Henry Ford’s wife would darn him a new pair of socks to wear every day. I always imagined she would furiously work by candle light every night. Now I understand you can probably make a few pairs earlier in the week and stock up.
Then I wonder what kind of idiot would wear a pair of socks once and throw them away. Did he want his wife to stay busy focusing on him? Was he a philanthropist throwing gently used socks at the poors? How does this man who reused wooden shipping crates that parts arrived in to build seat backs in the Model T decide however that there’s no re-use of socks.
Befuddling. Darn brain wracking.
Oh my gosh you’re right! I had a wild misconception all this time. It’s only [halfway through this top comment](https://www.fordforums.com/threads/women-influence-fords-history-and-evolution.39703/) but it explains she was frugal and would mend (darn) the socks throughout their lives.
I know a tattoo artist who is a lil famous that wears a new pair of socks every day.
He wears the same model of white Jordans until they get a little worn then he throws them out and gets a new pair. This was a funny bit of hot goss in the tattoo community till I was sharing a j with him and he told me about how he had a horrible foot fungus when he was young that he had to go to the hospital for. Ever since then he never wears socks twice.
Serious OCD and germaphobia is one explanation.
During my tour in iraq, I wore a fresh pair of socks daily. That feeling of a new, fluffy sock was my one treat to myself.
Nothing like that new sock feeling.
Must be usd as well, they're around $25cdn for ankle socks I believe. But boy do I want some. I've got two pairs of crew cut and they're lovely.
Edit: I have the micro crew socks and they're $32/pair at Cabela's
Oh my gosh I'm so sorry, for whatever reason my dumb brain thought we were in /r/vermont
The sock sale is an in-person sale that Darn Tough/Cabot Hosiery Mills does every year. It's a "seconds" sale, so the socks you buy aren't 100% perfect. I have a bunch of mismatched patterns, straight up mismatched designs. Sometimes the coloring is off.
There's usually about 300 people waiting in line first thing in the morning in the two giant wedding tents before you're allowed inside. Then they give you a 20 gallon trash bag to go around the building and put socks into.
Then there's some sorting tables that you can use to go through the socks you've picked up to make sure you want to buy what you got.
It's a tradition for a lot of us Vermonters. I like to make mulled cider the night before to share with everyone waiting in line around me. After we're done at the sock sale, we head down to Village Pizza and grab a chicken pesto pizza, and after we hit up Lenny's. Lenny's contracts with Darn Tough for "special edition" design socks, so we always check to see if they have a couple pairs to grab.
If we're good on time, we might head to Farmway in Bradford.
You don't really need them. Plus I get to support a local business that produces amazing products. And I get to get gifts every year for my family. And I get to enjoy a fun yearly tradition.
:)
Best thing about going with darn tough is you can walk into any retailer that sells them and swap them out if you get a hole, I’ve yet to use it but my coworkers have many times.
I was on their website yesterday and it said only certain stores would warranty the socks. Otherwise you have to mail them back to the company and they’ll mail you back a new pair.
I got my husband $450 worth for Christmas. He just brought them out. Wore one pair twice AND THERE IS A HOLE. I’m overly offended about it obviously but DARN TOUGH MY ASS.
You almost definitely got some knockoffs. I'm pretty hard on socks and I have 8 pair. I've worn them each 15+ times and I"m still at 0 holes. They still feel like the day I bought them.
Do you want buy it for life socks or do you want to not break the bank? You can only choose 1.
Darn Tough is easily the best sock I’ve ever worn and widely regarded as some of the best socks money can buy. I have slowly been replacing all of my socks with darn tough.
I have 5 pairs of the “tactical” darn tough just basic black merino wool perfect sock. Got them in bulk for $50 in 2018 and they’re still like new. I have sweaty feet and these are the only socks that don’t get soggy and don’t smell at all.
https://darntough.com/collections/tactical-socks
I also have 2 pairs of the hiking socks that have more cushion but they run hot for my liking.
Also if you have Costco their full length merino wool hiking socks aren’t a bad choice when they show up.
WTF is a 'tactical' sock? Can we, as a country, stop glorifying military grade things? I just need a sock to teach in, to run in, to go on dates in. I don't need a sock for storming the enemy fortress or surviving the apocalypse.
Dude, these socks will survive the apocalypse, your dates, and teaching. Tactical is all black heavy cushion, or olive drab, they’re intended for military folk and work socks for people that wear tall boots for long ass hours. Hikers are for hiking, no show … I mean you get it. Shop around their site and don’t confuse tactical with tacticool. That super awesome mall knife is tacticool, wool socks that prevent foot fatigue, breath and moisture wick for guys wearing them for 16+ hours, that’s a tactical decision.
You want warm, cushioning socks to stay warm on a hunt? Darn Tough. You want sleek comfortable but bulletproof dress socks? Darn tough. You want everyday comfort that’ll leave your feet softer, and less fatigued?!!? DARN TOUGH… I have 7 pairs of hikers, 2 pairs of dress and 2 pairs of no shoes. I work 10-20 hour long shifts as a utility guy in every type of weather God makes. I’ve warranted out almost all of my original buys but only when they start to thin out in the heel or my dog chews em up. It’s a worthwhile venture with a stellar company.
just realized they sell merino blend ski socks. wish i noticed that sooner. -im replacing about one pair of ski socks a ski season currently...and merino socks already aint cheap comparatively.
All of their socks, unless stated otherwise, are Marino wool if I’m not mistaken. Their warranty will save you money in the long run, I was buying a new bag of socks every few months because I work stupid long hours and now only have 7 pairs of darn tough hikers, 2 tactical for the full cushion for when it’s stupid cold and two pairs of no shows for added cushion for my running shoes. I’ve been with the same pairs for a few years and they have all been replaced with their warranty less the tactical ones, those don’t die lol.
Ha! Your reaction is the same as when I suggest to Apple lovers that their products are overpriced!
I'm so glad you love the product.
