It’s a big EDC market out there, and tons of awesome gear is released all the time. We made The Drop to help you discover the latest and greatest essentials worth a spot in your EDC.
Socks are one of those things you take for granted until one day you look down while you’re putting on your favorite boots and discover one of your toes poking out a hole out the end. Or worse, you can still smell last week’s marathon funk even after they’ve come out of the wash. The aforementioned boots are a buy-it-for-life investment, why shouldn’t your socks be, too?
This was the cue for brands like Smartwool and Darn Tough to redefine the daily clothing essential. They use merino, a natural, sustainable wool from merino sheep that has vastly superior properties over similar materials used in clothing. It insulates well, is soft but not scratchy, is anti-static, hydrophilic (it can absorb up to 30% of its own weight in moisture while still feeling dry), and best of all, anti-odor too. Add those up and it’s a spectacular material to use for clothing, especially socks.
And that’s where GORUCK comes in. In addition to making some of the toughest and most popular bags for EDC, they’re also known for their tough, special forces-inspired physical challenges, workouts, and events—the perfect proving grounds to develop socks that can go the distance. Founder Jason McCarthy goes into a lot more detail in a blog post about why and how they were built, but TL;DR, the Challenge socks have similar properties to the brands mentioned above, with a few unique tweaks to the formula based on extensive experience and testing:
- more wool in the body (which is also calf-shaped), more nylon in high-wear areas like the heel (which is deep and cushioned)
- extended arch support
- mesh vents in the reinforced toe, which also has a smooth seam
Like their bags, GORUCK’s socks also come with an unconditional Scars Lifetime Guarantee: if you wear them out, they’ll send you a new pair, and even buy you a beer if you visit their HQ in Jacksonville, FL, and tell them all about you managed to do so.
What we like: Overbuilt socks from the people who make some of the best overbuilt bags in EDC. We think it’s fair to say that they probably know what they’re doing here.
What to watch out for: Merino clothes are expensive, and these socks are no different. $25 a pair is a tall ask, but the lifetime warranty takes some of the sting away.
Final verdict: If you’re already a fan of GORUCK’s bags and apparel, then these are a logical addition to the rotation. Pair them with your favorite pack and GORUCK’s own specialized footwear, and get the ruck out there.
