Darn Tough Socks Suck!

[Shawn Bearden]

These DTs and the thinner version have at least 400 miles of trail running on them each and still show no real signs of wear. By contrast, my Drymax, Injinji, and Defeet have all lasted half as long at best. But, I do love how dry the Drymax stay.

[John G]

I use the cheap $7 per pair "light hikers wool socks" from BJs.
They have 1/8-3/16" fuzzy loop / pile on the inside.
2 years of daily wear, both hiking and around town.
No worn spots.

I think they were 85% wool, 15% nylon.
Can't remember the brand.

[M B]

I have socks with a month straight of wear, only rinsing out in streams, with no discernable wear.

I wear only unpadded though.

Send them back, lifetime warranty.

I dont have problem with any socks, others have problems with all. Different feet an different shoes.

[Ken Thompson]

+1 All I wear. Last better than every other brand I've tried.

+how many on sending them back for replacement. The wear is weird. Must be an issue with the batch. I had one pair do that same thing. No questions asked replaced.

[Sam Farrington]

You could always try best quality synthetics:
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/reviews/display_reviews.html?forum_thread_id=36394

I did, years ago, and the original pairs are still like new. Recently purchased the new T3s that have more air space and circulation, so should be cooler.

[Eric Blumensaadt]

Thor Lo Hiker socks (made in USA) have been my main hiking socks for over 15 years and I love them for their comfort and durability.

The only more durable socks I've found were slightly heavier Cabela's socks with Kevlar (yes) reinforced heels and toe/ball area.
Sadly they were discontinued.

[Don Selesky]

I use ThorLo Light Hikers as my daily socks, and they last for years. Very happy with the quality.

[Katherine .]

For sure return them to DT.

I have two pairs of DT socks I wear mainly for day-to-day stuff. Low, and thicker than I'd use for hiking. Love them. They've had a ton of wear and barely show it.

I use the Wooleator socks from DeFeet, because that's what I have for thin. But two of the six socks now have holes in the toe. When they all die I plan to replace them w/thin DT.

[Ryley Breiddal]

I wore two pairs of DT quarter cushion crews for the length of the CDT. One pair for each half (so ~1400 miles each). I still have the 2nd pair. They are a bit crunchy and gross, but I take full credit for that (didn't wash them much).

I don't think they have the same kind of fuzzy stuff as yours, but either way… I'd guess you've just got a bum pair – return them!

[Brad Rogers]

I recently switched to Darn Tough thin no cushion socks for backpacking and have been pleased thus far though none have much over 100 miles on them.

When I started using trail runners I used Smartwool adrenaline lights and was happy but then SW discontinued them and replaced them with the PHD which I didn't like as well. I then switched to DeFeet Wooliators which I used for many years generally getting 400 miles a pair before trying the DT. Near the end it seemed like I was getting less and less wear out of the Defeets but it could have been just me.

I wear Smartwool light hikers (or the REI equivalent) for around town socks with jeans or khakis and they get like that where all of the wool is gone in the heel but it takes several years to get that way.

[Dena Kelley]

Weird. My Darn Tough socks wear like iron. It takes me years to wear a set out and I wear every pair once a week every week, and they are my go-to sock for backpacking when I'll only be wearing one pair of socks the whole trip.

[Dan Murray]

DT is supposed to provide a lifetime warranty. Lifetime. Send them back with a note. See what happens.

[AK Granola]

I use a few different styles of Darn Toughs and like them all. I’m right now wearing the thickest type, and have had these for over 5 years, worn hiking, skiing, shoveling snow, around the house… I love DTs. For summer hiking I now use Balegas; I haven’t used them enough to know how long they will last but I hiked in them all last summer, at least 200 miles, with no sign of wear. They’re lighter and thinner than most of my DTs, dry quickly and absorb and wick sweat. They are not warm at all however.

[jscott]

Love Darn Tough! and I have very weird feet that eat socks for lunch. I haven’t worn out either of my two pairs over several years, but if I do, I won’t send them in for a free pair. I mean, five years of backpacking and daily use and I want a free pair because the first pair wore out? No. Rather, I appreciate how well made they are and bow to the inevetibility of entropy (and spelling mistakes.)

[Roger Caffin]

ThorLos are not bad, but since we switched to DTV we haven’t bought anything else.

Cheers

[JCH]

“ I mean, five years of backpacking and daily use and I want a free pair because the first pair wore out? No. Rather, I appreciate how well made they are and bow to the inevetibility of entropy”

Yup!

“…since we switched to DTV we haven’t bought anything else.”

and Yup!

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