Darn Tough vs Icebreaker:Which is more popular by branded search?
In August 2026, Darn Tough had more branded searches than Icebreaker among hiking socks worldwide. Darn Tough was estimated to have 49.5K branded searches compared to Icebreaker’s 8.1K, and held a 29.7% Share of Search versus Icebreaker’s 4.9%. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.
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Which is more popular in search, Darn Tough or Icebreaker?
Compare the hiking socks people search for. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.
Share of Search by month for Darn Tough, Icebreaker. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | Smartwool | Darn Tough | Icebreaker | Thorlos | Wigwam | Bridgedale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 61.5% | 22.6% | 3% | 3.7% | 5.5% | 3.7% |
| Nov 2025 | 60.1% | 26.9% | 2% | 3% | 4.4% | 3.6% |
| Dec 2025 | 64.5% | 23.6% | 1.4% | 2.6% | 4.8% | 3.2% |
| Jan 2026 | 63.8% | 23.5% | 1.7% | 3.1% | 4.7% | 3.1% |
| Feb 2026 | 62.9% | 23.1% | 2.5% | 3.8% | 4.6% | 3.1% |
| Mar 2026 | 53.4% | 29.2% | 3.9% | 4.8% | 4.8% | 3.9% |
| Apr 2026 | 48.4% | 32.4% | 5.3% | 5.3% | 4.3% | 4.3% |
| May 2026 | 48.4% | 32.4% | 5.3% | 5.3% | 4.3% | 4.3% |
| Jun 2026 | 48.8% | 32.6% | 5.3% | 5.3% | 4.4% | 3.6% |
| Jul 2026 | 49.7% | 33.2% | 5.4% | 4.4% | 3.6% | 3.6% |
| Aug 2026 | 54.3% | 29.7% | 4.9% | 4% | 4% | 3.2% |
| Sep 2026 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
How has the Darn Tough and Icebreaker comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Darn Tough was ahead of Icebreaker in every measured month of the 11 months ending August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Darn Tough’s estimated Share of Search among hiking socks worldwide moved from 22.6% to 29.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 49.5K.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Icebreaker’s estimated Share of Search among hiking socks worldwide moved from 3% to 4.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 6.6K to 8.1K.
How did search popularity change for hiking socks worldwide in August 2026?
2 changes
In August 2026, Darn Tough lost estimated Share of Search among hiking socks worldwide, from 33.2% to 29.7%.
In August 2026, Icebreaker lost estimated Share of Search among hiking socks worldwide, from 5.4% to 4.9%.
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Darn Tough’s and Icebreaker’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Darn Tough
1 branded search term
- darn tough
Icebreaker
1 branded search term
- icebreaker nz
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.