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Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Darn Tough Vermont Hike-Trek Poppy Gall > Test Report by Jennifer Pope

Darn Tough Vermont Hike/Trek Poppy Gall Socks
Test Report
Last Updated: March 8, 2011

Biographical Information Product Information Initial Report - September 30, 2010 Field Report - January 11, 2001 Long Term Report - March 8, 2011 Summary

poppy gall socks


Biographical Information
Name Jennifer Pope
Age 30
Gender Female
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m)
Weight 145 lb (66 kg)
Email Address Jennifer.Pope@gmail.com
Location Connecticut
Backpacking Background
Intermediate. I've been a car-camper as long as I can remember and started backpacking in Northern California over a decade ago. I'm again taking a break from backpacking to hike and car camp with my two young daughters and my husband. We tend to take our time hiking shorter distances and my younger daughter rides on my back. We live on the Connecticut coast and hike around New England.

Product Information (back to top)
Manufacturer Darn Tough Vermont
Manufacturer URL http://www.darntough.com/
Year of Manufacture 2010
Size Medium
Style Poppy Gall
Color Denim (blue), also available in Daybreak (red/purple), Seaweed (green), & Willow (green/orange)
Claimed Weight not listed
Actual Weight 2.2 oz (62 g)
MSRP $17.00


top view



Initial Report
September 30, 2010

Initial Impressions & Product Description (back to top)

As I expected these are thick wool socks and appear to be well made.

Description

This is a low-rise sock that just barely covers my ankle. The fit is snug around the arch of my foot but loose around my toes (but not too loose). The seams feel smooth and do not rub against my foot. There is actually only one visible seam that runs across the top of my toes. It's very smooth and hardly noticeable. There is added cushion on the bottom of my foot which is noticeable (and comfortable). The socks are soft to the touch and do not feel itchy at all. As a newbie knitter, I can say that the socks have VERY small stitches making the fabric very smooth.

The socks are made in the USA (Vermont) which is becoming much rarer these days. The packaging is also 100% plastic-free; the cardboard surround is made of recycled paper and is printed with vegetable based inks. These details are important to me as an outdoor enthusiast and it's clear that Darn Tough values American-made products and protecting the environment.

These socks are to be machine washed on the gentle cycle, inside-out and dried on the low dryer setting. I can guarantee that they will probably only ever see the regular wash setting (though I have a front-loading machine, so it's a bit gentler by nature). They may occasionally be washed inside-out, but not exclusively. And they will likely always be air dried or dried on the regular dryer setting.

I decided to take these socks back to their homeland for a quick jaunt around Vermont, where they were made. I found them to be comfortable and on the warm side on a comfortable night (this is coming from someone who rarely wears socks during the summer). I found the fit to be comfortable and roomy.

Darn Tough socks have an unlimited lifetime, no questions asked guarantee. Clearly they stand behind their product.

side view


Field Report
January 11, 2011


Field Conditions

I wore these socks on several day hikes all of under 4 miles (6.4 km). These hikes were located mainly in Connecticut after the weather had already turned cold. But I also wore these socks in California during a torrential rain storm and on another day hike along a river during mild weather. Temperatures ranged from 30-55 F (0-13 C). They were mainly worn with a running-style tennis shoe but also a lightweight hiking shoe.

Results

The best thing about these socks for me so far is how comfortable they are. And what stood out most about these socks was how well they are at regulating my foot temperature. My feet never felt hot or cold while wearing these socks; instead they felt just right all of the time. On certain hikes other people with me complained of cold feet even though I'm usually the one to complain about that. My feet were nice and warm (even when I wasn't wearing a shoe appropriate for the cold). I haven't had any warm or hot weather to try the socks in, but my feet also haven't ever gotten sweaty inside them even when wearing them inside my slippers at home.

The socks have a lot of cushion to them. They feel a bit bulky but I haven't had any issues fitting them inside my shoes. I like the extra comfort the cushion provides.

I would say the design is a bit odd. A lot of hiking socks (in general, not just DTV) tend to come in a lot of different colors that seem a little superfluous to me. The flower shapes on the foot portion are fine since those are hidden when I have shoes on. The flowers around the ankle are a little silly to me but at least the color palate isn't wacky as well.

I estimate that I've probably washed the socks about 10 or so times since receiving them. So far they still look the same as when I received them. They are holding up very well so far.

Long Term Report
March 8, 2011


Field Conditions

The last two months of the test period have brought over 60" (1.5 m) of snow and only a handful of days above freezing. Unfortunately, these kinds of conditions are too extreme for my hiking partners (my young daughters) and me. As such, I have continued to wear these socks on a casual basis but not hiking. I've worn them often inside Ugg-style boots, snow boots and tennis shoes. I've worn them down to around 15 F (-10 C) and up to 40 F (5 C).

Results

I really like these socks. I haven't had any issues with them. I find them to be high-quality and comfortable. I've washed them a number of times without taking any special care and they look the same as the day I got them. The fit is still good the socks have not stretched out at all. My feet have stayed warm in exceptionally cold conditions. After my experiences with these socks I would not hesitate to buy other socks from the DTV line. I'm looking forward to continuing to wear these socks into the spring and summer.

Summary (back to top)

Comfortable. Cozy. Cushion-y. Exceptional warranty. American made.

Thank you to Darn Tough Vermont and BackpackGearTest.org for allowing me to test this item.


Read more reviews of Darn Tough Vermont gear
Read more gear reviews by Jennifer Pope

Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Darn Tough Vermont Hike-Trek Poppy Gall > Test Report by Jennifer Pope



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