Outdoors & Fitness · Head-to-head
Darn Tough Men's Hiker Micro Crew Midweight Hiking Socks vs Farm to Feet American Trail Damascus Light Targeted Cushion
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Hiking Socks: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Darn Tough wins on the combination of a high merino blend, a wide size range and an unconditional lifetime guarantee. The Farm to Feet Damascus is lighter and cooler with fully US-sourced materials, and it is the better choice for warm weather and low boots.
Darn Tough Men's Hiker Micro Crew Midweight Hiking Socks
Buy itA 61% merino micro crew knitted in Vermont and unconditionally guaranteed for life.
- The blend is published plainly: 61% merino wool, 36% nylon and 3% Lycra spandex.
- Unconditionally guaranteed for life: Darn Tough says if they are not the longest-lasting socks you have owned, return them for another pair.
- Sold in sizes from XS to XXL, with terry cushioning underfoot and targeted protection over the ankle and Achilles.
- Merino-rich socks dry more slowly than synthetics after a stream crossing.
- Darn Tough recommends a cold, gentle, inside-out wash, which is fussier than a synthetic sock.
- The micro crew height sits just above a hiking boot collar and will not protect against tall gaiters or scree.
Farm to Feet American Trail Damascus Light Targeted Cushion
Buy itA lighter 3/4 crew knitted from US-grown 19.5 micron merino, with cushioning only where hikers usually blister.
- Farm to Feet publishes both the blend, 52% nylon, 44% wool and 4% Lycra spandex, and the fibre fineness, 19.5 micron merino.
- Targeted full-density cushioning in traditional problem areas with ventilation channels, so it runs cooler than a fully cushioned sock.
- All materials are US-sourced, and the seamless toe closure is described as totally flat.
- At 44% wool it has less merino than the Darn Tough, so less odour control over multiday trips.
- The 3/4 crew height sits just below the calf, which some people find too short with taller boots.
- Farm to Feet's guarantee covers satisfaction with durability or performance, and states plainly that no sock will last a lifetime.
Side by side
The 8 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Darn Tough Men's Hiker Micro Crew Midweight Hiking Socks Our pick | Farm to Feet American Trail Damascus Light Targeted Cushion | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Anyone who wants one pair of hiking socks to last years and to be replaced if it does not. | Warm-weather hikers and anyone wearing mid-height boots or trail shoes. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $$ · mid-range |
| Fibre blend | 61% merino, 36% nylon, 3% Lycra | 52% nylon, 44% wool, 4% Lycra |
| Merino fineness | Not published | 19.5 micron |
| Cushion | Terry underfoot, ankle and Achilles protection | Targeted light cushion |
| Height | Micro crew | 3/4 crew |
| Sizes offered | XS to XXL | S to XL |
| Stated origin | Knitted in Vermont | US-sourced materials |
| Guarantee | Unconditional lifetime | Satisfaction guarantee |
| Care | Cold gentle wash, inside out, low or hang dry | Cold wash, line dry or no heat |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Darn Tough Men's Hiker Micro Crew Midweight Hiking Socks if
anyone who wants one pair of hiking socks to last years and to be replaced if it does not.
Know before buying: merino-rich socks dry more slowly than synthetics after a stream crossing.
Pick the Farm to Feet American Trail Damascus Light Targeted Cushion if
warm-weather hikers and anyone wearing mid-height boots or trail shoes.
Know before buying: at 44% wool it has less merino than the Darn Tough, so less odour control over multiday trips.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Darn Tough Men's Hiker Micro Crew Midweight Hiking Socks - A 61% merino micro crew knitted in Vermont and unconditionally guaranteed for life. Choose the Farm to Feet American Trail Damascus Light Targeted Cushion instead if warm-weather hikers and anyone wearing mid-height boots or trail shoes.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Hiking Socks: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).