Size comfy or stretch to fit?
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@long_john86 yeah I always presoak before first wear. Tightening achieved can vary based on type of denim. But has always worked well for me.
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When I was younger I sized for stretch because I was super skinny. I never even looked at the thigh measurements because it didn’t matter. Now in my mid 30s. I size TTS because I recognize my body is continuing to grow and change. I’m also lifting more. I’ve gone from tag 32 to 34 to 36. My bigger sizes get more wear for sure.
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I’m 57 … I buy them to be comfortable from the beginning.
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When I was younger I’d try to get away with the smallest size possible, now I find I need them comfortable from day 1. I no longer have the heart to wear them until they get comfortable-ish(it’s never as comfortable as if you just went a size larger)
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Always comfort. First I never ended up happy when I bought stuff with the hope that it will fit after some effort and second I don't like very fitted looks on myself.
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For my body shape and fit of jeans I prefer, I choose slightly undersized in 634’s and true to size for 666’s with the type of material being a huge factor as well. There is a little wiggle room for me in the legs with the 634’s allowing me to undersize. I can not do that with the 666’s.
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I size my IH jeans based on thigh and knee measurement first then the waist. This almost always means the 888 or 634 cut for me. As others have said, the material is significant consideration. For example, 21oz stretches the most from my experience. As for comfy versus stretch, I prefer to seek measurements that favor a slight amount of stretch required. I am usually not happy with the fit when the measurements are too comfy from the start.
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Reading what others have said, I feel like my opinion on this maybe falls somewhere in the middle. I don’t think buying jeans that are uncomfortable in the beginning — and I mean actually restrictive and not fun to wear — is ever a great idea. I’ve done that in the past and don’t think it ever came out well in the end. That said, I do believe that some degree of snugness to start is good, because in my experience, 99% of denim stretches at least a little. I’ve even had jeans that stretch significantly almost within the first half hour of walking around in them.
Just like @Bums_Fan above, I’ve never had a good time with a pair that was too comfy from the get go, as it usually became pretty obvious that they’d stretch to a level that looked kind of dumpy.
My usual method is to measure the waist of a pair I own that are already well worn and comfortable, then buy roughly a half inch down on the chart waist measurement. There are exceptions to this in both directions: 21oz I probably buy a bit smaller because it stretches more, and XHS I buy as close to my comfy waist measurement as I can find, as they shrink to snug after the first hot soak, then stretch back up to that comfy initial chart size, but usually not much more (if any). But overall, I feel like planning for a bit of stretch is the move. Nothing crazy, but that allowance has always been worthwhile for me.
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So in terms of fitting. It's pretty safe with a fabric like the 21oz to size it so they are snug, maybe even slightly restrictive when bending the legs or sitting, but the jeans should not feel tight. Is that about right? I typically have issues with the thigh and knee area, but if I buy a waist size that is comfy or even slightly too large, in a month I get gapping and bunched up fabric in the top block. It results in a less than ideal fit. Any thoughts on this from those who have worn the 21oz jeans for a long time? For example, for a waist measuring 34 inches that fits me nice and comfortable, is it best to get a 33 inch waist to start even if things are a bit snug (not overly tight) in other areas of the jeans?