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Farm to Feet
Damascus Socks Review

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Farm to Feet Damascus 3/4 Crew Sock Review

Wildland Trekking guide Karla shares her experience after testing these Farm to Feet socks while guiding in Grand Canyon National Park.

Good day hikers! I’m Karla, a full-time guide with Wildland Trekking based in the Southwest region. A good pair of reliable hiking socks is a small but crucial part of my hiking success. Anything that can keep blisters at bay, keep my feet from pruning up in a sweaty shoe, and provide a little cushion and support along the way is a piece of gear worth investigating. Therefore, I was very happy to accept and test the Farm to Feet Damascus socks during this hiking season.

My testing occurred while leading Wildland’s guided Grand Canyon hiking trips. From chilly nights to sweltering days in the desert, I put these socks through the wringer to see how they performed for both day hiking and backpacking. So, let’s start the review with some basic information for the Damascus socks and then dive into the complete review.

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Farm to Feet Damascus Socks Quick Look 

  • MSRP: $24.00
  • Material: 52% US Nylon / 44% US Wool / 4% US LYCRA® Spandex
  • Sock Height: Sits just below calf
  • Cushion: Light
  • Compression: Medium
  • Manufacturing: Made in the USA

Intended Use 

Farm to Feet markets the Damascus socks as purpose-built hiking socks designed to take on miles and miles of trail. With thoughtful cushioning and ventilation, combined with an exceptionally tight and durable weave. These socks are very much at home in the backcountry. However, that’s certainly not the full extent of the Damascus socks’ usefulness. Around town, car camping, trail running, the options are nearly limitless if this sock is as good as they say.

Notable Features

The Damascus Socks have a few notable features that we should explore in more detail before jumping into the full review.

Seamless Toe Box – A smooth knitting process eliminates seams in the toe area (which are a common source of friction and discomfort).

Targetted Cushioning – delivers high-density support and cushion where you need it most.

US Merino Wool – Farm to Feet boasts an entirely US-based supply chain. From the sheep to the yarn-spinning to the sock production, it’s all done in the USA.

Farm to Feet Company Background 

This brand owes its founding to Kelly Nester. In the 1990s, Kelly began to produce socks in collaboration with his uncle Marty at the family business, Nester Hoisery. Since then, Farm to Feet has placed an incredible emphasis on developing extremely durable and high-quality socks while maintaining and expanding an entirely USA-based supply chain and workforce. The brand also maintains several initiatives and projects based on responsible stewardship. From partnering with major outdoor conservation organizations nationwide to improving the sustainability of their own production line, Farm to Feet appears to have a very environmentally focused business.

THE TEST – QUICK OVERVIEW

I had the opportunity to test these socks while leading Wildland's Hermit Loop backpacking trip and Best of Grand Canyon Lodge-Based Trip. Luckily, the conditions were perfect for testing a hiking-focused pair of socks with daytime high temperatures of around 90 degrees and chilly lows in the 40s. Therefore, I got to see how these socks performed from heat management and ventilation to warmth retention in the evenings.

Backpacker hiking in the Grand Canyon

The Review

Now that we know the basics of the Damascus Socks, let’s dive into the review. I’ll give each performance category below a ranking from 1 to 5 (key to these rankings is below), and then expand on each score with firsthand information from my field testing. So lets see how they did!

1/5: Poor
2/5: Tolerable
3/5: Fair
4/5: Good
5/5: Excellent

Comfort – 5/5

Right off the bat, these socks have that thick, plush feel that you love about brand-new socks. The cushioning held up wonderfully, and didn’t diminish over the course of my testing while also providing good compression to help my feet feel supported.
These socks were a little thicker on the cushioning than I’m used to, but I loved it! Zero blisters, no discomfort, and my feet felt good throughout the test.

Durability – 5/5

I tested these socks with a variety of footwear and hiking types, from day hikes with hiking shoes, to backpacking with boots, to just hanging out with Crocs. These socks came out of all that testing looking great! No significant pilling, thin or worn spots, fraying, snags, or any other damage. So full points to durability!

 

Quality – 5/5

Overall, the build and material quality for the Damascus Socks were excellent. I was impressed by the sock’s durability, especially in the high-friction environment of backpacking. Also, the US-based supply chain is pretty unique for a merino wool product, and that effort to build a quality product definitely shows in these socks. The only point I have focuses on the sock’s ability to handle high-heat conditions, so let’s cover breathability and moisture control next.

Breathability and Moisture Control – 4/5

I was very impressed with the moisture control offered by these socks. They did a phenomenal job wicking moisture away from my feet. Honestly, my feet were completely dry at the end of a long day of hiking, and the socks didn’t feel cold and clammy when I slipped into my Crocs. With that in mind, I feel that these socks are just about perfect, except the cushioning was a little too dense for the high-heat environment I was hiking in. So, while my feet didn’t feel wet and sweaty, they did feel a little overheated at times, so I took one point off this category to reflect that issue.

 

Warmth – 5/5

In the context of chilly conditions, these socks offered excellent warmth! Some evenings during my testing saw temperatures drop from daytime highs in the 90s all the way down to 45°F or lower. These snug and well-cushioned socks did a great job retaining heat and keeping my feet nice and cozy at camp. So, full points in this category. However, just be aware that on the flip side, while hiking in hot conditions, these socks have a tendency to feel a little too warm (as I discussed above).

 

Price – 5/5

I believe these socks are priced competitively with other merino-blend hiking socks on the market, and deliver outstanding value and performance for the price you pay. Therefore, I gave the Damascus Socks an excellent rating in this category, not because they’re low-priced, but because the value they provide is well worth the initial investment.
What’s more, these socks are backed by Farm to Feet’s robust Satisfaction Guarantee, which offers an avenue to return socks for a new pair if they don’t live up to your expectations.

Bringing It Together

We’ve covered a lot of categories for the Damascus Socks! So, I’ve brought all the major pros and cons together below so we can see a summary in one place.

Pros:

  • Sustainable product
  • Great cushion and compression
  • Durable
  • Made in the USA
  • Supportive
  • Fairly priced

Cons:

  • 3/4 size seems a little taller than other brands
  • A little too warm for hot environments

Final Thoughts

I loved testing these Damascus Socks from Farm to Feet. They’re comfortable, cushioned, supportive, and exceptionally durable for a wool-blend. Including wool means these socks are excellent at moisture and odor control, which are two huge positives for hiking in the backcountry! Additionally, it’s my opinion that Farm to Feet priced these socks just right, where you’re receiving excellent value for the investment, plus access to a very useful satisfaction guarantee.

My testing revealed only two points worth mentioning. First, the Damascus Socks felt a little thick for hot desert hiking, and overheated my feet a couple of times. However, Farm to Feet has lighter socks on the shelf specifically targeted to hot environments. Second, the 3/4 crew cut for these socks felt a little taller/sat higher on my leg than other 3/4 crew socks I’ve tried in the past. Not necessarily a drawback or complaint, but just a point to consider. So overall, the Damascus Socks performed very well, and I highly recommend them! They’ve definitely earned their place in my guiding kit.