The Alternate Stitch

five examples of black socks from darn tough, on a grey background (of course)
Community ·
Tried & True: Black Socks & You
by Darn Tough Vermont

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.

Two daughters standing with their mom, showing what socks they'd buy her for mother's day
Gifts & Holiday · Staff Picks ·
From Our Moms' Feet to Yours: Mother's Day Staff Picks
by Darn Tough Vermont
For this round of Staff Picks, we talked to Darn Tough moms and their children (who also work at Darn Tough). We asked the kids which sock they’d be most likely to give their mom for Mother’s Day...
A runner with arms spread wide, ready to hug a cute sheep
Merino Wool · Sock 101 ·
Nature’s Most Amazing Fiber: Why It’s Only Natural We Love Merino Wool
by Darn Tough Vermont
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.
Ultrarunner Kristian Morgan out running at dawn
Hiking ·
Training for the Appalachian Trail FKT: A Week with Kristian Morgan
by Kristian Morgan
Last summer, I became the second fastest person in the world to complete the Appalachian Trail (AT), completing a supported Northbound faster than the famous Scott Jurek. The odyssey isn't over yet. I pursue my dream of setting a new fastest known time (FKT) on the AT.
Big feet wearing big socks, on the ground next to cute dog and his big paws
Fit · Sock 101 ·
Big Feet Mean Big Socks
by Mark Hassett
If you have long, big feet (like me), don’t worry – Darn Tough makes socks for you, with sock sizes all the way up to XXL, which fits Men’s shoe sizes 15-17. My name is Mark Hassett, and I am thru hiker and avid adventurer who is always seeking a trail to be explored.
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. 

Emma and Claire, the Salmon Sisters, walking down a wharf in Alaska wearing their fishing gear
Our Partners ·
Character, Community, and Values Forged in Alaska: Connecting with the Salmon Sisters
by Darn Tough Vermont

We had the privilege of collaborating with Emma and Claire, the Salmon Sisters, to take our Work socks to the next level. What we found during that collaboration though was not just excellent sock feedback, but also two incredibly humble women with values we shared and characters we admired.

A tent pitched on the ground, surrounded by palm trees, as the sun rises over the Florida Trail
Community · Hiking ·
Thru Hiking the Florida National Scenic Trail
by Cory Grove

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."

Feet wearing darn tough socks that don't slip
Fit ·
Bunched Up Socks Got You Down? Let Us Help with Performance Fit
by Darn Tough Vermont
Not only are bunched up socks the cause bad moods, but they can cause blisters and affect your performance, no matter what you’re doing. After putting our socks through all sorts of tests, we’re confident in our results: Our socks are as stationary as those forgotten Pelotons people bought two years ago.
Wine-O-Sock and Socktails
Our Partners ·
Wine-O-Sock and Socktails
by Mirna Valerio
Have you ever gone out to say, a bar, or a hip restaurant, or even camping and thought: GEE I COULD SEE THIS BEER, WINE, COCKTAIL, MOCKTAIL pairing up nicely with... WAIT FOR IT… A PAIR OF Darn Tough socks!...
A rolling cart filled to the brim with packages from the post office for Darn Tough
Here in VT · Lifetime Guarantee ·
We’ve Got Mail: Weird, Wild, & Wonderful Customer Packages
by Darn Tough Vermont

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. 

Staff Picks: The People Who Know
Here in VT · Staff Picks ·
Staff Picks: The People Who Know
by Darn Tough Vermont

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.

A couple on the summit wearing matching socks they bought each other for Valentine's Day
Gifts & Holiday ·
Five Star Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas (Spoiler: They’re All Socks)
by Darn Tough Vermont

“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.

Person in snow gear pulling on warm socks with polar bears on them
Community ·
Warm Socks, Hot Takes: Rapid Reactions to Random Topics
by Chris Zimmerman
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.
A trail sign completely covered in ice on a popular winter hiking trail
Hiking · How-to ·
Q&A: What Do I Need for Winter Hiking?
by Jennifer Hastings
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.
Ice climber partway up a dramatic frozen waterfall
Hiking · How-to ·
Don't Get Cold Feet: Ice Climbing Foot Care Tips
by Kevin Dean
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.
Person seated on couch playing Guitar Hero while wearing the Animal Haus socks
Community ·
Long-Lasting Songs, Longer-Lasting Socks: Darn Tough’s Winter Playlist
by Darn Tough Vermont
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.
A bowl full of coconut curry soup, a creamy soup with salmon chunks, garnished with cilantro
Our Partners ·
Cozy Soup & Cozy Socks: The Salmon Sister's Coconut Curry Fish Soup Recipe
by Salmon Sisters
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.
A sheep waving a victory flag on a sock pile
Merino Wool · Sock 101 ·
Comparing Sock Materials: Merino Wool vs. Wool vs. Synthetics vs. Cotton
by Darn Tough Vermont
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.
Life's Guaranteed Guarantees
Lifetime Guarantee ·
Life's Guaranteed Guarantees
by Darn Tough Vermont
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.
A skier in the lodge, boots off, holding a cup of hot cocoa and wearing merino wool socks for skiers
How-to · Snow Sports ·
A Smugglers’ Notch Ski Patroller Talks On-Hill Foot Care
by Chris Southworth

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.