Testing Every Pair of High Street Jeans So You Don’t Have To (Spoiler: Some Are Actually Good)

I'm standing in the fourth changing room of the day at an M&S in Plano, trying on what feels like the hundredth pair of jeans this month. My legs are tired, Jackson keeps texting me asking when I'll be home to help with his science project, and I'm starting to question my life choices. But here's the thing – I'm doing this because my buddy Mike sent me a photo of his jeans literally falling apart during a parent-teacher conference. The crotch just… gave up. Right there in front of Mrs. Peterson while discussing his kid's math grades.

"Dude, these cost me $180 six months ago," he texted. "Tell me there's something decent I can buy that won't destroy my budget or fall apart when I bend over to pick up Goldfish crackers for the fifteenth time today."

And that's how I ended up on this denim quest that's taken over my weekends for the past month. Twelve different stores, way too many pairs of jeans, and more time in fitting rooms than any dad should have to endure. All to answer what should be simple: can you actually get decent jeans on the high street in 2024 without going broke?

Look, I'm not expecting miracles here. I know $50 jeans aren't going to be the same as those fancy Japanese ones that cost more than my monthly grocery budget. But they should at least survive Sophie using my leg as a tissue, hold their shape after I've crawled around on the playground, and not fade to some weird purple color after three washes. That's not asking too much, right?

Let me start with the biggest surprise – M&S actually makes decent jeans now. I know, I know, it's where your dad shops for his sensible cardigans. But their selvedge range is legitimately good. The pair I'm wearing right now is 99% cotton with just 1% elastane, which gives you enough stretch to chase a toddler around without feeling like you're wearing cardboard. The weight feels substantial – proper denim, not that tissue-paper stuff you get at some places.

What really impressed me was the construction. Chain-stitched hems, reinforced pocket corners, proper bartack stitching where the stress points are. These are details you usually find on jeans that cost twice as much. At £65 (about $80), they're not the cheapest option, but they're built like they might actually survive Jackson's growth spurt and Sophie's sticky fingers.

My neighbor Dave, who's weirdly obsessed with denim and owns more pairs than my wife has shoes, grudgingly admitted he bought a pair. "I wouldn't post about them on the raw denim forums," he said, "but honestly? They're better made than some $200 pairs I've had that fell apart after a year."

The fit is what I'd call dad-friendly – straight cut that's not too loose, not too tight, with enough room in the thigh for those of us who actually use our legs for things other than walking to coffee shops. Perfect for the school pickup where you need to look like you have your life together but might also need to sprint after a runaway kindergartener.

Next up is Uniqlo, which isn't exactly a secret anymore but deserves mention. Their selvedge jeans at $49.90 feel like stealing. I mean, the fabric has that proper stiff feel when new that breaks in beautifully over time. I've got a pair that's almost three years old now – they've developed those natural fade patterns that denim nerds get excited about. Wallet outline on the back pocket, honeycomb creases behind the knees, subtle fading on the thighs. They look like jeans that have lived a life, you know?

The downside is limited fits. If you don't fit their regular or slim cuts, you're out of luck. And their slim is actually slim – great if you've got runner's legs, potentially embarrassing if you don't. I tried them on right after a weekend of Sophie's birthday party leftovers and… let's just say the fit was more "painted on" than "tailored."

Here's where I'm going to lose some of you – ARKET, which is basically H&M's attempt at being grown-up, actually makes solid jeans. Their Regular Jeans in rigid denim run about $95, and they're the closest thing I found to premium denim without the premium price tag. 100% cotton, no stretch, which means they need breaking in like proper raw denim.

Yeah, that means a week or two of slight discomfort while they mold to your body. Lauren laughed at me hobbling around the house those first few days. "You look like a cowboy who's been on his horse too long," she said. But once they break in? They're incredible. Copper rivets, chain-stitched waistband, selvedge details, and a cut that somehow looks modern without being trendy.

These are what I'd call adult jeans. No unnecessary stitching details, no weird washes, no contrast threading. Just well-made jeans that let the fabric and construction do the talking. Perfect for video calls where I need to look professional from the waist up but comfortable enough for a full day of work-from-home chaos.

