Man wearing dark Levi's 550 relaxed-fit jeans, a white T-shirt, a dark denim trucker jacket, and white sneakers, standing against a white background.

How to Choose Your Levi's or Dockers Fit

Walk into our shop on Elkhorn Avenue in Estes Park and you will hear the same good question we have been answering for years: which Levi's or Dockers fit is actually going to work? This guide covers only the fits we carry, and it starts with how the pants sit on your body. Come try a pair on, or call us at 1-800-679-3600 with a waist, an inseam, and a sense of how you like jeans or khakis to feel. We ship from Estes Park.

Levi's straight and original fits

The Levi's 501 Original Fit is the starting point for a reason. It sits at the waist, runs regular through the thigh, and stays straight to a classic opening that works over boots or sneakers. The button fly is the giveaway. We also carry Shrink-to-Fit 501s, untreated denim that shrinks when you wash it. Follow the sizing notes on that product page instead of treating it like a prewashed pair.

The Levi's 505 Straight Leg lives in the same family, with a zipper fly and a bit more room through the thigh. If you want a clean straight leg that still fits over boots, the 505 is often the easier everyday choice. Both are straight legs. Neither is slim, and neither flares at the ankle.

Bootcut, relaxed, slim, and athletic

Need room for a boot? Look at the Levi's 517 bootcut, comfortable through the seat and thigh, then a distinctive flare from the knee down. We also carry the Levi's 715 Women's Classic BootCut, fitted through the hip and thigh with a gentle flare at the hem.

How Dockers names its fits

Dockers uses a simple letter system on many of its Signature Khakis. In our shop, that looks like this:

  • D1 Slim Fit — slim through the seat and thigh, with a straight leg.
  • D2 Straight Fit — straight through the seat and thigh with a clean, easy leg.
  • D3 Classic Fit — the original Dockers khaki silhouette, often with a pleated front. We also carry D3 flat-front and iron-free styles.
  • D4 Relaxed Fit — more room through the seat and thigh. The True Chino Relaxed Fit (style 40696) is a flat-front version of that easier cut, in a wrinkle-resistant fabric.

If a letter code is not on the label, read the fit in the name. "Straight," "classic," and "relaxed" describe how much room you get through the hip and thigh. We also carry Dockers Individual Fit khakis, a women's Metro Trouser, and boys' husky and regular khakis.

A few practical ways to choose

Start with how pants feel at the thigh, not just the waist on the tag. A 501 and a 511 can share a waist number and still feel completely different. If you wear boots, a straight 501 or 505 or a 517 bootcut will clear the shaft; a slim 511 may not. For a pressed khaki, choose a Dockers classic or straight fit. For more room, reach for a 550, a 559, or a Dockers relaxed or D4 chino.

Ready to find a pair? Browse our Levi's collection and our Dockers collection, or start with two reliable reference fits: the 501 Original Fit and the Dockers True Chino Relaxed Fit. You can also shop all of our pants, jeans, and other bottoms. Questions about a waist or inseam? Call us at 1-800-679-3600.

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