Review: Defender Jeans from Patriot Jean Co

To set the scene: I’m a powerlifter, a sport which lends itself to having bigger quads and glutes, and being on the larger facet when it comes to waist measurement. For reference, I’m 5’9” (175cm), have a waist measurement of about 35 inches, and an inseam of about 32 inches.

It’s laborious to search out clothes that matches usually, not to mention 100% denim denims: for the longest time, I’ve worn Levis 541 (athletic reduce) in 34×32, that are made with their proprietary stretch denim, totally as a result of different firms don’t actually make something which matches the match of that reduce.

I clearly had many questions on the reported match and construction of the Defender line, since I didn’t need to need to return these after two days of doubtless awkwardly waddling round in too-tight denims.

Fortunate for me, Patriot’s founder Patrick Mate was greater than keen to hop on the cellphone with me for over a half hour and reply each single one among them. He gave me good recommendation for sizing, in addition to critiques and reviews from different Defender wearers about how they match on numerous physique sorts.

I’m not a “quadzilla” (Patrick’s phrase, not mine), so my legs would very seemingly match into these with out a lot of any concern. I actually can not categorical my because of and appreciation for Patrick taking outing of his busy day not as soon as, however twice (don’t fear I’ll get to the second name), to reply all of my (typically silly) questions on denim and Patriot’s denims.

One very helpful and doubtlessly ignored providing from Patriot is their Match Assure: for $3 further (severely, solely $3), in case your new denims don’t match or match bizarre or no matter else, Patriot can pay for the return transport and ship you the following measurement up. In the event you don’t pay the Match Assure, you’re on the hook for return transport. Given the price of USPS transport nowadays, that’s a steal and a half.

As soon as I received the bundle within the mail, I used to be ecstatic. The very first thing of observe is your entire unboxing expertise: from opening the field, to unpacking every thing – sure, there have been stickers! – to really placing the denims on for the primary time, I used to be puffed up the entire method by means of.

As I discussed earlier, discovering denims that match is all the time an journey for me. I put my new Defenders on, and instantly felt proper at residence in them. 100% denim denims take a while to interrupt in, extra so than stretch denims, and these positively did want some break-in earlier than they began to really feel like they do now (I’m sporting them as I write this publish).

The denim was very stiff at first, and sitting down with my knees bent was a bit tough for the primary hour or so. Every part step by step loosened up and conformed to my physique over a couple of days, although. I had one doubtlessly main concern, although: seam slippage.

These denims match my quads a bit of too snugly at first, and induced the outer seams on the higher half of the legs to look like stretching out, which freaked me out at first. I didn’t need to find yourself busting open a pair of denims that shortly.

So, I shot Patrick an e-mail explaining what I used to be seeing, together with footage, to which he in a short time replied that he’d ask his staff and get again to me. A pair days later, he did!

We hopped on the cellphone for a second time, and Patrick defined that seam slippage to a point, particularly in the course of the break-in course of, is totally regular. Not solely that, however to fight doubtlessly busting them open, Patriot’s denims are constructed with an additional security stitching contained in the leg, which reinforces the outer seam.

This was one other half-hour lengthy cellphone name, throughout which a couple of extra questions have been requested and answered, in addition to Patrick genuinely checking that I felt comfy within the denims. Properly, I most definitely do.

Of curiosity in regards to the match: the Defender line is “athletic match,” which means that it has some further room within the crotch, hips, and thighs, with a straight-leg opening under the knee. On me particularly, they’re extra of a mid-rise, and I can comfortably have them cuffed on the ankle or not, relying on how stylish I need to look that day.

The Patriot Defender denims are supremely bolstered. If there’s someplace, anyplace, which might doubtlessly blow out or rip or no matter else, it’s closely bolstered with stitching and additional construction to make sure that every thing stays collectively.

My expertise with Levis tends to contain a blown-out crotch after six to eight months of wear and tear – I put on the identical pair or two of denims each single day, even in the summertime – so having reinforcement the place it counts is a large boon.

The heavier, 14.75oz denim additionally, to my amazement, doesn’t chafe in any respect. Due to a situation referred to as Hyperhidrosis (persistent extreme sweating all over the place even when it’s freezing chilly), I’m a really sweaty dude, so denims chafing is nearly an inevitability. Not with the Defender!

Even on the worst days I’ve worn them, there hasn’t been any chafing in any respect, they usually’ve remained comfy within the face of being on an excessively sizzling New York Metropolis subway, strolling by means of Brooklyn and Manhattan, and even sitting in a heat automobile for seven hours straight (you may guess I used to be sweating one thing fierce). Mainly, should you’re large and sweaty, I can’t suggest these sufficient.

To date, there isn’t something “much less good” about these. Any of my extra minor match points may be simply remedied by really going to the gymnasium and performing some cardio and squats.

As I discussed earlier on, every thing about Patriot Jean Co’s merchandise is made proper right here within the USA. The cotton used within the denim is grown and spun right here, each piece of {hardware} is sourced from US producers, the denims are constructed right here, and Patriot is a U.S. firm the place all designs are made.

It’s really sort-of wild that, with all the processes being Stateside, these pants value as little as they do! Decrease high quality, offshored denims can usually value north of $150, so shopping for Patriot looks like a no brainer to me. These denims will final years.

That is the simplest conclusion ever: I strongly suggest Patriot Jean Co’s Defender collection denims. In the event you like comfy, sturdy, and home-grown denims, these are for you.

The one draw back is that they aren’t obtainable in a darker wash – I put on denims for each event, together with “formal” stuff, so having a second pair which extra readily goes with swimsuit jackets and/or costume and polo shirts could be that significantly better. Patrick, should you’re studying this, hint-hint-nudge-nudge.

I’d prefer to thank Patrick Mate specifically for his time, real kindness, and superb buyer assist pre- and post-purchase. You made this such a simple course of from begin to end, and I hope that you just’re in a position to preserve Patriot Jean Co going for years to come back. I’d additionally prefer to thank Dianna Huff (my mother) for recommending that I strive these and setting me up with a pair.

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