Protecting the future of the outdoors.
Why giving back is important to us.
Our advocacy work is the foundation for the change we seek to create in the world. To make sure we can continue to share nature with all, we must advocate for the outdoors and for each other. We partner with advocacy organizations that align with our values—actively protecting the places we love to explore and encouraging the next and more diverse generations of outdoor enthusiasts.
Meet our partners
We’re humbled to work with such amazing national partners. And even more excited to share their Smartwool socks—designed to honor each of our partners and their unique mission in the outdoors. In celebration of these socks, we are donating $20,000 ($2,500 per partner) above and beyond our annual donation to help protect, preserve, and share our wild places.
POW made it their mission to mobilize the outdoor sports community to advocate positive climate action by focusing on educational initiatives, political advocacy, and community-based activism. Show your support for POW with their Smartwool sock—inspired by the pink sunrise skies on cold winter mornings—a sight skiers never get tired of.
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Outdoor Afro works to support Black communities in the outdoors by inspiring connections and leadership in nature. This hike sock features a print designed by one of Outdoor Afro’s volunteer leaders, Leandra Taylor, that is inspired by their mission to emphasize joy and community outside while standing up to protect local areas and wild places.
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We’ve teamed up with The Nature Conservancy to create a sock that celebrates the importance of nature all around us—whether we’re enjoying wide open spaces or tree-lined city streets or local parks. TNC is dedicated to helping protect lands and waters—ensuring that they can be enjoyed by future generations. And we’re dedicated to helping them do it.
COMING SOON
Environmental Learning for Kids is a Colorado-based organization that gives underserved urban youth the opportunity to engage with the natural world while developing leadership and growth. The sock design itself is a celebration of Chicanx, Latinx, and Hispanic histories, cultures, and contributions. This sock’s bold, colorful, loud design connects to stories and memories that resonate with the students who designed it.
COMING SOON
We designed this sock to celebrate our partnership with our advocacy partner, The Venture Out Project. TVOP leads wilderness and outdoor adventure trips for LGBTQ+ folks of all ages. In addition to their trips, TVOP leads workshops and provides education for allies and LGBTQ+ folks alike so that we can all feel welcome and safe in the outdoors. Show your support for TVOP with their Smartwool sock.
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Through outdoor adventure experiences, positive adult mentorship, and leadership development opportunities, SOS Outreach provides opportunities for personal growth for the kids in the communities that need it most. SOS Outreach held an art contest with youth participants to select the sock design, and after over 1,350 votes were cast, the winning design was awarded to North Lake Tahoe Junior Mentors Adrian, Chris, and Emiliano.
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Providing a link between businesses and the conservation community, The Conservation Alliance enables and inspires us to work together across the outdoor industry to protect the wild places vital to our businesses, our consumers, our economy, and our planet. The sock design was inspired a timeless aesthetic of the 1970s with colors that tie back to nature—encouraging us to get out there.
COMING SOON
Big City Mountaineers (BCM) works to leave a lasting impact on the lives of students from disinvested communities. Their programs target barriers to outdoor access, helping students to create and sustain meaningful personal connections with the outdoors that support their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Over 90 high school students submitted art to BCM for this sock and over 4,000 community members voted on the winning design, which came from Camila of Minneapolis: “I was inspired by a combination of Mexican art and my love of space and science. I drew the sun and moon, constellations and different elements nature that are beautiful together. When I look at the sky, I don’t just see the sun, I feel free - taken away from difficulties of earth. I was shocked when Ms. Albin told me that I had won! I felt like I had accomplished a huge goal.” We are donating $2,500 to BCM in celebration of this sock.
BUY NOWDive deeper into our Advocacy program and partners on our What Matters page.
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