The Alternate Stitch

As you can imagine, cotton’s reputation is a regular conversation around here. We wanted to know more about why people love cotton, so we sent out a survey to about 6,000 people. We asked cotton sock fans what they love about this fabric, then we asked Merino sock lovers what they’d say to a cotton sock wearer.

If you’re standing by the laundry wondering how to wash Merino Wool socks, you’ve come to the right place. Here's detailed washing instructions for at home and in the backcountry.

You’ve probably heard that Merino Wool keeps you warm when it’s cold, but did you know it also keeps you cool when it’s hot? It’s not magic that it can do both… it’s thermoregulation. Here are 5 reasons to wear Merino Wool in the summer, in video form.

Waterproof boots not so waterproof? Darn it. Campfire embers burn a hole in your clothes? Darn it. Legs have too close an encounter with sharp rocks? Darn it.  We get it — life is tough. Our socks are tougher. So tough, in fact, that we guarantee them for life. So, if your misadventure results in an injured sock, don’t worry. We got you covered.

Ever wonder why your thin cotton dress socks start to smell when you take your dress shoes off? Don't sweat it, we'll talk you through the reasons Merino Wool makes the best Dress Socks. Your coworkers will thank you.

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.

Because we make the toughest socks worn in the most extreme conditions, we tend to find them in unusual circumstances. Thanks to the durability, breathability, and thermoregulating abilities of Merino Wool, there are many times when our socks come in as clutch hitters to save the day.

This year marks our 20th anniversary of making socks right here in Vermont. Vermont has a rich history of sheep farming and wool textiles. From the textile mill history behind our Nantanna location, to our commitment to Merino Wool, to the community itself, we’d like to think we’re keeping a legacy alive.

The science behind wool is both fascinating and intricate. So, buckle up! We’re about to step into the realm of microns and molecules to explore how nature’s original performance fiber naturally elevates your outdoor adventures.

In this post we’re cover the finer points of sock materials, from yarn selection to construction, answering questions like: Is 100% Merino Wool good quality?
Can you have 100% wool socks? What percent of Merino Wool in socks is best? The answers are more nuanced than you might think.

If you’re a runner, then your dream summer is likely full of races, training plans, bucket list routes, or adventure runs. But let’s be honest — those plans are probably decided by your brain. What about your feet? When was the last time you asked them about their perfect summer?

We take Merino Wool’s reputation seriously. Why don’t more people wear wool socks? We think these common Merino Wool myths have something to do with it.

At the heart of the Australian wool industry are the tens of thousands of woolgrowers who work tirelessly to look after their sheep and the land on which they graze. These woolgrowers have been the backbone of Australia for centuries, choosing to grow wool instead of other commodities.

Still not sure about Merino Wool? Check out our one stop guide about why we use it in our socks, learn about the benefits that come along using with it, and the history of Merino Wool.

Here at Darn Tough, we try to ensure that the wool that we use in our socks comes from happy, well-cared for sheep and farms that ensure their workers have fair and equal working conditions. When it comes to our wool, we follow the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS).

Don’t sleep on sheep. From the fleece that provides our Merino Wool to the extremes they thrive in, these animals themselves are an inspiration. They’ve been running around some of the most rugged places on the planet, in some of the most unforgiving weather conditions, for thousands of years.

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?

Merino Wool does a lot of amazing things naturally. I’m one of Darn Tough’s fiber nerds, and today I’m walk you through the top reasons why we love Merino Wool and all that it does to our feet, focusing on what’s behind its amazing natural abilities.

At Darn Tough, we consider Merino Wool to be one of the master strains of all sock materials. When it’s spun together with Nylon and Elastane, it creates a longer lasting sock that strengthens wear zones and holds its fit for days. We're taking a look at how Merino Wool stacks up against other sock materials.

Veteran skiers and riders know it well. That pervasive fragrance wafting from baseboards, radiators, heat ducts, or wherever warm air meets a drying boot liner. Eau du boot: something only a seasoned lover of the mountains might find remotely nostalgic, evidence of a hard day spent on the hill.

The Merino Wool story is full of top-notch historical characters and plot twists (steal a sheep and get beheaded on order of the King, oh my!). So we’ll do our best to condense the tale of how we got from wild sheep shredding the hills to our current and future source of naturally warm and moisture-controlling fabric.