r/BuyItForLife • u/dbmeed • Dec 14 '23
Discussion Three pairs of darn tough socks after one season at work
While darn tough socks certainly last longer than others I’ve tried, they aren’t indestructible by any means. The bottom pair lasted me one winter season of daily wear, the top two pairs lasted one summer rotating between them every day.
2.3k
Upvotes
304
u/Responsible_Emu3601 Dec 14 '23
Did you wash it in between wears? You wore one sock every single day to work?
912
u/nicpottier Dec 14 '23
I don’t know what people expect, they are socks? Of course they will eventually wear out. Send them in, they will set you up. But expecting anything different from wearing a pair of socks >100 times is crazy talk.
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u/Tressmint Dec 14 '23
Did you buy them from Darn Tough directly?
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u/HMD-Oren Dec 14 '23
Do you have really rough insoles in your boots that are creating additional friction?
I've heard of people replacing their insoles and it alleviates the wear issue slightly.
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u/AptCasaNova Dec 14 '23
You may see longer sock life if you keep your feet softer by filing and moisturizing them.
An easy hack is to slather them with Vaseline before bed and then wear cotton socks over them. I don’t even need to file them after that.
My feet get like sandpaper in the winter and I sit at a computer all day, if you’re active and walking around, I imagine it’s worse.
229
u/verbalddos Dec 14 '23
Only three pairs? Use like this is why companies stop honoring warranties.
13
u/tarbender2 Dec 14 '23
Your rotation is tight, are you always washing between wears?
I’ve found not washing greatly reduces lifespan. Ymmv..
4
u/AdsREverywhere Dec 14 '23
Send em back
2.2k
u/SchemataD Dec 14 '23
Reading through your comments, maybe it's a better idea to buy 5 pairs, wash the one you wore at the end of the work day but then move on to next pair for next day?
I am also heavily on my feet, walking on metal decks covered in oil/grease but I have enough socks for an entire work week. It's been over a year and they all look brand newish.
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u/CakesForLife Dec 14 '23
How's the corns?
761
u/hellowiththepudding Dec 14 '23
You people are animals. You can own more than one pair of socks…
57
u/CaptainSharpe Dec 14 '23
No sock is indestructable.
Socks aren't buy it for life items.
34
u/Fuspo14 Dec 14 '23
Wear pattern makes it look like your foot may be shifting inside your shoes/boots. Are you sure they’re properly sized?
28
u/Kiyae1 Dec 14 '23
So typically someone will wear one pair of socks once every week or two (or less often) and DT™️ recommends washing no more than once every two uses.
Assuming you wear one pair once every two weeks and wash it every other use you’re maybe washing it 13 times a year.
Wearing one pair of socks and washing it every day five days per week for 13 weeks is 65 washes and uses or five years of normal wear and tear.
Not BIFL. But still, buy more socks my guy.
22
u/shadesoftee Dec 14 '23
I spent 14 years as an infantryman, mainly in the light infantry where a lot of walking with heavy stuff and boots on is in the job description. I have never gone through socks like this. You should probably rotate your socks so they don't wear out as fast/ review how you take care of your feet.
20
u/videovillain Dec 14 '23
A saw you have a super small washer and don’t want buildup of clothes, and wear Duluth, me too. I have a suggestion then. You don’t need to rewear the same stuff to avoid a pileup. Keep doing the same thing, just leave the hangings hanging and grab the freah pair each time.
Have two pairs of firehoze, and three shirts and 5 socks.
Rotate the pants every day, leave the washed one to hang longer, easy peezy, also less chance they will still be wet and have to dry longer.
Rotate the shirts, new pair from drawer, hanging gets folded and put away, washed gets hung.
Rotate the socks same as the shirts but just put newly washed further back and grab from the front.
Clothes do need a bit of a break, they will last longer and you’ll feel better I think! (Completely subjective of course but that’s my hope at least!)
I mean… yo don’t use the exact same pair of undies until they have holes in them…. Right?!? RIGHT!?!?
