ProView – Darn Tough Hiking Socks

Being kind to your feet is not only good for you, but your friends will appreciate it too. Climbers and hikers alike know how awful cotton socks make your feet feel and smell, so the only true solution is wool socks. Darn Tough socks are made in the USA and come in styles for every excursion. From lounging to full-on adventuring, Darn Tough will keep your feet happy and comfortable while also protecting your friend’s noses afterward with wool’s antimicrobial properties. 

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Fit/Comfort

I tested four pairs of Darn Tough’s socks in a size small (I wear a women’s size 6) and they fit really well. The seamless stitching prevents any kind of weird rubbing, keeping my feet free of hot spots.  As a person who knits, I really enjoyed the twisted yarn in the socks which creates a softer feel and upkeeps the durability. I spent most of my days in my Darn Tough socks hiking approach trails, lounging in camp, standing all day in thick leather boots for work, and belaying sock-o style.  Day after day I wore these socks, my feet were comfortable, dry, and stank-free. My favorite fit from the four pairs that I tested was in the Nomad Boot Sock Full Cushion. The Nomad’s were ALWAYS on my person when I went climbing. They’re the perfect cold day sock-o pairing, very absorbent (may have used these to clean up a climbing injury), stain-resistant (see the previous statement), and so warm!

 

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Look/Style

Darn Tough offers a variety of colors, patterns, and styles for their socks which I really like. I feel like most of the wool socks you see in the store are kind of boring… Brown or grey, solid color, chunky… but the variety offered by Darn Tough has me feeling stylish and excited to showcase my socks. My favorite patterns were the Sobo Micro Crew Light Cushion and the Ceres Micro Crew Light Cushion. These two pairs were really cute and comfortable while also being a breathable, lightweight sock. My Favorite way to wear the ceres and the Sobo was with a pair of Chaco slippers after a long day of climbing. 

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Durability/Construction

Having been very loyal to a competing brand for the last seven years, I’m not super impressed with Darn Toughs durability. Within the first day of wearing the Sobo I got a huge snag in the sock which eventually wore into a sizeable hole. I applaud Darn Tough for their Unconditional Lifetime warranty, but would rather have a pair of socks that doesn’t get large snags/holes and lasts me longer than sending in a pair of new socks for warranty. Less is more in my opinion and I feel as though replacing socks more frequently is just more waste. I would prefer to see some kind of recycling or repair program in place along with their warranty. 

Features/Performance

The best thing about wool socks in my opinion is their antimicrobial and moisture-wicking properties that are naturally present in the wool fibers. Moisture-wicking is important for blister prevention and keeping your feet dry and when combined with the antimicrobial powers reduces foot stank tremendously. My favorite all-around sock of the four that I tested was the Janis Micro Crew Cushion. This sock was very warm but didn’t overheat my feet when hiking and looked really cute while also softening my heavy, pack loaded steps.  Darn Tough has a sock for every activity, temperature, and support need. I like a bit more cushion in my heel when I walk (thanks marching band foot rolling) and these socks really gave that to me! 

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Friendliness to the Earth

Darn Tough is working to source more of their wool domestically which would cut down on their environmental impact through importing raw materials, however I feel as though their warranty program could use some revamping to make sure that there is less waste from returned socks. 

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The Final Word

I really like Darn Tough socks and they made me feel just as supported as the competing brand I’ve been loyal to for years. I don’t think that I’m quite yet converted to a Darn Tough fanatic, but I see and understand the hype and would certainly recommend them to friends and family members. Darn Tough has a great mission statement, supports their customers, and truly believes in producing a product built to last. 

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