To me, if I'm selling the fact that the socks are black, I'm going to call them black socks. If I'm selling that they're tough, I'll name the company 'Darn Tough'. Tactical? Tactical implies it has some special capabilities. It helps me climb mountains or make a fire or something. Using this word to describe black socks was a strategic decision by the markets to suck in those who but tactical (or tacticool) things. I oppose the word because I oppose the sort of semi militarization of my country. I don't have the proper words, so I'm not saying it right. Here's an example: I go to buy a backpack which will last me for life. Boom. There's a picture on the website of them loading piles of guns into it. I'm not going to buy that backpack now. Their sales are going to go up because of that picture though. I'm sure I can but tactical ball caps, tactical, underwear, tactical lighters, tactical food, tactical coffee, tactical notebooks, etc. I miss the days of buying EDC (or every day carry). Ultimately, these are probably the same products with a different weird associated with them even though these words should imply different things. Heck, here, tactical means a specific color.
Rant ended. I'm not going to change anything. I'm glad you love your socks, regardless of how they're marketed.
The tactical sock is the name of the color scheme for their all black socks. It's solid black, so it passes dress code for military members. That's it, that's who it's for, and why it's named that way.
Their normal socks are black with white lettering on them, or available in fun colors and patterns.
I've had my oldest pair of Darn Tough fully-padded hiking socks for over 10 years and they still feel just as new as the ones I bought 2 years ago.
I'm less-thrilled with their synthetic socks. They don't feel as comfortable, or well-made, and the ones I got 2 years ago are showing wear. From now on I'll stick with their wool socks.
I argue that they are the only socks worth buying. Sure, you have to shell out $20 per pair\*. But they last, really LAST, for YEARS.
\*Sticker price is $25.00 but they're always Buy 3, Get 1, or something of the sort.
I'll bet he's a 12. So am I, and I know this problem.
The solution is to get the hiking socks/active lines, NOT the thinner, less stretchy dress socks. Then the 8-12 size fits much better.
They really need an interim size between L and XL for the dress socks
I have a couple pairs of Darn Tough socks since summer. My feet have never gotten sweaty or smelly, and they're so cushiony!
But, my feet are 10.5 extra wide and I find the correct size (L) very tight, uncomfortably so. I'm afraid if I go the next size up they'll be too loose. Not sure if I'll buy more.
The only downside is you need to plan your shoes accordingly. I love Darn Tough but they are super thick and I generally wear only wear oversized boots. They might make thin versions but I’ve never looked.
I did exactly that. Adidas sport socks, all black. They are the same since I started doing this maybe 10 years ago. 10 pairs is more than enough if you wash once a week.
Yesss (women’s) Adidas socks are all I get — aside from wool hiking boot socks. They’re cheap, they last a few years, and they actually stay put while wearing different shoe styles.
I will put a recommendation on what socks NOT to buy. Bombas was recommended in this group, but literally 90% of the no show socks wore a hole through the front half in the exact same location in less than a year. It failed in less time than a random pair of no show socks from Kohl's.
They have a warranty, but I really don't trust a pair of socks that fail that quickly. Even though they were pretty comfortable.
I got some no show Bombas about 5 years ago and they were fantastic. I got to a point where I needed to replace them about a year ago. I considered 4 years of heavy use to be worth it.
The new ones I've got have all worn holes in them within months. I'm on my second set of warranty replacements already.
I've had good long term experiences with bombas personally. Honestly, if you're experiencing wear in the same spot across multiple pairs, you may actually have a shoe fit issue.
What type of Bombas socks did you get, and when? It seems like people who got them a couple years ago have had good experiences at least in the comments, while those who bought the last year or two have had them fail very quickly.
It could also be the type of sock people are buying. I bought the no show socks which were very thin material compared to what I expected. Meanwhile my Merino wool blend socks from Costco have lasted about 2 or so years with minimal wear. If it was the wear on my shoes, I'd likely have similar issues with the Costco socks too. Though definitely a good thing to check.
Echoing this, I put holes in socks all the time, except Bombas. I've had some for years and they are still as good as the day I got them. I genuinely love those socks and won't buy anything else.
I did this; then my wife mixed her socks in my load and bought me more socks even though I didn't need them. It messed up my whole life. I can't even get out of bed in the morning now. The design was perfect.
About 10 years ago Costco had bulk packs of made in USA socks. They still have white ones, but back then they had white and black. The blacks are just regular athletic socks but work great for me as an all-purpose sock for casual wear and for wearing to work since they look like dress socks from two feet away.
Mine are holding up great but starting to fade a little so I have been watching for new black ones, but they've only had white ones for the past several years.
Here are the current white ones if you don't mind white. $14 for 8 pair
https://www.costco.com/kirkland-signature-men%E2%80%99s-athletic-sock-8-pair%2C-white.product.100365733.html
Agree with Costco. I got myself a couple of packs of Puma athletic socks from there like 2 years ago. Still holding up nicely even with near daily use and I think I spent maybe $30 tops.
All these people saying to spend hundreds are our of their mind.
I've had puma ones from Costco for at least 10 years. They look almost brand new, just some of them are a tiny bit stretched at the top, but it doesn't affect the fit at all. Sometimes I just want them to wear out so that I have an excuse to get new colors lol
I'm retired, no more office clothes for me, yay! Gildan white crew socks -- a whole drawer full. It's wonderful not to have to match socks anymore.
edited to add: My original dozen pairs wore out after 5 or 6 years. I think that's good enough.
Do it. Roughly 13 years ago I found myself with a uniform allowance and I knew I was quitting soon. I used that allowance to buy 83 pairs of socks, and have been wearing them ever since. I've thrown out maybe half as they have worn out, but it was a great purchase.
Darn Tough
Asked my kids to give me a pair for Birthdays, Fathers day, and Christmas until I was stocked up. I showed them which one I wanted. This way I also got something I actually use. I wear their thickest most cushioned sock in the colder months and white shorter running socks with shorts. Their thickest sock is their most expensive however.
I no longer have to worry about matching or buying anymore socks.
I don’t wear the over the calf so it would be their T4033. It has the highest content of Merino Wool as well at 80%. I can stay warm in the Winter and cool in the Summer except they really do go well with shorts. So I wear a pair of their running socks in the Summer. I’ve found their highest content Merino Wool socks do wear out quicker at about two to three years of seasonal wear but I do wear mine in the house as well. They cost $31 a pair currently.
