This was a great read. I originally started with Smartwool several years ago but I ended up switching to Icebreaker. Like you, I liked Icebreaker’s anatomical setup (L & R socks), but unlike you, I found my Icebreakers easily outlasted my Smartwools. I’ve recently acquired 2 pair of thick, over-calf Darn Toughs and they seem very nice although it hasn’t been cold enough yet to wear them with my Muck Arctic Ice.
The one point I wanted to mention that you didn’t address in your post (or I missed it) is that Icebreaker does in fact have free lifetime replacement. I’ve done 2 myself though I should note this was in person at an Icebreaker store.
Update: I also recently discovered that SW and IB are owned by the same company — VF Corp
