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Msilverhammer
327
Jan 13, 2018
I performed a little research on these Darn Tough socks, and just for clarification for those of you who may be interested in this sock; you should realize that Darn Tough makes two versions of this sock as outlined below.
The sock being offered in this drop is the Coolmax® Boot Sock Full Cushion, Men's #1933. Link follows below:
https://darntough.com/collections/mens-hike-trek/products/coolmax-coolmax-boot-sock-full-cushion?variant=30180787911
Darn Tough also manufactures a sock with an almost identical name which they call the Coolmax® Hiker Boot Sock Cushion, Men's #1941. Link follows below:
https://darntough.com/collections/mens-hike-trek/products/coolmax-hiker-boot-sock-cushion?variant=34508604103
The difference between the socks seems to be the percentage of Coolmax fibers in each sock.
The sock with the higher percentage of Coolmax (the #1933 being offered here), is referred to as a full cushion sock, as compared to the #1941 being referred to as a mid-level, or medium cushion sock.
In case anyone is interested, following is the breakdown of the different fibers by percentage, that comprise each sock.
#1933 Men's Coolmax® Boot Sock Full Cushion offered here by Massdrop... 41% Coolmax® Polyester, 27% Nylon, 26% Acrylic, 5% Lycra® Spandex, 1% Other fiber.
#1941 Men's Coolmax® Hiker Boot Sock Cushion 35% Coolmax® Polyester, 34% Nylon, 28% Acrylic, 3% Lycra® Spandex, 1% Other fiber
Based upon current pricing at other retailers, this seems to be a good deal with free shipping.
Most retailers are selling these socks for around $20 to $24 for each pair.
If you purchase the boot socks, then you will pay $17.50 each, and again with no shipping costs, so around a 20% to 25% discount.
You would have to meet a minimum purchase on most other sites in order to get free shipping.
The socks come with a lifetime guarantee, so if you need a good warm weather hiking sock, that you will never need to purchase again, even if they do wear out, then this may be a good sock purchase for you.
I read a review by a few thru-hikers whose Darn Toughs actually wore out after 1000 miles.
After washing the socks, they were mailed back to Darn Tough in Vermont, and the hikers received a new pair in the mail at no cost to them.
You can read the actual Darn Tough warranty/guaranty, and download their warranty/guaranty form at this link.
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1354/8177/files/DT_WarrantyForm_2017-06-01.pdf?831511425577376975
By the way, there are other sock companies with unconditional lifetime warranties like Feetures, and Wrightsock, though the language used by Darn Tough, seems to be the most unconditional if that makes sense.
Wigwam has a lifetime warranty, but only as it pertains to defects in materials and workmanship, so undoubtedly they will deny a claim based upon normal wear and tear, as opposed to Darn Tough, Feetures, or Wrightsock.
Icebreaker warranties their socks for a year if the stitching is faulty, but also offers a lifetime guaranty if for any reason that you are not happy, so the Icebreaker warranty seems good, but a little less concrete than Darn Tough, Feetures, or Wrightsock.
Surprisingly Smartwool only has a two year warranty!
Bridgedale has a three year warranty on any wool socks.
I own some Bridgedale wool hiking socks that I bough as seconds from Sierra Trading Post 15 years ago, that are still in great shape after many miles of hiking. The socks I own were made in Ireland, where Bridgedale is headquartered, if that makes a difference.
Thorlo offers only a 30 day no risk trial, but absolutely no warranty on the wear of the sock. I never had good luck with Thorlos.
Defeet seems to only offer a 90 day return with no information that I could find about any warranty.
REI has a 100% satisfaction guaranty for up to a year, but they explicitly exclude normal wear an tear.
If you purchase anything at stores like Eddie Bauer, LL Bean, Orvis, or Lands End, then they will also allow lifetime returns on anything they sell.
In case anyone is interested, following please find a couple of links to two lists of many brands that offer 100% satisfaction, or lifetime warranties on their products.
https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/deals/companies-with-lifetime-warranties/
https://www.gobankingrates.com/saving-money/32-brands-lifetime-warranties/#2
By the way, I am just a regular hiker, backpacker, and consumer, and don't work for Darn Tough, or Massdrop, nor do I receive any compensation from any entity mentioned here, should you decide to purchase the Darn Tough socks.
