When you voluntarily do laundry, because your only pair of Darn Tough Crew Hikers are dirty; you know you’ve found a great pair of socks.

I picked up my first pair of Darn Tough Hiker Crew Micro Cushion socks last year on a whim. I didn’t research them, read reviews, or even check out the website; I simply took them off the rack and threw them in my shopping bag. I was already far beyond the limit of my REI dividend at that point and was going rouge; what difference would another pair of socks make? I’ve tried a lot of different brands of hiking socks over the years and while I’ve enjoyed most of them, I’ve never felt any loyalty to one specific sock or brand.

The Darn Tough socks made their way into the rotation and quickly became my favorite. They were comfortable, supportive, and durable. They kept my feet dry during summer hiking and warm during winter hiking. Despite the abuse I’ve put them through, they always recover with a quick wash. They’re darn tough, as their name states. The Cushion Crews won me over because they were exactly what I had been searching for… Before even I knew that I was looking. The cushioned bottom gives you the comfort of wearing a thick, heavy sock, while the thinner top wicks away sweat and let’s my feet breathe and stay cool. The most impressive part, however, was how little my feet smelled after 5-6 miles in 100° heat.

I picked up two additional paris during my last trip to REI and always make sure I have at least one clean pair for my weekend adventures.

The Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Cushion socks are made in Vermont,which is awesome, using 61% Merino Wool, 36% Nylon, and 3% Lycra® Spandex which is why they’re so comfortable (I think). This year’s dividend just arrived, so we’ll see how many more pairs I pick up this time. I highly recommend that you check them out, your feet will thank you.

Darn Tough socks can be found wherever awesome socks are sold.