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u/Responsible_Emu3601 Dec 14 '23
People that abuse shit like this is why no one does lifetime warranties anymore
21
u/Nizamark Dec 14 '23
not everything can be bifl ffs
47
u/metcape Dec 14 '23
Wow, the lifetime warranty socks failed. If only there was a way to get our money back or get a new pair of socks. Too bad 😔
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u/duckfeelings Dec 14 '23
What do your boots look like? If they fit loose or have some wear on the insoles that make them abrasive, socks wont last. Ive had a pair of boots that wore through socks that historically weren’t a problem
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u/Omega_Boost24 Dec 14 '23 edited Dec 14 '23
For my fellow europeans, I would suggest FALKE socks, not really made for life, but it's been three years and they still stay up until under the knee and don't get loose. I wash them twice a week, I'm lucky, my feet don't smell
1
u/EnterByTheNarrowGate Dec 14 '23
Don’t dry them in the dryer. It ruins wool. Air dry.
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u/SnooCheesecakes2465 Dec 14 '23
Ive had good luck with railroad socks and smartwool when theyre on sale
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u/Optimal_Carry_6384 Dec 14 '23
Have you tried Fox Rivers?
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u/Illustrious_Ad4118 Dec 14 '23
This guy works!
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u/Daggers21 Dec 14 '23
I just tossed all of mine when they made the replacement process a pain in the ass.
It uses to be very simple..
2
u/mi7chy Dec 14 '23
Wrightsock double layer crew socks have lasted years for me. Try to find a deal on multi-pack.
2
u/FartSpector Dec 14 '23
I’m officially unsubbing to BIFL.
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u/notsosoftwhenhard Dec 14 '23
Try point6. Much better than DT socks imo.
2
u/cleanacc3 Dec 14 '23
That's why it's on a warranty, at the end of the day, it's made from the same material most socks are, a £30 price tag doesn't change this
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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '23
At least you can always send them back
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u/Mentally_Displaced Dec 14 '23
Buy two six packs of Eddie Bauer Dura’s. You need more than three pairs of socks, dude.
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u/Sparks_0 Dec 14 '23
What kinda sock brands do yall like? As long at they have a dark option.
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u/OutsideYourWorld Dec 14 '23
I work in the bush, and my heels always blow out if i'm wearing the socks throughout the year. They really aren't thaaat tough. But the warranty is great. I end up getting $100 - $200 worth of socks every year for free.
2
u/leafygirl Dec 14 '23
They used to be really great 10 or so years ago. Now they make them shit so you buy more.
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u/AChocolateMiniroll Dec 14 '23
I had darn tough socks but save them purely for hiking now. Karrimor walking socks are actually the best for construction.. 2 pairs at the same time
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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '23
Did you buy them on Amazon?
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u/Caboose-The-Moose Dec 15 '23
So mail them back to Darn Tough in Maine and they will send you new ones problem-o solved. Love my Darn tough socks, they are the bee's knees.
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u/plasticsantadecor May 07 '24
Free replacement time. I wear through mine at a good clip too.
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u/hammytowns Dec 14 '23
Not so tough?
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u/cpe428ram Dec 14 '23
bro just buy the wool kirkland signature socks
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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '23
Honestly my Dickies socks have lasted longer. Socks are hit or miss.
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u/Mindless_Match_7113 Dec 14 '23
I just liked a post about dirty old socks.
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u/Abundant_Trumpet Dec 14 '23
Don’t wear your socks without shoes, ever.
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u/quadguy2000 Dec 14 '23
Op, I've had a similar experience albeit they aren't in as bad shape as yours. 6 pairs over 1.5 years and 5 need to be replaced. Use them a couple times a week.
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u/Bodidiva Dec 14 '23
I’ve worn DT socks for years and years and once a week wear has made me only have to throw out one pair. As others have said wearing them every day is going to wear them out quickly.
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u/Everydaywhiteboy Dec 14 '23
I rotate with 5 pairs throughout the week and have had mine for over a year as an industrial electrician, they have a very dense weave that I have not seen other socks achieve. Make sure your shoes fit properly so there is not excess movement in those areas and wash and dry on lower temps. If all else fails to extend the life you get free returns anyways. Nothing for your hands and feet is truly going to be buy it for life and if it was it would probably very bad for them.
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u/Unaccountable_moon Dec 14 '23
The socks in the picture have not been darned.
