Best Baggy Jeans for Men: The Brands and Fits Worth Buying

The best baggy jeans for men come from brands that cut volume on purpose rather than just sizing up a slim pair: Levi's 578 Baggy, Carhartt WIP's Landon and Brandon, Nudie Jeans Tuff Tony, Stüssy's Big Ol' Jean, Our Legacy's Third Cut, Sunflower's loose and wide fits and Kapital's baggy cuts lead the field, with Lee 101, Levi's Vintage Clothing, Edwin, Naked & Famous, FDMTL and Neighborhood covering the more denim-head end. Below is what each fit actually is, how baggy differs from relaxed, wide and barrel, and how to wear them so they look intentional.

Baggy vs relaxed vs wide leg vs barrel

The words get used loosely, so here is what they usually mean on a size chart.

• Relaxed. More room in the seat and thigh than a regular fit, usually with a taper below the knee. Comfortable, not dramatic.
• Baggy. Generous through the seat and thigh and kept wide to the hem, often sitting a little lower and stacking at the ankle. The volume is the point.
• Wide leg. Defined by the leg opening: the leg stays wide, or widens, from thigh to hem. Can sit high or low.
• Barrel or horseshoe. Fitted at the waist, curving out through the knee, then narrowing again at the ankle, so the leg looks rounded.

A rough rule: relaxed tapers, baggy and wide stay wide, barrel curves.

The best baggy jeans brands and fits

Levi's

Levi's has the most obvious starting point. The 578 Baggy is baggy through the seat and thigh with a straight leg that stacks at the ankle; the 568 Loose Straight is roomy all the way down without quite as much seat. Both are easy, affordable ways into the look. See Levi's jeans.

Levi's Vintage Clothing

Levi's Vintage Clothing reproduces archive Levi's. The 1955 501 is the one to know here: Levi's calls it an "anti-fit", with a looser seat, a fuller leg and a boxy silhouette, in shrink-to-fit selvedge denim. It is roomy rather than baggy, and the vintage cloth fades beautifully.

Carhartt WIP

Carhartt WIP is probably the most worn baggy jean on the street right now. The Landon is wide through the seat, thigh and leg with a slight taper to the ankle; the Brandon is a loose straight fit with a lower waist. Both come in heavy denim and corduroy. Retailers often suggest going down a size in the Brandon. Compare Carhartt WIP jeans.

Nudie Jeans: Tuff Tony

Nudie Jeans Tuff Tony is a loose straight fit with a high waist and a button fly: room over the seat and down the whole leg, with only a slight taper from the knee so it never flares. Nudie offers free repairs on its jeans, which matters if you wear one pair hard. See Nudie jeans.

Stüssy: Big Ol' Jean

Stüssy's Big Ol' Jean is its most relaxed denim: an oversized waist, a roomy thigh and a wide leg in rigid cotton denim. Many owners size down a size to get the waist right and keep the volume.

Our Legacy: Third Cut

Our Legacy's Third Cut is a wide, straight leg with a high rise in non-stretch denim, often in unusual washes and prints. It is the cleanest, most grown-up take on a wide jean in this list. See Our Legacy jeans.

Sunflower

Sunflower is a Danish label with a tight, well-made denim range, named by fit: Loose, Wide Twist (a wide leg with twisted seams), Super Wide and more. Pure Scandinavian minimalism, with plenty of volume.

Kapital

Kapital from Kojima, Japan, cuts several wide and baggy shapes, including the Okabilly and its baggy pants, often with patchwork, repairs and unusual washes. Fits vary a lot by model, so check each one's measurements. Our guide is Kapital worth it? goes deeper.

Lee 101

Lee 101 is Lee's heritage line. Its loose fit has a straight leg with a loose thigh, a wide knee and a wide opening, in rigid selvedge denim: the vintage workwear route to a baggy jean.

Edwin

Edwin, the Japanese denim maker, sells a Wide Pant and a Loose Straight. Shops note that Edwin cuts generously, so take your usual size or one down.

Naked & Famous

Naked & Famous from Montreal is known for its fabrics. Its roomiest fits are the Easy Guy, relaxed in the seat and thigh with a taper, and the Relaxed Guy, which gives the most room through the leg. They are the denim-nerd option: raw, selvedge and often unusual cloth.

FDMTL and Neighborhood

FDMTL is a Japanese label known for boro-style patchwork and sashiko stitching on relaxed denim. Neighborhood, from Tokyo, brings a heavier, washed, biker and military edge. Both are covered in our Japanese streetwear brands guide.

Baggy jeans men's outfits: how to style them

The rule with baggy jeans is that the volume has to look deliberate.

• Balance on top. A boxy tee, a cropped jacket or a short work jacket keeps your proportions. A long, oversized top on top of very wide jeans can swallow you; it works, but only with confidence and good fit at the shoulders.
• Mind the hem. A little stack at the ankle is the look. If the jeans pool over your shoes entirely, take them up or cuff them once.
• Pick chunky shoes. Skate shoes, trail runners, chunky sneakers or boots hold their own under a wide leg. Slim, low shoes disappear. Browse men's sneakers for the right weight.
• Streetwear route. Baggy jeans, a heavyweight hoodie or graphic tee, a cap and skate shoes. See our best heavyweight hoodies guide.
• Smarter route. Our Legacy or LVC jeans with a knit, a chore coat and leather shoes or boots.

How to style barrel jeans

Barrel jeans need a defined waist, so tuck or half-tuck a shirt or fitted tee, or wear a short jacket that stops at the belt. Keep the top simple and let the leg shape show. Chunky sneakers or loafers both work, since the narrow ankle shows off the shoe.

Sizing baggy jeans

Most baggy fits are cut big on purpose, so start with your true waist size and check the shop's measurements for the rise, thigh and leg opening. Size down only when the waist is too loose; sizing up for "more baggy" usually just gives you a waist you need a belt to hold. Raw and rigid denim stretches a little in the waist with wear, while unsanforized denim (some Levi's Vintage Clothing, some Japanese cloth) shrinks on its first soak, so read the label.

Compare prices and find your size

Baggy jeans sell out by waist and length fast. On Kounter Kulture every pair shows each shop's price and which sizes are in stock. Start with men's jeans and filter by brand and size, or jump straight to a brand above.

Questions people ask

What are the best baggy jeans for men?

Levi's 578 Baggy for value, Carhartt WIP Landon for streetwear, Nudie Tuff Tony for a high-waisted loose straight leg, and Our Legacy Third Cut for a cleaner wide leg.

Should I size up for baggy jeans?

Usually not. Baggy fits are cut with the volume built in. Buy your waist size and size down if the brand runs large, as Stüssy and Carhartt WIP often do.

What shoes go with baggy jeans?

Chunky or substantial shoes: skate shoes, trail runners, chunky sneakers, boots. Very slim shoes get lost under the leg.

Are baggy jeans still in style?

Yes. Relaxed, baggy and wide legs have replaced skinny jeans as the default in menswear and streetwear, and brands from Levi's to Our Legacy now build their ranges around them.

What is the difference between baggy and relaxed jeans?

Relaxed jeans give room in the seat and thigh and usually taper below the knee. Baggy jeans keep the volume all the way to the hem.