For the first three decades of my life, I rode the nice-shoes-cheap-socks train. Then it happened. Returning from a friend’s house, I discovered there was a hole in the ankle of one of my socks.
My mind flooded with questions. Mostly, did anyone notice the back of my ankle exposed like Achilles at Troy?
My research to avoid this ever happening again led me to Darn Tough Socks. The Vermont company’s offer of an unconditional lifetime guarantee caught my eye. If they wear out, they’ll ship you another pair for free.
That was enough to help me overcome my trepidation of paying $23 for a pair of socks, over 10 times what I normally pay.
I settled on the Quarter Midweight Hiking Socks. So far I’ve taken over 150,000 steps in this pair, and I’ve reached a decision: I plan to take many, many more.
$23 at Darn Tough
$22.95 at Amazon
What I love
One of the reasons I get holes in my socks is a headline that said getting at least 8,000 steps a day halved mortality from all causes. I’m now an avid walker and average around 7,000-10,000 steps a day.
As I’ve found, these socks have excellent insulation. I live in New England, so I’ve worn my socks in temperatures ranging from 50F to 102F. The merino wool and nylon blend did the job of keeping my feet in the Goldilocks Zone and wicking away sweat.
I also appreciated the construction. The toebox is seamless and stretchy, allowing for proper toe splay. The foot is cushioned. The combination leads to less soreness.
And I’m certain that Darn Tough Socks are more durable than socks you’ve previously owned for two reasons.
First, one of my quarter-length socks tips the scales at 34 grams compared to 25 grams for a quarter-length from Fruit of Loom. (I weighed them both.) The extra density in the weave means the sock is more resistant to tearing and wear.
Second, when I received my pair in the mail, I immediately started poking them with a flathead screwdriver and trying to tear them apart with my bare hands. These socks withstood it all.
I haven’t had to return a pair to Darn Tough to test their replacement promise, but the Guardian’s Filter US editor Nick Mokey has done so in the past, and has another return in the works. “There are no questions asked, and really no catches,” he says. “You pay to ship them out, Darn Tough pays for the return.”
I also reached out to Darn Tough to find out more, and the company replied that while it can’t share the exact number of socks it has replaced, it has exchanged pairs from customers that have passed through golden retrievers, summited Everest and survived wildfires in California.
The company says it benefits from offering free replacements because it gets direct feedback from consumers and data on how to improve the design, and it shows a clear commitment to quality control.
Verdict
Darn Tough socks are an investment. It’s the type of product that you buy once, quite literally with a lifetime guarantee.
If you’re on your feet all day, you’ll find them an upgrade over socks that are sold in bulk. People who wear socks in lieu of slippers would enjoy them because they provide cushioning while also being comfortable to wear in both hot and cold weather. I know the holidays are some time away – but Darn Tough Socks would make a great stocking stuffer. Socks within socks, imagine that.
Specifications
Type: Quarter-length
Materials: 59% Merino Wool, 38% Nylon, 3% Lycra Spandex
Care instructions: Machine wash
Available colors: Onyx black, dark teal, chestnut, taupe
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Jon Chan is a writer with over a decade of experience reviewing products. During his time at Reviewed, he headed the Testing Labs, where he put home appliances, textiles and cleaning supplies through their paces.
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This piece is a part of Guardian US’s Buy it for Life series, highlighting durable products built for the long haul. If you’d like to suggest a product that has stood the test of time in your own life, please contact us at thefilter.us@theguardian.com