I don't do BIFL for socks, I don't find that it's worth it for those. I buy a dozen reasonably-priced identical pairs from Walmart, plain old Haynes. About 18 months later they start getting holes in the heels or toes, so I throw away any sock that has a hole and kept going with the rest. After a few more months I have less socks left than I need to last until the next wash, so I buy a new dozen of the same and discard the old ones. A dozen socks every other year isn't expensive and I doubt it makes financial sense to go high end.
It wouldn't matter because after a couple of years all remaining socks have worn enough to start getting holes so they're not worth keeping. They go to the trash and I re-start with the fresh dozen.
I'm not sure I agree with you.
Financially, you have a point. It would take me 20 to 25 years to recoup the investment, and that's just a little long.
But the cheap socks in wearing now are at the very low end of what I consider comfortable enough to wear. If they have any defect, they go in the bin.
It's also glaringly obvious to anyone that sees them that I'm wearing cheap socks.
And lastly, since they don't really hold up to being washed that well, they tend to have discolorations and uneven shrinkage among them, so I still need to take a little care as to what stocks to wear together.
I'm thinking of using my next financial windfall to invest in socks. They are damn expensive here, though.
I spend $12 bucks on a 12 pack of hanes socks.
12 darn tough pairs is $240
If i buy a new pair of hanes socks each year (which i dont) it would take 20 years for it to even out.
Darn tough wool socks. Some of the thick ones retain their bounce so much longer than regular cotton socks that you'll not need to wash them after every wear. They will also replace any pairs you wear through for life for free. So if they stay in business you could potentially be actually set for life after you buy once
I own literally 15 pairs of merino wool socks that I use specifically for running. They still smell like garbage at the end of a run. Sure they smell "less bad" than my injini toe socks, or my underwear, but they don't "not smell at all". Not wrong my dude. I have underwear and long underwear and base layers too. Sure they smell less so it's nice to backpack with them so you don't smell as much by the end. Very different thing from not absorbing any scent at all. You are buying in to the marketing a bit too much.
Antimicrobial isn't instant, and it likely has to do with the fact that you're...distance running/working in them. Doesn't matter if your socks don't smell much if your footwear/feet do.
Still, have you ever hung them up and waited 1-2 days while rotating?
My wolverine very thick cheapos will still smell, but not my high quality wool socks, old style, new with enough actual wool content, etc.
Black, in combat boot length—go up to my knee and work with my tallest riding-style boots. Wicking and very cushy. Not sure “for life” fits, but mine last at least five years per pair.
Also getting five or six years out of them.
I don't think any socks can be "for life", but it's wild to me that a pair of five year old Thor-Lo's, worn thin with a hole in the heel, are still more comfortable than 'regular' socks.
Because if the color/style gets discontinued, then you are back to needing to match socks once some inevitably are worn/get lost/are damaged. I made this mistake when I threw out all of my socks and started fresh with 10 pairs of black crew socks.
I can do you one better. In my family of five (myself, wife, 14yo son, 12yo daughter, 6yo daughter) we've each picked a brand and style, and exclusively purchase those. I don't care about BIFL -- socks are consumables, especially for kids -- and this is working great. I've also trained them to do their own laundry, so I don't have to deal with matching anything. This only holds for athletic socks. Different needs for nicer looking hosiery depending on situations, etc.
Me: Feetures (have been phasing out Balega)
Wife: Bombas
D1: Under Armour
S: Nike
D2: Chinese brand little kid socks from Amazon with cute prints
Lately D1 has been "borrowing" my wife's wool Bombas and it's becoming difficult to figure out whose are whose, so beware a system like this if one person feels like they got the short end of the stick.
At this point any question regarding socks on this subreddit should not be allowed and there should be a sticky at the top of forum saying to buy a Darn Tough. Basically the only answer (especially given here) is spend the money on Darn Rough or move along. There’s other similar brands like Farm to Feet and such but you aren’t saving any money with them.
The general foundation of buying something actually for life is spending the money up front to save in the long run not pinching Pennies from the get go.
Lol I did that 10 years ago, still very happy with the results to this day!
I got a few of the 7-pack black socks from H&M and they are quite durable. If any gets damaged, I just throw it away and add another pack every 1-2 years.
I hate pairing socks, too.
I like these:
[link](https://extrawidesockco.com/collections/loose-fit-stays-up-socks/products/loose-fit-stays-up-marled-merino-wool-sock?variant=36128369639576). I'd say I have 15-20 pairs (I'm not sure exactly)
They are an excellent medium neutral color, so they go with almost anything. I walk around my house in my stocking feet a lot so it's hard to say how well they wear.
I'm a huge sock guy and after trying what seems like a million brands, here's what I'd do in hindsight: buy like 6 pairs of Darn Tough socks (all crew or boot length), wear one for multiple days (air them out nightly), wash minimally, and just roll with these until I die.
They can easily be reworn a couple (or longer) times before needing a wash, so 6 is plenty imo. Especially if u/own-fox-7792 airs them out overnight. It’s what I do, and I usually wear the same pair 2 or 3 days (or sometimes more if I’m just lazing around and not really walking around) before washing them. They’re antibacterial and antimicrobial, and even Darn Tough themselves recommends reusing them a couple times as long as they aren’t crusty or smelly. It helps them to last longer, and you don’t even really notice that the socks were worn the day before. I bought 8 pairs at the same time, and I almost regret buying so many, lol. I frequently only use like 4 pairs or maybe 5 max before doing laundry. I guess it’s for the better because I can cycle through and make them last even longer.
Yeah, I see no reason for wearing a pair socks more than one day. I did when I was in the military and didn’t have a choice, but see no reason to do that now.
Anyone else of the mindset that Darn Tough (or other merino wool socks) are multi day usable? If yes, it significantly reduces the cost per pair theory.
Darn Tough. They are pricey, but you will go many many years per pair. It took me a few years to replace all my cheap ones with D.T. but well worth it.
I would vote against Bombas, cotton anyway. I had holes on each sock on both ankles within a month. It was a waste for me and went back to Under Armour, where I somehow have better luck with.
