Levi's 501 Original Straight Jeans vs J1 Straight Leg Jeans for Tall Men

Buy the Levi's 501 if you want the original straight-fit jean with a known cut, a button fly and a hint of stretch, and you fall in its size range. Buy the J1 if you are 6'3" to 7'1" and standard inseams leave you with high-water cuffs; its 36" to 40" inseams and extra room through the hips and thighs solve a fit problem the 501 does not address. The 501 has the longer track record and wider resale and repair support; the J1 is a niche tall-fit brand with a smaller but solid 4.5-out-of-5 rating from 288 buyers.

• Choose the Levi's 501 if you want the classic straight-leg cut, a button fly and a brand with decades of fit consistency behind it.
• Choose the J1 if you are 6'3" or taller and need a 36" to 40" inseam with more room in the hips and thighs.