Darn Tough vs Smartwool

Darn Tough vs Smartwool – Picking the warmest set of socks for the outdoors

Avid outdoorsman will know the importance of having dry and warm feet. When your body gets cold, naturally your body will ensure more blood flow through vital organs. This means that your hands and feet will be left cold. Although this may be beneficial in the short-term, but in the long-term, it will feel quite uncomfortable. You begin to feel discomfort mainly because the pain receptors get fired up when the feet gets too cold.

Besides comfort, keeping your feet warm and cozy has other benefits too. Cold feet more often that not leads to poor sleep too. If your feet are kept warm, this helps to redistribute the heat throughout the body so that we can easily go into deep sleep.

Such benefits extend to emotional aspects as well. Getting cold feet will likely make you tense, easily irritable and even stressed out. But warm feet can give you a sense of wellbeing, which makes your outdoor experience more enjoyable.  

Quick Comparison Table


Features

In-shoe fit

Material

Durability

Warranty

Place of Manufacture 

Arch Support

Comfort

Absorption

Darn tough 

Prone to slippage

Merino Wool, Nylon, Lycra Spandex

Very Durable

United States (Vermont)

Average 

Really Absorbent 

Smartwool 

Not prone to slippage

Merino Wool (73%), Nylon (26%), Elastane (1%)

Fairly Durable 

United States

Good

Fairly Absorbent

Darn Tough Vermont Company Background

Darn Tough Company Logo

Darn Tough Vermont is a clothing store that is focused on manufacturing various varieties of socks which are specifically meant for the outdoors and rough work. Being involved in the apparel and textile products since 1978, where it was founded by Cabot Hosiery.

Darn Tough has taken advantage of the deer season in Vermont which falls in the middle of November by creating socks that would appeal to consumers. To date, Darn Tough has sold socks to hikers, bikers, skiers and even to hunters.  

If you like to learn more about how this Vermont Sock Company became a $40 Million Business, you can check out this article.

Smartwool Company Background

Smartwool Logo

Smartwool is a Private American Company which was founded by Peter and Patty Duke since 1994. The Smartwool company manufactures primarily wool clothing which are mostly made from Merino wool. Smartwool do offer products for men, women and children too. Also, most of their Merino Wool are sourced from a New Zealand Merino company which shows their commitment towards producing better socks.

They are known for advancing the frontiers of Merino Wool by building high-quality and innovative products. Their main focus is for people with an active outdoor life.  

General Differences between Darn Tough and Smart Wool

Well, I think I can dive into the differences between both Darn Tough and SmartWool socks. Although I understand that there are different categories and types of socks, their features are similar throughout. This means that their general characteristics will be similar throughout as well. Let’s get down to brass tacks.

Important Highlights

Darn Tough vs SmartWool running socks

In this section, I just wanted to bring your attention to some preliminary points which may or may not affect your decision to purchase either socks.

1. Customer Service

Smartwool’s customer service are known to be excellent. If your pair of SmartWool socks got worn out and develop holes after a short period of time, you can contact their customer service and they will get you a new pair.

However, Darn Tough’s customer service are equally excellent. You should be able to enact the warrantee and get a new pair of socks without any questions asked.

2. Both Companies utilizes Merino Wool

Merino Wool is one of the most popular go-to material for manufacturing outdoor gears. They are known to provide comfort and are able to withstand the rigors of intense physical activity.

What is Merino Wool? – Merino is a breed of sheep which is well-known for its soft and fine wool. Merino Wools are much finer than regular wools, where they are measured from 24 micron down to 15 micron (the regular wool have a around 40 micron.

The next-to-skin comfort is hard to beat and the amount of warmth that can be trapped in Merino is really efficient too.

One of the reasons why both companies are popular are mainly because they focus on manufacturing items using Merino wool, which comes with many awesome qualities.

Darn Tough vs Smartwool – An In-Depth Comparison

To make the differences stand out and make things really easy to understand, I have listed a comprehensive list of differences which I thought are important to highlight.

1. Price

Since most of us are avid outdoorsmen, I thought it would be fitting to select the 2 of the best warmest socks for hunting to compare. In this context, I will compare the prices of both the Darn Tough Hunter Sock and the Smartwool Hunt Extra Heavy Socks.

Darn Tough – To get one set of Darn Tough Hunter socks, you need to fork out $29.95.  

SmartWool – For a pair of Smartwool Hunt Extra Heavy Socks, you need to pay $27.95.

To be honest, $2 difference for 1 pair of socks doesn’t really make much difference. It’s merely 6.7% of the amount paid for a pair of Darn Tough Hunter socks. Now, it all comes down to your preference.

However, the general selections of Smartwool socks will still cost less than Darn Tough Socks.