Now here's my most controversial take – Zara's Premium Denim Collection isn't terrible. I can hear the collective gasp from anyone who cares about clothing quality. Yes, it's fast fashion. Yes, the company has questionable practices. But at $55, their slim fit 100% cotton option offers decent value if you're on a tight budget and can't justify spending more.

Will they last five years? Probably not. I'd guess about 18 months of regular wear before you notice fading or fit issues. But the price-to-quality ratio isn't awful, especially if you're someone who likes to switch styles more often. I bought a pair to test and they've survived six months of dad life so far, including multiple playground sessions and several instances of Sophie using them as a napkin.

The fit is where Zara excels. Their slim cut somehow works on most body types – creates a clean line that works with sneakers or boots, making them more versatile than some higher-priced options. Just be warned about color transfer in the early days. My white office chair still has a faint blue tint from the first week I wore them.

On the disappointing side, let's talk about what used to be Topman, now absorbed into ASOS. The quality has taken a nosedive. I tried on three different styles and apparently my waist ranges from 32 to 36 inches depending on which cut I picked, which is physically impossible unless I'm having some kind of dimensional shift between fitting rooms. The fabric felt thin, already showing stress lines just from trying them on, and the construction looked like it would give up the moment I crouched down to tie Jackson's shoes.

River Island was similarly disappointing. The jeans looked promising hanging there, but once I got them on, all the flaws became obvious. Thin fabric, questionable stitching, and a weird fit that was tight in the calf but baggy at the knee. At $55, they're not cheap enough to justify these compromises. Save your money.

COS surprised me though. Their straight-fit jeans at about $95 hit a sweet spot between fast fashion and premium denim. The fabric has real weight to it – feels substantial, like it could handle actual wear. The construction shows attention to detail with proper chain-stitched hems and reinforced pockets.

What I really appreciate about COS is the relaxed fit. Most high street options are still stuck in the skinny-jean era, despite everyone claiming wide-leg is the new thing. These have room to breathe without looking baggy. They also offer different lengths, which is huge for someone like me who's 6'1" and usually stuck between regular jeans that are too short and long ones that need hemming.

Here's my most controversial opinion – Next makes decent jeans now. Yeah, Next. Where middle-aged dads buy their work shirts and sensible jumpers. Their selvedge denim at $55 is legitimately good, especially in the straight fit. I was skeptical too. Last time I bought Next jeans was years ago in desperation, and they developed a catastrophic failure within two days.

But credit where it's due – they've stepped up their game. The fabric ages well, construction is solid if not spectacular, and the price represents genuine value. I wouldn't choose them over M&S or Uniqlo, but if you're already there buying school uniform stuff for the kids, they're worth considering.

After all this research, I reported back to Mike. He was dubious, especially about M&S. "That's where my dad shops," he protested. But he eventually tried a pair. Three weeks later, another text – this time a thumbs up. "You were right. Bought two more pairs and still spent less than those designer ones that fell apart." Success.

The truth about high street jeans in 2024 is that there are genuine good options hiding among all the cheap, thin, polyester-heavy stuff that dominates most stores. The sweet spot seems to be $65-100, where they're not cutting quite so many corners and someone's actually thought about fabric quality and construction.

My final ranking if you want the short version: M&S Selvedge and Uniqlo Selvedge tie for best value-to-quality ratio. ARKET comes second for the most premium experience at a reasonable price. COS takes third for anyone wanting a more relaxed fit. Next and Zara round out the "worth considering" category, with everything else falling into "buyer beware" territory.

The real revelation is how much things have changed. Five years ago, this would've been an article warning you away from high street denim entirely. The gap between affordable and premium has shrunk as retailers figured out that guys actually know what quality looks like now and will pay a bit more for something that lasts.

Are any of these going to develop the character and durability of $300 artisanal jeans? Of course not. But they don't need to. What they offer is solid middle ground – jeans that won't fall apart after three washes, that keep their shape reasonably well, and won't force you to eat ramen for a month to justify the purchase.

In a world where everything costs more and family budgets are tight, finding that middle ground matters. So next time your jeans give up during an important moment – whether that's a work meeting or just bending over to pick up toys for the hundredth time today – you'll know where to look. Just be prepared to spend way more time in changing rooms than any reasonable person should have to endure. My Saturday afternoons may never recover.