Since I don't lift weights anymore, I don't technically need to size these for my thighs, although in the past I still had to, despite the "athletic fit" nomenclature.
Don't let the "athletic" label fool you when you're shopping around, because I've found and worn many jeans, from several brands, that say they're for athletic legs: but what does that even mean?
Exactly — it's marketing hype.
The Levi's 541 are cut for guys that want the tapered look that was fairly popular for a while, with enough room in the seat and thighs for larger guys. With a zipper fly, a decent rise on both the front and the back, this is a cut I wouldn't mind seeing in a non-tapered format.
Levi's 501 Shrink-to-Fit jeans
I wouldn't necessarily consider the 501's to be ideal for people with larger thighs, but I do think they can work: especially when considering you should be sizing up in the waist to account for the shrinkage, which will mean the thigh comes in wider, naturally.
Modern day Levi's 501 STF are less roomy than vintage or repros
One of the cool things about unsanforized, raw denim, is that it doesn't all shrink proportionally, particularly if you're wearing them as they begin the shrinking process.
Since your thighs will expand and prevent the jeans from getting too small (assuming you bought the right size to begin with), other dimensions like the waistband can shrink down to your waist even when sized up.
This creates a tailored jean for large thighs, without actually using a tailor.
Wrangler jeans that fit larger thighs
Wranglers are going to be hard to beat in terms of fit, particularly when talking about the 13MWZ cowboy cut model; the price, the fit, and the heavy 100% cotton with its broken-twill weave all make for an outstanding product.
Since I don't lift anymore, my thighs are nowhere near as big as they used to be, which means the 13MWZ fit me well even being sized up just 1-2 waist sizes.
I can fit in vanity-sized 30 waists but my two pairs of Wranglers are size 31 and 32.
For those that truly need more thigh room than this, and don't necessarily want to size up in the waist to fit, the Wrangler 31MWZ relaxed fit may be your best bet.
The best-fitting jeans made in the USA
Now if you want to step your game up and support something made closer to home (the Levi's and Wrangler's certainly aren't USA-made), then the absolute best fitting jeans I've found to date are by Gustin out of California.
Gustin's Vintage Straight cut is a standout
I've been rocking Gustin's stuff for years, but I was never able to fit into any of their pants cuts... until now.
Upon first inspection of the very detailed size chart, I thought maybe their jeans still wouldn't quite work. But when asked to review a couple of their products of my choosing, I quickly discovered that the Vintage Straights work for my body type perfectly.
It's very hard to find a pair of USA-made jeans at this price point, and I was surprised at how well every dimension of this cut works. It fits larger thighs, has a good amount of room for larger butts, and doesn't feel restrictive when seated or squatting.
What are some other jeans that fit larger thighs well?
I kept my list quite small because I wanted to point out the jean fits that suit my body best and what I think I look best in —
But what about you? What are some of your favorite, fuller-fitting styles regardless of the brand or cost? Leave some comments below and interact with us over on the Splished Threads community forum!
I'm always curious and looking for the most functional, good-looking fashion that I can get my hands on, and what I've experienced is just a fraction of what the world has to offer.
Keep an open mind, expand your energy — and look good doing it.
