The Darn Tough Sock Sale Returns to Northfield This Weekend
The Cabot Hosiery Mills Sock Sale returns this weekend, November 22 and 23, bringing thousands of bargain hunters to Northfield for steep discounts on the coveted Darn Tough brand.
NORTHFIELD, VT — The Cabot Hosiery Mills Sock Sale returns this weekend, November 22 and 23, bringing thousands of bargain hunters to Northfield for steep discounts on the coveted Darn Tough brand.
The sale will run from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM both days at the company’s Nantanna Mill facility, located at 7 Belknap Ave. For information, call (802) 485-6917.
A Vermont Success Story
The story behind Darn Tough is one of perseverance and Vermont grit. Marc Cabot founded Cabot Hosiery Mills in 1978 after purchasing and rebuilding a vacant mill in Northfield. His son Ric joined the business in 1989, and together they navigated the challenges of competing with overseas manufacturers through the 1990s.
By the early 2000s, the company was struggling—millions in debt, defaulted loans, and late tax bills threatened to shutter the operation. In 2004, facing potential bankruptcy, Ric Cabot made a bold decision: instead of closing the mill, he launched the Darn Tough brand, focusing on premium, durable socks made entirely in Vermont. The first Darn Tough socks debuted as giveaways at the Vermont City Marathon that year.
The gamble paid off. High demand from outdoor enthusiasts led to distribution deals with national retailers like REI and L.L. Bean, and military contracts that eventually comprised up to a third of revenue. By 2016, Darn Tough had grown into a $40 million business selling nearly 5 million pairs of socks annually.
Today, the company operates out of three Vermont locations, including the Nantanna facility in Northfield and a corporate office in Waterbury. Every sock is still knit in Vermont, backed by the company’s unconditional lifetime guarantee.
The Sale: A Fall Tradition
The sock sale began in 1979 when the company was still known as Cabot Hosiery Mills. Traditionally held during Vermont’s deer hunting season in mid-November, the event has become a shopping pilgrimage for Vermonters, with about 12,000 people attending the last sale in 2019.
The sale was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic and remained on hiatus for three consecutive years, disappointing thousands of loyal customers. The sale returned in 2023 after the COVID-related pause.
What makes the sale so popular? Darn Tough socks normally retail for around $25 per pair, but at the factory sale, shoppers can find seconds, irregulars, and first-quality socks at steep discounts—often half the retail price or better. Past sales have featured military-grade sock bundles with six pairs for around $18, though offerings vary year to year.
The defects in “seconds” are often barely noticeable—typically a missed row of stitching—and the socks remain fully functional and covered by Darn Tough’s lifetime guarantee.
What to Expect This Weekend
Vermonters planning to attend should prepare for crowds and bring patience. Wait times can stretch to 90 minutes or more, particularly on Saturday morning, though the line moves steadily as shoppers cycle through the tables of socks sorted by size and style.
Parking will be available at 470 Main Street, within walking distance of the Nantanna Mill sale location. If that lot fills, overflow parking and shuttle service will be available from the main mill at 364 Whetstone Drive.
The sale typically features hiking socks, ski socks, running socks, and dress socks in various weights and cushioning levels. Shoppers can find options for the entire family, making it a popular destination for holiday gift shopping.
More Than Just Socks
In recent years, as the sale was paused, Darn Tough increased donations to homeless shelters, schools, and other organizations throughout Vermont and beyond. The company receives about 20 requests for sock donations daily, reflecting both the brand’s popularity and its commitment to community support.
Brand and Community Marketing Manager Courtney Laggner emphasized the company’s deep roots in Northfield, which they call “the sock capital of the world”.
For those who can’t make it to Northfield this weekend, Darn Tough socks are available year-round through the company’s website at darntough.com and at retailers throughout Vermont and nationwide.
But for the full experience—and the best deals—there’s nothing quite like joining fellow Vermonters in line on a cold November morning, bundled against the weather, all in pursuit of Vermont’s finest socks at Vermont’s best prices.
2025 Cabot Hosiery Mills Sock Sale
When: Saturday, November 22 and Sunday, November 23, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Where: Nantanna Mill, 7 Belknap Ave, Northfield, VT 05663
Phone: (802) 485-6917
Parking: 470 Main Street, Northfield (overflow parking and shuttle at 364 Whetstone Drive)