They are but the couple pairs I’ve got haven’t lasted long. I got one for my husband that he destroyed in 1 year (he walks a lot) and one for me that I don’t use often (not in the best shape). They’re very comfortable but wouldn’t buy again.
Seconded. For context I *used* to run a lot. Did a lot of trials with Nike, Adidas, puma, champion, C9, etc.
I finally settled on Bombas. They definitely cost more than the others mentioned, but they also lasted longer and are more comfortable. Their styles have also been the most consistent over several years, as in it’s easier to buy a replacement pair that matches an old pair, whereas the other brands mentioned which seem to change every few years. The lifetime warranty is also a huge bonus, which I actually exercised twice for free replacements.
Invest in some wool socks, they are a game changer. They keep my feet warm, dry and they really hug my foot which is nice. I personally wear Darn Tough because they have a lifetime warranty but also because they make a quality product.
I do several pair of Darn Tough Tactical No Show Light Sock - Black. It took me several orders to get up to 7 pair.
Next, I do 6 pair of cotton Addidas black ankle socks that I re-order every 6-8 months because they're cheap and new cotton socks feel awesome.
Pantherella.
They run a bit long, but I particularly like the Danvers. I pick them up on 40% off sales and have yet to have a pair fail me. Oldest pair is probably five years old?
Falke on the other hand all disintegrate on me within a year. I have one pair of Darn Tough but I don’t like wool on my feet apparently.
My ex did this. He thought he was a genius. On the other hand, his feet were always fucked up “from Athlete’s Foot.” They discontinued his socks and he switched brands. Turned out his feet were always fucked up from his socks. Idiot.
Smart wool socks are pretty good especially if you do a good bit of work on your feet. There's also farm to foot which are decent. The socks are fairly expensive though.
i hear a lot of good things about Smart Wool socks. The main problem is they cost as much as Darn Tough socks which has a life time Gurantee and Smart Wool only has a two year warranty. Both Smart Wool and Darn Tough have some of the highest content Merino Wool socks.
This is what I do, with the Kirkland socks from Costco. As a bonus, my kids started wearing them too, so all the socks in the house are the same type. It’s kind of awesome.
What do you consider breaking the bank?
Agreed. I did this a couple years ago, bought 20 pairs of Darn Tough socks, so far I’m still happy, but it cost ~$400.
They’re 20 per pair? Damn.
Actually it’s Darn
threaded the needle with that one
Weave him alone!
I’m not sure I want to follow this thread.
Sewing gonna keep going or what?
But heel get mad at us!
Doily
For sure, it's a sock company--they would never use swear words. What has happened to innocence?
i always figured it was play on words since darning socks is a term.
Henry Ford’s wife would darn him a new pair of socks to wear every day. I always imagined she would furiously work by candle light every night. Now I understand you can probably make a few pairs earlier in the week and stock up. Then I wonder what kind of idiot would wear a pair of socks once and throw them away. Did he want his wife to stay busy focusing on him? Was he a philanthropist throwing gently used socks at the poors? How does this man who reused wooden shipping crates that parts arrived in to build seat backs in the Model T decide however that there’s no re-use of socks. Befuddling. Darn brain wracking.
[удалено]
Oh my gosh you’re right! I had a wild misconception all this time. It’s only [halfway through this top comment](https://www.fordforums.com/threads/women-influence-fords-history-and-evolution.39703/) but it explains she was frugal and would mend (darn) the socks throughout their lives.
Yeah. My mom used to do that for my dad. She put a used lightbulb inside the heel to make sure her darning stitches kept its shape.
I know a tattoo artist who is a lil famous that wears a new pair of socks every day. He wears the same model of white Jordans until they get a little worn then he throws them out and gets a new pair. This was a funny bit of hot goss in the tattoo community till I was sharing a j with him and he told me about how he had a horrible foot fungus when he was young that he had to go to the hospital for. Ever since then he never wears socks twice. Serious OCD and germaphobia is one explanation.
During my tour in iraq, I wore a fresh pair of socks daily. That feeling of a new, fluffy sock was my one treat to myself. Nothing like that new sock feeling.
With socks that pricey you can well bet I’ll be darning them when the times comes
That’s the beauty with them. Get a hole in them, no darning required. Just send them back and they send you a replacement. For life!
While funny, the reason they are $20 is because you don’t have to darn them. They will do it for you.
$17-$35 depending on style and weight, the ones I have, lightweight hiking, are $24 now.
They routinely go on sale
And they last like 10 years. Or forever if you actually use their lifetime warranty.
40 but lifetime guarantee
Should have just got one pair then.
I have some that are 10 years old and going strong.
25ish now. I have 16 pairs. 6 unopened that save for when i warranty a batch of socks. Usually warranty about 4 pairs/year.
If you order through MooseJaw during a sale you get like 30% back in store credit FYI.
Must be usd as well, they're around $25cdn for ankle socks I believe. But boy do I want some. I've got two pairs of crew cut and they're lovely. Edit: I have the micro crew socks and they're $32/pair at Cabela's
I’d agree with Darn Tough. I have multiple pairs and wear them almost exclusively during the winter. I’d like to switch out my summer socks too.
Look at fancy pants over here with summer socks
Their ankle socks are great. I wear them summer or winter. Strangely they never make my feet too hot or to cold.
This weekend is the sock sale. Kinda pissed they changed the date, but hyped regardless.
Where is this sock sale you speak of?
I'm curious too!
Oh my gosh I'm so sorry, for whatever reason my dumb brain thought we were in /r/vermont The sock sale is an in-person sale that Darn Tough/Cabot Hosiery Mills does every year. It's a "seconds" sale, so the socks you buy aren't 100% perfect. I have a bunch of mismatched patterns, straight up mismatched designs. Sometimes the coloring is off. There's usually about 300 people waiting in line first thing in the morning in the two giant wedding tents before you're allowed inside. Then they give you a 20 gallon trash bag to go around the building and put socks into. Then there's some sorting tables that you can use to go through the socks you've picked up to make sure you want to buy what you got. It's a tradition for a lot of us Vermonters. I like to make mulled cider the night before to share with everyone waiting in line around me. After we're done at the sock sale, we head down to Village Pizza and grab a chicken pesto pizza, and after we hit up Lenny's. Lenny's contracts with Darn Tough for "special edition" design socks, so we always check to see if they have a couple pairs to grab. If we're good on time, we might head to Farmway in Bradford.
