If you're a short, slim man, it's very difficult to find a pair of jeans that fits well and flatters your body type.

Being short makes it hard to find jeans because almost all jeans will be too long. Very few manufacturers make jeans with inseams shorter than 30 inches.

SEE ALSO: Clothing Industry Hates Short Men

But, since getting pants hemmed is relatively easy, it's actually more important to find a pair of jeans that fits well everywhere else – especially around the hips and through the legs.

If you're a thin guy, this is no easy task, especially if you don't want to wear ultra low-rise jeans (which usually aren't the most flattering choice for shorter men).

At just over 5'5″ and 125 lbs soaking wet, I'm a small guy. Some might call me petite, but I prefer “of modest stature”.

It's always been hard for me to find jeans that fit well, and I usually end up compromising on something like the rise, leg opening or quality.

That's why I decided to go hunting for a great pair of jeans. There are a few brands I've always wanted to try (like A.P.C.), as well as some brands I haven't tried in a long time (like Gap).

So I ordered 12 pairs of jeans from 10 different brands, tried them all on and documented the whole experience in order help you figure out which brand will work best for your needs.

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Now that that's out of the way, let's get on with the show. First, the highlights:

My 3 Favorites

#1: Gap Stretch Skinny – Surprisingly awesome (see below).

#2: Levi's 510 Skinny – Perfect middle ground between slim and skinny.

#3: Nudie Pipe Led – Pricey, slim, flattering and comfy.

The Underdog

Gap Stretch Skinny – Honestly, I thought I was better than The Gap, which is why I hadn't tried on a pair of Gap jeans for a very long time.

But out of all 12 pairs, these were my favorite. Plus, they happen to be among the most affordable jeans out there.

They're slim but not restrictive, and the light wash is actually perfect for casual outfits.

What a pleasant surprise! Well played, Gap.

Well played.

Biggest Disappointment

A.P.C. Petit New Standard – I'd heard amazing things about these jeans, and they look so good on models, so I had high expectations.

Unfortunately, the ones I bought were way too big, which is ridiculous since I bought my actual size.

I'd have to size down to a 27 for them to fit properly (vanity sizing has gotten out of control).

But the details (like the size and placement of the pockets) would still be way too big for a smaller man.

Not to mention, these were some of the most expensive jeans on the list! Just goes to show, it's not all about the price or the label.

12 Pairs of Slim Fit Jeans

Watch me try on all 12 pairs in under 7 minutes:

And here's the full list, including:

Fit photos

Brand/style

Size

Also, each pair is linked to one or more places you can buy them online, just in case you see something you like.



My Thoughts: These jeans fit well and look great. They probably won't age as well as higher quality denim, but still, I'm very happy with this purchase.



My Thoughts: Uniqlo's “slim fit” isn't quite slim enough for my chicken legs. Guess I should stop skipping leg day…



My Thoughts: These need to be hemmed (they only had 34″ inseams in stock), but other than that they fit really well, and they're very comfortable.

These jeans almost made my top three.

#4: Levi's 510 Skinny (eBay / Amazon)



My Thoughts: They fit well, they're affordable, and they're almost always available in a bunch of different sizes and colors. What's not to love?



My Thoughts: These jeans are worth the price tag. They somehow manage to be super slim but comfortable at the same time.

Trust me, I did a few lunges while wearing them just to make sure.



My Thoughts: These run way big, so you need to size down at least two sizes to get a pair that fits.

The denim and craftsmanship and clearly top notch. Too bad they're not made with the smaller man in mind.

My Thoughts: I don't say this often, but these are a bit too slim, especially in the, ahem, seat. I actually tried a size 29 too, but it was too loose around the waist.

This is why it's important to try on lots of different brands. Many just aren't made for your build.

My Thoughts: Definitely not “skinny” but very comfortable. These were way too long out of the box, so I got them hemmed to a more appropriate length.

I think Mott & Bow offers high quality jeans for a competitive price, but I'd prefer a slimmer cut.

You can see more pictures of me wearing these jeans here and here.

My Thoughts: What sets PMNYC jeans apart is that they're made specifically for short men. This means that every little detail – from the size of the pockets to the shorter rise – flatters the ‘not so tall' body type.

Just look at these back pockets compared to those on the A.P.C. jeans!

Peter Manning jeans are cut slim-straight, which will look great on most men, but I prefer a bit more taper through the leg.

Also, keep in mind that the overall style of these jeans is pretty classic (i.e., better suited for older gents).

You can see more pictures of me wearing these jeans in my Peter Manning review.

My Thoughts: For raw denim, these are very affordable. They're also very stiff right out of the box, but I'm sure they'll break in nicely.

I only wish they had a slightly longer rise so I could wear them a little higher up on my waist.

If you're looking for some entry level raw denim that you can break in and create some sick fades, bruh, these are a great choice.

You can see more pictures of me wearing these jeans right here.

My Thoughts: At one point, these were the slimmest jeans Lucky Brand had to offer. They've since been discontinued, but you can still find them on eBay.

They're made from soft, washed denim that didn't require any breaking in, and they fit comfortably through the hips and leg.

These may be the most comfortable jeans I own, but they're not the most stylish.

You can see another picture of me wearing these jeans on the Start Here page.

#12: Levi's 522 Slim Taper (eBay / Levi's)

My Thoughts: The 522 is Levi's attempt at slim fit jeans for guys with big hips, butts and/or thighs, and they work perfectly for that body type.

On me, they're a little baggy. But if you spend lots of time under the squat rack or have a little extra junk in the trunk, the 522 might be your new best friend.

Unlike other jeans that will accommodate large thighs, these actually taper gently to a slim, flattering leg opening, which is perfect for short men.

Lessons Learned

Trying on all of these different jeans was an extremely useful exercise. I tried a few brands that were new to me and some that I just hadn't tried in a few years.

I learned so much about the various brands and styles.

Even though this was a lot of work, I recommend it for anyone who hasn't yet found the perfect pair of jeans or a “go to” brand.

If you go through this exercise yourself, it's highly likely that you'll find your new favorite pair of jeans, and we both know how great the perfect pair of jeans makes you feel.

What's your favorite pair of jeans? Leave a comment below!