ProView – Darn Tough Socks
The performance sock that may even outperform you. An already durable sock with an additional indestructible lifetime guarantee.
Darn Tough Hiking Socks
Product Description: Built to withstand the rigors of the trail and come away smiling on a layer of cushioned comfort. This humble sock has earned a hallowed place in the hearts of many a discerning thru-hiker. Discover the trail legend for yourself.
Offer price: $15.00 MSRP
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Durability
(5)
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Fit
(5)
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Features
(5)
Summary
I love that Darn Tough socks perform just as you would expect a performance merino wool sock would. They are form-fitting, they reduce moisture, and provide cushioned comfort. What I love, even more, is the incredible promise that Darn Tough can offer to their customer, a lifetime guarantee from a now not-so-little Vermont company.
Overall
4.8Pros
- Form-fitting
- Reduce moisture
- Provide cushioned comfort
Cons
- Could have a better color selection for men
I have put Darn Tough socks through the wringer over the years. From being my go-to ski sock, to consistently putting 30+ mile days on the trail, these socks hold up to abuse and their lifetime warranty allows them to even hold up to over-abuse.
My use of Darn Tough socks began during a thru-hike in Colorado. At the time, being an obscure brand in the American West, I was skeptical when told of a sock that is nearly impervious of wearing and offers an unconditional lifetime warranty on top. I bought two pairs for the hike and since then, they have become a staple in my outdoor wardrobe.
You want an everything sock? They are an incredible running sock, at all lengths and sizes they have kept my feet blister free from small lunchtime runs, to 50 mile ultras. Darn tough makes ski socks that have taken stayed stink free on weeklong hut-to-hut trips, and expeditions to the highest mountains in North America.
Over my tenure as a Darn Tough consumer, I have only worn through two pairs of socks. Certainly at fault of my own. Allowing them to get gritty, muddy, and gross and then putting an additional hundred miles under my feet. No sock is impervious to that abuse. The magic of Darn Tough is their unconditional lifetime guarantee. One email to the manufacturer later, I was sending them back in exchange for two new plush pairs of socks.
Fit/Comfort
Darn Tough socks are made with a performance fit. They fit snugly on your feet. This is an important feature to eliminate friction between your feet and shoes that leads to blistering. I have been notoriously immune to blisters over the years, and I attribute that to well-fitting footwear, both in shoes and socks. Since Darn Tough has been my go-to brand of socks for years, I can certainly attribute my feet’s comfort to Darn Tough.
Look/Style
Over the years, my biggest complaint about Darn Tough Socks has been the blandness of color choice in their men’s socks. Not very much to choose from as traditionally, your only options were a combination of black, brown, grey, and forest green. In their most recent iteration of color options, it appears that this problem has been mitigated. No longer are the fun, bright colors reserved for women’s socks. We can all now enjoy some flash on the trail.
Features
The No-Show Light Cushion Endurance Sock and Darn Tough socks, in general, are reinforced in the right places. Darn Tough does not sacrifice material in the heels, soles, and toes where most friction and wear will happen.
Function/Performance
Darn Tough socks perform just as they should. They stay snug in the right place, the merino wool construction wicks moisture away, and they keep dirt and grit away from your tender feet. They function just as a merino wool sock should, and have the durability that other merino socks lack.
Durability/Construction
On top of being an incredibly durable merino wool sock, they have an equally incredible lifetime guarantee to go with it. What more could you ask for than a sock that is built to last, and will be replaced by the manufacturer if it happens to succumb to pesky friction?
Room for Improvement
The men’s socks could still offer a little more in terms of color choice. We like a little color in our wardrobe too. Other than this very minimal complaint, keep doing what you’re doing.
The Final Word
I love that Darn Tough socks perform just as you would expect a performance merino wool sock would. They are form-fitting, they reduce moisture, and provide cushioned comfort. What I love, even more, is the incredible promise that Darn Tough can offer to their customer, a lifetime guarantee from a now not-so-little Vermont company.
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About the Gear Tester
Aidan Goldie
Aidan Goldie is a ski mountaineer based out of Colorado. When he is not climbing and descending peaks in the American West, he is an outdoor educator, working with schools and nonprofits guiding groups through the Colorado wilderness. Connect with him on instagram @agoldie94.
