The Alternate Stitch

And after keeping your feet cool and fresh all summer, Merino Wool socks are still going to be your warmest socks and the best socks for winter. Let’s celebrate 5-ish reasons why Merino Wool makes the best warm winter socks.

When you consider the benefits of Merino Wool, the fact that it makes great fire resistant socks probably isn’t one that you’ve put much thought into. But if you’re a wildland firefighter or flying with the Air Force, this less-discussed benefit of Merino Wool might rank high on your list.

To understand how to prevent blisters while hiking, you first must understand what blisters are and what causes them to form. Blisters can develop almost anywhere, but if you’re hiking, backpacking, or long-distance walking, the most likely (and perhaps most adverse) location is on your feet.

Should running socks be thick or thin? We’ll lay out the pros for each, but the biggest factor is personal preference. What might work for one person might not work for another.

We choose Merino Wool because it’s wildly resilient and incredibly versatile. Two great things for hiking socks, snowboard socks, skiing socks, running socks, and every sock in between. You might be wondering why Merino Wool is so perfect as a sock material, so we’re covering what is it and how it’s different from regular wool.

Why do socks exist? Sounds like a question a fuzzy-eyebrowed professor might scrawl on a blackboard during a college philosophy course. Since we’re talking socks, let’s bring that navel-gazing proposition closer to the ground with the top five reasons why socks matter (We know you saw this spoiler coming: Socks do have a purpose. Multiple actually).

We only make one thing — socks. And since ours are designed to last a lifetime, we’re jumping straight into the quirky history of what people have worn between foot and footwear over the last 5,000 years or so.

Have you ever opened your sock drawer, winced, and just closed it right back up again? Me too. Here’s my story of sock drawer organization, with tips and tutorials on how to organize socks, and my in-depth analysis of the pros and cons of different sock folding methods.

Stains are tough, but our socks are tougher… and so are you! We’ve gotten a fair share of questions about how to remove stains from socks. We decided it was high time to do some semi-formal testing. We explain three stain-removal methods and recommendations on how to remove grass stains from socks.

Sometimes you have to look deep and ask yourself the age-old questions: Am I living up to my full potential? Does a falling tree demand an audience? And should I, or should I not, wear my socks to sleep?

Not only are bunched up socks the cause bad moods, but they can cause blisters and affect your performance, no matter what you’re doing. After putting our socks through all sorts of tests, we’re confident in our results: Our socks are as stationary as those forgotten Pelotons people bought two years ago.

Walking for exercise has many benefits for the body and the mind and is one of the most convenient activities we can do for our wellbeing. Some good, basic equipment will help ensure you get to focus on your walk and not your feet. Here’s a simple guide on how to choose the right walking socks.

In this post I’m going to get into the pros and cons of liner socks to help you determine your best footwear system. Spoiler: I truly don’t think you need liners if you have the right sock and shoe combo. So let’s get into it…

This might be a controversial opinion to some; we get it, socks are personal. Some people only like black socks, or patterned socks. At Darn Tough, we love all socks. Period. We’ll break down what it is about white socks that people love, their unmatched versatility, and how and when to slide a pair on your feet.

“I bought these as a Valentine’s gift for my wife and she loves them. Flowers last a week. These last a lifetime of kisses every week.” — Christopher O.

Gold star, Christopher. 1000/10. We could not have put it better ourselves.

This Valentine’s Day, instead of swiping and swiping to find your soulmate, let’s spend some time finding your sole-mate. Or, if you’ve already got a soulmate, now’s a great time to hook them up with their future sole-mate.

When the weekend rolls around, our Mill doesn’t go quiet — it just gets wilder. The folks who keep Darn Tough running seven days a week prefer it that way. And when they’re not working, their off-hours are just as well spent. From mountain peaks to pixelated adventures, these are the socks (and stories) of our Weekend Warriors.

At Darn Tough, we don’t just give a darn — we donate, volunteer, and recycle them, too. We do it together, as a family. And we let our values lead the way. From donating socks around the world to feeding hungry Vermonters and their families, here’s how we supported those in need in 2025.

Gingerbread is tough. Our socks are tougher. And unlike most cookie castles, what we knit never crumbles. Guaranteed for Life. Remember: your gift says a lot about you. So, instead of making them wince, why not get them something they’ll actually wear?

While most people don’t really want to talk about their sweat, or hear about other people’s sweat, there is a lot of value in speaking from experience and learning lessons from others. 

Merino Wool has many natural benefits, including thermoregulation, durability, breathability, softness, and an unbelievable ability to manage moisture. Though other moisture wicking materials exist, we’ve found the best moisture wicking socks are made with Merino Wool.