Wrangler Cowboy Cut Jeans, But in Selvedge: the 13MWZSEL
Fancier and triple the price of the Rigid (raw) Wrangler 13MWZ — is the higher price worth it?
The Wrangler 13MWZ is a pair of jeans I got into wearing just last year, in 2025. I was never really a Wrangler person growing up; I'm sure I owned some random Wrangler-branded clothes, but for the most part I don't recall it being part of my wardrobe.
Over the course of the year, I bought three pairs of Wrangler 13MWZ and even made a YouTube video and article about this specific model of jean.
Bryan
Complete guide: Measurements, materials, and where to buy the standard 13MWZ jeans
When Wrangler had a "Buy One Get One 50% Off" flash sale, I decided to take advantage of the deal by throwing in these two pairs of jeans:
Left: 13MWZSEL, Right: Filson x Wrangler Adventure Jean. Photo credit: Wrangler.com
This sale didn't necessarily get me a discount on the selvedge pair, but since both were $99 at the time you could argue the discount being applied either way (it applies to the cheaper of the two pairs you put in your cart). Technically, the Filson x Wrangler Adventure Jean ended up being the discounted pair at $49 (original retail $244.99).
$99 is the standard price of the 13MWZ selvedge jeans and I don't believe they get discounted but are typically included in bundle sales like the one I bought into.
I didn't buy the 13MWZSEL to replace the standard 13MWZ jeans, but to see what the experience is with a "higher end" pair of jeans meant to have the same fit. If you've been around Splished, you already know we've reviewed Japanese selvedge and Italian selvedge — today, we take a look at budget selvedge denim.
What if Wrangler made a traditional Cowboy Cut jean for the raw denim crowd?
I think you'll find the answer is pretty interesting.
It's a different take on an American classic
If you're unfamiliar with the standard 13MWZ jeans, I'd recommend reading the complete guide first or watching the YouTube video guide.
The 13MWZSEL isn't a replacement for the standard 13MWZ that we all know and love. Instead, it feels like Wrangler looked at their classic Cowboy Cut and asked:
"What if we built it for people who appreciate selvedge denim without changing what makes a Wrangler... a Wrangler?"
For the most part, that's what they've done: made a pair of cowboy cut jeans, but using a selvedge material while keeping it affordable.
Still broken twill — just lighter weight
One misconception I kept seeing online was that Wrangler abandoned broken twill for the selvedge version. After handling the jeans in person, I can confirm these are made of broken twill.
The denim is lighter, at approximately 12.9 oz, than the standard rigid 13MWZ, which is 14.75 oz
It still has the unmistakable texture, hand feel, and visual character of Wrangler's iconic broken twill weave.
Bear in mind, the reps aren't very well trained on product specifications and you can easily find contradictions in their responses.
That lighter weight changes the personality of the jean a little, and the deeper indigo color more so.
The original 13MWZ feels like workwear to a lot of people, whereas the 13MWZSEL feels like something you could comfortably wear all day in town, out to dinner, or casually dressed up with a pair of leather boots.
Personally, I find the 13MWZ to be within the sweet spot of year-round wear, including hot summers, but not everyone is like that. The lighter weight of the selvedge pair can be felt, so if you're particular about staying cool in the summer, these are a good option.
Raw denim without the guesswork
Like the original 13MWZ in the Rigid variant, these are raw denim.
That means the fabric hasn't been prewashed or artificially faded — the deep indigo color will gradually develop its own wear patterns based on how you use the jeans.
The 13MWZSEL is made from sanforized denim.
Sanforization is a controlled pre-shrinking process performed before the jeans are sewn together. The process dramatically reduces future shrinkage, making sizing much more predictable than unsanforized denim, like with Levi's 501 STF.
You can still expect some shrinkage, but nothing like the dramatic changes seen with unsanforized jeans. Think 3% at most if you're washing exclusively in cold water and line drying, and up to 5% if you're washing hotter and using a dryer.
For most people, that's a good thing because you get the satisfaction of breaking in raw denim without wondering whether your jeans will suddenly become two inches too short after a wash or a family member accidentally putting them into the dryer.
The denim is unique-looking
The first thing I noticed after opening the package wasn't the selvedge itself.
It was the color of the denim.
The indigo has a darker, richer appearance than the standard rigid 13MWZ, which tends to fade and wash into a stark lightning blue. The lighter-colored weft of the selvedge denim peeks through the broken twill in a way that's visually unique.
Most selvedge jeans use either right-hand or left-hand twill, giving them a familiar diagonal appearance. Broken twill interrupts that diagonal pattern, producing a texture that's hard not to notice.