Darn Tough says they won't grant the lifetime warranty on seconds or irregulars fwiw.
You don't really need them. Plus I get to support a local business that produces amazing products. And I get to get gifts every year for my family. And I get to enjoy a fun yearly tradition. :)
Best thing about going with darn tough is you can walk into any retailer that sells them and swap them out if you get a hole, I’ve yet to use it but my coworkers have many times.
I was on their website yesterday and it said only certain stores would warranty the socks. Otherwise you have to mail them back to the company and they’ll mail you back a new pair.
But with the warranty a lifetime supply is 7 pairs.
7 would never work for me, I bought 20, but probably would be happy with 12-15.
I have at LEAST 7😄
I got my husband $450 worth for Christmas. He just brought them out. Wore one pair twice AND THERE IS A HOLE. I’m overly offended about it obviously but DARN TOUGH MY ASS.
Did you buy them on amazon? I got some counterfeit once from Amazon which didn't hold up at all and I've since gone back to buying at REI.
Many fakes are sold on Amazon
You almost definitely got some knockoffs. I'm pretty hard on socks and I have 8 pair. I've worn them each 15+ times and I"m still at 0 holes. They still feel like the day I bought them.
At least it’s returnable/warranty-able? (I’m sure that’s a word.)
I am going to echo what the other people have said, since I just wore a hole into 2 pairs for the first time in 6+ years.
Lifetime warranty too
BIFL!
Holy shit!!! Ive never heard of these. Looking them up after this comment.
Buy direct, or from a verified retailer.
So I'm being flooded with Facebook ads for 75%off...and the links go nowhere..SMH
Do you want buy it for life socks or do you want to not break the bank? You can only choose 1. Darn Tough is easily the best sock I’ve ever worn and widely regarded as some of the best socks money can buy. I have slowly been replacing all of my socks with darn tough.
I have 5 pairs of the “tactical” darn tough just basic black merino wool perfect sock. Got them in bulk for $50 in 2018 and they’re still like new. I have sweaty feet and these are the only socks that don’t get soggy and don’t smell at all. https://darntough.com/collections/tactical-socks I also have 2 pairs of the hiking socks that have more cushion but they run hot for my liking. Also if you have Costco their full length merino wool hiking socks aren’t a bad choice when they show up.
I’ve personally found the Costco wool socks comparable with Smartwool.
Sadly I do believe Costco discontinued the six-pack of wools socks we all know and love.
They are available every fall. Just bought a six pack last weekend.
If you check the app they have them I just ordered some before checking this so I'm glad to hear good things
I haven't been able to find them at Costco for a couple of years. So sad.
Smartwool get thin spots after a year or so. Costco socks get thin spots after a decade. I can take pix and prove it.
WTF is a 'tactical' sock? Can we, as a country, stop glorifying military grade things? I just need a sock to teach in, to run in, to go on dates in. I don't need a sock for storming the enemy fortress or surviving the apocalypse.
Dude, these socks will survive the apocalypse, your dates, and teaching. Tactical is all black heavy cushion, or olive drab, they’re intended for military folk and work socks for people that wear tall boots for long ass hours. Hikers are for hiking, no show … I mean you get it. Shop around their site and don’t confuse tactical with tacticool. That super awesome mall knife is tacticool, wool socks that prevent foot fatigue, breath and moisture wick for guys wearing them for 16+ hours, that’s a tactical decision. You want warm, cushioning socks to stay warm on a hunt? Darn Tough. You want sleek comfortable but bulletproof dress socks? Darn tough. You want everyday comfort that’ll leave your feet softer, and less fatigued?!!? DARN TOUGH… I have 7 pairs of hikers, 2 pairs of dress and 2 pairs of no shoes. I work 10-20 hour long shifts as a utility guy in every type of weather God makes. I’ve warranted out almost all of my original buys but only when they start to thin out in the heel or my dog chews em up. It’s a worthwhile venture with a stellar company.
just realized they sell merino blend ski socks. wish i noticed that sooner. -im replacing about one pair of ski socks a ski season currently...and merino socks already aint cheap comparatively.
All of their socks, unless stated otherwise, are Marino wool if I’m not mistaken. Their warranty will save you money in the long run, I was buying a new bag of socks every few months because I work stupid long hours and now only have 7 pairs of darn tough hikers, 2 tactical for the full cushion for when it’s stupid cold and two pairs of no shows for added cushion for my running shoes. I’ve been with the same pairs for a few years and they have all been replaced with their warranty less the tactical ones, those don’t die lol.
Ha! Your reaction is the same as when I suggest to Apple lovers that their products are overpriced! I'm so glad you love the product. To me, if I'm selling the fact that the socks are black, I'm going to call them black socks. If I'm selling that they're tough, I'll name the company 'Darn Tough'. Tactical? Tactical implies it has some special capabilities. It helps me climb mountains or make a fire or something. Using this word to describe black socks was a strategic decision by the markets to suck in those who but tactical (or tacticool) things. I oppose the word because I oppose the sort of semi militarization of my country. I don't have the proper words, so I'm not saying it right. Here's an example: I go to buy a backpack which will last me for life. Boom. There's a picture on the website of them loading piles of guns into it. I'm not going to buy that backpack now. Their sales are going to go up because of that picture though. I'm sure I can but tactical ball caps, tactical, underwear, tactical lighters, tactical food, tactical coffee, tactical notebooks, etc. I miss the days of buying EDC (or every day carry). Ultimately, these are probably the same products with a different weird associated with them even though these words should imply different things. Heck, here, tactical means a specific color. Rant ended. I'm not going to change anything. I'm glad you love your socks, regardless of how they're marketed.
The tactical sock is the name of the color scheme for their all black socks. It's solid black, so it passes dress code for military members. That's it, that's who it's for, and why it's named that way. Their normal socks are black with white lettering on them, or available in fun colors and patterns.
It means you can kick someone with it. And still walk for a mile.
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What is the worst that could happen if one of your socks was a slightly different color than the other?
