Product Review :: Darn Tough Socks

Halfway through the snowiest winter I’ve ever lived through in the lower 48, a good friend of mine in Pennsylvania turned me on to Darn Tough socks. We were talking about socks for ourselves, and for our kids, and how hard it is to find durable, warm, wool socks that don’t cost an arm and a leg. She suggested I give Darn Tough socks a try.

“Oh,” she said, “and they have a lifetime guarantee!”

“A what?!? On socks??!? Do they come in kid sizes???” I asked.

When she told me they did indeed come in kid sizes, I decided to give them a try. Our local outfitter {Eastern Mountain Sports} does a Buy 3 Get 1 Free deal on all of their socks, so I got some Hike/Trek socks for the kids and myself. I was impressed by the quality right away. The colors are vibrant and funky, and the cushioning is thick and comfy.

The kids socks only come in the thicker, hiking-style sock, which worked really well for us inside snow boots, and around the chilly house. And because wool is anti-microbial and breathable, we could wear the socks for a few days at a time without washing. Darn Tough socks keep me toasty warm and very, very rarely are they too warm, even at night under a down blanket with my toaster oven bedmate.

One of my kiddos is picky about their socks and has complained that the arch area is a little tight. The hikers are made with built-in arch support, and are woven tighter in that area, which might take a little getting used to at first. But I can all but guarantee you won’t notice within a few minutes of wearing them. At least no one here can.

I wear the thinner, Lifestyle style socks during the warmer months instead of cotton gym-style socks. They are breathable and anti-microbial, so my feet are comfortable and don’t stink, even after a full, hot day on the farm.

Knowing that the Hike/Trek style socks are 67% Merino Wool {29% Nylon, 4% Lycra(r)}, and the Lifestyle style socks are 62% Merino Wool {36% Nylon, 2% Lycra(r)}, and accepting the fact that wool shrinks, I decided to order a size bigger than I would normally wear. My socks did shrink considerably, so if you are able to be diligent about your laundry and will never, ever let them into the hot wash or dryer, you could go ahead and get your normal size. But, if you’re like me and you have a house full of people with dirty laundry and questionable laundry skills, you might want to go up a size.

I got Farmer Tripp his first two pairs for his birthday this year. His hikers have the Appalachian Trail AT logo on them, and 5% of the sales of this style goes to help support the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s outdoor education programs and maintenance of America’s first national scenic trail. How cool is that??

And did I mention they are made in Vermont?

Bottom line: We love Darn Tough socks and would recommend them to anyone looking for warm, funky, made in the USA, wooly socks. {OvO}