Feb 17 - Timberland Co posted higher quarterly results that blew past market expectations as the footwear maker saw strong demand for its products across markets.

Timberland shoes

The company's shares were up 11 percent in pre-market trading.

Timberland, known for its Earthkeepers, Howies and Mountain Athletics brands, earned 82 cents a share on revenue of $491.1 million for October-December.

Analysts on average had expected earnings of 51 cents a share on revenue of $411.6 million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

On Wednesday, rival Skechers USA Inc reported a lower-than-expected fourth-quarter profit and said it expected a continued margin squeeze through the first half of the year as it grapples with an inventory pile-up from slowing sales of its once-trendy toning shoes.

Timberland said revenue in North America rose 16.8 percent, 32.3 percent in Europe and 58.5 percent in Asia in the quarter.

As Stratham, New Hampshire-based Timberland's shares, which have gained nearly 16 percent since the company reported third-quarter results in November, closed at $29.50 on Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange. They were up at $32.63 in pre-market trading.

(Reporting by Renju Jose and NR Sethuraman; Editing by Maju Samuel)