Starting next year Icebreaker’s warranty policy on socks will be downgraded from lifetime to 12 months.
Confirmed to me by two different stores.
😢
PSA: Icebreaker Socks’ Lifetime Warranty to Cease in 2024
haru on 07/09/2024 - 12:11
Last edited 09/09/2024 - 09:44 by 1 other user
Last edited 09/09/2024 - 09:44 by 1 other user
Related Stores
Comments
Between 6-12 years ago, some NZ stores had awesome IB deals. I bought a few pair of socks < NZD $20 each. Some have lasted over a decade and are still in great condition. There was only one poor pair which IB covered promptly. They even covered the wear and tear in some sports ones.
Even better deals were base layers and jackets - functional and look great.
I haven't bought IB for 6 years because other brands are catching up in quality (vs IB pricing), but mostly because the IB stuff is still going strong. On average I'm wearing one IB piece all the time.
Of course. I also get full comprehensive insurance on my socks as well.
I’ve only paid 50% or less than RRP for mine.
Until the end of the year you can swap your old icebreaker socks in-store with new ones without a receipt, even decades old.
Who would have thought that an unlimited year warranty swap out policy would not be sustainable.
Need to weigh up fact that customers who bought IB bought a sh*tload of IB and are pretty loyal to a premium product.
It's a marketing strategy to signal quality.
Balega also used to have lifetime warranty, but quite a few others still do, including Darn Tough, Rockay, Thorlo, Feetures
then of course there are other outdoor apparel brands such as Patagonia
including Darn Tough,
I've got heaps of DT socks in many different styles. I have thrown 2 pairs out because of wear around the heel. A fair few others I have in rotation are almost at that point.
I knew about their lifetime warranty but never bothered to take advantage of it. Have you had any DT's replaced?
Thanks OP.
The last Sydney store (Warringah Mall) closed recently. Only Birkinhead Point outlet left.
never heard of them
This is more a reflection on you, than on the brand.
Generally people don't really care about socks mate. And don't wanna pay that much for them.
They don't just make socks. That's probably one of their less known lines.
They make high quality outdoor sports clothing from Merino wool.
It's similar to saying "I've never heard of Patagonia" which just says "I don't do any outdoor sports"
There are brands of car and world famous football players I've never heard of, I don't go around proudly advertising the fact.
No surprise, Icebreaker were sold to VF around 7 years ago.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/icebreaker-sold-to-vf-co…
Got to love global corporations & their "investors".
don't forget that under Aussie consumer law if you purchase something with a certain set of warrantable conditions, those conditions cannot be revoked
this applies directly here if you buy with the lifetime warranty. it also applies to those green bags woolies used to sell with the replace-for-free warranty written on them
Source?
I bought IB a decade ago and was really impressed. Bought some more 3 years ago and they’ve really gone downhill. For merino base layers and t shirts I now generally do Kathmandu - they’re about as good, or better than IB and far cheaper.
IB know they are now just trading on their previous name and their stuff is average.Re socks - Thorlos have always been amazing. I bought a 10 pack of light hikers about 10 years ago, wear them pretty well daily and still have 3 pairs unopened! It’s not just how long they wear, they are really comfortable to wear every day, and their tech works to manage sweaty feet. The price delivered from USA was cheaper than Holeproof Explorers.
I don’t understand why people persist with cheap socks - they are really not worth the money they keep paying over and over…..Bought icebreakers once. They wore out so quickly. Never again for their prices. Darn tough socks are so much more durable. Lindner also treats me well.
I’ve got a few pairs of Ice Breaker Marino wool socks that I bought in 2018 (I certainly didn’t pay $50 for a pair of them), and they’re still in good nick without any holes in them. I bought several brands of Marino wool socks in 2018, my favourite brand at the time was Wilderness Wear, but I stopped buying them when they increased their prices substantially during Covid.
Note that IB's lifetime warranty on socks expires soon - confirmed by the store manager.
I had a trip that took me past Birkinhead Point today and swapped a holey sports sock for the one closest to the old style socks based on reviews and in my size - the Lifestyle Light Crew - only 60% merino wool and $35 retail. We'll see how long these new wool blend socks last.
There was only one exceptional clearance price on jackets, but the smallest was too big for my wife's build and I already have a couple of IB jackets. Gosh retail prices are high now!
Had no idea people paid $40-50 for a single pair of socks.
Also had no idea people claimed warranty on socks…