10 Brands Making High Rise Jeans for Men
Rise determines how a jean fits at the waist and crotch. It’s a measurement most mainstream brands do not publish. A select group of brands continue to publish front rise specs. This list compiles the measurements of the ten brands offering high rise jeans for men.
About this article
This list compiles jean brands that make high rise jeans for men and publish a front rise measurement of 11 1/2 inches or higher.
This guide is informational. No financial commissions, affiliate revenues, or advertising fees are generated from the links provided. To submit a brand for evaluation or to report an error, please contact us.
What is high rise?
High rise and high waisted are interchangeable terms. Rise is the measurement from the top of the waistband down to the crotch seam. A jean has a front and a back rise.
Front rise indicates whether a jean is low-rise, mid-rise, or high-rise. As a general reference: low-rise approximately 10″, mid-rise approximately 11″, high rise approximately 12″. Actual measurements vary by brand, size, and fit.
10 brands making high rise jeans for men
More than ten brands manufacture jeans with a high rise, but most do not publish the measurements. Without published specifications, a brand cannot be verified for inclusion.
The brands on this list skew toward smaller, more expensive makers. Smaller brands tend to publish more detailed data because their customers demand it and their leadership prioritizes it. Heritage and reproduction denim brands are heavily represented for the same reason, classic jean fits were originally designed with higher rises, and those labels preserve the historical measurements.
We researched over 40 brands to compile this data. The baseline threshold for this list is a published front rise of 11 1/2 inches or greater.
| Brand | Front Rise | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freenote | 13″ (three high-rise fits) | $325 |
| 3sixteen | 13″ (Relaxed RS fit) | $290 |
| Levi’s Vintage Clothing | 12 3/4″ (reproductions) | $295 |
| Gap | 12 3/4″ (Relaxed Straight fit) | $79 |
| Todd Shelton | 12 1/2″ (four high rise fits) | $300 |
| Self Edge | 12 1/2″ (multiple brands) | $370 |
| Buck Mason | 12 1/2″ (Full Saddle fit) | $228 |
| Todd Snyder | 12″ (Relaxed fit) | $198 |
| Wrangler | 11 7/8″ (13mwz cowboy) | $69 |
| 34 Heritage | 11 1/2″ (Charisma fit) | $215 |
If a brand you like isn’t on this list, contact their customer service and request the front rise measurement for your waist size and fit.
How rise affects fit
Rise affects two things: how high you can wear jeans on your waist and/or how much room you’ll have in the crotch area.
The back rise measurement determines how the jean covers the seat. A higher back rise may reduce the waistband from pulling down when sitting.
Two signs you need more rise: you cannot pull the jeans up high enough on your waist, or the crotch is tight when you do. Too much rise and the jean will sag under the crotch.
Bone structure and body composition determine where a jean sits. A fuller seat consumes more rise.
100% cotton denim provides a stable rise measurement. The back rise seam undergoes more stress than any other seam on a jean. During wear, the back rise will stretch one inch or more, even on all-cotton jeans. This stretch is temporary and the rise reverts to its original measurements after laundering.
How to determine your target rise measurement
Measure the rise on jeans you already own. Try on a few pairs to find which fits best through the rise, then measure it. Use that number as your starting point and estimate how much more rise you need.
For example, if your best fitting jean has an 11″ rise but it’s slightly tight in the crotch, you may need an 11 1/2″ rise. If it’s way too tight, you may need a 12″ rise or higher.
Finding rise measurements in size charts
Few jean brands publish rise measurements in their size charts. When they do, measurements vary by fit and waist size. Relaxed fits generally have higher rise than slim fits. Rise typically increases as waist size increases.
Some brands will not publish rise measurements in their size chart, but will reference a rise measurement for one size and fit. Levi’s does this for size 32. As a general rule, rise increases approximately 1/8″ per waist size. If a brand publishes a 11″ rise for a 32 waist, a 34 waist may be 11 1/4″.
Todd Shelton scales rise by 1/8″ per waist size. A size 32 Basic fit has an 11 1/2″ high front rise. Size 33 Basic has an 11 5/8″. A size 32 Relaxed fit has a 12″ high front rise. Rise changes by both size and fit.
If you need measurements for your specific size, contact the brand directly.
