The Alternate Stitch

It’s once again the time of year to set goals and make resolutions. Whether that’s getting outside more, finishing that stack of books or investing in some new Merino Wool socks, now is the perfect time to set some sock-related resolutions to give your feet the best in 2025.

Nothing excites us more than seeing our socks out in the wild, whether in our own Vermont backyard or a totally different country. Of course, sometimes we’re the ones wearing those socks – and we’re happy to share with you where we went, what socks we packed, and some personal tips and tricks.

Here at Darn Tough, we have an adage, “You don’t outsource for quality.” While typically we are referring to the socks we make, this statement rings true in all areas of our business, especially in regard to our Customer Service Team.

We have officially walked through two states so far on our journey on the Continental Divide Trail! Our southbound hike started at the Canadian border in Glacier National Park mid-June and has since taken us 1,200 miles through Montana and Wyoming to the Colorado state line.

For the past 4 years, a small group of volunteers and myself have been fundraising, strategizing, and jumping through all the necessary hoops in order to be granted the space to construct a state-of-the-art concrete skatepark at Hope Davey Park in Waterbury Center, VT.

We believe in our socks. A lot. So much so that we back them up with an Unconditional Lifetime Guarantee. No matter how hard your socks get put through the wringer, we’ll replace them at the end of their lifecycle. Life is tough. Our socks are tougher.

We put together a list in no particular order to help you find animal socks that align with your personality. Whether you’re the type of person who likes farm animals, owl socks, or bear socks, there is a sock on this list for you.

Nancy from Texas reached out with the wedding toast she wrote for her son and now daughter-in-law. Turns out, her son won the first race he ever ran in Darn Tough socks. And her wedding present to the newlyweds? You guessed it.

Together, we did so much good this year. From providing relief to flood victims to feeding hungry families in Vermont, this is how we gave back in 2023. Our values are at the core of everything we do and every decision we make. And I’m proud to say that in 2023 we leaned in even harder.

Learn what it means to celebrate life the way Christian does. Christian is a incredible young individual happily living life due to his belief that you are defined by your actions and behavior, not your diagnosis. Read more about what the Darn Tough Sock Toss means to Christian.

A picture’s worth a thousand words. Pretty sure your socks are worth double that. We all make choices in life, and maybe we’re biased, but we think your sock choices speak volumes.

Moisture-wicking, durable, breathable, and thermoregulating, Darn Tough Tactical socks are first on foot for a reason and always your first line of defense. They help prevent blisters, thwart hotspots, and are the first – and best – choice for military and government personnel.

I remember reading someone’s story about camping with a friend, and how they kept rolling over in their sleeping bag, unable to get to sleep. The friend, a grizzled veteran, woke up and muttered, “Change your socks.” The writer did just that, putting on a dry pair of socks, and fell asleep soon after.

We recently hit 100,000 5-star reviews on our website. We wanted to express our deepest gratitude to all our customers who have taken the time to share their Darn Tough love with the world. We wouldn’t be where we are today without all the unwavering support from our fans.

We love reading reviews and have noticed the large amount asking for more bright socks. Even though our best-selling socks are consistently gray or black socks, we take customer feedback to heart. So, we made a ton of bright colored socks, and we decided to highlight a few of our favorite reviews and respond directly.

Do your black socks reflect your personality? Should they? Are you brooding, mysterious, and a bit of a rebel? Or do you just think socks should remain the plain and simple workhorses you need them to be? Either way, black sock-lovers, we’re here for you.

As of right now (February 10, 2023), I’m at mile 866 out of 1,287 miles of the Florida Trail. The trail starts in Big Cypress or “the swamp” (as most hikers refer to it), a 30 mile stretch through thigh deep mud and water, often labeled the “toughest stretch of hiking in the United States."

Opinions are like armpits — everybody’s got one and it probably doesn’t need to be seen, smelled, or heard. But there is something to a knee-jerk reaction that is both visceral and taps into our subconscious that really gets to the truth of the matter.

Some songs have a way of transporting you back in time to a memory you hadn’t thought of in years. Some songs bring up deep emotions and others get you so jacked up you want to run through a wall. A good pair of socks is the same way.

Our opinion doesn’t mean much without the backing of our dedicated customers who put socks like the Number 2 Hiking Sock through its paces. So, let’s take some time to acknowledge some of our favorite second opinions, written by some of our favorite happy customers.

Instead of us telling you all the reasons we think Bear Town is the softest, comfiest, most adorable hiker on the trail, we’ll let you do the talking. Nothing a parent loves more than hearing from others what they already knew to begin with.