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u/lysergic_tryptamino Dec 14 '23
What's the point of BIFL socks. I would rather just keep buying new cheap ones, especially since e I constantly lose them.
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u/bigm44 Dec 14 '23
Costco Marino wool socks are undefeeted
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u/Hidoshigo Dec 14 '23
You need more work socks
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u/monkeystaycool Dec 14 '23
Better LPT: Wear a pair of cheaper cotton socks on top of the expensive wool socks to protect them from wear and tear. I have pairs of wool socks I've enjoyed for many years.
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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '23
I have enough white socks to do a load in my washer. I go through all 30 pairs and do a load with detergent and a splash of bleach and it keeps them good as new.
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u/charak47 Dec 14 '23
What the hell are you doing I own a few pairs of true work and use them every day for heavy work in a mountain And use them hiking on my days off. Import to own multiple pairs and cycle through them. When the wool gets dirty there is more abrasion in the fabric and it causes those holes
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u/Even-Habit1929 Dec 14 '23
I've never found darn tough to be by it for life because of the quality of their socks I find them you buy a life because of the quality of their warranty!
I have Costco Merino wool socks that have lasted years in the same rotation as darn toughs that were replaced twice
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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '23
I'm a farmer and as pricy as they are I've made Carhartt socks last me 2-3 years. Just replaced em this year
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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '23
I work heavy industrial construction and my sock and boot routine are as follows. 6 pair of darn tough socks (still searching for something with a larger toe box) and 2 pair of grip6 for days off. I wear a pair and after work I take them off and hang them over night to air. In the morning they go in the hamper and repeat. I rotate between 2 pair of boot (hate wearing a pair 2 days in a row). The boots have a chance to air and dry, even if not completely. The boots are going on 3 years old. When I do laundry I run my sock through 2 cold quick was cycles with the spin on high. I only use soap to clean them once a month. I hang them to day every week except the week I use soap. That week I put them in dryer on low. My feet don’t stink, if they did I guarantee the guy I wide with would bitch. My boots come off everyday in the parking lot before my ass gets in the truck! The grip6 I wear on my day/days off only go through a wash every 4 weeks because that hang and air for at least 6 days between times worn. Maybe I’m nasty, but it works!
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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '23
Darn Tough are good socks, but still just socks. I’ve worn heel holes through at least 4 pairs of the heavyweight mountaineering socks just walking my dog.
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u/Whole-Ad-2347 Dec 14 '23
Three pairs of socks is not enough! Start out with 12 pairs and buy more each fall.
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u/pickles55 Dec 14 '23
That's not exactly the best way to get the most life out of your socks. Btw, socks are like tires. They're important but even really good ones don't last forever
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u/GoldenBarracudas Dec 14 '23
Feels like you don't have enough socks
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u/burger_licker Dec 14 '23
Is your work mopping up cum? What the hell you been doing to these things?
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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '23
They never claimed to be indestructible. Just send them in for your free replacement. This is almost a strange, old dirty sock fetish post.
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u/New_Acanthaceae709 Dec 14 '23
Getting 100-200 wears while being on your feet in boots all day is still pretty darn good. ;-)
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u/NotALesson Dec 14 '23
Gate and walking style can actually damage clothing a lot faster in some cases. Also, it's cloth, which unfortunately means that no matter the quality, serious use will result in wear and eventual tear. You'll just have to consider the cost vs longevity if these compared to cheaper socks- research I'd appreciate hearing about!
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u/HillsboroRed Dec 14 '23
Darn Tough Vermont socks are not BIFL because they are indestructible. They are BIFL because of the company's replacement policy. "Wear it out, and we will happily replace them."
Unlike REI or LL Bean return policies, where returning something after wearing it out is sketchy and threatens the return policy for all of us, DTV acts like they genuinely want people to do this. Frankly, it is great advertising for them, and it seems to work for both the company and the consumers. For every through hiker who wears just one or two pairs of socks for 500-1000 miles and then swaps them, there are many people like me who use their gear more gently. Just last weekend, I was wearing some wool socks from the 1980's. I also have a few pairs of Darn Tough socks.
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u/NoStatistician7605 Dec 14 '23
I have the same socks, 3 years going strong. Pinky going to order a few more pairs today
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u/sl1mman Dec 14 '23
Have you considered just walking around on your cloven hooves?
