IH-666-XHS - 25oz Selvedge Denim Slim Straight Cut Jeans - Indigo
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Out of the 1,460 days since I bought them, I would say these have been worn at least 1,000 days.
These are my "art jeans" now, so I subject them to the heaviest wear of all. They are indestructible. The hem looks ragged (and I have just trimmed the extras away so they look much neater now), but all those threads are from the very bottom, not up near the actual chainstitch. The hem stitching is still totally intact. I had them hemmed again by my tailor with a "lock-stitch" over-top-of the chain-stitch, so it wouldn't unravel, and they have held up beautifully for years and years. Two small repairs in the crotch to date, nothing else. I send all my jeans to self-edge at the first sign of a hole forming, so the repairs are tiny, and have held up perfectly.
Lots of soaks and washes. Never tumbled.
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That's awesome man! It looks like they have many more years of life left in them! Can't wait to see mine after 4 years!
IG - @leatherdenimboots
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no doubt! those look great! yep. need to get mine hemmed.
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Bear in mind that these will evolve into a more natural stack. There are ways to secure the best creases/fit (wearing when slightly damp after soaking/washing (but even then you must be careful still even further with the buttonhole stitching because they can get damaged with the abrasion and the button and being new and new-ish, so be aware), knee/hem-stack scrunching when putting on shoes, particular storage/folding/never folding etc.) but it depends how much attention you want to give it 8):-X
This is how they look new in 01/12:
This is at 6 months:
Beat it on down the line, 1.5years:
Here and Now:
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Haha @denimeric, just what a wife would say to a denimhead husband. I know so well what you mean, except for the lack of a wife…..
So I produce the occasional feeling weird and somewhat guilty about loving the denim feel so much myself.....but enjoying it the other 99,5% of the time with no remorse
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My wife just told me to stop stroking my own ass… :-[, it's just that this denim feels so good…she doesn't understand.... I love this jeans.
[/quote]And since it won't make sense otherwise, here's the quote I was referring to….
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with 8111 IR's (~2 years old; 3 Saddlesoap scrubs / Obenaufs applications)
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Thanks! But they are the 634-xhs
I simply wanted to answer the call for evo pics, someone had to do it! 
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<–guilty. wanted to see non cuff.
great pics and many thanks for posting them!
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** Quick update on the war **
- Me (size 31). Opponent: IH 666XHS (size 30)
- After ~14 days of normal wear and a few lunges, the top block FINALLY relented and stretched a bit.
- I am going to take some measurements and post for reference, when I get home this evening.
- The waist didn't take long to stretch and by the end of the first day, fit well.
- The block - through the hips - was the most painful point. 12 days before I felt relief. 14 before comfort.
- Didn't wash, didn't soak. Didn't do anything unusual. Just lots of sitting upright and walking.
In all, I'd recommend IH consider creating a roomier top block for those folks looking for a tapered fit through the legs without giving up comfort in the hips. The size 32 fits well (e.g. relaxed fit) through the top block but I'm not as happy with the fit through the legs. Just personal preference and no, I'm not looking for "yoga pant" fit.
Best part of the entire battle? I find a reason to love each pair I own, for unique reasons! As much as I love the fit of the 666XHS in 30 (I paid the pain tax in full), I throw on the 32s and feel perfectly content.
Hope this helps someone that might be between sizes.
Happy New Year!
KS
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The IH633 in XHS would be the perfect Jean!
IG - @leatherdenimboots
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ksozay and I have been commiserating about the break-in process on the 666XHS. I sized down (regretfully) to a 30 and never dedicated enough time to stretch them out. I wore them on nights and weekends for the first few months I had them, but that did little to break these bastards.
I currently can't wear them to work. I tried recently. I'm usually up and down a ladder 100 times and only being able to move from the knees down makes that a little difficult.
So far, I've only done one pre-wear soak. Will another soak help soften these up enough to jump-start the break -in?
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25oz is 25oz, ain't gonna get any lighter no matter how many soaks. The soft, pajama-likeness is a ways away, but you'll get there.
However, you can take advantage of the stretching properties of slightly-damp denim:
-Soak jeans. Doesn't have to be long-time, just thoroughly soaked. OR, you could just soak the top-block area and leave everything else dry, since you only need waist-stretch.
-When you hang jeans to dry, give some tugs around the waistband to stretch out the denim in that area. You do not need to pull on the jeans recklessly. I divide the waistband into parts and incrementally go about "tugging" on each part and work my way around.
-Dry until slightly damp. Damp enough that they are cold to the touch, but not so wet that water gets squeezed out when you button them. Go easy on the buttonhole stitching while damp.
-Do calisthenics, or take or walk, or squat for a little bit, or sit down for a little bit, whatever feels like its working ;D. When wet, the denim can stretch a bit easier and quicker. See how it goes.
-OR, you can go about it like some other folk, who rig up a stretching apparatus, 2x4 or some more advanced contraption that works like a tire-jack from the inside of the waistband. Can't comment on these (barbaric) methods, as I've never used them.
