Men's 501 Original Thermodapt Jeans vs Men's Straight Fit Jeans: which is safer?
Levi's Men's 501 Original Thermodapt Jeans is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Our pick
Levi's
Men's 501 Original Thermodapt Jeans
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleAzo dyes and color fastness
PossibleFormaldehyde residues from finishing
PossibleDegradation and microfiber shedding
Patagonia
Men's Straight Fit Jeans
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleAzo dyes and indigo dyestuff
PossibleFormaldehyde resins in sizing and finishing
PossibleFiber shedding and microfiber release
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Azo dyes and color fastness, Formaldehyde residues from finishing and Degradation and microfiber shedding on the Levi's and not on the Patagonia.
- We flag Azo dyes and indigo dyestuff, Formaldehyde resins in sizing and finishing, Fiber shedding and microfiber release and Pesticide residues in conventional cotton (if not organic) on the Patagonia and not on the Levi's.
- The Levi's is 100% cotton denim, no disclosed water-resistant treatment where the Patagonia is cotton denim, no durable water repellent (DWR) coating, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- These two are level, close enough that price and fit should decide it rather than our grade.
Both products run through the same public rubric: materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →
More stain-resistant jeans: see the full ranking