Darn Tough Men's Quarter Lightweight Running Sock

Darn Tough is a family-owned, American manufacturer of end-use-specific socks. For 40 years, the company has been knitting socks in the Green Mountains of Northfield, Vermont. The brand's backyard serves as the perfect testing ground to make the finest Premium All Weather Performance Socks, as the team skis, snowboards, hikes, bikes, and runs in the most unforgiving climate in the lower 48 states.

The company's commitment to quality is unwavering - Darn Tough continues to knit every pair of socks locally, even though faster and cheaper alternatives exist. The brand believes that outsourcing would compromise the superior quality that Darn Tough is known for.

Darn Tough socks are crafted with carefully selected materials that meet the brand's rigorous durability standards. The socks feature a blend of natural and synthetic fibers, with no more than three fiber types per sock. Merino wool is the most prominent fiber, accounting for 56% of Darn Tough's yarn consumption by weight in the last year. The brand has prioritized the use of Merino wool exclusively from sheep that have not been exposed to the practice of mulesing, and in early 2019, Darn Tough made a commitment to support the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) and shift 100% of its wool supply to RWS-certified Merino wool.

Recycled nylon, in the form of REPREVE, a nylon 6 fiber made from pre-consumer industrial waste, is also used in Darn Tough socks. This allows the brand to offset the use of crude oil, benzene, cyclohexane, and other harmful hydrocarbons involved in the production of virgin fiber. While recycled nylon currently accounts for only 4% of Darn Tough's nylon consumption, the brand is actively working to source more recycled nylon to incorporate across its product lines.

Spandex, or Lycra, is used to provide elasticity, strength, and form-fitting comfort, representing no more than 5% of the fiber used in Darn Tough's finished products. However, it accounted for 27% of the raw materials procured by the brand last year. Finding functional, recycled spandex alternatives is an ongoing challenge for Darn Tough, as the company primarily focuses on converting virgin nylon and polyester to recycled alternatives.

Darn Tough's commitment to sustainability is reflected in its use of RWS-certified Merino wool, recycled nylon, and its efforts to find viable recycled spandex alternatives. The brand aims to improve the well-being of its community by locally designing and manufacturing the most comfortable, durable, and best-fitting socks while continuously reducing its environmental impact.

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