As an avid hiker, cyclist and weekend warrior, finding jeans that can keep up with my active lifestyle has always been a challenge. Most brands sacrifice comfort and range of motion in favor of rigid styles that restrict movement. So when Canadian startup Duer burst onto the scene in 2013 with their line of flexible, breathable and sustainable denim, they immediately caught my eye.
But as a discerning consumer, I wasn‘t going to take their claims at face value without putting their most popular jeans to the test myself. After extensive first-hand testing and research, I‘m ready to deliver the definitive guide to one of the most exciting athletic denim brands to emerge in recent years. This comprehensive Duer review will cover everything potential customers need to know, from detailed product breakdowns to how they stack up against the competition.
Overview of Duer‘s Rise in Athletic Denim
Duer Founder Gary Lenett struggled for years to find jeans that could keep pace with his active hobbies while retaining a polished, tailored look. After failing to convince major brands to create a hybrid jean suitable for both outdoor adventures and nights out, Lenett took matters into his own hands by launching a Kickstarter campaign in 2013 to fund his ideal line of flexible, durable and sustainable denim.
The initial Kickstarter raised over $100k, proving strong demand for what Duer dubbed "athletic denim built for motion." And they‘ve rapidly expanded since, now offering men‘s and women‘s jeans, pants, shorts and tees made from eco-friendly materials that can withstand rugged activities while retaining classic stylistic elements.
But the startup faced an uphill climb earning credibility and market share against denim juggernauts like Levi‘s that dominate store shelves. Through savvy social media marketing and word-of-mouth buzz lamenting the poor mobility of standard jeans though, Duer effectively positioned themselves as the go-to brand for stretch denim made for athletic builds and lifestyles.
And major media outlets certainly took notice – Duer has been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, WSJ and numerous other publications. Even with those marketing wins, I still needed to verify whether these flexible jeans lived up to expectations for fit, comfort, durability and sustainability.
Testing Duer‘s Best-Selling Stretch Denim
Duer may offer shirts and shorts now too, but their foundation remains high-quality jeans engineered specifically for freedom of movement. I gathered their top-rated and best-selling men‘s jeans across three lifestyle categories to assess fit, comfort, build quality and value across a variety of active and everyday functions. Here‘s how they stacked up in hands-on testing:
Everyday Denim Pick: Performance Denim Slim Fit Jeans
Price: $129
True to Duer‘s focus on enhanced mobility, the Performance Denim Slim Fit Jeans feature strategic paneling and four-way stretch material made from eco-friendly Tencel, cotton, lyocell and spandex. The addition of Tencel adds superb moisture wicking and odor resistance too.
Upon first trying them on, the exceptionally lightweight yet structured feel immediately sets them apart from traditional denim. The slim tailored cut accentuates the shape of athletic builds without restrictive tightness. And while slim, the flexible fabric and gusseted crotch never constrain my range of motion.
The greater stretch capacity was evident right away through deep squats and lunges that most jeans would render impossible at this slim fitting size. Yet they retain a polished, tailored look that wears well to the office or for a date night while remaining exceptionally comfortable.
After a month of near daily testing including walking, hiking, cycling and an array of functional movements, the Performance Slim Jeans have retained their shape, structure and elasticity remarkably well. And not a single tear or stitch breakage so far despite frequent activity. For $129, they deliver outstanding comfort, mobility and resilience for everyday and regular recreational use.
Adventure & Outdoor Pick: Live Free Adventure Pants
Price: $199
If I had to select one Duer pant optimized for hiking, climbing, camping and other outdoor pursuits, the Live Free Adventure Pants take the prize. Also constructed using Tencel and lyocell for premium moisture wicking and cooling airflow, the Adventure Pants trade a bit of the Slim Jeans‘ polish for greater tear resistance and unrestricted mobility.
Triple stitched seams help the Adventure Pants endure more rigorous activity while an added G-Hook and button closure secures the waistband firmly in place even when wearing a backpack or climbing harness.
Testing them across repeated day hikes with 20+ pound packs and high-intensity gym sessions revealed flawless durability and ventilation that‘s invaluable on long treks or workouts. And the proprietary Action Gusset delivers phenomenal stretch capacity for running, biking, crouching and scrambling through brush without impeding motion whatsoever.