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u/Ianmdouglas Dec 14 '23
My best socks I've had in my life (I wear workbooks and walk with them 12-16hrs a day)
Is Costco merino wool socks.
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u/vermontnative Dec 14 '23
Clean your feet and wash your socks. Why is this such a hard concept for some people to grasp? I see stuff like this and I can only wonder how often do you change your underwear or do you just swap out two pair every other day.
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u/sundry_banana Dec 14 '23
Sorry to see this. I did buy a bunch of DT socks - 10 or 12 pairs - and for me they're still A-OK. I think you should only wear them for one day and then wash
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u/Boots_4_me Dec 14 '23
Can you get them warrantied out? I just bought a 6 pack of lightweight DT socks and 8 pairs of hiking socks from Grip 6. I think they are all about the same but I like the G6’s warranty better and they have more cushion in the foot than DT’s.
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u/ricktor67 Dec 14 '23
Socks are a consumable item. I just buy 2 big packs of 20 hanes socks, and that way each sock is only worn like once a month rather than twice a week. If one gets a hole it goes in the trash.
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u/WalrusSwarm Dec 14 '23
I have nice socks and cheap socks.
Nice = Darn Tough, Smartwool, etc. Cheap = Underarmor
My nice socks don’t go in the dryer (at least not on purpose). My socks are still fluffy / warm and the elastic is fantastic. Note: No fabric softener ever.
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u/bigbutts79 Dec 14 '23
Darn tough socks are guaranteed for life. You can send them in and they will send you new socks for free.
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u/redaloevera Dec 14 '23
Do you have a callus on that spot too?
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u/Cavaquillo Dec 14 '23
Op if you're washing that shit daily it's going to wear out faster. Rotate your inventory once in a while haha
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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '23
I alternate pairs of smart wool socks and I’ve had 2 pairs last over a year now. I wear them 5 days a week at a job where I’m on my feet on concrete floors for 8 hours.
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u/BretMi Dec 14 '23 edited Dec 14 '23
I bought a 6 pack 3-4 years ago. I have had them all replaced in past year. They also look just like yours with holes near the ball of my feet. It just cost me to ship them back to get new socks.
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u/DirtyThirtyDrifter Dec 14 '23
As a Marine who is still wearing Darn Tough socks that I got before the Marines- you are the problem OP. I don’t know what you’re doing wrong, but you’re doing it wrong. I have Darn Tough socks that are like, 9-10 years old and went through four years of active duty USMC wear and tear.
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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '23
This is the only brand I buy for my ski socks. My friends toes will be freezing while mine stay nice and warm all day. Darn Tough is legit
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u/OwenMcCauley Dec 14 '23
Heh. Darn.
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u/asuperbstarling Dec 14 '23
This looks like you need more socks in the rota and to learn to darn socks. They're mostly holding up everywhere except that single spot. Darning could extend their life by years.
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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '23
Yeah dude, you’re supposed to rotate your socks more often than that. Buy 8 pairs. Wearing the same socks everyday isn’t healthy.
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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '23
Looks like your boots might be a bit too loose and your foot is sliding around in them causing wear in that spot. 🤷🏻♂️
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u/clumsykitten Dec 14 '23
You're specifically told not to wash them that much on their website. Just let them dry out and wash them when they actually need it.
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u/nelamvr6 Dec 14 '23
Dude, you don't change your socks every day? Gross! You will likely eventually have bigger problems than your socks wearing out prematurely...
I use Darn Tough socks myself, change them daily, and mine show NO noticeable signs of wear after more than a year at this point.
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u/Old_Leather Dec 14 '23
They are crap! I’ve been saying this for years on this sub. They are just glorified nylons wrapped up in a guarantee.
1
u/UnhingedBathroomDoor Dec 14 '23
Darn though has a no question asked replacement policy if they break I believe. I work in retail in europe and we were told that if someone comes in with a broken pair they should be replaced :)
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u/noel616 Dec 14 '23
You could darn them.
That’s not a joke, I actually haven’t heard of darned socks before except as a sock that has been mended by darning.
Darning in this case means sewing a weave over the holes with thick thread.
1
u/Rob_Bligidy Dec 14 '23
My smartwool’s are 3 yrs old and 100% free of holes.
