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Super Speedy Summary Review

I took a look at the two most suitable pairs of socks for trail running and hiking in the Summer and Winter from the Vermont based Darn Tough company.

These are the Light Hiker Micro Crew Light Cushion and the No Show Tab Ultra Light Cushion.

Darn Tough do a fantastic job of creating very hard wearing, seamless comfortable socks with a great contoured fit, blend of wool and synthetic materials and a lifetime guarantee. These socks are warm when they need to be, cool in the Summer and wick moisture away from your feet to help prevent blisters. They dry fast , maintain their warmth even if your feet have been immersed in a river crossing and wash up well in washing machines without bobbling or shrinking.

At their price point of around $20 these are absolutely superb all round socks for outdoor hikers and trail runners. My only gripe is the huge range of confusing names and options! If you are serious about outdoor comfort then you will not be disappointed.

PURCHASE $21

In Depth Review

I took a look at a recent report on the top gear being used by thru hikers on the Appalachian Trail this year and noticed that Darn Tough Socks were ranking very highly as the go to sock for long distance hikers and runners I can appreciate why. These socks come with a lifetime guarantee ( so the company will replace them if/when they wear out) and they have a superb blend of synthetic and wool material which makes them very versatile in a wide range of outdoor conditions for temperature and moisture.

Darn Tough – Good for Hiking – Micro Crew Light Cushion

Materials

These socks are made in the USA in Vermont. I tend to opt for merino wool socks in the winter when I need more warmth, and wool has a tendency to maintain warmth even if your feet get completely wet crossing a stream, whereas in the Summer I tend to opt for socks that are mainly synthetic material so that they dry quickly and wick moisture away from my feet.

These Hiker socks combine the best of both worlds by having a roughly 50/50 split between wool and synthetic. This means you get reasonably good wicking of moisture ( your feet don’t get that ‘clammy’ feel you get with 100% wool socks) but they will keep your feet warm even if they do get completely soaked.

The merino wool they use is soft and hard wearing and regulates your foot temperature well by being cool in the Summer and Warm in the Winter. They also have a very high density knit to the fabric which is likely to be the secret to why they are so hard wearing.

Fit and Comfort

The guys at Darn Tough have done a great job of carefully contouring the shape so that the sock fits very snugly on your feet, without bunching up or moving around. This reduces the chances of rubbing on your skin and causing blisters. I was also impressed to see that the womens version comes shaped slightly different so that womens feet ( which are not proportionally the same as mens) also get the same snug fit.

There is a few percent of lycra in these socks too so that the fit is perfect no matter what you do and the height up theankles is enough to get to just over the top of most hiking boots. The area round the ankle is also snug without being too tight ( so it doesnt leave indents on your skin round your ankles).

The socks are also effectively ‘seamless’ as well so again you don’t have any possibility of any friction on your feet from hard seams of stitching that you can get from other less well made socks.

There is a good extra thickness to the material around the base of the foot and supporting the achilles and heel area to just boost foot comfort if you are wearing them all day. The wool also has good antimicrobial properties so when I used these for a whole weekend they dont get the ‘bad foot smell’ you can get with other socks.

The lifetime guarantee is a big feature too giving you the option to return socks if they wear out for a replacement pair. I cant think of any other manufacturer that does this.

Darn Tough – Good for Running – No Show Tab Ultra-Light Cushion

The second pair I tested were the shorter no show socks that would probably suit a Summer Trail Runner more as they are cooler round the ankles and have a little bit more thickness cushioning underneath for padding.

Material and Fit

Again these socks have a roughly 50/50 mix of nylon and merino wool with a few percent more lycra for stretch and fit. The only real difference with these are the low cut ankle and a slightly more padded area round the underside of the foot and ankle/heel for added comfort. These are a superb choice for trail running in the Summer.

Gripes

I’ve usually got a few things I grumble about when I’m testing outdoor gear but actually I cant think of anything I would change with these socks. My only real minor gripe is that the names of each sock are long and confusing and there is a wide range so i find myself keep dancing around on their website trying to remember which sock I want.

Verdict

Darn tough to a fantastic job of creating very hard wearing, seamless comfortable socks with a great contoured fit, blend of wool and synthetic materials and a lifetime guarantee. These socks are warm when they need to be, cool in the Summer and wick moisture away from your feet to help prevent blisters.

PURCHASE $21

They dry fast , maintain their warmth even if your feet have been immersed in a river crossing and wash up well in washing machines without bobbling or shrinking.

At their price point of around $20 these are absolutely superb all round socks for outdoor hikers and trail runners. My only gripe is the huge range of confusing names and options! If you are serious about outdoor comfort then you will not be disappointed.

These may well be the last pair of socks you ever buy.

Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Cushion – Features

• Performance Fit: No slipping, no bunching, and no blisters.
• Fine Gauge Knitting: Unprecedented durability and our unique “put it on, forget it’s on” feel.
• Fast Action Wicking: Pulls moisture away from skin. Fast drying.
• All Weather Performance: Cool in the summer, warm in the winter.
• Naturally Antimicrobial: Repels bacteria and odor.
• Guaranteed For Life: No strings. No conditions. For life.
• Merino Wool: The ultimate fiber for breathability and comfort in all conditions.
• True Seamless^™: Undetectable seam fusion for an ultra smooth, invisible feel.

Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Cushion – Specs

• Light Cushion: Light and strong with a thin layer of cushioning along base of foot. Our most versatile construction.
• Micro Crew Height: A shorter, more concise take on the traditional crew height. Peeks just above the top of a standard hiking boot.
• 54% Nylon 43% Merino Wool 3% Lycra^® Spandex

Darn Tough No Show Tab Ultra Light Cushion – Specs

• Ultra-Light Cushion: Provides a light layer of cushioning along the bottom of the foot. Ultra-Light, ultra-comfortable.
• No-Show Height: The toughest sock you’ll never see. When your shoes are on this sock is gone.
• 50% Merino Wool 45% Nylon 5% Lycra^® Spandex

About Darn Tough

Darn Tough live and work in Northfield, Vermont. Their backyard is the perfect testing ground to make the finest Premium All Weather Performance Socks. They ski, snowboard, hike, bike and run in the most unforgiving climate in the lower 48. It is under these conditions that they design, test and manufacture their socks.

Darn Tough are family owned. For close to 40 years They’ve been knitting socks here in the Green Mountains of Vermont. They are three generations strong and know how to make socks. Crafting the world’s most comfortable, durable, and best fitting socks is an ardent skill passed down from father to son. This commitment, this passion, it’s in their blood.

They are one mill. Every step of the knitting process happens right there, by them, locally if you will, in Northfield, Vermont. All-under-one-roof affords us the ultimate in quality and control. It yields a sock that is unparalleled in comfort, durability and fit. “Nobody ever outsourced anything for quality,” is why they’re still making their socks in Northfield, Vermont. U.S.A.

Merino Wool is one of the best materials for manufacturing Darn Tough Vermont socks, and to that end, they source only the finest merino wool available.

They source our Merino Wool from America and around the globe and we hold our material suppliers to the same high standards and values as we do ourselves. We work closely with our suppliers to ensure that Darn Tough Vermont receives only sustainably sourced Merino Wool from sheep that are not exposed to the practice of mulesing.