For outdoor junkies seeking a fusion of rugged durability, unmatched mobility and active-wear comfort, the Live Free Adventure Pants deliver phenomenally well. They‘ve rapidly become my go-to trekking and trail pants for all situations apart from winter alpine use.
Work & Business Travel Pick: No Sweat Pant Slim Straight
Price: $135
Business trips often involve long flights, varied client meetings, dinners out and unpredictable schedules where comfort is king. Yet most business and travel pants poorly balance professional appearance and performance.
Duer‘s No Sweat Pant Slim Straight offering helps resolve that dilemma nicely. Made with moisture wicking and quick-drying Tencel fabric blended with cotton, lyocell and spandex, the No Sweat Pant resembles professional trousers with clean, minimalist lines in a mix of business-appropriate colors.
But unlike thick wool slacks, the lightweight Tencel fabric and athletic gusset provides superb temperature and humidity control through hot summer business meetings while allowing full mobility. Yet the slim straight cut retains a polished appearance suitable for client dinners, presentations or simply strolling the streets and museums after conferences.
The No Sweat Pants have worked phenomenally well through multi-day business conferences involving lengthy travel and diverse social functions where comfort is key but professionalism still mandatory. For globetrotting executives or business travelers seeking better balancing, Duer‘s sweat pants check all the boxes.
How Duer Stacks Up to Competitors
Duer wasn‘t first to market with stretch denim – premium brands like Lucky Brand and Levi‘s have previously incorporated some elastane or spandex into select jeans lines. But through specialized materials science and strategic panel placement, Duer jeans deliver vastly greater mobility freedom while upholding quality construction.
And mass market fast fashion labels like H&M offer comparable stretch fabrics too but poorly replicate Duer‘s uninhibited mobility, thanks to less advanced paneling and gusset designs.
Pricing presents another advantage relative to premium stretch denim competitors. Levi‘s athletic stretch jeans cost nearly twice as much despite relying on less specialized moisture wicking and ventilation properties. For example, Levi‘s 541 Athletic Fit Stretch Jeans retail around $98 while lacking the ventilation and quick-dry performance of Duer‘s comparable $129 slim fit stretch jeans.
For shoppers seeking value, premium construction, sustainability and uncompromising flexibility suitable for athletic bodies, Duer delivers an immensely competitive and cost-effective option relative to both budget-stretch brands and far more expensive premium athletic jeans.
Optimized Stretch Denim for Men, Women & Active Lifestyles
Initially catering predominantly to men, particularly those frustrated by the restrictive nature of rigid jeans during recreational hobbies, Duer has expanded to offer a full line for women too in recent years.
And their versatile designs work well for both professional settings and casual functions across genders. The jeans provide discreet stretch capacity allowing full mobility without announcing themselves as overtly athletic apparel. Yet their moisture wicking properties, gusseted panel construction and lightweight breathable materials make them optimal for everything from hiking to Crossfit, travel, daily wear and more.
Their recent expansion into shirts adopting the same performance-wear principles also means entire athletic-leaning travel wardrobes are now possible for those who want breathable, flexible and quick drying apparel suitable for globetrotting adventures or highly mobile lifestyles.
No matter your gender, preferred activities or style sensibilities favoring understated designs, Duer delivers excellent versatility spanning outdoor activity, daily casual use, business functions and travel. Their jeans stand out in particular by solving the long standing dilemma of choosing between mobility and stylistic polish.
Sustainability & Ethical Sourcing
An area where Duer shines compared to nearly all denim manufacturers is their use of sustainable closed-loop textile manufacturing and ethical working conditions.
Unlike the vast majority of cotton which requires intensive irrigation depleting already scarce water resources, Duer uses rainfed organic cotton for key material blends. And their proprietary Climatex fabric composed of wood pulp and renewable eucalyptus tree fibers represents a huge advancement in closed-loop, waste-free textile manufacturing.
