A few weeks ago during the arctic blast that hit Vermont, we decided to venture out our back door for a sunny afternoon snowshoe. (Mistake #1.) We bundled up, ready to embrace the arctic tundra and take-in some much-needed vitamin D. We headed into the woods, planning to cross over a swamp that surely would be frozen over and into some open fields of farm land a few acres behind our house. (Mistake #2.) Soon after crossing into the swamp, I sunk. Four feet. The swamp we’ve crossed many, many times somehow isn’t frozen in February after months of sub-freezing temperatures (WTF?).

My boot and snowshoe went straight to the bottom and immediately started filling with skunky swamp water. I managed to free one of my legs, flop onto my belly and sneak my foot out of my boot, while Randy dug out my snowshoe/boot that was full of water, ice and snow. There I was with one sopping wet sock, half a mile from our house in negative temps. After crawling back to the woods onto stable grounds, we decided I needed to make a run for it back to the house, sans boot. Thank goodness for Darn Tough Socks, the toughest, most durable wool socks that happen to be made in Vermont that saved my foot and toes from frostbite. Now that’s a tough sock, one I’m committed to buying for life.

I have the third pair on the right. Cute and durable, right?

Darn Tough Socks, Northfield, Vermont

I interviewed Ric Cabot, President and CEO of Darn Tough Socks, which has been making Darn Tough socks in Vermont since 2003. Ric’s father Marc Cabot founded Cabot Hosiery Mills in 1978, where they made socks for other companies, such as Gap and Banana Republic. Since then, Darn Tough has only ever made socks, and they’ll continue to do so as they expand this year. The company will increase their production capabilities by adding 100,000 square feet onto their facility and adding 250-300 more jobs in Northfield, Vermont, over the next five years. (This is seriously good news for Vermonters!)

Randy has worn Darn Tough socks for years; one pair lasted ten years before he noticed a small hole at a seam. Within a week of returning the pair to an authorized Darn Tough dealer in Middlebury, he had a brand new pair replaced for free. I’ve recently converted from Smart Wool to Darn Tough for a number of reasons: 1) they’re made in Vermont, 2) they’re guaranteed for life, 3) the fit is awesome (no slippage down your leg), 4) cushioning for comfort with bulk. Sock perfection.

Here’s my interview with Ric on the role Vermont plays in the company’s history and mission, what makes Darn Tough truly “darn tough” and why locals and non-locals alike should be wearing Darn Tough socks. Keep on scrolling past the interview for our giveaway of three pairs of Darn Tough socks!

An Interview with Darn Tough Socks

Talk to me a bit about Darn Tough’s connection to Vermont. I love the saying, “Nobody ever outsourced anything for quality.” What is it about being based in Vermont that leads to such a high-quality product? Is it your employees, the raw materials, the production process? The perfect blend of all of these elements?

It is the perfect combination of all those ingredients and more that results in our high quality socks. Our family started Cabot Hosiery Mills in Northfield, Vermont, in 1978, and bring three generations of hosiery expertise to our mill. While other companies abandoned the US in favor of cheaper, outsourced labor in other parts of the world in the ’90s and ’00s, we saw the opportunity to create a premium brand for an outdoor market that demands the highest quality and performance. That’s how Darn Tough Vermont was born. The mantra, “Nobody ever outsourced anything for quality” permeates everything we do. We control the entire process here in central Vermont, with the most dedicated and talented employees, the finest raw materials sourced in the US and abroad, and the latest high density knitting technologies available. We’re so confident in our product that we offer an unconditional lifetime guarantee.

Could you imagine having your business in any other state? 
Moving to another state would be unthinkable. We have been committed to our community since day one and will continue that commitment well into the future. We started Darn Tough Vermont to produce the best socks in the world. Everyone at the company shares this commitment, constantly striving to make great socks even better. And there’s no better testing ground for our performance socks than Vermont.

How does Darn Tough fit into the Vermont lifestyle and the “brand of Vermont” in your opinion?
Like most people born here, or those lucky enough to call Vermont home, we feel that life is truly lived outdoors. From skiing and riding to running and cycling, we are fortunate to live and work in one of the world’s most perfect product testing grounds. The Vermont outdoor lifestyle fits perfectly with our relentless pursuit of perfection – we can test a product in the field, make adjustments and continue to refine. Socks have to be darn tough to hold up to Vermont conditions.

Not many products are guaranteed for life… Racking my brain, I can only think of Darn Tough and LLBean with such a guarantee (I’m sure there are others). Why commit to a lifetime guarantee for your customers in a society of disposability? Do you see many people actually take advantage of your offer for replacements or are your products just that good?
There are a few other companies, but they are few and far between, unfortunately. That’s one of the problems – we live in a society with an expectation of built-in obsolescence. So, if you can stand behind a product with an unconditional lifetime guarantee, it shows consumers you’ve made a conscious effort to provide a product that will stand up to whatever they can throw at it. If for some reason you need a replacement, the consumer has the peace of mind to know someone is standing behind their word and the product. If someone can put a hole in one of our socks, and they do on occasion, they send it directly to my attention so I can review with the Darn Tough team, and we can figure out ways to make our performance socks even better.

Why should locals and non-locals alike buy your socks over other wool socks in the market?
Unlike some competitors in the market, we control the entire process, which yields 100% quality control. High density knitting of merino wool or our exclusive Coolmax® blend means more stitches per inch, which delivers added durability and improved cushioning without added bulk. Form fitting two boxes and sculpted heel pockets, coupled with knit-in elastic support at the arch, produces the finest fitting performance sock available. And the biggest reason of all – our unconditional lifetime guarantee.

And, just in case you weren’t convinced to spring for a pair of the roughly $20 sock, here are some fun facts about Darn Tough Socks.

• Ever year, Darn Tough hosts a factory sock sale where you can purchase Darn Tough socks from as low as a $1 for irregulars. Although I’ve never been, it is on my bucket list for one of these years. People travel for miles and miles to get their hands on Darn Tough socks for a reduced price.
• Cabot Hosiery Mill overcame hardship and a near shut-down in the early 2000s. Ric invigorated the company through focusing on what they do best and developed the Darn Tough Vermont sock brand, using the outdoors in Vermont as a testing ground.
• Sheep in the Southwest in the US, Australia and New Zealand supply Darn Tough’s wool.
• Darn Tough makes socks for the Army, a special tactical boot sock, that is part of the Army’s FREE clothing system (Fire Resistant Equipment Ensemble).