The Alternate Stitch

Four people sitting on a couch wearing warm winter dress socks.
Casual & Dress · Comfort · Merino Wool ·
The Cold Truth: How to Find the Best Warm Winter Dress Socks
by Darn Tough Vermont

At Darn Tough, we knit for comfort, durability and fit. We’re here to help you find the best winter dress socks that keep you looking professional without losing a toe to the sub zero temps. Grab a coffee (and maybe a blanket), and let’s dive into the world of warm winter dress socks.

Person sitting on bench wearing Women's Swirlwind snow socks
Comfort · Merino Wool · Sock 101 ·
Merino Wool vs Synthetic: What’s the Warmest Sock Material (The Long Answer)
by Darn Tough Vermont

So, you want to know if Merino Wool is warm. Or, well, warmer than synthetic materials. The TLDR is, yes. The long version is, yes, and we’ll explain why…very explicitly.

Person wearing cozy socks sitting on couch
Comfort · Merino Wool ·
Cozy Socks: The Cure for Cold Feet
by Darn Tough Vermont

At Darn Tough, comfort is not an afterthought. It is part of the promise. Our socks are built to be the most comfortable, durable, best fitting socks, especially when the temperature drops. This guide breaks down why feet get cold, what actually makes a sock cozy, and how to find the right warm socks for everything.

Two sets of feet in coordinated Merino Wool socks, the warmest socks from Darn Tough
Casual & Dress · Comfort ·
The Most Rugged, Warmest Socks We Make… Now Housebroken
by Darn Tough Vermont

Slippers might be cozy, but they don’t hold a candle to a thick wool sock built for survival in the high alpine. Our Mountaineering socks are cushioned from heel to toe, insulated with heavyweight Merino Wool, and tough enough to handle more abuse than any slipper ever dreamed of... so we knit a Lifestyle version for around-the-house wear.

Arrows pointing to where cushion is located in a sock
Comfort · Sock 101 · Video ·
What Are Cushioned Socks? Video
by Darn Tough Vermont

Cushioned socks have Terry loops underfoot (and often other areas too) to add comfort, durability, and padding. Whether it's for comfort or protection, we have a variety of cushion levels to choose from based on your preferences and footwear. Not sure if you want cushion or what kind of cushioned sock to get? 

Feet wearing super soft Merino Wool socks, their shoe kicked off
Comfort · Merino Wool ·
Is Merino Wool Itchy? (Spoiler: No. It's Quite Comfy.)
by Darn Tough Vermont

Is Merino Wool itchy? Do Merino Wool socks itch? This isn't the first time we've talked about the Merino Wool itching myth (yes, myth). But some truths are worth restating. As we lay out the facts about this amazing type of wool, we're mixing in real-life reviews from one-time-skeptics now turned wool lovers.

A sock resting on a pillow, symbolizing cushion
Comfort · Sock 101 ·
Our Sock Cushions: A Complete-ish Guide
by Darn Tough Vermont
A complete-ish guide on just what cushioning is, how we make it, and what the benefits are for each type cushioning type we offer. We’ve diversified from straight-up “Cushioned” into multiple types of activity-specific padding. And it starts with Terry loops. 
Two people on couch under a blanket with sock-clad feet sticking out wearing the most comfortable socks
Comfort · Lifetime Guarantee ·
Making the Most Comfortable Socks
by Darn Tough Vermont
Why does comfort matter, what is comfort, and lastly, how do we make Darn Tough socks so comfy that we’re confident in our promise that we knit the most comfortable socks and back it with a lifetime guarantee?
Two pairs of feet sticking out from under a blanket, wearing super soft merino wool socks, no itch
Comfort · Merino Wool · Sock 101 ·
Smooth, Soft, and Soothing: More Merino Wool Myths, Busted
by Darn Tough Vermont
The skin is our biggest organ. No wonder there’s lots of differing opinions and perceptions about what we wear on it. And in some times, and places, wool has carried a reputation for being scratchy, itchy, and even the cause of allergies. What if we told you that the case against wool wasn’t quite so black and white?
A pair of feet wearing the 1466 hiking socks in black, the sock used to set the world record
Comfort · Fit ·
Setting the World Record for Wearing the Same Socks
by Adam Jaber

 

I’m a World Record Holder. Three days in a row is all it took. It wasn’t intentional; I just couldn’t find a clean pair of socks for a few consecutive days, so I kept putting on the same pair of grey Darn Tough 1466 Hiker Micro Crews. 

A pair of feet wearing Mountaineering socks after 40 days with no washing
Comfort · Fit ·
40 Days, One Pair of Socks
by Darn Tough Vermont

Why not wear a pair of socks for 40 days straight? Our owner, Ric Cabot, is known to test new sock styles for 30-straight days, so the bar exists. It’s a statement of the greatness of Merino Wool, and our superior knit – a statement we have truly tested. 40 days, no washing.

Two runners, one wearing cushioned socks and one wearing socks with no cushion
Comfort · Sock 101 ·
To Cushion or Not Too Cushioned: A Sock Cushioning Debate
by Darn Tough Vermont
In this post we’ll break down what sock cushion is, why it’s helpful, the types of cushioning options we offer, and give some examples of different activities where you’d maybe want to go with Cushion or No Cushion.
A man hiking in hot weather wearing breathable merino wool socks
Comfort · Merino Wool · Sock 101 ·
Warm in Winter, Cool in Summer. Breathable Socks All Year Round.
by Darn Tough Vermont
Here’s how Darn Tough uses the advantages of Merino Wool to make socks that work in all seasons: warm in the winter, cool in the summer, dry and breathable all the time. If that sounds like a wild sheep chase, read on to find out more.