Just trying to be helpful, and performing a little research for myself that I decided to share.
Hope it helps someone.
bigmacncheez
53
Jan 13, 2018
MsilverhammerWhile I do agree this is a good deal compared to buying pairs individually from other retailers, the MSRP of these socks is not $57. Massdrop hikes up the "MSRP" to make you feel like you are getting a better deal than you are.
Msilverhammer
327
Jan 13, 2018
bigmacncheezYes, as I stated these socks normally retail on most retail sites for around $20 to $24.
BTW...Since I was talking about warranties offered by the various major sock brands, I think that I left out a couple that I will add now.
Fox River offers a one (1) year warranty.
Farm to Feet, a brand that I have not yet tried, but probably will in the future, also offer a lifetime guaranty, wherein they state that if you are not completely satisfied, then you can either return for a refund, or replacement.
I think that I have now covered the major sock brands, Bridgedale, Darn Tough, Defeet, Farm to Feet, Feetures, Fox River, Icebreaker, REI, Smartwool, Thorlo, Wigwam, Wrightsock.
I know that there may some brands that I left out, so feel free to add to the list.
Based upon what I learned from my research, all of my future sock purchases will most likely be from Darn Tough, Farm to Feet, Wrightsock, Feetures, and Icebreaker, since they all have a 100% Lifetime Warranty/Guaranty!
However, my preference would definitely be Darn Tough, Farm to Feet, Wrightsock, in that order, based upon reviews from others, price and reputation.
I never planned on doing this research, but I definitely educated myself quite a bit, and hopefully others find this valuable too.
Blastguy
57
Jan 14, 2018
MsilverhammerThanks for saving me a bunch of time! So would you say these are one of the best deals out there?
bigmacncheez
53
Jan 14, 2018
BlastguyI do. I have purchased from a couple of DT drops on here. This is comparable to buying a qty. of 2 of their micro socks on Amazon - do you are getting more sick for your money here.
Msilverhammer
327
Jan 14, 2018
BlastguyYes, I think that based upon the comparison pricing that this is a good buy, and high value for your money.
The Coolmax socks may not be as durable as the Merino wool hiking socks, from Darn Tough, however they are better for warm weather, as they wick and move moisture better.
When you consider the value of having the no questions asked lifetime warranty, you really have no downside, as Darn Tough will continue to replace your socks for life if they wear out.
So in my opinion, you only need to purchase a couple of pars of these Coolmax socks, and maybe in another drop pick up some Darn Tough Men's Hiker (Medium) Cushion Boot Socks DT-1403, or the Men's Full (Heavy) Cushion Boot Socks DT-1405 which have 65% and 68% Merino Wool content respectively, and you are set for life.
As some Thru-hikers have shared, the Darn Tough socks, like everything else, will eventually wear out, somewhere in the 1,000 mile range, but they had no problems getting replacements from Darn Tough for no cost.
The life of the sock probably depends on how harsh you treat the socks.
Thru-hikes are very long, arduous, and demanding, as compared to less arduous, and casual day hiking, so it depends on what you do with the socks, and how much you weigh.
Some people like to wear very thin liner socks under their hiking socks, so that may also extend the life of the socks, as well as the type of boot you wear, and the arch support or insert that you have in your boots or shoes.
How you wash and dry the socks also probably has an effect on the sock life too.
Some people like to purchase different brands of socks, (like Smartwool, Wrightsock, Wigwam, Fox River, Bridgedale, Farm to Feet, Feetures, Thorlo) just to see which feels and works the best for them, and as I have shared, I have had good results with Bridgedale, but not Thorlo.
Darn Tough is made in the USA, and has a great reputation, so when considering those facts, plus the lifetime warranty, I don't think that you can go wrong.
Good Luck!
Blastguy
57
Jan 14, 2018
MsilverhammerAlright, I’m probably going to pick this up.
Right now I have a few pairs of Cabela’s wool boot socks that have worn out and developed some holes over a few years of usage. I go camping/hiking a lot and backpacking usually once a year so I was in need of some new socks.
