Darn Tough Vermont Men's Hiker Socks XL

Like many here I'm trying to find a replacement for my comfy Kirkland Trail Socks that are no longer available. I wear wool socks every day and found the Kirkland socks last about 4 to 6 months per pair. These are my first Darn Tough.Good: The XL fits my size 14 foot correctly. The technical design of the different weaves on the sock are impressive. Cushion where I need it, thinner where I don't.Bad: After wearing twice, before the first wash, the exposed elastic threads inside the leg section above the ankle are pulling from the fabric. The result is a progressive run starting just like a run on nylon hosiery. This may be a manufacturing defect but the propensity for a snag of these exposed threads should be considered a design error. I also think they have less cushion thickness than they should.Conclusion: These socks cost more than 4 times as much as the Kirkland socks. Although these are very fancy technically, they just seem more fragile. I don't care what the "lifetime" warranty implies, I don't expect them to last 4 times as long. These socks do not justify the high price.