Maybe the socks I received were defective, they certainly were not of the usual quality I expect from Gold Toe and at $5 per pair definitely a lesson learned.  I washed the socks upon receipt then the first pair I wore did fine until the middle of the day when I started to feel a tear forming near my toes...nails didn't do it, I sit at a desk most of the day and so I wasn't walking around or anything nor did I pull at them or anything.  Second pair, my finger went through the band as I starting to put them on my foot, not as I was pulling up my leg but just putting on my foot.  Third pair I've not even bothered with.