Smartwool is a proud manufacturer member of the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance.  Smartwool and  Grassroots have partnered to bring the quality products from Smartwool to local outdoor shops nationwide.  To find Smartwool products in a store near you, visit our Member Store page.

Smartwool History

SmartWool was born with comfortable performance in mind. Our founders were New England ski instructors struggling to keep their feet warm. After trying a variety of materials, they rediscovered an age-old classic: wool. But while these socks may have been warm, they were itchy and shrank. So they worked on a process to make them soft and easy care. SmartWool was born on a simple tenet: keeping feet comfortable on the slopes.

But it was a hard sell. Try as they might, they couldn’t initially convince others of the material’s merits. No one believed that a wool sock could be anything but itchy. Out of frustration, they finally challenged people to try them. And this simple tactic changed the course of SmartWool forever and pioneered a new market transformation for wool performance products. The instant people tried them they were awestruck with SmartWool’s soft luxurious feel. They were even more surprised that their feet stayed comfortable for extended periods of time in mixed weather conditions. Instead of getting clammy, the SmartWool socks stayed dry, soft and comfortable. The founders then realized that they had to get their socks on as many people as possible to let them speak for themselves.

The next step was obvious. Since people enjoyed SmartWool’s comfort in its performance socks and base layers, why not make socks they can wear all the time? Since hiking socks don’t go well with dress slacks, SmartWool launched its everyday-use lifestyle line in 2004, bringing extraordinary comfort to daily life with fun, fashionable designs. Both socks and apparel now enjoy worldwide distribution, satisfying the needs of walkers, runners, skiers, cyclists, climbers, hikers and anyone else who enjoys the comfort and performance the company’s founders discovered more than 10 years ago on those cold slopes of New England.

Smartwool Philosophy

The SmartPrint Program brings to life our philosophy to affect positive change in the world which we live, play and do business.

Through smart and sensitive business practices we are excited to continuously do our part to leave the Earth better off than when we arrived; economically, environmentally, and socially.

The SmartPrint Program touches many important parts of our business. We invite you to explore the Partners Print, Sustainability Print, Social Print, Employee Print, and Industry Print sections to learn how SmartWool is committed to leaving a smart footprint on our planet for future generations.

In addition, 10% of every website order goes towards the new SmartPrint Advocacy Fund. This comprehensive program allows us to give back to organizations that promote environmental stewardship, healthy lifestyle choices for youth, and encourage responsible outdoor activity participation. We select non-profit groups that are making the world a better place.

SmartWool Fiber

You won’t find better gear to keep you comfortable in all conditions than SmartWool, whether you’re out tromping in rain, shine, heat or hail. It’s the best fiber in the world for cold and warm, wet and dry weather use, combining comfort and performance into one versatile package.

Above all else comes the extraordinary comfort. Far from the itchy wool of yesteryear, Smartwool’s fibers are luxuriously soft. They come from New Zealand’s specially bred Merino sheep, whose super-fine fibers are as fit for pajamas as they are active-wear. Combine this with a production process that removes all itch and shrink and you get a layer you’ll never want to take off—even after the day’s journey brings you home.

But extraordinary comfort is only the beginning. The real tale lies in the fibers’ performance. Over the eons Smartwool’s fibers have evolved to keep our Merino sheep warm in the alpine winters and cool in the southern summers. That same natural temperature regulating process works for people as well. The secret is that each fiber harbors thousands of tiny air pockets which, like insulation in your house, act as a buffer against heat and cold. The fibers naturally regulate temperature, whether you’re climbing an 8,000-meter peak or running an Arizona marathon. They keep you warm when it’s cool and cool when it’s hot. The fibers also move moisture faster than any other material on the planet. This means you stay drier longer and can say goodbye forever to the clamminess that comes from other materials. Unlike synthetics, which have to wait for moisture to condense before wicking it away from your skin, SmartWool’s fibers are porous, allowing them to absorb vapor and transfer it before it condenses. This saves a step by letting them wick and evaporate moisture at the same time, transporting it in both liquid and vapor stages. When it’s hot, this creates a mini air-conditioning unit next to your skin, transferring body heat to your apparel. When it’s cold, this keeps bone-chilling moisture at bay. And our fibers even have one more trump card. As well as being the most efficient and versatile fibers on the planet, their dryness also makes them the most odor-free, free of the stink that plagues synthetics.

SmartWool PhD Collection – The Highest Degree in Performance

Already a leader in outdoor socks, SmartWool is upping the ante again this year with its award-winning PhD line.  How so?  WOW Technology™ adds an additional layer of 100% SmartWool Duroyarn™ fiber in the High Impact Zones to give the new PhD sock line increased durability, performance and comfort.  Plus, these socks also have the SmartWool 4 Degree Fit System with four bands around the foot for secure fit, mesh vent zones and contoured cushioning where you need it.

Thanks to the superior fit via four bands along the ankle, arch, upper instep, and lower instep, plus a contour flex zone strategically placed in the flex of the ankle, you can kiss your blisters good-bye.  Offering the ultimate in moisture management and breathability, SmartWool PhD gives you the highest degree of comfort and performance no matter your activity.

• 4-Degree Banded Fit System
• WOW Technology™ in High Density Impact Zones
• Duroyarn™ reinforcement in critical impact zones
• Strategic mesh zones for maximum ventilation

Trackback URI | Comments RSS