Exploring New England: Places & Socks We Recommend

We knit socks designed to take your feet out your front door and onto less traveled roads… although they're equally good for couch surfing.  

As a Vermont-based company, it’s safe to say we know New England best (though we enjoy overseas trips, too). So, if you’re planning a 2025 trip to the Northeast, here’s some places (and socks) we recommend.

Mount Mansfield, VT

The Who: Billy R., Machine Operator 

The Sock: Men’s Stride Micro Crew

The top of the world! Mount Mansfield is a must do hike for every Vermonter. There are many routes to the top of various difficulties, and all lead to one of the best views in VT. I love sitting on top of the world with my dog Santana.

The Stride Micro Crew is the perfect performance sock for mid-summer hikes, and my go-to for everyday.

Camel’s Hump, VT

The Who: Christina H., Custodian 

The Socks: Women's Critter Club

The Critter Clubs are my favorite socks so far!

For this hike, you should pack plenty of water, high protein snacks, and electrolytes. A jacket or windbreaker will be your best friend at the top. It's challenging, but if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish it! I loved the rock scrambles that led to the top, opening to a gorgeous view all around.

Hinesburg Town Forest, VT

The Who: Deb N., Data & Analytics Manager

The Socks: Women's Hiker Micro Crew

I picked my micro crew midweight Hikers and headed just down the road to the Hinesburg Town Forest. I used to only wear no-show socks in the summer/early fall but have embraced the micro crew height for my local adventures. They keep the dirt and pebbles out and are so comfy!

This hike was particularly magical! The early morning light coming through the trees, a barred owl that swept by my head and landed on a nearby tree, a deer that had to jump off the trail in front of me, and the best part - the beginning of seeing the forest floor covered in various colors of fallen leaves...

You don't always have to go big to get in a memorable hike. Life kept our family from doing any big hiking trips this summer so sometimes local is the way to go. Town Forests are a hidden treasure, and I feel so lucky to have a trailhead just up the road from me.

Pemigewasset Loop, NH

The Who: Dana A., Social Media Specialist

The Socks: Men's Number 2 Micro Crew

I traveled over to Lincoln, New Hampshire, to hike the Pemigewasset Loop. I wore the Number 2 sock, cause I love the flying outhouse and wanted the midweight cushion due to tough terrain and potential for variable weather.

The highlight of my trip was hiking the Franconia Ridge Trail… But in all honesty, getting back to my car was pretty amazing. Accomplishing this 32mile loop in 15.5hrs was no small feat.

If you want to hike this area, I recommend you do this loop in two days, staying at the Galehead Hut. They have plenty of bunks, and a weekly soup or baked goods. 

If you want the challenge of hiking this trail in one day, here are the essentials:

• Wear shoes you know still have a ton of life left
• Bring trekking poles and your knees will thank you
• Hike the loop clockwise and jog the last 4 miles
• Bring food other than bars and gels — your body will crave protein and salty food like jerky and BBQ chips

Cape Ann, MA

The Who: Sarah D., Email Digital Specialist

The Socks: Women’s Horizon and Element Micro Crew socks

I didn’t pack too many socks for this beach getaway, but since we brought bikes, I made sure to bring a few pairs of lightweight micro crews, including the Horizon run socks and Element micro crews. 

All the cool kids match their socks to their Spindrift.

Cape Ann has beautiful sandy beaches, but less of the hustle and bustle of Cape Cod. A lot of beaches are resident-parking only, so bringing a bike will unlock some new areas to explore. 

We leisurely biked out onto Conomo Point to enjoy the views of the coast and watch boats go past. I brought my Chacos along and dipped my feet in the water to cool off before biking back.

Orange County, VT

The Who: Daniel F., Production Machine Technician Apprentice

The Socks: Men's Coolmax Hiker Boot

This is the time of year where I can take off my bike’s studded winter tires and install my gravel tires. It is great because I recently moved to this area, and I only got to discover some of the great roads and trails at the tail end of last fall. Now that the winter snow is melting, accessibility to so much more fun and exploration increases. 

This time out, I went to my super secret majestical hidden treasure destination… the gravel and class 4 roads across from my house in Orange County, VT. 

When it comes to socks, I’m a ride or die full terry son of a gun. The Coolmax socks allow me to feel all the plushy goodness without emitting the aromas akin to my forest friends. The boot height protects my delicate epidermis from various rocks, sticks, and my own mountain bike pedals.

If you hear huffing and puffing in my neck of the woods, it might just be me, not a wild animal, slowly struggling up a hill on my bike. Don’t litter, have fun, and say hello. But don’t take it personally if all you get in return is a weird grunt. I’m not much of a conversationalist when my lungs are in 5th gear.

