Darn Tough Decade Stripe Micro Crew Cushion Socks | Review - Outdoors Magic

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Darn Tough Decade Stripe Micro Crew Cushion Socks | Review

A fun and fast-drying hiking sock with high-quality construction value

Why We Chose The Darn Tough Decade Crew Cushion Socks: Seamless construction, cushioned comfiness, stripey goodness

As hinted in the name, this brand is known for making a Darn Tough sock. They are specifically designed for outdoor enthusiasts and use a seamless construction throughout, making the fabric comfy and smooth, and consequently, tough as hell.

A family-run company, Darn Tough are dedicated to producing trustworthy and durable products. So much so, in fact, that their socks have a lifetime warranty. As well as adding to the product’s longevity, this warranty is very handy if you’re prone to wearing hole in your socks, though the toughness of the sock should help mitigate this.

Photo: Chris Johnson

Who Are The Decade Crew Cushions Socks For?

With a focus on durability and comfort, the Decade Crew walking socks are for those adventurers wanting a more permanent, and confidently hard-wearing, addition to their kit list.

The use of merino wool should garner your faith in this sense. It’s a fast drying and resilient fabric, so is also useful in aiding those with sweatier feet.

Furthermore, this sock is suited to the environmentally conscious traveller. Darn Tough source all their wool under the Responsible Wool Standard, using naturally sustainable processes, and harming no sheep in the process.

Design

In terms of design features, Darn Tough have gone for a performance-focused set-up, aiming to avoid slippage, bunching and blisters. The stretchy fabric aids this, as well as the cushioned fit, featuring terry loops under the foot for comfort and protection.

With sizes ranging from 2.5 to 17, there should be a something for everyone. The sock is similarly versatile in its weather performance, offering both warm and breathable, moisture-wicking properties for the hotter days.

Photo: Chris Johnson

All of Darn Tough’s socks are knitted using small needles, and fine gauge knitting machines. This allows for a seamless and high-density build, which in turn creates a more durable sock. The finer gauge, moreover, reduces the bulk of the sock and helps it fit better for longer.

Darn Tough also incorporate an incredibly high loop stitch count into their knitting process, adding more cushioning per square inch, and reducing the chances of your socks tearing or wearing thin.

Materials

The make-up of the Decade Crew sock is 58% merino wool, 39% nylon, and 3% Lycra® spandex, the latter two very much adding to the sock’s stretchiness, durability, and comfort factor. The low micron, fine-gauge, merino wool, on the other hand, is probably the most appealing aspect of the sock.

“Darn Tough are dedicated to producing trustworthy and durable products.”

As you may already know, merino wool is famous its naturally occurring properties. It’s an incredibly warm fibre, with naturally odour-resistant qualities. This is big plus in terms of eco-factors, especially given the ever-rising numbers of nanoparticles being found in both our water supplies and our oceans.

Merino wool also has excellent sweat-wicking properties, helping lift the sweat away from your feet whilst you’re out hiking the trail.

Tester’s Verdict

Will Renwick, editor of Outdoors Magic

“I’ve been wearing Darn Tough socks for a few years now and they’ve certainly risen to the top of my pile. They’re the kind of socks that seem to retain that new-sock-feeling for an incredibly long time and I guess that’s what I like most about them. I’ve also found them to be excellent at wicking away moisture and drying out quickly and they’re very comfortable to wear with no niggling whatsoever.

“If you like old-fashioned chunky socks, these won’t be for you. I like their thinner construction, however, it’s what I look for from a three-season walking sock, with padding used rather sparingly but it’s still in all the right places. In fact, I’ve not only used these for hillwalking but for trail running too. Granted, Darn Tough make running specific socks but I’ve found these are actually pretty decent for it.

“That lifetime warranty as well – it’s no trick. That’s another great aspect of this brand.”

Photo: Chris Johnson

Darn Tough Decade Stripe Micro Crew

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