I weigh 160 lbs and have a 34 inch waist. I've learned from past experience to order jeans "especially these" to order 36 inch pants. What I would suggest because these are cardboard stiff, is to leave the pants in the washer with fabric softener for at least an hour. fabric sheets or a load with softener doesn't cut it- they still will be too stiff. The quality is still there- but why are they made in Mexico?