Staff Picks: Socks-essful Holiday Gifts (& Fails)

Gifting season is here, so we asked six sock experts from the Mill to spill the eggnog on the worst gift they’ve ever received... and the Darn Tough sock they'd recommend gifting instead. Turns out our crew has seen some questionable gifts, but these gifting Darn It stories prove one thing — lifetime guaranteed socks never disappoint.

Brian O.

Position: Production Specialist

Brian's Pick: Men's Captain Stripe Micro Crew

Brian’s go-to holiday gift? The Captain Stripe Hike sock, because to him, “Captain America may not be the biggest or strongest superhero, but he is a true leader.”

When asked if he's ever received a gift he didn't like, Brian chuckled and said, "Yes, a salad mixer." To us, that's the equivalent of getting coal... or the other guy’s socks in your stocking. Still, upbeat Brian believes it's the thought that counts. Our jury’s out on that one.

Brian balances a full-time job at Darn Tough with being a dedicated dad to four kids and participating in Spartan obstacle races. “Last year,” he said, “I completed three distances — a 5K, 10K, and 21K — to earn a cute trifecta medal.”

Cute? Yes, he said “cute.” You might catch Brian practicing parkour around the Mill after hours — for fun. Whatever obstacle Brian tackles next, we’re certain it won’t be with a salad mixer, but it will be while wearing his Darn Toughs.

Justin M.

Position: Manufacturing Operator

Justin's Pick: Men's Chasing Waterfalls Micro Crew

Justin might be one of the newest members of our family, but he's already all-in on learning the sock-making process. Originally hired for the finishing department, Justin is now cross-training in knitting. He digs seeing a different side of the sock-making process.

Justin has his eye on the Chasing Waterfall sock to give his parents this holiday season. “With brown for the earth, green for the mountains, it just screams Vermont," he explained. “My dad hikes, and my mom walks her dog a lot. I want her to be walking in something comfortable.” We advocate for comfort and quality, too, Justin.

The worst gift he’s received? “When I was eight, my dad bought us bedroom stuff — a lamp and bedsheets. As a parent, you’re probably thinking, ‘My child needs this.’ But as a kid getting a lamp for Christmas, I mean… you can't play with a lamp.” No, Justin, you can’t. Here’s hoping you unwrap socks this year.

Amy K.

Position: Machine Ops — Knitting

Amy's Pick: Women's Mistle-Toe Crew

With a decade of knitting under her belt, Amy knows Darn Tough socks. “As knitters, we keep the machines running,” she said. “If they run out of yarn or if the yarn gets cut or broken, we fix it and keep everything going smoothly.”

Amy picked out the Mistle-Toe socks for their poinsettias, colors, and design as a holiday gift for her mom. What she wouldn't want to receive? We quote: “Any household items.” We’re with you, Amy — functional household gifts aren’t fun (unless of course it’s a laundry-folding robot). 

Outside of work, Amy enjoys spending time with her German Shorthaired Pointer dogs. The only downside is that her dogs love to steal her Darn Tough socks. “They must love wool,” she laughs, “but they don’t swallow them. Instead, they hold them tightly in their jaws, and then it turns into a tug-of-war.”

When asked what she's giving her dogs for the holidays, Amy grinned: “Not socks.” Instead, it’ll be treats and toys for her boys.

Steve M.

Position: Shift Technical Trainer — Knitting

Steve's Pick: Men's Mountaineering Micro Crew

Steve has captained the sock ship at the Mill for nearly five years. He excels at making doubters believe in themselves, training new knitters, and keeping morale high. With a background as a football coach and a Navy medic, skills like explaining concepts and inspiring others are at his fingertips.

He loves that his job at the Mill keeps him healthy and active: “I had a desk job for ten years before, and I wouldn’t want to go back to sitting at a computer all day,” he said.

Outside of work, Steve is a big fan of the Red Sox and the Cowboys. He enjoys deer hunting, cooking Italian barbecue, and growing his own vegetables—he even grew two pumpkins this year. We salute you, Steve. We’re big fans of things that come in pairs.

His worst gift? Neck ties or underwear. “Those aren’t fun." Agreed. Who wears ties or underwear anyway?

Instead, Coach Steve said he enjoys gifting the Mountaineering socks best because “they’re thick, cushy, warm, and fit perfectly. People can even wear them as cozy slippers.” Socks as slippers. Dual rad purposes. Now, that’s more than we can say about boring underwear.

Thomas C.

Position: Finishing Team Member

Thomas's Pick: Men's Heady Stripe Micro Crew

"I come from a family of twelve siblings, ages 21 to 50," revealed Thomas. And yet, he has somehow never received a bad gift — hello, life goals.

During his almost six years at the Mill, Thomas has built strong bonds and friendships with his coworkers. He has also grown from border-stretching and quality-checking socks to excelling as a finisher.

“My favorite part of the holiday season is family,” Thomas shared. This year, he plans to gift his brothers a pair of Heady Stripe Micro Crew socks. Nothing says brotherly love like comfortable, durable hiking socks that also look and smell good.

Thomas is a dad to a recent college graduate, and in his free time, he coaches fifth- and sixth-grade basketball at Berlin Elementary. No wonder Thomas is an asset to the team at the Mill with his beaming smile and the patience of a saint. We’d want you as a sibling, too, Thomas.

Debra M.

Position: Finishing Team Member

Debra's Pick: Women's Blossom Crew

Debra once owned three emus and now has Great Danes who resemble small horses. Her unique charm doesn’t end with her passion for large animals. She dyed her hair purple in honor of her mother, who passed away from pancreatic cancer. “She would have loved my hair like this,” Debra says with a grin that could power the Mill.

For the holidays, Debra plans to give the Blossom Crew socks to her sister. “Muriel prefers the thinner lifestyle socks, and she’ll love the beautiful floral design,” she explained.

Debra’s son, Kevin Jr., has also been part of the Mill team for six years as a technician. Although she has family nearby, Debra has found an extended family among her coworkers at the Mill. “I love the people I work with,” she says, “and I truly believe in our product.”

Her worst gift? A stirring spoon from her husband. He later made up for this gift miss with a three-ring can opener. Now, that wouldn’t butter our bread, but we’re not Debra — no one else could be.