IH-666 vs IH-461? Best pair for pull-on boots?
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Hey all,
I'm pretty new to IH gear, and I'm trying to figure out (and rationalize :D) my first pair of IH jeans. I own a number of IH jackets and shirts, but oddly enough I've never bought any of the jeans. Go figure.
I wear boots every day, usually a Wesco 7500 or Mr. Lou, so I need a minimum of a 9" hem to for a pull-on boot underneath. I have traditionally worn a Levi 527 slim boot cut or a Wrangler slim boot cut, so I've generally had a little flare. The IH-461 would seem like the obvious choice, but when I measured a good fitting pair of non-stretch 527's, I noticed that they really weren't that different from a 666 either.
Can anyone impart any wisdom as to what works well with boots? The IH-634 looks wider in the leg/knee than what I like, but perhaps it's just the stock photo?
My tag size 36x32 Levi 527's (measured the IH way) are as follows when worn and stretched out :
Waist - 19 inches across
Front Rise - 11 3/8"
Back Rise - 16 1/4"
Thigh - 13"
Knee - 9 1/4"
Hem - 9 1/2"
Inseam - 32.5" -
I wear Wesco boots almost every day in the 666. It's my favorite Iron Heart cut.
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I've worn cowboy boots with 634's, 1955's, 888's and the long gone beetle busters.
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IH-461 was my first IH buy.
I was looking for quality bootcut jeans, for the sane reason you do. I heard about IH as a rare brand having bootcuts.
I love the fact that the flare isn't too obvious, but the top block is not the most comfortable for me : if the waist is right, I barely can fit my ass in it, walking is fine but climbing stairs can be tricky (especially with my habit of climbing 2 at once)
As @sabergirl said, the IH-463 is much more forgiving without being baggy, a bit more slim than a levis 527 (that I wore too for years before IH). Sadly it's not often available, and you don't have a choice in denim, so I have several 666's too. 666's are great for non bootcuts jeans, you can fit boots in them but it's snug, at least in my 33 waist size.
If we had 25oz 463's I wouldn't wear any other cut
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Wow, thank you all for the advice. I'm on the fence about the 666 because of the hem width. I really need at least a 9" hem My problem is exacerbated by the fact that I have size 13 feet, so my boot shafts are larger than most.
I just read a bunch of threads about the 666 - can anyone tell me if the 666 top block is as snug as the 461? Does the 666 have a higher rise? The 463 is another option I had totally ignored - the pictures make them look much looser than the measurements suggest.
Also, for the sake of reference, my 527s are recent ones. The 527s from 10 years ago were much baggier - back when they called them a "low rise boot cut" instead of the current name "slim boot cut". I remember when the cut changed, I didn't like them for a few years until I got used to a closer fit.
The measurements of my stretched out size 36 527s line up with a pair of size 38 IH-461s. Since the new pair will be un-stretched, I think the 38 will end up being too big in the waist. A pair of size 36 666s supposedly measure 37" in the waist - does this storms right uf my real waist measurement is 38"?
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One more shout for the 463! Amazing cut.
The 666 top block is trim but I suspect more forgiving than the 461. I find the 666 to have the best top block of all IH cuts. Think Steve McQueen at Le Mans. Unless you are “blessed” with junk in the trunk it is not too trim at all.
Wearing boots with the 666 is definitely doable, even with big shafts. I have a pair of custom Boss in rough out oil tanned leather (Wesco’s thickest), that are also lined and have pull up straps on the side. There is no conflict with the hem of the jeans.
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Does the 666 have a higher rise?
Run a compare ….
https://www.ironheart.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=12249.0
Done it for you.....
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@Giles , thank you for the comparison, I need to utilize that feature more often rather than jumping back and forth between tabs. Part of the reason I'm asking the group is that I am trying to understand things that the measurements might not tell me. For example, is the top block on the 666 more forgiving than the 461? More comfortable perhaps? The measurements appear to be similar in many areas, but the general opinion seems to be that the 666 is more comfortable.
Do heavyweight jeans tend to feel or fit a bit more tight for their given measurement than a lighter weight fabric? I feel like I notice this with Iron Heart shirts - 12oz shirts seems to fit a bit more closely than a lighter weight shirt of the same measurements. I'm coming from Levi 527s and Wrangler slim boot cuts, but in their more fashion based "retro" line, so I'm used to 12-13oz denim in most things. I've also gotten used to having a tiny bit of stretch most of the time (1% spandex 99% cotton), so I'm trying to remember that I need a little more room in a 100% cotton jean. The stretch is mainly to help me not blow out crotches getting in and out of the car.
My actual waist measurement is 38" right now - admittedly, I'm trying to lose a few pounds/inches, but is the general rule to try and buy selvedge jeans about an inch too small in the waist? So if I wanted a pair that fit my current measurements, I'd want a 37" waist measurement?
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I believe you’re overthinking this a tad, but we all do when trying to work out sizing for expensive denim.
You have posted very specific measurements for a pair of Levi’s, above. If these fit exactly how you want them, then choose a jean with measurements similar to that, and “voila!”. If you’re getting the flagship 21oz denim (666s-21 or 461s), you will get an inch or a little more stretch in the waist. They will also stretch a little bit in the thigh and knee.
As for the cut, branch out a little and scope 634, and 463 before you pull the trigger. Don’t forget to look at the rise measurements, too. The denim weight will influence the way it feels a little bit, but with 21oz you’re still getting a pretty soft and wearable denim.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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@sabergirl , absolutely, I am overthinking this.
It is fueled by the fact that in my other purchases, I have been surprised many times how differently items fit in spite of careful measurements. Add to this the fact that hemmed jeans are non-returnable.
Thanks again for your patience with the newbie.