Christovich
5
Jan 17, 2018
MsilverhammerWhat other sites sell things for isn't retail. Retail price is set by the retailer (in this case the manufacturer too) Darn Tough.
Christovich
5
Jan 17, 2018
BlastguyNot always the best deals, you have to pay attention to shipping, sometimes it is outrageously high.
Msilverhammer
327
Jan 17, 2018
ChristovichI'm not sure of your point, but the retail price, is the price paid by guys like you and me, since we are not re-sellers.
If we were buying large quantities, then we would receive wholesale prices, which are usually discounted quite a bit below retail.
Massdrop combines many orders together, so they receive prices similar to wholesale.
I checked numerous sites like Amazon, REI, Backcountry, Socks Addict, Campsaver, and the Darn Tough site, in order to come up with the retail price, which as I stated in my previous email was around$23 to $24.
You would also probably have to purchase at least $25 on AMAZON in order to get free shipping, plus in my state I would have to pay around 7% sales tax too.
Some retailers require a higher minimum purchase in order to get free shipping g included, but unless they are in your state with a brick and mortar store, you will pay no tax.
I paid a little less than $18 per pair net with Massdrop, so not a bad deal considering the socks come with a lifetime warranty, and are high quality.
I also paid no sales tax, or shipping costs.
Christovich
5
Jan 17, 2018
MsilverhammerMy point was to address a couple of the comments that Massdrop was intentionally inflating MSRP to make their deals look better. There is only one place that you can find the MSRP of the socks.
The name MSRP pretty much explains it. MSRP stands for Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price and for these socks that is established by Darn Tough. Any other price that you are finding are just sales prices, though not too long ago people started using the term retail price when buying from an end seller (and like you said, not for re-sale). MSRP doesn't have anything to do with where you purchase a product and no other site establishes an MSRP including re-sellers.
I do appreciate the information that you provided and the research that you performed on sales price of these socks at various outlets. I have usually only looked on Amazon and added in shipping costs in my comparisons.
I don't recall what Massdrop was claiming the MSRP of the socks were and it's gone now that the drop is over.
Msilverhammer
327
Jan 17, 2018
ChristovichOK...I understand now.
In my opinion MSRP is really a fictitious number, or an artificially inflated price, as usually this is only used by the (traditional) manufacturers who also sell the products that they manufacture, but at the same time, who also sell at wholesale prices to distributors, re-sellers, or retailers.
Many traditional manufacturers will not sell any of their products direct to the end purchaser/consumer, as they totally rely on distributors, re-sellers, or retailers to perform this function, but again they may create the MSRP to try and set a pricing scheme.
The sales chain from manufacturer to end purchaser/consumer usually varies, as sometimes there is no distributor, or re-seller in between the manufacturer and a retailer; and sometimes manufacturers like Outdoor Vitals, White Sierra, Tarptent, and small cottage manufacturers like ZPacs, only sell direct to the end purchaser/consumer.
I believe that the foregoing is accurate.
Anyway, traditional manufacturers typically sell at a higher price, so as not to compete with their distributors, , re-sellers, or retailers.
I rarely if ever see an end retailer offering products at the MSRP in today's competitive sales environment.
I also think that yes, sometimes the MSRP is used to try and persuade purchasers into believing that they are receiving a greater discount than they are actually receiving.
jayschu71
0
May 3, 2018
MsilverhammerNice info. Just wanted to add that I've sent one pair of Darn Tough socks back after wearing a hole in both socks. Yes, the do send you a new pair, but you do pay shipping costs. So, it worked out to getting a new pair for half price. Still, a great deal, but certainly not without a cost.
Msilverhammer
327
May 3, 2018
jayschu71I guess that having to pay shipping is fair, after using the socks and wearing them out.
I would think that you could send the socks back via First Class USPS, for a couple of dollars in a large manila envelope.
I'm looking at my socks, and they could easily be put in an envelope.
Not sure what Darn Tough would charge, but it would probably be no more than $6 or $7 dollars via UPS.
Many places won't use the less expensive USPS.
You could also move near to where they make them in Vermont, and just drop by the offices. LOL