Tencel lyocell further diminishes water usage substantially relative to standard denim production. Dyer also strives for sustainability through responsible textile manufacturing partnerships like Canopy‘s initiatives for safer dyes and Responsible Wool for improved animal welfare.
And focusing production in single Fair Trade Certified Pakistan plants rather than disparate overseas factories yields better transparency and worker conditions than common in overseas outsourced clothing manufacturing.
For shoppers favoring apparel sustainability, Duer sets the gold standard relative to traditional brands like Wrangler, Lee and Levis that still heavily utilize synthetic materials and resource intensive overseas manufacturing models. Their closed loop production pipelines and ethical Pakistan-based factories check all the boxes for environmental best practices and worker welfare.
What Customers Are Saying About Duer
As a newer player in athletic apparel, Duer lacks the immense brand recognition of legacy jeans producers. Yet they‘ve rapidly built an avid base of both male and female fans who swear by Duer‘s unparalleled comfort and mobility.
Across various product lines, Duer jeans average around 4.7 to 4.9 out of 5 stars from thousands of buyer reviews. Satisfied customers widely praise their exceptional comfort, stretch capacity and value relative to premium denim brands.
"I work in demolition and construction so durability is important as is mobility. I‘ve tried Levis, Lucky, Wrangler but none move and bend like Duer jeans without tearing up." – Henry S.
"These are hands down the most comfortable jeans I‘ve ever worn. I can hike for hours yet still look polished enough for a sophisticated restaurant." – Kelly P.
"Fantastic fit that actually accommodates muscular legs and is flexible enough for heavy lifting, wrestling with my kids and chasing our new pup." – Paul C.
I‘m thoroughly impressed by both owner experiences across activity types and use cases spanning rugged outdoor work to parenting mayhem. It reiterates how Duer stretch denim appeals broadly to nearly every lifestyle seeking greater mobility and comfort without sacrificing stylistic versatility.
Room for Improvement
As much as I‘m wowed by Duer‘s technical textiles and continually improving product line, a few areas could still use refinement:
More Styles/Colors For Women – While the men‘s collection includes 15+ jeans options alone, women have fewer style and color variations currently. Expanding into more women‘s cuts and washes would grow this fanbase.
Shirts Remain Limited – Just two shirt choices limits outfit pairing possibilities, especially for travel. More premium shirts adopting the same performance principles as jeans would allow full mobile travel wardrobes.
Pocket Improvements – While adequate for basic carry, larger and more concealed pockets adapted from tactical pants could hold more discreet EDC gear for adventurers and commuters.
Weatherproof Options – Water and wind-resistant outerwear like jackets could complete Duer‘s ascent as the premier active lifestyle apparel brand across any activity and weather condition.
But even with enormous potential still untapped, Duer already delivers the stretch denim holy grail: jeans equally capable of crushing backcountry trails and impressing at formal business dinners.
The Verdict: Duer Stretch Denim That Can Truly Do It All
After thorough hands-on evaluation across hiking, travel, daily urban life, work functions and high intensity training, I‘m entirely won over by Duer‘s obsessively engineered athletic jeans. They‘ve succeeded at last in achieving the impossible – denim that can sprint, climb, trek, lift and bike without restriction while retaining polish appropriate for fine dining.
For anywhere unimpeded natural movement matters along with sustainable production ethics, Duer represents the new gold standard. Their continued innovation in fabric blends enhances ventilation, moisture wicking, range of motion and odor resistance well beyond traditional denim.
The cut and silhouette also accommodate athletic bodies far better off the rack than common jeans calibrated for only average inactive builds. Yet the clean, tailored styling integrates seamlessly into any occasion from backyard BBQs to client meetings abroad.
If you desire jeans allowing hiking, exercising or chasing kids without chafing, discomfort or restricting motion, Duer has your back. Their athletic denim builds outstanding versatility suitable for travelers, athletes, outdoor enthusiasts and daily commuters alike.
After testing both women‘s and men‘s best selling lines extensively, I‘m wholly convinced Duer delivers ideal jeans for people unafraid to hustle, explore and live vibrantly. These jeans can match that pace stride for stride. Check them out to experience denim as it always should have been – unchained from restriction and ready for adventure.
