Free Shipping over $49*
September 2024

Putting Darn Tough to the Test

Gear Review & Photos by: Courtney Ledden (@courtney.ledden)

One of my obsessions: socks. 

Over the years spent hiking in the Rocky Mountains, I’ve learned the importance of finding the right sock and the difference it can make for the activity you are doing. Too much extra fabric? Blisters. Too thick? Sweat and maybe more blisters.

So, I was excited to try out a lineup of Darn Tough socks over the past month designed for various activities to see how they stacked up to my critical feet. Spoiler alert: it went well. Really well. Being a weekend warrior and all, it was fun to try out more than hiking socks!

Although I’m not much of a trail runner, I do sprint training and run agility with my dogs and was able to give the Run No Show Tab Ultralight socks a “run” for their money. As soon as I put these on, I felt them hug tight to my feet and rise up far enough on my ankle that I felt confident they’d stay put. These socks are so lightweight and felt like a second skin. Even when sprinting and abrupt turning, they didn’t move, nor did I stop even once to adjust. They have quickly become my new favorite running socks!

Next up was more of a lifestyle sock - the Animal Haus Crew Lightweights and Fruit Stand Shorty Lightweights! Rocking a merino wool sock mid-week while putzing around the city was a treat. Although these socks have less features than the running and hiking socks, they have the same sweat-wicking, well built, no slipping, no bunching that I’ve come to appreciate from Darn Tough!

And finally, do we have a drum roll…? You better believe that the hiking socks truly stole the show! In the summer heat, I found myself grabbing for the Micro Crew Lightweight Cushion socks most often. The combination of 54% Nylon, 43% Merino Wool, 3% Lycra® Spandex left my feet feeling able to breathe, which is very welcomed when the temperatures are toasty. These socks also have a performance fit, which helps them stay in place and provide support in all the right areas. I found there to be no extra bunching.

I think once the temperatures drop, the Boot Midweight Full Cushion socks will be the move. They fit equally as well as the Lightweight Cushion socks mentioned above and have more padding, providing both comfort and extra warmth. I can see these being my go-to come fall time. 

One of the tells that I’ve found a good pair of socks is that I don’t think about my feet while I’m out adventuring. There’s no stopping to pull up a sock that’s slid down, cringing from feeling blisters starting to develop, or worrying about hot spots. This was the case for all the Darn Tough socks that I tried! 

Not only do their socks all come in fun and adorable patterns, but they truly stand up to all tests I put them through. Darn Tough socks get the stamp of approval from me!

Happy adventuring 😊