Darn Tough was launched in 2004 by Ric Cabot, the third generation of his family to run Cabot Hosiery Mills, the Northfield, Vermont sock manufacturer his father Marc founded in 1978. Facing the loss of the mill's private-label business to overseas production, Ric introduced Darn Tough as a category of its own: Merino wool performance socks backed by an unconditional lifetime guarantee, debuted by handing out 3,500 pairs at the Vermont City Marathon. The brand has since become known for socks tough enough to earn U.S. military contracts, all still knit in Vermont.