Bend, Oregon · since 2016
Happiness,
one step
at a time.
We started Happy Yak to fix one problem: cold feet in subpar socks. Along the way we found two fibers nature had already perfected, and a way of buying them that leaves herders, animals and land better off.
Happy Yak history
Unexpected beginnings
Happy Yak's journey into socks began in 2016 with a couple of outdoor enthusiasts in Bend, Oregon, and a very extraordinary woman from a herder family in Mongolia. We saw a problem that needed fixing and set our minds to fix it.
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2016
Cold feet, subpar socks
Whether we were stuck indoors in an office or trekking the trails, a common theme stuck out: cold feet in subpar socks. So we set a goal to create the most luxurious, ridiculously comfortable socks available.
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Fed up by sameness
Our search started with the softest, most comfortable socks on the market. We found socks in all kinds of crazy colors and patterns, but nothing with the quality we demanded. To get the comfort we sought, we had to look past the patterns and into the fabric itself.
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The hunt for something new
We knew there had to be a better material out there. The answer ended up being on the other side of the earth and about 18,000 feet higher than we expected: yak wool from the most remote, untamed regions of Mongolia, and baby alpaca from the Andes mountains of Peru.
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A revolution was started
Both yak and baby alpaca fibers rival the softness of the finest cashmere. Their warmth, breathability, moisture-wicking and anti-microbial properties were created by nature to protect the animals from some of the world's harshest environments. Coincidentally, those are great features to have in a sock.
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Today
More than just another sock company
Lots of dedication and plenty of failure along the way got us here. We build socks we love and wear every day, and we hope they have a place in your best weekend adventures and favorite memories, big or small, near or far.
Three simple rules
We seek to create a culture of caring beyond simply making sales: helping herders keep their traditional nomadic lifestyles, and giving back to conservation and community improvement locally and abroad. So we built the company around three rules.
Respect for the planet
Yaks and alpaca live in some of nature's harshest, most remote and most untamed regions. That raw, wild beauty is fragile and threatened. We strive to maintain, support, educate and encourage an environmentally sustainable business that lives in balance with the world around it.
Respect for animals
Yak cashmere is only available at select times of the year, and baby alpaca comes only from an alpaca's first shearing, so our products are unique season to season. Unlike the merino industry, yak cashmere is not grown on industrialized, corporate farms that pump out product year round.
Respect for people
We believe in community improvement both locally and abroad. Happy Yak brings a source of economic stability to communities by buying straight from local herders. That means better quality, better product, and better lives.
Where the fiber comes from
Our yaks don't have any frequent flyer miles. The fiber comes to Bend from two places on earth that are perfectly suited to the animals that grow it.
Mongolia
Mongolian steppes
Yak cashmere · 14–17 microns
True yak cashmere is the fine down that grows close to the yak's body. The animals live at 8,000 to 18,000 feet, where winters reach -50°F and summers 104°F. That is what makes the fiber warm, breathable and quick to dry.
- Combed, never clipped, to match the yak's natural molt. Lower yield, no stress for the animal.
- Hand-gathered once a year by nomadic herders. When the season's fiber is gone, it's gone.
- Herders keep a yak in the family for its whole life. We buy straight from them.
Peru
Peruvian Andes
Baby alpaca · first-shearing grade
"Baby" refers to the fineness of the fiber, not the age of the animal, though it usually comes from the prime first shearing of a younger alpaca. It is softer and silkier than regular alpaca, lanolin-free, and comparable to yak cashmere at a more affordable price.
- Alpacas are sheared once a year, a process that causes the animal no harm.
- Soft footpads and light grazing leave the soil intact; the fiber needs less water, feed and processing than merino.
- Often used in its natural color, which skips the dye and the chemicals that come with it.
What "better" actually means
Softer is easy to say. Here is what we can back up, measured in microns and percentages rather than adjectives.
- As fine as cashmereYak down measures 14–17 microns. Baby alpaca sits in a thinner micron range than standard alpaca, which is why neither one itches.
- Warmer for its weightYak is 44% warmer per weight than merino, so the socks can be lighter without being colder.
- Drier feetYak has 66% better moisture wicking than sheep wool. Baby alpaca's hollow fibers regulate temperature in both directions.
- Hypoallergenic and lanolin-freeAllergic to wool? Yak and alpaca are naturally hypoallergenic and gentle on sensitive skin.
- Odor resistant, so you wash lessAnti-microbial fibers stay stink-free for days. Air them out between adventures and save the water.
- Nothing you don't needMinimal fillers: a little nylon for stretch, bamboo in some pairs, and a touch of Mongolian fat-tailed sheep wool in the heels and toes of our yak socks for reinforcement.
- Backed for 100 daysApproved warranty claims receive a digital gift card for the purchase price. Unworn pairs can be returned within 30 days.
The full story
UNEXPECTED BEGINNINGS
Our story is not an uncommon tale. We saw a problem that needed fixing and set our minds to fix it. Lots of dedication and plenty of failure along the way helped us create the most awesome socks you’ve ever had. In the process, we found our calling to shake up an antiquated industry and better people's lives along the way.
Want to find out more about our company?
Fed up by sameness
Our journey started with the search for the softest, most comfortable socks on the market. We found socks in all kinds of crazy color and patterns, but nothing with the quality we demanded. To get the comfort we demanded, we had to look past the colorful patterns and into the fabric itself.
The hunt for something new
We knew there had to be something better out there, but where would we find a material that met our expectations? The answer ended up being on the other side of the earth and about 18,000 feet higher than we expected. We discovered yak wool from the most remote, untamed regions of Mongolia.
A revolution was started
Yak wool rivals the softness of the finest cashmere. The incredible warmth, breathability, moisture-wicking, and anti-microbial properties were created by nature to protect the yak from some of the world's harshest environments. Coincidentally, these are also great features to have in a sock.
Try a pair.
Feel the difference.
We love what we do and hope you will too. Start with the pairs everyone reaches for first.