Last year I got a new pair of 501's here at Amazon. After 13 months (worn maybe once a week), they ripped at the crotch. Conveniently, this was just past the replacement deadline.

What kind of 501's rip? I wasn't doing anything out of the ordinary. I was on my knees, painting a baseboard, went to move a foot or two down the wall and "RRRRIP", two inch tear in the crotch. I needed to get the work done, so I kept going. Within a half hour the tear was about 8 inches long starting from the bottom of the fly to half way down my thigh.

BUT. I give 4 stars instead of 2 because they discontinued the version I had, "Quartz Stone" color, which was a much thinner fabric than other 501's I've bought in years past. That's the trouble with ordering online, even Levi will sell you junk sometimes and you don't know until it's at your doorstep. As a matter of fact, I went to Kohls a few days ago and got a new pair of 501's, with much sturdier feeling denim this time. The fabric color is either Dark Stonewash or Rinse, I'm not totally sure.

My new ones are as follows: unpolished rivets that are half-finished brass (look like brass on the inside, steel on the outside) and say "L.S. & Co. - S.F.". There are 5 steel fly buttons (4 medium, 1 big) that have a mild patina and say "Levi Strauss & Co. S.F. Cal". Bronze stitching, traditional "certificate" printed on inside pocket, as well as the usual brown trademark stitched on the back, though they changed the stamped style/size to printed (not as cool in my opinion, but nobody will ever notice). Size is 34x30, actual is 34.75x29.75. Fit is perfect, not too baggy not too hipster (straight leg).

We'll see if the new ones rip in a year. Fingers crossed they don't.