Timberland acquired the sock brand Smartwool in 2005.
The Timberland Company announced the acquisition agreement on November 7, 2005, agreeing to buy all outstanding SmartWool stock for approximately $82 million. The transaction formally closed in December 2005; company filings record the acquisition date as December 20. Both the announcement and completion therefore belong to the same calendar year.
Smartwool was founded in 1994 in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, by ski instructors Peter and Patty Duke. The company built its reputation on performance socks made with merino wool, emphasizing warmth, moisture management, comfort, and outdoor durability. Before the purchase, Timberland and Smartwool had already collaborated on footwear featuring Smartwool linings.
Timberland kept Smartwool headquartered in Steamboat Springs and operated it as a wholly owned subsidiary. The acquisition expanded Timberland beyond boots and apparel into premium outdoor socks and wool-based accessories. A later corporate change often causes confusion: VF Corporation acquired Timberland in 2011, and Smartwool subsequently became part of VF’s brand portfolio rather than remaining under Timberland directly.