I was a long-term wearer of another well-known brand of thick woollen socks for many years before I met these - in a gear test in fact. I was impressed as soon as I put them on: they felt thick and robust - and I have known many socks in my life. My wife, who is sometimes just a shade suspicious about my gear enthusiasms, took to them as well, and with the same enthusiasm. As a former research scientist in a textile physics / wool research laboratory, I also knew a bit about socks from the technical side of things.
Many months later, having abused the ever-loving-daylights out of them on tracks, on scree, walking in sandy rivers, walking in the snow, and so on, in light to very light footwear, I was still wearing my first pair. In fact it was several YEARS before that pair finally developed a small hole in one heel and were discarded. Basically, I had been deliberately wearing that one pair for all my walking, just to see how long they would last. The photo here shows the sock I had been wearing after about a year beside a new unused one. The used one has shrunk slightly, but still looks pretty good.
ARTICLE OUTLINE
- Field Testing
- Specifications:
- What’s Good
- What’s Not So Good
- Recommendations for Improvement
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Darn Tough Vermont Boot Sock Review
Nice review.
On Roger’s recommendations I started using Darn Tough socks about a year ago, they are the best sock I have ever used and without a doubt they rate in my top 5 pieces of gear.
Tony
I have worn various styles and thicknesses of Dahlren socks for the past 5 years. Love the Alpaca wool. Any comparisons that can be made between the two?
Thanks,
Jeff
Sorry, no idea, as I have never seen Dahlgren socks. Tell them to send me some … :-)
Cheers
No doubt about it.
DT socks are simply the best.
I bought a couple of pairs when I was in the US 3 years ago. I liked them so much I bought about a dozen pairs of various styles. They are the only socks I wear now – at work, training, and bushwalking.
They are supremely comfortable and very hard wearing. I cannot recommend them highly enough.
Like Tony, I first heard about them from something Roger wrote on this site. So thanks for the tip Roger.
I was wondering when a review of these would come along! I bought a couple pairs not too long ago, so no long term experience, but they are very comfortable to wear so far.
I've got to try out a pair of those Dunlops….
I appreciate the insight on the differences in how the wool is woven.
I find the boot socks too warm, thick, and think they breath adn wick poorly. The thinner and lower socks are my favorites, and they come in pretty colours!
"I find the boot socks too warm, thick, and think they breath adn wick poorly. The thinner and lower socks are my favorites, and they come in pretty colours!"
They are great on preventing blisters, but I agree 100% Waaaaay to hot of a sock and no breathablity at all.
Just wondering what temperature if any would be considered too hot for these socks? I personally never use thick wool socks in warm conditions. Below 50 degrees F. I thought these socks were wonderful. I will use them mostly for hunting in 30-60 degree weather, and for hiking in the winter. I have been using one thin nylon dress sock for hot weather, and my shoes have to be 1/2 size smaller to fit right. I have not been on any long distance hikes where my feet might swell and demand a larger shoe size.
+1 on the Darn Tough endorsement. LOVE THEM.
My model: Darn Tough Merino Wool Mesh 1/4 Sock. 1.5 oz in size large.
I wear the Mesh weight in temps from ~35 or 40 to 105. Hiking (~40-60 days per year) and also cycling (20-40 days per year).
Much more durable than the Smartwool socks or Dahlren Alpaca socks.
And for me, the fit is great. The DT mesh weight sock is not very stretchy so you really do need the right fit. If you order for the first time you might want to get your normal size plus the next size bigger so you can try them both. (In Montrail shoes I wear womens 10, and in DT 1/4 mesh socks I wear size Large even though I normally wear a Medium sock.)
They carry them at BackCountry.com, so whenever I buy from them, I can always buy DT socks to reach the $50 free shipping threshold.
http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/Darn-Tough-Merino-Wool-Mesh-1-4-Sock/DRN0008M.html
My experience with the durability of Darn Toughs is similar. Last year on the PCT, I used one pair almost exclusively from campo to oregon. That pair outlasted 3 pairs of shoes. I did use gaiters to help keep them clean and did wash them at every resupply town.
Comfortable too- with a wide range of temperatures.
I wear the crew height exclusively and get a couple of years out of them with six or seven pairs on rotation. They are fantastic. I would think that the boot height ones would be way too hot for me. Plus with wearing trail runners, not necessary.
Love mine. I get them thru Shoebuy.com
We are completely in agreement on this one Roger, even the color. I have bought nothing but Darn Toughs since 2008 and my experience is exactly like yours. I have bought all mine at AJ's Ski & Sports, not the cheapest, but darn good service and they are quick, even to Greenland!
I have tried their ski socks too for winter use, I thought they were thicker, but they are mainly just longer and not really worth it. The boot socks are their no. 1 in my opinion, I will try some of their thinner woolen crew socks for summer use though, during the height of summer the boot socks are a bit on the heavy side.
I've had a pair of the hiking quarters since last fall (found some at Marshall's for $5) and they were very good to me as everyday socks during the Winter. I especially like the flat-knit cuff, it keeps stuff out better than other socks I have. I'm glad to see they have lighter-weight socks, I'll probably get those instead of Defeet Wooleators. Can anyone compare the two?
I've used both the Darn Tough Socks (for about 3 years now) and Dahlren socks for several years. My impressions are the Darn Tough socks are simply the most durable, the best fitting, and the most well made sock you can buy! The Dahlren are very good quality and well made, but Alpaca just isn't as durable as the threads Darn Tough uses (the Alpaca sheds horribly on the socks I've owned). Most of my Dahlren socks seem to fall apart after a couple of years of use.
I do have some thicker Dahlren socks that I use exclusively for winter snowshoeing and they have served me well. I also know Dahlren have made improvements in the past year to address the durability issue (these do wear better than previous versions), but they still don't compare to the durability, fit, and robustness of Darn Tough Socks. I would say Dahlren are a tad bit warmer due to the hollow fiber of the Alpaca wool…
Thanks for the article Roger. I always greatly appreciate your knowledgeable input from "Down Under." I just ordered some Darn Toughs (1/4 mesh) on sale from Backcountry Gear out of Eugene Oregon. Hang in there dude and keep the articles coming!
I use these for my snowboard socks. They are the best snowboard socks I've ever had.
> what temperature if any would be considered too hot for these socks?
We have worn them up to 40 C (104 F) without any problems. Well, no FEET problems :-)
Cheers
But are they UL???
;)
@ John,
I too purchased a pair of the Darn Tough 1/4 mesh socks, be aware, they will not hold up anywhere near as well as Rogers DTV Boot Socks held up. I'll post up some pictures of my blown out Darn Tough 1/4 mesh socks after only 4 days of stream crossing and dusty mesas. I swear by Darn Tough Vermont socks and own several pairs and styles, best ones I've had, but the mesh version are definitely more suited for trail running and mountain biking.
best running socks I have ever used and the only ones my choco lab can chew on for an hour without destroying…
Thanks for the reply Jason. Great comparison for me between the two socks. I'll have to get my self a pair of the Darn Tough for a Shasta trip I have coming up next month to see how they work out.
Darn Tough socks are on sale now Backcountry Gear. 20% off.
http://www.backcountrygear.com/apparel/Socks.cfm
Better deal can be had at:
http://www.clothesbuy.com
Darn Tough Vermont Boot Sock Full Cushion 1405 (2 Pairs)
$39.95
FREE SHIPPING AND NO TAX
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