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Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Darn Tough Vermont Boot Sock > Roger Caffin > Initial ReportInitial Report - Darn Tough Vermont socks
Product Information
* I take an 8 - 8.5 size in UK fittings, which made my job of choosing a size rather difficult. The Medium size goes to 8 (UK), while Large starts at 8.5 (UK). The company resolved this by sending two pairs of each size! The Medium socks are on the left; the Large socks are on the right, in a different colour pattern. There certainly does seem to be a significant difference in size between Medium and Large, although I think they may be folded slightly differently as well. I have shown pairs of socks with and without the standard packaging here. Product DescriptionThe company web site says: "High density cushioning surrounds the entire foot and shin. Custom shrink treated Merino wool. Ribbing above the ankle insures a proper fit. Reinforced heel and toe. Elastic support around the arch. Ring toe construction for a comfortable invisible seam." They also say "Give all your other hiking socks the boot. Merino wool is our fiber of choice hiking, trekking and backpacking. High density terry loop padding in the foot and shin areas won't flatten out under pressure. Our socks will provide you with an unrivalled level of cushioning performance whether you're sporting approach shoes or hiking boots." 
Inspection showed a colourful design, as shown here. The knit is quite fine on the outside; the loop pile on the inside is equally fine and tight. I have seen many socks with a looser larger knit. For all the fine knit, the sock is still a very respectable 8 mm (0.31") thick, uncompressed. This thickness is achieved by using a multi-layer knitting process. The ankles are to my eyes quite high for a 'short' sock. When I put them on, they come quite some distance up my calf muscle. The fairly tight band of ribbing at the top seems significant: I have some concern it may prove too tight if kept pulled up. However, the solution to that is obvious and simple: I can push them down. The top is folded inside for about 20 mm (0.79"), down to about the black line visible in the picture. This provides a very definite ankle to the sock. There seems to be some elastic or Lycra here, as mentioned above. I shall have to see just how I like to wear the high ankle. The company claims to have built in some 'arch support'. This appears in a new sock not as a change in thickness but a slight tightening right around the arch region. It doesn't look very pronounced. I have to confess that when I put the socks on, I am not really very conscious of anything special there. But maybe that is good. The seam at the toes seems very smooth: I have seen far rougher on other socks. The heel curve is also smooth. These parts promise to be comfortable.
The knitting is certainly multi-layer: the green colouring seen on the outside is far less visible on the inside. But the logos are visible on the inside, not that it matters. I am not sure what the logo at the ankle is meant to represent, but when I am wearing the socks the logo could be taken to be several mountain peaks. Anyhow, the multi-layer design should mean the socks will retain their cushioning: we shall see. I am not a big fan of worrying about 'finishing', as long as the item doesn't unravel while I am out walking. So-called loose ends don't worry me: they just show where the stitching ended. So what? But there didn't seem to be any loose ends in the socks at either the ankle or the toe region. In fact, the stitching was very hard to even detect. Neat stuff. A final comment is in order on the packaging. These socks are made in America, not China. A novel thought. But even more interesting is the package they came in. What looks like a simple cardboard wrap-around turned out to be a more complex double layer of printed cardboard. Clearly, this company is paying some attention to quality packaging, rather than having a pure focus on cutting costs. On the side there was a sizing chart covering UK, USA men, USA Women and European shoe sizes and what sock sizes were required. On the back there is a picture of a blacksmith guy with a hammer and an anvil, about to pound the daylights out of a sock. Hum ...! And there is a guarantee there too: "If our performance socks aren't the most comfortable and durable socks you have ever owned, return them for your money back." (Another wrapper described them as 'All Weather Performance Socks' instead.) Please note: I believe they would have to be washed before you return them, under most Health Dept regulations ... :-) SizeAs might be expected, the Medium size proved to be a snug fit on my feet, while the Large size was generous. But 'generous' does not mean loose and floppy by any means. I was able to pull the toe of the sock up to my foot and distribute the fabric such that a very comfortable fit was achieved. Since wool has this tendency to felt a bit over time, it may well be that the Large size will prove the better bet for my feet - we shall see. 
Care InstructionsI had some trouble finding the washing instructions. They were there, near the bottom on the back of the package, but they took some finding. They are shown here, underlined in red for location. For those with poor eyesight (or poor monitors) they say 'Machine wash in warm water with socks inside-out. Do not bleach. Tumble dry on low heat or hang dry.' On reading this my wife commented that this means they will "go in the washing machine with the rest". This seems both reasonable and very convenient to me. Test PlanAs the test call says, I have feet and need must wear socks for survival. In fact, I regard socks as a very serious item of gear as they are all that stands between me and the soles of my generally ultralight shoes, and they spend a lot of time pounding along. I am aware that some people can get around with almost no socks at all: not me. In the distant past I wore various socks, chosen at random and usually made just from wool. They were never very satisfactory. Then I discovered specialist walking socks at my local gear shop. Well, actually, the owner of the shop rubbed my nose in one brand and told me to buy some. After the inevitable sticker shock I decided to give them a try - and found that you can 'engineer' good walking socks, and that it is worth paying the extra money for good socks. Since then I have used several specialist brands of socks. Some of them have been through the BGT Test system. Anyhow, I like the engineering approach to sock design. Both my wife and I have swung between pure synthetic and wool several times. The wool socks can smell a bit, even after being 'washed' (well, rinsed?) while walking, and they take a long time to dry. However, they seem to keep their fluffiness better. We oscillate between the two. These socks contain wool. So, the Test plan is to go walking. I will be doing a mix of day walks and longer walks, over our Summer/Autumn period, and over a range of terrain from rough tracks to very rough rocky country. Some day walks may be easy, while most extended walks will be very technical. Some will be local in our sandstone Blue Mountains: a very harsh terrain of rock and rainforest, with generally warmish weather. Some river trips will be included, where we spend several days walking down rivers in the water, with our feet in the sand. This is illustrated below. Why in the river? Well, you should see the scrub on the river bank! Other trips will be in our Alpine country, which can be more varied and cooler at times. Local terrain is from sea level to about 1000 m (3300'); some of it (up top) is harsh and rocky while other bits can be wet rainforest (valley bottom). Temperatures will range from near zero to very hot. Our Alpine terrain is up to 2200 m (7,200'), typical alpine soils, and can range from sub zero (even in mid-summer!) to quite warm. I will be evaluating at least the following (no special order):
Biographical Details
Backpacking BackgroundI started bushwalking (the Australian term) at 14, then took up rock climbing at University with the girl who became my wife and is my walking partner. Later on we took up ski touring and canyoning. Winter and summer, we prefer long hard trips by ourselves: about a week in Australia, up to two months in Europe/UK. We prefer fast and light in unfrequented trackless country. We would be out for at least three months a year. Over the last four years we have reduced our pack weights from 18 - 20 kg (40 - 45 lb) each to about 12 kg (26 lb), including food, for week-long trips. I designed and made much of our lightweight gear myself. I am also the maintainer of the Australian aus.bushwalking FAQ web site www.bushwalking.org.au/FAQ/. Read more reviews of Darn Tough Vermont gear Read more gear reviews by Roger Caffin Reviews > Clothing > Socks > Darn Tough Vermont Boot Sock > Roger Caffin > Initial Report | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