Winner: SmartWool

2. Durability

Darn Tough – Darn Tough socks got really popular because of 1 main reason: it’s really durable. In fact, its durability is hard to beat even by most socks in the industry. This may be a result of Darn Tough having much higher density knit than most socks.

Despite years of negligible use, Darn Tough socks would literally put up against it.

Even if the socks get worn out, you can redeem the lifetime warranty by sending in the socks which you own. 

SmartWool – Generally, Smartwool’s products are thin. Even their t-shirts are considered thin. With daily use, the cloth tends to come apart.

After using the socks for months, the Smartwool socks will tend to give way and develop holes, but not the socks by Darn Tough. If you are often involved in a lot of intense activity, the Darn Tough socks may be more suitable for you.

SmartWool’s socks may not be able to last as long as socks by Darn Tough.

Winner: Darn Tough

3. Warranty

Darn Tough – Darn Tough socks come with a pretty awesome warranty. Their customer service would gladly comply. Most returns are done satisfactorily.

This is consistent with their logo – No Strings. No Conditions. For Life. – where they willingly give out unconditional lifetime guarantee without any conditions attached. If you feel their socks are not comfortable, you can simply return the socks for another pair.

SmartWool – For the Smartwool Promise, Smartwool allows the purchaser to return the socks within 2 years of purchasing. Their customer service wouldn’t give much hassle as well. To get return their product, all you have to do is fill out their Guarantee form and they will get in touch with you.

Darn Tough wins on this aspect hands down. The fact that they offer a lifetime warranty which is hassle-free definitely gives them an edge in the market.

Winner: Darn Tough

4. Comfort

Darn Tough – Darn Tough is well-known for bringing comfort to the person who wears it as well. Their socks have a uniform construction, where the cushioning below the socks is even. The only downside is that you have a higher tendency of slipping within your footwear.  

SmartWool – There is an arch support system that is built into their socks. This is designed to make the socks hug your feet so that there is no slipping when you are wearing your footwear.

With the arch support, it makes SmartWool socks suitable for daily use. If you are going to walk a lot, you will definitely be grateful that the SmartWool is built with an arch. If you wear other socks, they may get saggy especially after long hours of walking.

A word of caution: Remember to pick a pair of socks that a fitting for you. Since the arch support into the sock, getting a sock which is too big or too small may feel a bit uncomfortable.

Winner: SmartWool

5. Absorption

Darn Tough – Darn Tough socks are really absorbent mainly because it has a higher density knit and a thicker construction than most socks. Being really absorbent, it will be great for people who have really sweaty feet. Since Merino wool is antimicrobial, the odor would naturally be kept at bay despite the moisture.

Do take note that this is a double-edged sword. Although it is great for absorbing moisture internally, if you walk through streams, the socks will similarly absorb the water that it comes into contact externally too.

SmartWool – For Smartwool, since it is thinner, it does not absorb as much moisture. It has a lower density knit too. If your feet sweats, the sweat will stay on your feet. The absorption functionality may suffice for easy-going day-to-day activities but not activities which are intense.

Winner: Darn Tough

6. In-shoe fit

Darn Tough – Due to the uniform construction, Darn Tough socks tend to be less stable. This is an essential factor to consider especially for people that are sensitive to mobility.

The socks is ‘less stable’ basically means that it is prone to slippage, especially when you wear it for long hours. The consequences? Besides discomfort, you may get hot spots or blisters on your feet.

SmartWool – The arch support in-built in the Smartwool socks helps by making the sock hug your foot. Since the socks are more secure on your feet, this will prevent slippage even if moisture gathered on your feet. With this secure In-shoe fit, you can wear the socks without getting blisters or hotspots.

Winner: SmartWool

7. Functionality

Darn Tough – Generally, Darn Tough socks would feel more comfortable for adventurers who spend long hours wearing the socks and doing intense activity. The softness of the socks would be beneficial great for such purposes.

SmartWool – For Smartwool socks, it’s suitable if you are standing or walking for long hours. The arch support help to ensure that the socks stay fitted on your feet, reducing the probability of forming blisters. The arch support will help keep your feet feeling energetic too.  

Winner: SmartWool

Concluding Thoughts

This comparison will give you a good idea which brand of socks you should pick. However, I wish to highlight that the type of outdoor activity you engage in may cause you to change your preferences too. We have several articles which covers some of the socks by Darn Tough or Smartwool including our article on the best vegan hiking socks, which we covered the best vegan socks which we could find in the market. Smartwool is not included because we deliberately exclude ‘wool’ from it.

For example, you may prefer Darn Tough hiking socks rather than the ones by SmartWool, but if you are looking for running shoes, the Smart Wool running socks may be more superior. The SmartWool Men’s PhD Run Light Elite Micro Socks is one such example.

SmartWool socks may be more comfortable for day-to-day wearing, but the socks by Darn Tough are superior especially for anyone engaged in outdoor activities.

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