Darn Tough

[joebartels]

15 months ago in November 2013 I got 5 pairs of the darn tough merino wool socks. Pricey but with the lifetime guarantee figured they'd pay for themselves overtime. I like them as much as or better than any socks I've ever used. These 5 pairs have been used over and over. Since they're all I wear they have gone through about 90 washes of laundry. While I don't run creeks in my socks I do a fair amount of hiking.

Socks usually last about a half year but never a year. So it's a bit shocking there isn't a single hole in any of the 5 pairs. Instead of wearing "out" they have been reduced to a screen mesh. The darn tough part has proven to be the mesh carrier. To tide me over the expected slow exchange/return I picked up a few more today. After months in the sandpaper mesh these feel like slippers!

[SpiderLegs]

Will second your opinion. Best pair of socks I have ever bought. Use them for hiking and trail running.

[cactuscat]

I do a fair amount of hiking.

LOL!
Speaking of darn tough, I am absolutely loving my 5.11 pants ... granted they are part of my uniform, and the State paid for them, but all the 5.11 stuff (pants, shorts, polos, belts) seem well worth the retail price and rugged and comfortable for hiking!

[Bob Lacourse]

I just bought 4 pair yesterday along with 4 pair of the Injinji toe socks. I use the Injinji as liners and the Darn Tough socks over them.
Both of these brands are the absolute best on market.

Happy feet forever.....

[Nighthiker]

Been using Trail Mix Fusion socks for a long time and my feet are quite happy with them. I also switched to 5.11 tactical pants and I have been quite pleased hiking in them.

[RowdyandMe]

Well I will stand by my Thorlos. First let me say I cannot wear wool socks. Wool has the same affect on me as fiberglass insulation on my skin. Now I do have some Thorlos that are 15+ years old and still no holes in the toe.
When I was younger I used to run and thats when I discovered the Thorlos and really I cannot say that I ever had a bad pair. And of course there not cheap either but there worth it.

[desert_boonie]

@joe bartels
How much are they paying you for this pitch?

But I also wear them and will agree. Made in U.S.A. enough said.

[BobP]

Thorlos fan... Also made in USA.

[sneakySASQUATCH]

Also spendy, but worth it and come in every imaginable thickness and purpose are drymax socks. Also made in the USA. I was always a wool sock person until my wife found these after last year's unfortunate incident. It's all I wear for daily, hiking and snowboarding and wether my feet are hot or cold they do a great job of keeping them dry.

[joebartels]

ode to a skeptic ( myself )

purchased Nov 2013

Nov 19th 2016 - sent worn out socks to Darn Tough with a printout of their online sheet
Nov 23rd - received email confirmation warranty claim processed
Dec 9th - received new socks, same style and retail packaging

I have several sets rotating now. Even if they didn't honor the warranty it would be darn tough to be upset as these socks are seriously better than any other socks I've owned.

[SpiderLegs]

The consensus among most of the employees at the Hiking Shack is that Darn Tough's are the best sock.

[cactuscat]

Fits Socks are still my favorites.

[cactuscat]

Picked up a pair of Darn Toughs recently - I like them! Unexpected bonus that they come in funky cute stripes and colors.
I also received a pair of Point6 socks in a recent Cairn box ... only wore them once so far, but they seem promising (even though they sent black and I don't normally wear black socks hiking).

[joebartels]

Oops, I am getting behind on my socklog journal. Darn tough keeping track. While one could triple-up for outdoor slippers, I've worn and used as intended. Four returns to date and the style occasionally changes.

The past two batches were my favs. Thick, fluffy soft, and every use for nearly a year deposited micro pieces of wool fluff between the toes accumulated from the friction hot spots, which translates to happy blister-free feet. The mesh-liner seemed less abrasive.

A new batch I received is very thin. I thought they might fluff up after a wash cycle, but that did not happen. They do have a flat and broader seam. This only caught my attention because CDK and others seem to have seam issues. Since I'm rockin' the flinstone feet, the princess and the pea test goes unnoticed.

Edit
señor @LosDosSloFolks messaged this chart

Perhaps I missed options on the reorder with my replacement credit. Which I must say is extremely generous to reorder as you please with zero shipping to boot!

[te_wa]

the #2's are my fave.

[LosDosSloFolks]

GoBros is currently running a 25% off sale on Darn Tough socks with free shipping. Good time to purchase, but many styles sell out quickly due to eBay dealers buying them out.
https://www.gobros.com/collections/darn-tough-socks

[DixieFlyer]

@LosDosSloFolks
thanks...I bought 3 pair!

[TooOld2Hike_EP]

File under: "They don't make 'em like they used to."

In 2019, I bought a pair of Darn Tough Thin, Cushion, Micro-crew. I finally started wearing them for my first 5 backpacking adventures this year. I like them a lot.

After my feet got wet in a creek crossing on trip #6, I ordered another pair to carry as a dry pair.

The old Style number is no longer, but Customer Support gave me a new Style number.

The composition of the new is not the same as the old. Close, but not identical.

I'm no sock connoisseur. But I can feel the difference while wearing. The new socks have more friction. After a while, my toes feel like their rubbing on 800 grit sand paper.

And I notice skin wearing off on my big toe - and this after a short 1 hour training hike today with only 20 lbs on my back.

[chumley]

[ youtube video ]

[RowdyandMe]

Well I know longer buy Darn Tough socks of course I have about 10 pair and they last a lifetime with their warranty. Of course now with my foot issue I only buy commpression socks.