A while back, prior to my departure upon the Pacific Crest Trail, I wrote a post about KEEN and they’re supplying me with socks for my upcoming adventure.
I was excited to be providing feedback on my equipment used out on the hike, and even more excited to be receiving free gear.
However, like most good things, my time spent dealing with KEEN was short-lived. After only 180 miles on the trail, BOTH pairs of socks I had begun the PCT with were no longer suitable for hiking (so we can call that ninety miles with each pair or approximately five days).
Each pair was riddled with holes and my feet were covered with blisters.
I attempted to contact KEEN multiple times, to both provide feedback and solicit the disbursement of new socks, but my emails were never met with a response. I can now only assume that what KEEN disguised as an attempt to gain real-world feedback on their products was merely a cheap marketing gimmick to get their brand out in the thru-hiking community.
Moving Forward: Darn Tough
As my relationship with KEEN and their socks ended I began my search for another companion to keep my feet clean and comfortable (and to keep that stank locked away); as it would happen the town of Idyllwild would provide me with just the match: Darn Tough Socks.
Made in Vermont and backed by a lifetime guarantee, Darn Toughs proved to be a truly amazing sock. It was not until the Oregon border that I finally noticed the smallest of holes forming in each of my two pairs (that is almost 1500 miles from Idyllwild).
So what did I do?
I mailed those suckers into Darn Tough (yes, washed – it was required – and got two brand new pairs in return.
No gimmicks here, folks, the people at Darn Tough stand behind their products. At the present moment, I find it hard to believe that I would ever own another company’s socks again (especially since my socks are now guaranteed for life).
So if you need a pair of thru-hiking socks, running socks, or even just lounging around the house socks, then give Darn Toughs a try (and you will never have to buy another pair of socks ever again).
Interested-er? Read my full Darn Tough Socks Review.