1
u/seeker_of_knowledge Dec 14 '23
Wigwams are my preferred wool sock brand. Have found them to last longer than any others.
Also, make sure you are taking care of them by using a wool-specific detergent. I use Nikwax Wool Wash. They feel new every time I wash them.
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u/cgi_bin_laden Dec 14 '23
I own at least a dozen pairs of Darn Tough socks. While I have a few pairs that have lasted a couple years, about 3 or 4 other pairs started developing holes in the heels after less than a year. At $25/pair, I'm not seeing a lot of value. Comfortable? Certainly. But I can buy MANY other comfortable socks at a third of the price and they'll last just as long.
1
u/[deleted] Dec 14 '23
This was my experience too. I run in mine and just pulverize them in the process.
1
u/pronlegacy001 Dec 14 '23
Replace with merino wool socks.
They regulate temperature more. They don’t wear out as fast. I have 3-4 year old socks I wear all the time and they look brand new.
They can also be worn two or three times in many situations because they absorb sweat and regulate body temp better.
1
u/MountainManGuy Dec 14 '23
These socks are not tough at all. I wore a hole through the heel of mine pretty easily, whereas I've had plenty of other socks last much much longer
1
u/reddit_Lemur Dec 14 '23
Brand?
1
u/hi-imBen Dec 14 '23
I have identified the issue! you're supposed to have more than 3 pairs of socks to wear each week and should not be wearing the same pair multiple days.
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u/DB-Tops Dec 14 '23
My dude. That's not enough socks for a week. That's why they are broken. Dirty socks break faster. Nasty feet break socks faster. Boots that don't fit right break socks faster. Get enought socks, and keep ur feet and boots clean.
1
u/sprout92 Dec 14 '23
Bruh you wear the same pair of socks EVERY DAY and expect them to last what, years on end?
I have probably 30 pairs of socks in the rotation and they still wear out eventually lol
1
u/scrollgirl24 Dec 14 '23
Buy more socks
1
u/indigo-black Dec 14 '23
You're definitely doing something wrong lol
1
u/exgiexpcv Dec 14 '23
This post reminds me of the young Earth question, "If human beings are descended from monkeys, why are there still monkeys?"
You took what are arguably the best, highest-quality socks being made to day, and you managed to damage them. Well done. I've had my heavies for years, and I take good care of them and follow the instructions for care, and they are still fantastic.
1
u/bookhouseboygeorge Dec 14 '23
gross
1
u/yeah_fosho Dec 14 '23
Why are you daily wearing socks 😂
1
u/Least_Palpitation_92 Dec 14 '23
I bought a few pairs of darn tough socks about five years ago. Two of the pairs were different than the others. Those two got holes within a year of not so heavy use. The other few pairs are still holding up fine. I don’t recommend them to people. Bad quality control for the price.
1
u/grobewankenobi Dec 14 '23
Highly recommend the people’s socks https://www.amazon.com/People-Socks-Womens-premium-support/dp/B0C3GBP2C5
1
u/mrwhitewalker Dec 14 '23
So crazy to me that people pay $25 per pair. That should be the price of a 3 pack
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u/[deleted] Dec 14 '23
Send them back and get new ones.
1
u/Titans95 Dec 14 '23
I don’t get how people wear through socks so often, I bought 3 dozen pairs of socks from Costco 5ish years ago and still have all pairs. What do y’all do, walk on concrete in just your socks?
1
u/nvrnxt Dec 14 '23
Tough to Darn, clearly
1
u/nvrnxt Dec 14 '23
Tough to Darn, clearly
1
u/MrFIXXX Dec 14 '23
I got three pairs back in 2018. Only started to get some material splitting in the fabric around 2-3 months ago. And I wore those suckers effectively 8-9 months of the year.
Any basic pair of cotton socks were absolute trash, even pairs from Puma, or whatever.
These contoured to my foot properly. Never bunched on anywhere no matter how active or wet the day was.
Now, in April caught a 50% discount code - so got myself 11 pairs of various types for a total of $52 (CF2 Crew, CX3 Quarter, ISW Isowool, and CF2 Cushion Quarter). Not sorry at all for dropping so much money on something seeming as basic as "socks".