Lake Champlain, VT

The Who: Leon L., Quality Supervisor

The Socks: Men’s Number 2 and Close Encounters

Lake Champlain is my favorite place in the world. Come and see for yourself! We took down an invasive Norway Maple and a diseased pine tree by my family's camp on Lake Champlain and needed to boat the wood to shore.

I wear mismatched socks. I used to hate throwing out a perfectly good sock when the other one got a hole (in the days before I worked at Darn Tough and wore cheap socks). Almost all my socks now are midweight micro crews, so I can choose two different socks and make a pair depending on what I feel like that day. 

I like the midweight micro crew socks because of the cushion, and especially when I knew I would be making lots of steps carrying heavy logs: that matters! The Number 2 is one of my favorite socks and I collect all the colorways. I wore the Close Encounters to go with it because I would be visiting the home of Champ. No one can convince me that it is not Champ who is featured on this cryptid sock. 

The highlight was finishing the work and jumping in the water!

Sugarbush, VT

The Who: Patrick A., Accounts Receivable

The Socks: Men's Pennant RFL

Every weekend I volunteer at Sugarbush Resort as a member of the Ski Patrol. Every week we give our time to assist guests, be they simply asking for advice or unfortunately injured.

A recent highlight was when I was asked to sled a bride down from the top of Lincoln Peak, where she was married, though unable to ski down.

These pictures are from training in sled running and lift evacuation, if we ever have to get people out of a non-operational ski lift. Featuring the best ski sock around, duh.

Joining the Ski Patrol has been so much more emotionally and personally gratifying than I ever would have thought. Helping people on their worst day and starting to make it turn around is amazing. I would not have it any other way, and Darn Tough socks are with me each and every call.

Darn Tough forever.

Fayston, VT

The Who: Katelyn M., Accounting & Finance Manager

The Socks: Women's Critter Club

The Top of Boyce Hill Town Forest in Fayston, VT is only 5 minutes from my house! On this trip to Boyce, I took a group of 6 girls, who were part of the bachelorette party I was hosting for one of my childhood friends, to the top, and we sat in the sunshine and late summer breeze all drawing our favorite memory of the bride. The views of the ski trails on all three ski resorts of the Monroe Skyline never gets old. 

Take a long moment at the top and really savor the beauty that the Mad River Valley has to offer. See if you can pick out the top of Burnt Rock (another wonderful, but more challenging hike in Fayston). Check out the pond a little way to the left of the parking lot - great for a quick dip in the summer.

Always remember to wear your Darn Tough hiking socks! Not only is the Women’s Critter Club sock my all time favorite for any activity, they are perfect for any type of hike, big or small. Just the right amount of cushion and plenty of cuteness. I mean c'mon, look at that little raccoon!

Lamoille County, VT

The Who: Dan R., Senior Graphic Designer

The Socks: Men’s Hiker Micro Crew

I wore these socks fly fishing at an undisclosed location in Lamoille County, VT (don't ask; I won't tell you where). I spent the day casting big grasshopper flies to beautiful brown trout on a secluded stream around my home in the green mountains. And ended the day with a swim and a cold beverage. Doesn't get any better than that, folks. 

The 1466 Hiker Micro Crew is the perfect sock for wearing under fishing waders. It has enough cushion to keep your feet comfortable while trekking long distances in the river over uneven, slippery surfaces. It wicks moisture away from your feet, which is especially important when they're double wrapped in neoprene wader booties and submerged in cold river water; things get clammy quickly.

These socks are always in the back of my truck with the rest of my fishing gear. Seriously, just look at the pictures. 

Consider traveling to someone else's favorite fishing spot. Steer clear of mine, but if you do wind up there, make sure you have some 1466's under your waders. Your feet will thank you. 

Crawford Notch, NH

The Who: Jenny H., Senior Content Strategist

The Socks: Men’s Steely Boot

I went on a local mini-adventure, hiking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. My dad and I hiked the Edmand's Path up Mt. Eisenhower. 

Hiking in the White Mountains is rugged and rocky, so have a good pair of boots, hiking poles, and pack a light jacket for when it's windy on top. If you can, have a couple days available and time your hike for a blue-sky day, because being on top of the world when the view is crystal clear is a feeling like none other. 

For hiking socks, I wear any boot height with cushion, but my dad prefers the Steely. My dad loves the weight of the Steelys and the cushion placement. 

The best part of the hike is when you pop out of the trees, cross this small scree field, and are face-to-face with the epic Presidential Ridgeline. It's stunningly gorgeous, and we had a perfect day with all sun and no clouds. 

See You Out There

Hopefully this list has convinced you to make the trip over to New England or, better yet, to Vermont. When you come, don’t be surprised if one of us stops you on the trail to tell you how much we love your Darn Tough socks.