Smartwool

Smartwool ski and snowboard socks and technical underwear come straight out of Colorado and represent the pinnacle of technology when it comes to the use of Merino wool.
When Smartwool started making socks back in 1994, our founders simply wanted to be able to ski longer without getting cold toes.
That’s when they discovered the benefits of Merino wool as a performance fabric. It was soft (softer than any wool they had ever felt), moisture-wicking, thermoregulating (warm when it’s cold, and cool when it’s warm), sustainable, and odour-neutralising—helping to keep feet dry, comfortable, and warm for longer than the synthetic socks they were wearing at the time. It worked so well, in fact, that we use it in almost every single item we make. 

Merino is an economical type of sheep that is is used widely in the technical base layering market when the best wicking properties are needed. Merino is excellent at regulating body temperature, especially when worn against the skin. The wool provides some warmth, without overheating the wearer. It draws moisture (sweat) away from the skin, a phenomenon known as wicking. The fabric is slightly moisture repellent (keratin fibres are hydrophobic at one end and hydrophilic at the other), allowing the user to avoid the feeling of wetness.

They were the first outdoor company to make performance Merino wool ski socks—revolutionising the category and forever changing the way outdoor enthusiasts viewed their feet.


Our whole brand was built on the desire to be comfortable on outdoor adventures—we wanted to go farther and experience more. And that drive continues to fuel everything we do. From our Merino wool supply chain to our Smartwool advocacy program to how we design our socks and apparel, we exist to help you play, live, and laugh in the great outdoors as often as you would like.