Rockets

[beautiful_FrEaK]

@shredwin_206 nice!
What's the story with the spare back pocket?

[yung_flynn]

4 hours ago, beautiful_FrEaK said:

@shredwin_206 nice!
What's the story with the spare back pocket?

I think that that is their way around the red tab? My pair came with a strip of denim sewn down over the tab

[Maynard Friedman]

I think the additional pocket is part of Rockets’ newly launched capsule collection. It comes very loosely attached so that it’s easily available for take-off upon landing with the customer.

[shredwin_206]

@beautiful_FrEaK he said it’s a way to hide red tab so they don’t get in trouble. 

[tooth]

@shredwin_206 what were tariff fees like and what was the cost of the jeans pre and post tariff?

Sorry for beating an old horse, but these tariffs still throw me for a loop…

[mlwdp]

3 minutes ago, tooth said:

@shredwin_206 what were tariff fees like and what was the cost of the jeans pre and post tariff?

Sorry for beating an old horse, but these tariffs still throw me for a loop…

I’m interested in this too.

[ATWM]

I’m not OP but I recently had a gracious sender not mark an item with any commercial value, for an order I put in before tariffs were put in place. I did not request that, but that worked. I don’t know if small/independent people will do that. I haven’t bought anything from Japan lately but did have something unrelated come in from Europe (Belgium - baseline 15%), and the thing you need to consider is that on top of the tariff the importer will charge an administrative fee which can apparently be whatever the see fit. It was something like $30 on an order value of $170. Logistically, it was all fine. UPS sent me an online invoice while the parcel was in transit and I paid it, it was delivered in normal time.

The baseline tariff for Japan is the same 15%, but it’s probably a good idea to budget somewhere like 20-25% so you’re not too surprised by any other fees. 

[shredwin_206]

They were around $250 shipped but then I got hit with a $60 tariff….

[yung_flynn]

1 hour ago, shredwin_206 said:

$250 shipped but then I got hit with a $60 tariff

This seems to match my tariff experience. I got hit with a fee that was approximately 25% of the shipped value a couple months ago, once all fees and duties were added.

[ATWM]

Assuming US retailers don't mark up their goods more, it really does have the effect of flattening out the cost - esp if the US retailer ships free and the Japanese one charges the normal $30-$50...

of course there's plenty that just isn't available in the US

[julian-wolf]

18 minutes ago, ATWM said:

Assuming US retailers don't mark up their goods more […]

That’s the thing, though: How wouldn’t they, going forward?

[ATWM]

2 hours ago, julian-wolf said:

That’s the thing, though: How wouldn’t they, going forward?

They’d have to eat it a bit, I’m sure. But I don’t know previous fees, I think they were something, but all of us getting things under the de minimis weren’t dealing with that, so I’m not sure the percentage difference is as big for retailers. That said, my favorite coffee just went from $18/lb to $22.50 in 3 price hikes over a matter of months… 

[shredwin_206]

one week of hard abuse in these. Nice crunchy starchy denim. Creases like crazy. 

[shredwin_206]

fit on the rockets WWII jeans

Edited November 27, 2025 by shredwin_206
Double post

[shredwin_206]

Just finished third week in these jeans. They’re getting absolutely punished!! 

[yung_flynn]

It’s been approximately one year with these guys so I took advantage of the melting snow to grab a few pics. I like how they’re turning out. Color resolution is a little better if you click on the photos

Edited December 22, 2025 by yung_flynn

[shredwin_206]

[shredwin_206]

Started these in November. They’ve been worn hard for sure. 

[shredwin_206]

worn hard since November. One initial hot soak. Will give them first wash in February. 
rear pocket tearing at the bottom from carrying tools at work. Also crotch is bit tight so that’s going to explode soon. Hahaha 

[shredwin_206]

[Double 0 Soul]

Is there any method to your madness Edwin?

