Your Outdoor Gear May Be Harming the Environment—Here Are a Few Pieces to Feel Great About
Your outdoor gear shouldn't harm the environment. Here are a few that won't.
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Next-generation technology is often revealed to have serious trade-offs. In the quest for fast, light, and performance-driven outdoor gear, that means some of the stuff you’re wearing or carrying might be hurting the very environment you’re heading into. From waterproof coatings that clog stream surfaces to “recyclable” containers that are anything but, we’ve found six major sources of this environmental debt—and selected safe alternatives to consider.
Mountain Hardwear Lamina Sleeping Bag
THE PROBLEM: Harmful dyes create caustic byproducts
THE SOLUTION: This “Eco AF” bag offers everything the standard Lamina bag does, including a 30-degrees F rating and ripstop nylon exterior, but is made from recycled materials and avoids all dying processes for a clean-looking, and clean-feeling bag.
Patagonia “Road to Regenerative” Clothing
THE PROBLEM: Water-wasting cotton plants
THE SOLUTION: Organic fibers are better for your body than synthetic ones, and they resist stink naturally. They also keep synthetics from the supply chain. But cotton is a notoriously thirsty crop. That’s why Patagonia is piloting a program of “regenerative” cotton farming that not only uses less water but leaves the soil in better health. It’s one big step in the right direction.
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Houdini PowerAir Houdi
THE PROBLEM: Fleece and Microfibers leach plastic
THE SOLUTION: Better microfiber technology means less recycled plastic ends up in the environment. This hoody is among the first garments made from Polartec’s proprietary Power Air fabric, which uses longer strands of recycled fabric that resist being pulled apart and washed back into the water chain. The supplier claims it sheds 80 percent less microfibers. And best of all, it’s still as comfortable as the classic design, which has been in Houdini’s line since 2003.
Smartwool 3d Knitting Technology
The Problem: Traditional cut and sew garments waste material
The Solution: Patterns are inefficient: For every panel of a shirt or sock or jacket you combine into the final product, the odds and ends hit the cutting room floor. And they add up. That’s why Smartwool developed a 3D knitting process for baselayers mimicing the one used for their socks. The result? A virtually seamless garment with insulation, and ventilation built into it without ever having to break the knit with a seam.
Ignik Gas Growler Deluxe
THE PROBLEM: Wasteful 1-pound Containers
THE SOLUTION: Those green containers have become the standard for weekend campers. But they’re difficult and inefficient to recycle. This reusable tank sits between its discardable siblings and the larger 20-lb tanks commonly used for barbecue grills. It’ll keep you grilling for weeks, and the carrying case helps it keep cozy during transport.
Osprey Arcane Daybag
THE PROBLEM: Green-washing
THE SOLUTION: Everybody claims there’s SOME kind of recycled plastic in their products these days. Well, not everyone. But Osprey goes a step further—and actually tells you how many bottles you’re taking out of the waste chain. This pack, for example, incorporates 13.5 plastic bottles. Bonus: the waterproof coating is 100 percent PFC-free.
Fjallraven Ovik Blanket
THE PROBLEM: Wash-off Watercoating
THE SOLUTION: Waterproof DWR coatings don’t last forever. And you know where all that stuff goes? Into the water supply, making it difficult for fish and other aquatic life to breathe. That’s why we’re fans of the G-1000 canvas used in many garments and accessories by Fjallraven. This blanket is a heritage piece that can be re-waxed when needed. And it tucks away neatly in leather straps.