Explaining the differences between left-hand, right-hand, and broken twills
Not 100% patterned after the 13MWZ
One of my favorite surprises was the fifth pocket.
On the standard 13MWZ, the coin pocket (aka watch pocket) sits high enough that it's completely hidden underneath a belt. It's still authentic to Wrangler's original design, today, but accessing it isn't especially convenient if you don't need to hide things like cash in there.
The 13MWZSEL moves the pocket slightly lower, with a slant that gives it a subtle downward angle.
It's a small change, but a meaningful improvement. You can actually get your fingers into the pocket while wearing a belt, but you can also opt to hide it if you wear a wide belt, like 1.75".
Wrangler also changed how the pocket is secured: instead of attaching the inside edge to the pocket rivet like the standard 13MWZ, it's bar-tacked together with the belt loop; it's a tiny construction difference that most people will never notice, but it's one of those details that stood out immediately while handling the jeans, and it makes a lot of sense to do it that way because of how the material naturally meets.
The seven belt loops remain unchanged, which I love. I'm unsure if the larger waist sizes come with nine loops, but absolutely let me know and I'll update this section.
Country of Origin
My particular pair was made in Bangladesh. Overall, the construction is good but not great.
The stitching on my pair isn't quite as consistently clean as some of the Mexican-made Wranglers (and other clothing) I've owned. That's been my general experience: Made in Mexico has been an excellent benchmark for craftsmanship, while Bangladesh can vary more cosmetically.
That said, I don't have any concerns about durability.
Measurements
Rigid 13MWZSEL measurements compared against Rigid 13MWZ.
Wrangler 13MWZSEL (31×32) vs 13MWZ (32x32)
| Measurement | 13MWZSEL (31×32) | Standard 13MWZ (32×32) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waist | 33.0" (16.5" flat) | 33.0" (16.5" flat) | 0.0" |
| Inseam | 31.1" | 32.5" | -1.4" |
| Seat | 20.0" | 18.5" | +1.5" |
| Front Rise | 12.0" | 12.1" | -0.1" |
| Back Rise | 15.5" | 16.0" | -0.5" |
| Thigh | 12.4" | 12.3" | +0.1" |
| Knee | 9.9" | 9.25" | +0.65" |
| Bottom Hem Opening | 8.5" | 8.5" | 0.0" |
| Full Length | 41.5" | 42.5" | -1.0" |
Because these jeans use sanforized raw denim, shrinkage should be relatively modest, but peep the differences in the table above. The waist measures the same despite being 1 number size lower, and the inseam is significantly shorter than 32 inches. I attribute this discrepancy to the jeans being made in Bangladesh to be honest, and with standard 13MWZ you can expect the inseam to measure slightly longer than the tag size.
Personally, the inseam is actually right around my preferred length; my natural inseam is around 30.5", so 31.1" works just fine — but I should keep the jeans out of any hot washes and the dryer.
Are the jeans worth $99?
At full retail, the 13MWZSEL costs about three times as much as the standard rigid 13MWZ, at least in the United States where you can find them for $29.99 on Amazon.
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Rigid is around $30, the other colorways typically $45-60
That naturally raises the question: is it three times better? No, of course not.
But it also isn't trying to be.
You're paying for the selvedge denim, the more premium presentation, and a jean that feels just as comfortable in a casual office or weekend dinner as it does with a pair of cowboy boots.
During Wrangler promotions, there are occasionally excellent opportunities to save too. I picked these up alongside the Filson × Wrangler Adventure Jean, stacking a clearance price with Wrangler's "second pair 50% off" promotion. Deals like that are worth watching for if you're considering multiple pairs.
If you're interested in those kinds of sales, it's exactly the sort of thing I share through the Splished newsletter, which you can easily get by joining this site.
Final Thoughts
The Wrangler 13MWZSEL isn't trying to compete with boutique Japanese denim brands, and it doesn't need to.
It offers something surprisingly uncommon: a genuine Wrangler Cowboy Cut with authentic selvedge denim, a rare broken twill construction, sanforized raw fabric, and classic western styling — at a price that's still accessible compared to much of the selvedge market.
If you already love the standard 13MWZ, this feels like the more refined sibling, the one you treat a little more kindly and don't beat up too bad.
If you're new to Wrangler, I'd still recommend starting with the original rigid 13MWZ. It's one of the best values in raw denim, and understanding why that jean has remained virtually unchanged for decades makes the 13MWZSEL even more interesting.
This isn't the Cowboy Cut trying to become Japanese denim. It's Wrangler proving that American denim traditions still have plenty of room to evolve. It's not perfect, but it's not very expensive either. And I can appreciate that.
Watch the YouTube video
Everything about the Wrangler 13MWZ Selvedge jeans