Our economy is such that the only people who can afford to buy 'workwear' are those with a cushy office job.. so its just a larp really.. non of these folks are doing manual work.. a generation ago they would have probably worn shirt and trousers to work, nowadays they wear £300 jeans 

When i used to trash nice jeans at work.. our buying power in the UK was akin to yours..  even tho fancy jeans were relatively cheap (before the economy turned to shit) i would buy a couple of pairs of raw jeans, wear one for work and one for home.. after 18mths when the work pair got trashed beyond repair, i would bin them and relegate the 'home' pair to work duties.. then buy a new pair for home.. this cycle would continue.. unless i really liked the home pair (a la' FW-47s) i would retire them because i couldn't bear to see them trashed / binned.. then start afresh with 2x raws.. it also allowed me a relatively clean pair for lounging around the house, taking the kid to the park and such.. 

I might be wrong but it seems like every new pair you post are semi-trashed and covered in shit within a few short weeks.. your jeans look incredible but i'd be heartbroken to think that my fancy new jeans looked like this in 3 weeks time 

On 12/6/2025 at 4:51 PM, shredwin_206 said:

Why don't you just relegate one or two pairs for work duties? .. and wear the nice pairs around the house?

Edited February 21 by Double 0 Soul

[Lorcan]

old arc'd 1937 model Rockets on Mercari at the moment. V small waist unfortunately, but fun to see.

https://www.fromjapan.co.jp/japan/en/special/order/confirm/https%3A%2F%2Fjp.mercari.com%2Fitem%2Fm13340362530/13_1/

[shredwin_206]

@Double 0 Soul it’s all just part of the fun to push some of these brands to their limits. I have a handful pairs I’ve retired since they got too small or given away. 
I keep 1-2 pairs clean for the very rare date nights. 
but also the big part is that the cheaper stuff doesn’t last. The last pair of carhartt I had were completely falling apart in two weeks. The only bang for buck jeans that actually hold up are the wrangler 13MWZ. The stiff as cardboard and bright blue ones. As far as the higher end stuff I’d say that Freewheelers holds up the best to real hard work. 
Also I only buy jeans that I’ve found for really good prices. I rarely am paying full price and take advantage of deals on eBay or rakuten. 
im sorry if I let you down by trashing every pair of jeans. Hahahah 

Edited February 21 by shredwin_206

[Double 0 Soul]

How long are you getting out of a pair on average?

Has anything lasted longer than expected / has anything lasted shorter than expected? .. I had pairs of McCoys that fell to pieces in a heartbeat.. anything disappointing similar? 

[shredwin_206]

I get 18-24 months out of each pair of Freewheelers. The bigger issue is the holes in the left rear pocket from holding tools. More brands should offer lined back pockets. 
Warehouse on the other hand were falling apart and stitches blowing out everywhere after two weeks. 
these rockets are holding up ok, but they’re way tighter in the top block so they won’t be a long lasting pair.  
I prefer a high rise to my jeans and Freewheelers ticks all the boxes for me. Durable tough denim and high rise and solid price point ordering from Hoosier. 

[shredwin_206]

Kato San from Rockets messaged me today about my jeans  

“Mr. Ed,

Please forgive my delay. I wash your jeans 5 times to get clean. I will start repair soon!

Thank you for patient!”

 

[FurnitureMaker]

I work in my fancy clothes, real manual labor, and also have an infrequent wash schedule. No problems there. However, I would be embarrassed beyond belief if the person I sent my jeans out for repair, messaged me that he had to wash them five times before being able to work on them. I hope the Rockets guy gets financially compensated for this extra work. 
 

Posting this feels a bit like throwing a sucker punch, or maybe just a personal attack, but a reality check is really in order here. Your jeans are gross! That said, I will continue to enjoy looking at the pics of your thrashed gear. 

[Double 0 Soul]

They'll look like this when you get them back

[shredwin_206]

@FurnitureMaker @Double 0 Soul to be clear he asked me to not wash them. He wanted me to wear them even longer before I washed. 
I wash my jeans every 2-3 weeks normally. I only did the no wash because he asked me to go six months before washing. I think this is only four months of use.  
you’re right they’re nasty. They’re work jeans and they go in the garage as soon as I’m home from work. 
carry on. 
I even asked if I could wash before sending for repairs and he told me please not wash.

Edited April 18 by shredwin_206

[FurnitureMaker]

12 hours ago, shredwin_206 said:

@FurnitureMaker @Double 0 Soul to be clear he asked me to not wash them. He wanted me to wear them even longer before I washed. 

Well, I guess I have my foot in my mouth. Apologies.