Hiltl or Ballin: Which to keep?

[Nobody Important]

Before Christmas I decided it was time to upgrade my work wardrobe from cotton chinos to wool pants. So I got in on an alignment-of-the-planets combination of coupons at Sierra Trading Post and ordered six pair -- three Hiltl and three "Rendezvous by Ballin", each in khaki, olive and charcoal.

Everything fits, at least after I exchanged the Ballins for the next size down. Everything fits fine, the Hiltl are a tad slimmer through the hips than I'm used to, but not in a bad way. But I don't think I need six pair of new wool trousers, so one of the brands is going back. My question: Which one? Obviously you can't judge fit. But I'm still learning about quality in clothing, so I hope some more experienced than I can tell me whether I'm getting better quality for the price with the Hiltl or the Ballin. The Hiltls were made in Romania. Theoretical retail is $250, right now they're nearly sold out at $99 (less the ubiquitous coupons) at STP. I got them for $45 each. The Rendezvous by Ballin are made in China, theoretical retail is $135, currently selling for $50, I got them for $23.

Which ones to keep? Bear in mind that the Hiltl will need to be hemmed, which raises the cost a couple of bucks. The Ballin are pre-hemmed.

 

[Cary Grant]

I can speak to the other brand but the Ballin trousers I bought years ago at Nordstroms wore like iron. Incredible quality for the price (then about $150 a pair).

 

[Sebastian]

I can only speak fo the Hilts trousers.
Those are fantastic pants, easy my favorite ones.

 

[Sterling Gillette]

Hiltl makes really good pants. I'd go with these.

 

[Orsini]

Three pairs is not enough.

 

[Degendorff]

If all the trousers fit the same and if you only have paid 25-50 $ per pair of trousers, I would keep them all.

 

[philosophe]

If you can afford to keep all six, you should. You bought them for a song, and you'll need all six for a regular work rotation.