We’re avid fans of performance socks and Darn Tough Vermont’s Run-Bike sock and Hike-Trek socks perform well enough to live up to their name.
By Dan Sanchez
Over the years, we’ve tested lots of performance hiking, trail-running and biking socks that are made from Merino wool that have performed up to their expectations. But after many uses and washings, they can loose their padding and get thin around high friction areas. Because performance socks aren’t cheap, finding some that last longer is a key feature we always look for, and that’s one of the things we liked about Darn Tough Vermont socks. They’ve proven to last longer and wear better over many miles and washes.
Sure these socks perform well to keep your feet dry and comfortable, as they feature deep heel pocket to keep the sock from moving around and a no-toe-seam that prevents blisters and improves comfort. But while other sock manufacturers can claim they have the best padding, the best comfort and the best moisture management, Darn Tough Vermont decided to make their socks last longer by incorporating two key elements.
The first is using fine gauge knitting. This ensures that the socks fit tighter on the foot which prevents them from moving around, while providing a comfortable fit. Darn Tough Vermont also adds abrasion resistant yarn to areas like the toe, heel and along the bottom. This helps protect the sock from constant wear and improves its longevity over other socks made from 100-percent Merino wool. The company also makes socks from a CoolMax blend to make them more comfortable and improves its moisture management.
Hike-Trek Sock
Darn Tough Vermont’s Hike-Trek socks have extra padding where its needed but they didn’t feel as bulky as other performance socks we’ve tried. Because colors are in now, these socks are available in a variety of bright colors that are sure to get attention, but they still perform at top levels. While we’re getting used to the lime green and orange combination of our test pair, we really liked the elastic band support around the arch that’s placed just under the ankle band. It feels good against your foot and kept the sock from riding up on a variety of ankle high boots we’ve tested. We also liked the venting at the top of the sock which is great to help keep your feet cool and dry during a long hike on a hot day.
Run-Bike Sock
The Darn Tough Vermont Run-Bike sock is conpletely different from the heavily padded hiking sock. It’s lighter and has much less padding to give you better performance while trail-running or mountain biking. We liked the fact that it had a much wider ankle band to keep out moisture and dirt when biking over dusty terrain that could easily kick up small rocks or debris. These socks had a snug fit to prevent movement during harsh impacts on packed dirt and even pavement. They also kept our feet dry on several long trail runs and the no toe seam worked well to prevent any blister formation, especially during long downhill treks at speed.
Like most performance socks, proper care is important to their longevity. Darn Tough Vermont recommends washing the socks in warm water and on the gentle cycle. We’ve also learned that all performance socks should be washed inside out. But not all performance socks are the same and you should check with the manufacturer before washing.
We liked the overall performance of the Darn Tough Vermont socks we tested, and theywill surely be a pair that will stay in our gear bag for a lot longer. For more information on Darn Tough Vermont socks, visit their website at www.darntough.com.