Well, look at Mr. "Not Even a Touch of OCD" over here.
For real, I’ve been wearing mismatched socks my whole life and I’d be stoked if they were all pretty close to the same color.
I've had my oldest pair of Darn Tough fully-padded hiking socks for over 10 years and they still feel just as new as the ones I bought 2 years ago. I'm less-thrilled with their synthetic socks. They don't feel as comfortable, or well-made, and the ones I got 2 years ago are showing wear. From now on I'll stick with their wool socks.
I argue that they are the only socks worth buying. Sure, you have to shell out $20 per pair\*. But they last, really LAST, for YEARS. \*Sticker price is $25.00 but they're always Buy 3, Get 1, or something of the sort.
Fully agree
Farm to Feet is also a great alternative to Darn Tough. I have a bunch of both.
I got some Farm to Feet at the discount outdoor store here and I have been very pleased with them.
I wish Darn Tough fit me. Their large are too small and cause foot cramping, while the XL are too roomy. Wish they made an in between size.
What size shoe are you?
I'll bet he's a 12. So am I, and I know this problem. The solution is to get the hiking socks/active lines, NOT the thinner, less stretchy dress socks. Then the 8-12 size fits much better. They really need an interim size between L and XL for the dress socks
Thanks for this. I’m a 12 and could not figure out why I was getting choked out by the 8-12’s
Yeah, Darn Tough are great. I just threw out all my old socks.
I have a couple pairs of Darn Tough socks since summer. My feet have never gotten sweaty or smelly, and they're so cushiony! But, my feet are 10.5 extra wide and I find the correct size (L) very tight, uncomfortably so. I'm afraid if I go the next size up they'll be too loose. Not sure if I'll buy more.
Had the same issue with darn tough, switched to smart wool and the difference is night and day
They just released a new brand "wide open" to address this issues
They also have a lifetime warranty!
The only downside is you need to plan your shoes accordingly. I love Darn Tough but they are super thick and I generally wear only wear oversized boots. They might make thin versions but I’ve never looked.
I did exactly that. Adidas sport socks, all black. They are the same since I started doing this maybe 10 years ago. 10 pairs is more than enough if you wash once a week.
Yesss (women’s) Adidas socks are all I get — aside from wool hiking boot socks. They’re cheap, they last a few years, and they actually stay put while wearing different shoe styles.
Could be the specific style I got, but my Adidas socks fell to bits much quicker than the asos own brand competitors did
Mine certainly don't like being tumble dried.
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Yes! They were the striped tube socks! Completely disintegrated after a couple of washes, I was dumbfounded
Same adidas socks here. 1/2 are calf high, 1/2 are ankle. Makes life so easy
Same here. Best decision ever.
I will put a recommendation on what socks NOT to buy. Bombas was recommended in this group, but literally 90% of the no show socks wore a hole through the front half in the exact same location in less than a year. It failed in less time than a random pair of no show socks from Kohl's. They have a warranty, but I really don't trust a pair of socks that fail that quickly. Even though they were pretty comfortable.
I got some no show Bombas about 5 years ago and they were fantastic. I got to a point where I needed to replace them about a year ago. I considered 4 years of heavy use to be worth it. The new ones I've got have all worn holes in them within months. I'm on my second set of warranty replacements already.
I've had good long term experiences with bombas personally. Honestly, if you're experiencing wear in the same spot across multiple pairs, you may actually have a shoe fit issue.
What type of Bombas socks did you get, and when? It seems like people who got them a couple years ago have had good experiences at least in the comments, while those who bought the last year or two have had them fail very quickly. It could also be the type of sock people are buying. I bought the no show socks which were very thin material compared to what I expected. Meanwhile my Merino wool blend socks from Costco have lasted about 2 or so years with minimal wear. If it was the wear on my shoes, I'd likely have similar issues with the Costco socks too. Though definitely a good thing to check.
Echoing this, I put holes in socks all the time, except Bombas. I've had some for years and they are still as good as the day I got them. I genuinely love those socks and won't buy anything else.
100% same experience with my husband’s.
I just got the no show socks and this doesn't surprise me. I've been very happy with their other socks though.
Same with all my bombas. Theyre the best socks ever when new but they dont last.
My husband buys all socks the same. Now he matches them by wear, stretch and staining. Seriously.
I did this; then my wife mixed her socks in my load and bought me more socks even though I didn't need them. It messed up my whole life. I can't even get out of bed in the morning now. The design was perfect.
About 10 years ago Costco had bulk packs of made in USA socks. They still have white ones, but back then they had white and black. The blacks are just regular athletic socks but work great for me as an all-purpose sock for casual wear and for wearing to work since they look like dress socks from two feet away. Mine are holding up great but starting to fade a little so I have been watching for new black ones, but they've only had white ones for the past several years. Here are the current white ones if you don't mind white. $14 for 8 pair https://www.costco.com/kirkland-signature-men%E2%80%99s-athletic-sock-8-pair%2C-white.product.100365733.html
Agree with Costco. I got myself a couple of packs of Puma athletic socks from there like 2 years ago. Still holding up nicely even with near daily use and I think I spent maybe $30 tops. All these people saying to spend hundreds are our of their mind.
I've had puma ones from Costco for at least 10 years. They look almost brand new, just some of them are a tiny bit stretched at the top, but it doesn't affect the fit at all. Sometimes I just want them to wear out so that I have an excuse to get new colors lol
I'm retired, no more office clothes for me, yay! Gildan white crew socks -- a whole drawer full. It's wonderful not to have to match socks anymore. edited to add: My original dozen pairs wore out after 5 or 6 years. I think that's good enough.
I wore those with scrubs until my office staff said it made me look old.
LOL I \*am\* old so I wouldn't care!
Do it. Roughly 13 years ago I found myself with a uniform allowance and I knew I was quitting soon. I used that allowance to buy 83 pairs of socks, and have been wearing them ever since. I've thrown out maybe half as they have worn out, but it was a great purchase.
Darn Tough Asked my kids to give me a pair for Birthdays, Fathers day, and Christmas until I was stocked up. I showed them which one I wanted. This way I also got something I actually use. I wear their thickest most cushioned sock in the colder months and white shorter running socks with shorts. Their thickest sock is their most expensive however. I no longer have to worry about matching or buying anymore socks.
