I Bet I Can Guess What’s in Your Sock Drawer

I work in consumer insights here at Darn Tough. That work involves a lot of asking questions and listening to what people want, learning what their pain points are, and understanding how they find and purchase our socks.

The main way I collect these insights is through our Darn Tough Sock Lab. People like you sign up to be a member then fill out surveys on a whole range of topics.

Since starting at Darn Tough, I have learned more about socks than I ever expected. While I still have a lot to learn, there are a few things I’m confident about, starting with what is mostly likely in your sock drawer.

Types of Sock People

First, there are 2 types of sock people in the world:

1. The person who doesn’t want anyone to notice their socks, and they don’t want to think about their socks either.
2. The person who views socks as a reflection of their personality and wants people to notice their socks.

Both groups want their socks to be comfortable and durable.

Second, I've been learning what sock personality means about what is in your sock drawer. We’ve been asking a lot of questions on this topic. Based on this research, I’d like to take a guess what your sock drawer is made up of color and design wise.

So, before I dive in, go take a quick look at your sock drawer. Go ahead, I’ll wait.

What’s in Your Sock Drawer?

According to our research chances are…

• 40-60% of your sock drawer is made up of solid-colored socks.
• The top colors are probably black, gray, and dark blue. Maybe a dark green? Olive?
• Probably NOT yellow or bright orange (although you might have dark orange)
• 15-20% of your sock drawer is stripes.
• Probably thin stripes, though some of you prefer thicker rugby stripes.
• Color preferences for these striped socks run to darker non-black or grey colors like dark blue and green.
• 20-40% of your sock drawer is patterned socks.
• Pairs covered in wild animals, maybe a few farm animals. Overall, you seem to prefer bears, foxes, and wild birds. Not to gender you, but –
• If you’re a man, you probably prefer bears, birds of prey, and cryptids on your socks the most
• If you’re a woman, you probably prefer bees, foxes, and wild birds on your socks the most
• And I know there are women who want cryptid socks and men who want bee socks. I hear that, too.
• Other abstract patterns or small repeating patterns (which probably feature forest fauna and/or flora)

How’d I Do? Did I Come Close?

To be fair, the deck is a little bit stacked, as there are very few colors or patterns for socks that don’t have an audience. Except for maybe checkerboard patterns… most people don’t seem to want those.

If you would like to tell me I am wrong, or even just tell me a bit more about your sock drawer, please do so through this quick survey.

Feel free to explain why you don’t like checkerboard socks.

Would you like to join us in the Darn Tough Sock Lab? We’d love to have you. Just click on that link to the application to get started.

About the Author

Lisa is the Consumer Insights Manager at Darn Tough Vermont. When she isn’t learning about who are consumers are and what they want, you can find her kayaking, regularly being fooled by the term “moderate hike,” and relaxing in her VanGrizzle socks with her 2 cats and a book.