Keepers Updated September 16, 2026
Hiker Micro Crew Midweight Hiking Sock

Is it worth it?

Hiker Micro Crew Midweight Hiking Sock

Darn Tough ยท $26

80Keeper

Yes. It scores 80, which makes it a Keeper: built and backed to last.

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We score it again October 1.

Where the 80 comes from

Warranty28/30

Unconditional lifetime guarantee with no receipt needed, including socks you wear out. Seconds and dyed or altered socks are not covered.

Build22/30

Merino wool with nylon and a little Lycra, knit at their mill in Vermont.

Track record14/20

The brand launched in 2004 out of a third-generation family sock mill in Northfield, Vermont.

Repairable16/20

Wear a hole in them and they send a new pair, which beats a repair.

Image: darntough.com

Numbers checked September 16, 2026. See the main source.

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All 27 things we scoredEvery Keeper

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How the score works

Things

  • Warranty, 30. What the company will actually fix or replace, read from their own policy.
  • Build, 30. Materials and construction, and whether there's anything to wear out.
  • Track record, 20. How long the maker has been making this well.
  • Repairable, 20. Whether you can get it fixed instead of replacing it.

A Keeper is our bet on what lasts. Some releases show it right away: the reviews, the players and the people behind them all point the same way, the way they did for Elden Ring. For albums, games, films and shows, 85 or above is a Keeper and 75 to 84 is worth your time. Things need 80. We score everything again as time goes by, and a Keeper that fades loses the label. Nobody pays to be here or pays for a score. Every score links to where its numbers came from. Each one has a link to find it on Amazon, and as an Amazon Associate, Keepers earns from qualifying purchases.