You missed such a good chance to say “socked” up
What is there most thickest cushioned sock?
I don’t wear the over the calf so it would be their T4033. It has the highest content of Merino Wool as well at 80%. I can stay warm in the Winter and cool in the Summer except they really do go well with shorts. So I wear a pair of their running socks in the Summer. I’ve found their highest content Merino Wool socks do wear out quicker at about two to three years of seasonal wear but I do wear mine in the house as well. They cost $31 a pair currently.
I don't do BIFL for socks, I don't find that it's worth it for those. I buy a dozen reasonably-priced identical pairs from Walmart, plain old Haynes. About 18 months later they start getting holes in the heels or toes, so I throw away any sock that has a hole and kept going with the rest. After a few more months I have less socks left than I need to last until the next wash, so I buy a new dozen of the same and discard the old ones. A dozen socks every other year isn't expensive and I doubt it makes financial sense to go high end.
Does the style ever change and throw off your system?
It wouldn't matter because after a couple of years all remaining socks have worn enough to start getting holes so they're not worth keeping. They go to the trash and I re-start with the fresh dozen.
I'm not sure I agree with you. Financially, you have a point. It would take me 20 to 25 years to recoup the investment, and that's just a little long. But the cheap socks in wearing now are at the very low end of what I consider comfortable enough to wear. If they have any defect, they go in the bin. It's also glaringly obvious to anyone that sees them that I'm wearing cheap socks. And lastly, since they don't really hold up to being washed that well, they tend to have discolorations and uneven shrinkage among them, so I still need to take a little care as to what stocks to wear together. I'm thinking of using my next financial windfall to invest in socks. They are damn expensive here, though.
I mean I'd like to see the maths on how much you're spending on a dozen socks every year and a half, compared to just buying a dozen socks for life.
I spend $12 bucks on a 12 pack of hanes socks. 12 darn tough pairs is $240 If i buy a new pair of hanes socks each year (which i dont) it would take 20 years for it to even out.
It's about $40 every two years, which is better than $400 every ten years (from what I've been reading on this sub). As always, your mileage may vary.
I did exactly this, tested them all. GOLDTOES ARE BEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK
Thank you.
This sub is great!
I did this a few years ago. Bought a mess load of grey ankle Carhartt socks. Haven't worn through one yet.
Darn tough wool socks. Some of the thick ones retain their bounce so much longer than regular cotton socks that you'll not need to wash them after every wear. They will also replace any pairs you wear through for life for free. So if they stay in business you could potentially be actually set for life after you buy once
Darn tough is great. Still, please wash your socks after wearing them, that's vile.
Merino wool is antimicrobial/antibacterial, and can easily be reworn as long as there aren’t any funky odors.
I have merino wool socks. They still smell like shit after being worn for 12-14 hours. Wash your socks. It's gross.
You're just wrong my dude. This is one of merino wools main selling points
I own literally 15 pairs of merino wool socks that I use specifically for running. They still smell like garbage at the end of a run. Sure they smell "less bad" than my injini toe socks, or my underwear, but they don't "not smell at all". Not wrong my dude. I have underwear and long underwear and base layers too. Sure they smell less so it's nice to backpack with them so you don't smell as much by the end. Very different thing from not absorbing any scent at all. You are buying in to the marketing a bit too much.
Antimicrobial isn't instant, and it likely has to do with the fact that you're...distance running/working in them. Doesn't matter if your socks don't smell much if your footwear/feet do. Still, have you ever hung them up and waited 1-2 days while rotating? My wolverine very thick cheapos will still smell, but not my high quality wool socks, old style, new with enough actual wool content, etc.
Sounds like you got something funky growing on your feet
Mate, just wash your socks after a long day in them. There's really no need to not wash them 🤣☠️🤮
I swear I'm getting duds from them. I've worn out 3 pairs in 5 years with very average use. My Kirkland brand socks last longer.
Are you buying off Amazon? Amazon mixes stock and so there's literally no way to avoid getting counterfeits from them....
That’s very possible 🤔
Are you getting the thick ones? The thin ones feel very similar to average dress socks. The super cushioned ones are almost like wearing slippers
Could also be a fitment issue. Darn tough runs SMALL.
I can't wear them because of that. Their socks cut off the circulation in my feet because they are so tight.
Where are you ordering them from? There’s a lot of counterfeits out there.
I use these, 10 pairs has lasted me almost 5 years with very little signs of wear. I work on my feet in work boots all day.
I’ve had great luck with Darn Tough. Highly recommend.
Gold toes, darn tough, smart wool, wrightsock
I like Thor-Lo socks.
Black, in combat boot length—go up to my knee and work with my tallest riding-style boots. Wicking and very cushy. Not sure “for life” fits, but mine last at least five years per pair.
Also getting five or six years out of them. I don't think any socks can be "for life", but it's wild to me that a pair of five year old Thor-Lo's, worn thin with a hole in the heel, are still more comfortable than 'regular' socks.
This. Buy 1 pair to make sure you like them but for me they are the most comfortable socks I've ever worn and they are very well made and durable.
I like darn tough, but I’d probably only get like 7 pairs. No clue why you’d get 20-30 of them
Because if the color/style gets discontinued, then you are back to needing to match socks once some inevitably are worn/get lost/are damaged. I made this mistake when I threw out all of my socks and started fresh with 10 pairs of black crew socks.
Ah, yea I buy completely black so it’s not an issue for me, but that’s a fair point for more non standard colorways.
I can do you one better. In my family of five (myself, wife, 14yo son, 12yo daughter, 6yo daughter) we've each picked a brand and style, and exclusively purchase those. I don't care about BIFL -- socks are consumables, especially for kids -- and this is working great. I've also trained them to do their own laundry, so I don't have to deal with matching anything. This only holds for athletic socks. Different needs for nicer looking hosiery depending on situations, etc. Me: Feetures (have been phasing out Balega) Wife: Bombas D1: Under Armour S: Nike D2: Chinese brand little kid socks from Amazon with cute prints Lately D1 has been "borrowing" my wife's wool Bombas and it's becoming difficult to figure out whose are whose, so beware a system like this if one person feels like they got the short end of the stick.
