The Alternate Stitch

It’s rare to get mail these days. Well, rare to get real mail that isn’t coupons for things you don’t want or offers to buy your home. Unless you work in the Darn Tough warranty department―then you’ll get a lot of mail. Mail like this. 

If you know, you know. And if you don’t, that’s okay. Because for this round of Staff Picks, we talked to a few people who know best. We reached out to Darn Tough employees who have at least 10 years of service with the company and asked them to talk about their favorite socks. This is what we learned.

“I bought these as a Valentine’s gift for my wife and she loves them. Flowers last a week. These last a lifetime of kisses every week.” — Christopher O.

Gold star, Christopher. 1000/10. We could not have put it better ourselves.

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.

Winter hiking is a truly magical experience – when being on the trail feels akin to stumbling into Narnia. That increased beauty is not without increased risk, but it’s a risk that, with some preparation, you can account for. Here’s some common winter hiking questions I hear, and my tips on how to be prepared.

Unsurprisingly, the biggest thing that can ruin your day while ice climbing is being ill prepared for the cold, especially when it comes to your extremities. Nothing ruins your day quite like frozen fingers and toes! For this post, I’ll be diving into how to protect your feet, considering socks, boots, and more.

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.

From boots to helmet, by the time you get on the mountain, it could seem like you’re swimming in gear. You might be wondering; do I need ski socks? Or maybe, what are the best ski socks? Let's dive into it. 

If you’re settling into the colder season and looking forward to cooking some cozy meals inside while wearing cozy, warm socks, try this recipe for Coconut Curry Fish Soup from the Salmon Sisters' cookbook.

Sock Cookies Soft like butter, warm like Merino Wool.
Baked fresh for the Big Guy, his belly nearly full. But the socks he wears, they fit just right. So we made him some cookies, because he flies in tonight. You don’t...

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 Lycra Spandex, 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.

Walking for exercise has many benefits for the body and the mind and is one of the most convenient activities we can do for our wellbeing. Some good, basic equipment will help ensure you get to focus on your walk and not your feet. Here’s a simple guide on how to choose the right walking socks.

It was ol’ Benny Franks who once said, “in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” It’s too bad he didn’t get to live long enough to be introduced to Darn Tough, because this humble sock company has a certainty that would blast his socks off quicker than flying a kite in a thunderstorm—their Unconditional Lifetime Guarantee.

My name is Chris, I'm a Full Senior ski patroller, and this will be my 43rd winter wearing a red jacket with the white cross. Besides a love of skiing, I’ve got some opinions about safety, my socks, and how people can take care of their feet up on the mountain. I might just tell you about my favorite place to ski, also.

The holiday season is coming, and one of our family traditions is to gift good socks to everyone on our list. We've been wearing Darn Tough socks for years now and love them for their warmth and moisture-wicking Merino Wool.

SAFE AS are one-day clinic teaching intro to avalanche safety. We started it to encourage more women to get the education needed and that quickly developed into a full-on program for everyone. 

Before heading out for a hike, you may think about what you should wear, considering trail difficulty and weather forecast. We will cover what materials are best for hiking, the clothing, shoes, and accessories and what to wear by the season as you set out for your hike.

“One can never have enough socks,” said Dumbledore. “Another holiday has come and gone, and I didn’t get a single pair.” Your favorite Professor may be a fictional character from Harry Potter, but his words still resonate with us. Mainly because it’s true… one can never have enough socks.

Professional governing bodies recognize a total of 17 weight classes in boxing. Professional governing bodies recognize a total of 4 weight classes in Darn Tough socks. When we talk weight, we are referring to the specific yarn in the sock and the relative thickness of that yarn.

We get a decent stream of mail and comments asking how can we possibly offer an Unconditionally Lifetime Guarantee on our socks. So, let’s get right into the how and why behind making socks with a lifetime warranty.

When asked, if I would be interested in taking part in an art project to celebrate our Knit to Give program with local students, I was initially hesitant, only because I have had very little exposure around kids in my adult life. But then, I realized the students are the same age I was when I was introduced to art.