$23 for 1 Pair of Socks That Will Last A Lifetime?

[TromboneAl]

I've had great socks from SmartWool and Costco, but they all quickly wear out in the heel. The Costco ones cost only $3 per pair. The frugalista in me doesn't like throwing something away that is 90% fine.

And yes, I've tried repairing them in the past: not worth it.

I'm considering buying some socks for $23/pair that are guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Home page - Darn Tough Socks

Crazy?

[ExFlyBoy5]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TromboneAl I've had great socks from SmartWool and Costco, but they all quickly wear out in the heel. The Costco ones cost only $3 per pair. The frugalista in me doesn't like throwing something away that is 90% fine. And yes, I've tried repairing them in the past: not worth it. I'm considering buying some socks for $23/pair that are guaranteed to last a lifetime. Home page - Darn Tough Socks Crazy?

Perhaps. I don't really wear out socks that quickly so it's not cost effective for me. I do see that you can get them on Amazon for $19.95 (and no additional shipping fees if you are Prime member).

http://www.amazon.com/Darn-Tough-Mer...rn+tough+socks

Oh yeah, and if you have a Chase Freedom card, you can knock an extra 5% off of them. You're welcome.

[calmloki]

my modest trick is to buy one style and color sock. when one grows a hole it gets tossed. I don't have ten pairs of socks, I have twenty socks. if one gets tossed the odd sock stays in rotation getting worn. it helps to be a shameless old fogey who wears white cotton socks with shorts or dress pants or anything.

[Bestwifeever]

Your choices:

A. Don't wear socks
B. Check your shoes--is there a different shoe that wouldn't be wearing away the sock heel in that particular place?
C. Check your shoe size in a running store. I found I was wearing shoes that a size and a half too big (which could cause the socks to wear out as the shoes moved around rather than higging the foot)--the smaller pair are just as comfortable.
D. Buy the forever socks and report back. And incorporate the idea in your next scifi book. And deduct the $23 on your taxes as research for that book.

[W2R]

I think that one of the finest luxury investments I have ever made, is in buying half a dozen pairs of identical Thorlo Trekking Socks about ten years ago. Well, actually I started with three pairs and did the wash every three days, and bought the other three pairs later when I was doing better financially.

I notice that they are $19.99 now, but I believe that when I bought them they were $16.99.

Plusses:
(1) They feel wonderful. They are extremely thick, and provide my (problem) feet with lots of padding and cushioning.
(2) I have never lost one of them, ever. They are big and thick enough that they just can't "hide" in the laundry like thin socks can.
(3) They don't shrink or stretch too much
(4) They are nice and toasty warm on cold days, and since my feet tend to be cold anyway I don't mind wearing them through the summers either, even in New Orleans.
(5) I threw out all my other socks. They are THAT good.

Minuses:
(1) After about 8 years I got a small hole in the toe on a couple of them. But they are still wearable and seem to be lasting forever.
(2) Thorlo sends me e-mails advertising their sales, which I promptly delete.

Al, BUY some good socks! Good socks and good shoes are wonderful ways to spend one's discretionary money IMO. Oh, and P.S., if you figure out the cost/year they are probably cheaper than cheap socks in the long run.

[samclem]

Okay, I see a business idea. "Dollar Sock Club". You autoenroll for $2 per month, and every other month you receive a pair of good socks in the mail. Socks for life. Or a $100 one-time fee, good for socks for life. All socks are identical good quality walking socks dress socks, etc (whatever you choose), so you can throw them out as they get thin, develop holes, etc, knowing that the newer ones will be perfect matches and cause no angst on laundry day.

[6miths]

I have buying Thorlo tennis socks for the past 20 years or so. One type and about 15 pairs in the rotation. Takes a very long time to wear them out. They go threadbare at the heel or ball of foot. Fabulous socks. Great padding. When one might be on one's feet for 30+ hours at a time, good shoes and socks are not really a luxury.

[jabbahop]

I switched to darn tough socks a few years ago. I wear them for everything and go stocking feet in the house. These are one of the best products I ever had. Other wool socks would wear out on a few months

Expensive but so worth it. Try one pair and see how you like. I won't buy anything else


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Redbugdave]

I wear the traditional military "cushion sole" boot socks. 50% Wool, 30% Cotton, 2% Nylon. The socks wear for years. I get them in green and black. When one wears out, no big deal...I have a drawer full of loose backups. I have slipped up at times and grabbed two in the dark only to discover, (when I was working), that I had a black on one foot and a green on the other.

[ERD50]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyBoy5 Perhaps. I don't really wear out socks that quickly so it's not cost effective for me. I do see that you can get them on Amazon for $19.95 (and no additional shipping fees if you are Prime member). Amazon.com: Darn Tough Merino Wool Boot Sock Full Cushion,Black,Large: Sports & Outdoors ...

Not just Prime members - non-members get 'free shipping' by combining orders to above $35 of eligible product, pretty easy to do. Maybe once you have Prime, you don't see those messages?

-ERD50

[walkinwood]

+1 for Thorlo. I use them for running and they never seem to wear out.

[FUEGO]

Just 1 hour ago I was staring at the socks in Walmart. I've debated about buying Thorlos for the added durability and comfort. Just can't justify the price.

Walmart had plenty of socks just under a dollar per pair. I went with some thicker feeling socks that were $1.25 per pair. Hopefully they will last a little longer and provide more comfort. I seem to wear out the ball of the sock pretty quickly since I do a lot of walking (2 miles on a typical day, sometimes 6-8 miles if I'm out exploring).

I'd have to spend $140 or so to get a week's worth of thorlo's. Instead, I could invest that amount and then buy 7-8 new pairs of the "cheap" socks every year. I feel like a pack of socks lasts me a year but I've never tracked it. In other words, it's probably just as cheap to buy the disposable socks, but I haven't worn the darn toughs or the thorlo's to compare.

A neat trick if your socks are thin yet you want thicker socks. Double them up and wear two socks on one foot. Works wonders at $0 cost.

[Amethyst]

You could title it, "The Joy of Sox is Forever"!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bestwifeever Your choices: D. Buy the forever socks and report back. And incorporate the idea in your next scifi book.

[mystang52]

I'm also a fan of Thorlo - I have them for my running as well as casual walking socks. Right now, they have their semi-annual buy 3 get one free.

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amethyst You could title it, "The Joy of Sox is Forever"!

"The Unholey Alliance"

[ExFlyBoy5]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERD50 Not just Prime members - non-members get 'free shipping' by combining orders to above $35 of eligible product, pretty easy to do. Maybe once you have Prime, you don't see those messages? -ERD50

Not sure what "message" you speak of. I have been a Prime member for a while, so I haven't kept up with shipping costs outside of the Prime membership.

[Senator]

Quote:

I'm considering buying some socks for $23/pair that are guaranteed to last a lifetime.

What do they know about how long you are going to live?

I would not trust it...

[harley]

socks? I barely even wear shoes anymore.

[Chuckanut]

Part of the problem with cheap socks is the waste of resources as cheap junk wears out. At times, cheap is OK, but at other times it's just another stress on the ecosystem, IMHO.

[Bestwifeever]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo "The Unholey Alliance"

"Future Sock"