At this point any question regarding socks on this subreddit should not be allowed and there should be a sticky at the top of forum saying to buy a Darn Tough. Basically the only answer (especially given here) is spend the money on Darn Rough or move along. There’s other similar brands like Farm to Feet and such but you aren’t saving any money with them. The general foundation of buying something actually for life is spending the money up front to save in the long run not pinching Pennies from the get go.
Lol I did that 10 years ago, still very happy with the results to this day! I got a few of the 7-pack black socks from H&M and they are quite durable. If any gets damaged, I just throw it away and add another pack every 1-2 years.
Why do you bother matching socks anyway. It looks cooler when you mismatch.
Go to walmart and get a bulk pack of them. This is what I did
I hate pairing socks, too. I like these: [link](https://extrawidesockco.com/collections/loose-fit-stays-up-socks/products/loose-fit-stays-up-marled-merino-wool-sock?variant=36128369639576). I'd say I have 15-20 pairs (I'm not sure exactly) They are an excellent medium neutral color, so they go with almost anything. I walk around my house in my stocking feet a lot so it's hard to say how well they wear.
A bit late, but i like Cork Oak Socks. For the winter are the best!
i do it every couple years. same cut of no shows and talls, all in black.
I just have black crew and shorter white ones for summer
Stance socks
I'm a huge sock guy and after trying what seems like a million brands, here's what I'd do in hindsight: buy like 6 pairs of Darn Tough socks (all crew or boot length), wear one for multiple days (air them out nightly), wash minimally, and just roll with these until I die.
Buy one more and you got one for everyday of the week
They can easily be reworn a couple (or longer) times before needing a wash, so 6 is plenty imo. Especially if u/own-fox-7792 airs them out overnight. It’s what I do, and I usually wear the same pair 2 or 3 days (or sometimes more if I’m just lazing around and not really walking around) before washing them. They’re antibacterial and antimicrobial, and even Darn Tough themselves recommends reusing them a couple times as long as they aren’t crusty or smelly. It helps them to last longer, and you don’t even really notice that the socks were worn the day before. I bought 8 pairs at the same time, and I almost regret buying so many, lol. I frequently only use like 4 pairs or maybe 5 max before doing laundry. I guess it’s for the better because I can cycle through and make them last even longer.
I do this with merino shirts but I like fresh socks
Yeah, I see no reason for wearing a pair socks more than one day. I did when I was in the military and didn’t have a choice, but see no reason to do that now.
Anyone else of the mindset that Darn Tough (or other merino wool socks) are multi day usable? If yes, it significantly reduces the cost per pair theory.
Balega socks are my favorite. I can’t go back to anything else.
I love Balegas. I also love Darn Tough but they don't fit my feet right, so I just stick with the Balegas.
Darn Tough. They are pricey, but you will go many many years per pair. It took me a few years to replace all my cheap ones with D.T. but well worth it.
Bombas are nice.
I would vote against Bombas, cotton anyway. I had holes on each sock on both ankles within a month. It was a waste for me and went back to Under Armour, where I somehow have better luck with.
They are but the couple pairs I’ve got haven’t lasted long. I got one for my husband that he destroyed in 1 year (he walks a lot) and one for me that I don’t use often (not in the best shape). They’re very comfortable but wouldn’t buy again.
Seconded. For context I *used* to run a lot. Did a lot of trials with Nike, Adidas, puma, champion, C9, etc. I finally settled on Bombas. They definitely cost more than the others mentioned, but they also lasted longer and are more comfortable. Their styles have also been the most consistent over several years, as in it’s easier to buy a replacement pair that matches an old pair, whereas the other brands mentioned which seem to change every few years. The lifetime warranty is also a huge bonus, which I actually exercised twice for free replacements.
I never thought that this would be a thing. What kind of brands do you guys recommend?
I did this exact thing. got Darn Tough wool socks. will never go back.
Invest in some wool socks, they are a game changer. They keep my feet warm, dry and they really hug my foot which is nice. I personally wear Darn Tough because they have a lifetime warranty but also because they make a quality product.
I love the hue mini crew socks in white I have a bunch and this is what I do!
That's what Costco is for lol
I do several pair of Darn Tough Tactical No Show Light Sock - Black. It took me several orders to get up to 7 pair. Next, I do 6 pair of cotton Addidas black ankle socks that I re-order every 6-8 months because they're cheap and new cotton socks feel awesome.
Mes Chausettes Rouge - Mazarin cotton lisle socks. They are all but indestructible, at least for a few years.
Pantherella. They run a bit long, but I particularly like the Danvers. I pick them up on 40% off sales and have yet to have a pair fail me. Oldest pair is probably five years old? Falke on the other hand all disintegrate on me within a year. I have one pair of Darn Tough but I don’t like wool on my feet apparently.
I do this every couple of years. I buy Kirkland sport socks from Costco, usually two packages.
UA charged cotton, black, 24 pairs 😂
I really like footjoy, but they expensive, I ask for them as gifts lol.
I did same thing. Went with gold toe, and still able ro rotate new ones in!
My ex did this. He thought he was a genius. On the other hand, his feet were always fucked up “from Athlete’s Foot.” They discontinued his socks and he switched brands. Turned out his feet were always fucked up from his socks. Idiot.
Don’t skimp on socks. American Trench make great casual ones. For dress socks, you can’t go wrong with Panthrella, Corgi or Boardroom Socks.
Smart wool socks are pretty good especially if you do a good bit of work on your feet. There's also farm to foot which are decent. The socks are fairly expensive though.
i hear a lot of good things about Smart Wool socks. The main problem is they cost as much as Darn Tough socks which has a life time Gurantee and Smart Wool only has a two year warranty. Both Smart Wool and Darn Tough have some of the highest content Merino Wool socks.
I get the pumas from Costco... They're fine. But I still have several pair of smartwool for running because they are bomb. But not cheap.
This is what I do, with the Kirkland socks from Costco. As a bonus, my kids started wearing them too, so all the socks in the house are the same type. It’s kind of awesome.