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
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- What’s Good
- What’s Not So Good
- Recommendations for Improvement
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3 pack for $47.99 + free shipping
Note: I’ve never ordered from this company.
Roger, has anyone done a wash test on these or other wool socks? I where wool socks everyday regardless of the activity and wash them everyday. My questions is- am I washing them too often? Could/should I wear the socks for two days or more then wash them less often. Which will give me better wear? I also don't want any grunge factor (smelly/dirty feet), so that has to enter the equation.
Tad, for what its worth, I'll wear a pair of socks more than once before washing as long as I didn't wear them for long periods of strenuous activity, or they got dirty. I just let them air out overnight to allow any moisture to evaporate, and they're good as new in the morning!
Thanks Chris for the 3-pack deal heads up. I liked these so well that I ordered a 3 pack for myself and a 3 pack for my wife. That should do us for many, many years. My cheap Wal-mart merino wool $7 socks barely last a year with light use. I never could bring myself to pay $17 for a pair of socks but I would not mind paying much more for wool long underwear and other wool garments. Funny, now I see the value of the all important wool sock. Especially one that lasts and lasts! I have seen the light!
like most of us, I've tried lots and lots of different socks- about two years ago I gave Darn Tough a go and haven't had the need to try anymore
I use the Micro Crew Cushion for hiking, I recently replaced all of my work socks (I wear boots everyday for work) w/ the Boot Full Cushion ones- they are great as well
I follow DT's advice and wash them in cold, inside/out and then let them air dry- I should get lots and lots of life out of them
>I follow DT's advice and wash them in cold, inside/out and then let them air dry- I should get lots and lots of life out of them
Hmmm, I didn't know they recommended that. I've just been washing in hot water and putting them in the dryer! Will their method really prolong the life of the socks?
Took two pair with me last year for the Sierra High Route and not a single worn spot or hole on the sock. They look brand new even today.
Hi Tad
Just got back last night from an extreme trip of 5 days. I wore the same pair of DTVs for the full 5 days (inside the New Balance MT910GT joggers), and they didn't seem to have changed much in that time. Just as padded as ever. I had only taken one pair anyhow. Sue wore her first pair for 4 days and them changed them because she had a second pair with her – 'why not?' she said.
I do normally change my socks every 3 – 4 days and wash the old ones – at least rinse them off, on very long trips like our several months in Europe. But on an extreme trip like this one, washing socks was not high on our list of priorities. Actually, finding enough water to drink was more of a priority!
If you wash them frequently you should use a very mild detergent at low concentration on the wool. You should definitely wash and dry them inside out so the loops can fluff up. Some people recommend a small amount of fabric softener: in small quantity I don't think it would hurt.
How much your socks and feet smell – very personal!
Cheers
Since we're on the topic, I usually wash all my wool, darks, and synthetics together on cold with Doctor Bronner's and tumble dry med heat perm press. Doctor Bronner's is a great laundry detergent. Multi-use in the home!
Alright, so now Eugene has made me concerned about using the meshes for a CT thru-hike. I'm also considering the Defeet wooleators that Skurka likes, has anyone had both those socks?
EDIT: FWIW, I just compared DTV Low cushion, DTV 1/4 mesh, and Defeet wooleators in a store. The DTV mesh and the wooleator were very close as far as thickness and lack of cushion. The DTVs do have an elastic arch, which I like.
I wear my Darn Tough socks everyday – I've pretty much given up on all the other socks in my drawer. So far they hold up much better than my smartwools. While I have tried to get better at wearing slippers in the winter, I do sometimes still pad around the house in my wool socks.
The BEST place to get DTV for a good price is to go to their factory sale, in Northfield VT, in November. Cosmetic blems wool hiking socks in the $7-8 range.
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