First post here... Hello everybody.

So I just thought I'd share my journey thus far... Jeans - tag size 28 - were delivered last week. Promptly got into them and while it wasn't much effort getting in or out the jeans I struggled significantly with the buttoning so much so that I, right there and then, sold the jeans to my nephew with caveat that he takes possession of it when he pays me. I then went about enquiring about a larger size from the Iron Heart Crew...

A day or so later a friend of mine comes over, has a look at the jeans and opines there is no way these jeans are too small for me. It appears to him that I'm just afraid of the stiffness and that I should drink a cup of concrete and get on with it. Motivated by my best friend calling me a wimp I set about getting this done. Slip into it, thighs are bit tight but there is room. Cannot get the bottom button done once again... So I slip out of them, button the bottom button first before I get into them again. Here we go... 2nd button done, take breath, 3rd button done and while we're at it top button done. Fingernails have a blue tint from the indigo and I can almost watch a blister develop on my left index finger coupled with what I can only describe as sinew pain in my fingers. There's a little pressure where the jeans rests and around my hip but my movement is not restricted in any manner so my friend and I set off on a walk. I wear the jeans for rest of the evening and when it comes time for bed I take them off and hang them up. Get up the next morning, have another mini fight with the buttons but this time it goes much smoother and wear them around the house.

It was at this point when I started contemplating whether or not I should wear these dry or if I should do the soak. I decide to go with the soak… The thermostat for my geyser is set to 50 degrees and I run a bath of hot water and soak the jeans inside out for an hour and proceed to hang dry. Didn't get much shrink in the waist maybe .5 of an inch but the inseam definitely shrunk by the advertised 1 inch.

Post soak I have now worn the jeans on 2 consecutive days after hours when going for a walk and I must say that the soak softened the jeans up somewhat making the wearing experience easier and like @CosmoSix5 I have managed to get a surprising amount of stretch in the waist, so much so that I have to pull the jeans up after a few strides. I have a belt on order and should be arriving soon.

That said, I think I've found my jeans brand for the foreseeable future and the 777 appears to be my cut. I could not be more happy with the fit even though this break in process is chewing the backs of my knees alive and pocket use is a mission.

I will post some fit pics over the weekend.

I'd also like to thank the entire Iron Heart Crew who've helped me get this journey started. Your customer service is outstanding.

PS, I'm wearing this pair for fades and any advice on a pair that stays crisp longer would be welcome. I believe the 17N is stubborn when it comes to shedding indigo as well as the 21S.

@goosehd said in IH-777-XHS - 25oz Selvedge Denim Super Slim Tapered Jeans - Indigo:

@FezzaZA Fades come with time and wear. Wash them when they are dirty…pretty simple approach that works for many.

Others just wear them and only wash them when they absolutely have to. Some don’t even do that…

Your jeans, your choice.

Great write up and thanks for sharing. Good luck in your journey.

@Alex said in IH-777-XHS - 25oz Selvedge Denim Super Slim Tapered Jeans - Indigo:

@FezzaZA great to see you on the forum now, too! Glad you persevered and are happy with the fit.

Thanks gentlemen.

Glad to be here and glad my friend showed up when he did. He's a biker and wears some heavy stuff too.

@goosehd, while I will be wearing this pair for fades, I have always been of the opinion that jeans get washed when necessary. If that is 1 week or 6 months doesn't really matter to me. I'm not going to be getting all scientific about this.

@Jett129 Thanks for the advise, but it in my instance it wasn't just the buttons. I had underestimated the unforgiving nature of the fabric so much so that I believed the jeans were too small.

I don't carry much in the way of body fat and I typically range between 12 - 18% body fat. I'm currently on the softer side so I'm more or less on the higher end of that spectrum (I like the way I look at about 15%) but going off measurements alone the jeans should and do fit. I had just got it in my mind that they were too small due to my struggle with the getting them buttoned.

Once that hurdle was breached it was all fine, even after the shrinkage of the hot soak. Go figure...

To put into perspective, with the first button buttoned and it will remain that way (I hate that button), I can currently slide my hand and forearm about halfway down my thigh with the jeans on. That's how much room is available 3 wears after the soak.

If I get myself down to 12% body fat I'd have to get a smaller size if Iron Heart made them.

@goosehd said in IH-777-XHS - 25oz Selvedge Denim Super Slim Tapered Jeans - Indigo:

@FezzaZA Fades come with time and wear. Wash them when they are dirty…pretty simple approach that works for many.

Others just wear them and only wash them when they absolutely have to. Some don’t even do that…

Your jeans, your choice.

Great write up and thanks for sharing. Good luck in your journey.

@Alex said in IH-777-XHS - 25oz Selvedge Denim Super Slim Tapered Jeans - Indigo:

@FezzaZA great to see you on the forum now, too! Glad you persevered and are happy with the fit.

Thanks gentlemen.

Glad to be here and glad my friend showed up when he did. He's a biker and wears some heavy stuff too.

@goosehd, while I will be wearing this pair for fades, I have always been of the opinion that jeans get washed when necessary. If that is 1 week or 6 months doesn't really matter to me. I'm not going to be getting all scientific about this.

First post here... Hello everybody.

So I just thought I'd share my journey thus far... Jeans - tag size 28 - were delivered last week. Promptly got into them and while it wasn't much effort getting in or out the jeans I struggled significantly with the buttoning so much so that I, right there and then, sold the jeans to my nephew with caveat that he takes possession of it when he pays me. I then went about enquiring about a larger size from the Iron Heart Crew...

A day or so later a friend of mine comes over, has a look at the jeans and opines there is no way these jeans are too small for me. It appears to him that I'm just afraid of the stiffness and that I should drink a cup of concrete and get on with it. Motivated by my best friend calling me a wimp I set about getting this done. Slip into it, thighs are bit tight but there is room. Cannot get the bottom button done once again... So I slip out of them, button the bottom button first before I get into them again. Here we go... 2nd button done, take breath, 3rd button done and while we're at it top button done. Fingernails have a blue tint from the indigo and I can almost watch a blister develop on my left index finger coupled with what I can only describe as sinew pain in my fingers. There's a little pressure where the jeans rests and around my hip but my movement is not restricted in any manner so my friend and I set off on a walk. I wear the jeans for rest of the evening and when it comes time for bed I take them off and hang them up. Get up the next morning, have another mini fight with the buttons but this time it goes much smoother and wear them around the house.

It was at this point when I started contemplating whether or not I should wear these dry or if I should do the soak. I decide to go with the soak… The thermostat for my geyser is set to 50 degrees and I run a bath of hot water and soak the jeans inside out for an hour and proceed to hang dry. Didn't get much shrink in the waist maybe .5 of an inch but the inseam definitely shrunk by the advertised 1 inch.

Post soak I have now worn the jeans on 2 consecutive days after hours when going for a walk and I must say that the soak softened the jeans up somewhat making the wearing experience easier and like @CosmoSix5 I have managed to get a surprising amount of stretch in the waist, so much so that I have to pull the jeans up after a few strides. I have a belt on order and should be arriving soon.

That said, I think I've found my jeans brand for the foreseeable future and the 777 appears to be my cut. I could not be more happy with the fit even though this break in process is chewing the backs of my knees alive and pocket use is a mission.

I will post some fit pics over the weekend.

I'd also like to thank the entire Iron Heart Crew who've helped me get this journey started. Your customer service is outstanding.

PS, I'm wearing this pair for fades and any advice on a pair that stays crisp longer would be welcome. I believe the 17N is stubborn when it comes to shedding indigo as well as the 21S.