These 9 Brands Are Making the Best Dark-Wash Jeans on the Market

Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. We may earn a commission from these links. Here’s how we test products and why you should trust us.Celine/Todd Snyder/Acne StudiosRag & Bone knows what it’s good at and sticks to it. (It’s denim...they’re good at denim.) Our reviewers especially like how the brand approaches its sizing and fits. It’s a super simple and straightforward number system that starts at 1 and goes up to 4. Fit 1 offers a slimmer silhouette, while Fit 4 gives that classic straight look.For their dark wash—which Rag & Bone calls “Solomon”—the brand uses its very own rb Selvedge, which it developed in partnership with one of Japan's premier denim mills. This will help the jeans naturally develop a nice patina over time to really show just how much you love your denim.If you ask Esquire shopping editor Luke Guillory what jeans to buy, he’s going to tell you these. He’s already waxed poetic about Wrangler’s original Cowboy Cut in our denim buying guide, so we’ll just cut to the chase: they’re super flattering and at an ultra-competitive price (though he advises bigger guys should opt for the more relaxed cut).Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowIf you’re looking for something under $100, Gap’s more than likely where it’s at. The retailer has spent a ton of time and effort in reupping its basics—jeans especially. The brand’s classic straight silhouette is, at this point in time, better than the offering from the big-name brand that starts with “L” and rhymes with WiFi.People hunt for vintage Levi’s for a reason. These 505s are a reproduction of the brand’s iconic style for 1967. As Luke describes in our denim buying guide, the fit will “hug up top, drape down low.” “They're universally flattering and classic cut, so you don't have to worry about them going out of style,” he says. “As long as they're holding on, you'll look good.”Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowWe’ve already rounded up a few Todd Snyder pieces we’d recommend buying, and these dark indigo worn wash jeans are one more thing to add to the list. Available in three different fits—slim, straight, and relaxed—it’s made from an all-cotton denim that balances comfort and durability.This denim from Ralph Lauren’s Americana sublabel is an absolute classic. It’s got a distinctly Western feel with its deep 13.75 oz selvedge denim, while still offering that sort of rugged sophistication you want from a dark wash jean.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowLittle known fact, but Acne Studios actually started out with jeans. Over 20 years later, it’s still their bread and butter—with funky pieces that embody a “rock and roll edge,” as Luke describes them. This groovy wide-legged pair especially gives off a sort of “Lenny-Kravitz-meets-Steven-Tyler” air of vintage swagger.We’re long-time fans of Buck Mason. As Esquire contributor Matthew Medendrop describes, the brand has been “quietly doing some of the most exciting things in contemporary menswear” for the last few years—and their denim is no exception. The brand’s “full saddle” jeans take inspiration from the classic vintage blue jeans, think Levi’s 501s circa like the ‘60s. Pair that with the deep dark wash, and you got one sexy pair of jeans.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3Sixteen is one of the premier brands for Esquire’s denim nerds. It gets into the nitty-gritty stuff we care about, but since it’s based here in North America—and not in Japan—it’s a lot easier to get your hands on. To break down the naming, RS means relaxed straight, what we think is the easiest to wear from the brand. The 100xk tag is the type of denim—custom woven for the brand by Kabuki Mills. It’s rough at first, be warned, but it softens and fades like no other.