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Eco-Friendly Outdoor Gear

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I know outdoor enthusiasts can be very selective about their gear, and luckily there are a lot of eco-friendly outdoor equipment options for you nature-lovers.

The first key to gear sustainability is proper care to maximize lifespan. REI has a bunch of articles on gear care and repair to help you out; NEMO also has helpful information.

As with anything else, buying used gear is both a budget-friendly and green way to shop. Find a local consignment or other marketplace to buy or trade-in items, or most large brands offer their own trade-in programs. Many of these companies also offer repair services to extend the life of your goods.

Eco-Friendly Outdoor Gear Brands

Patagonia

Patagonia has long been a sustainability leader not only in the outdoor gear and clothing sectors, but is consistently ranked as one of the most sustainable companies in the world. Its founder, Yvon Chouinard, made news in fall 2022 for giving away the company, transferring ownership of the $3 billion operation to a “specially designed trust and a nonprofit organization. They were created to preserve the company’s independence and ensure that all of its profits — some $100 million a year — are used to combat climate change and protect undeveloped land around the globe,” according to the New York Times. Read that article here.

Some of Patagonia’s sustainability highlights include:

  • Certifications include Fair Trade certified, FSC certified, Bluesign member, all products meet Responsible Down Standard (RDS) and Responsible Wool Standard (RWS)
  • Founding & accredited member of the Fair Labor Association, partnered with Better Buying Institute, member of 1% for the Planet and Outdoor Industry Association, Founding member of Outdoor Industry Association’s Climate Action Corp
  • All cotton used is grown organically.
  • Goal is to completely move away from using virgin polyester and all virgin petroleum fibers by 2025
  • By 2025, packaging will be 100% reusable, home compostable, renewable or easily recyclable
  • Recycled materials, including cotton, polyester, spandex, and wool are utilized. For the Fall 2023 season, their wool products were made with 89% recycled wool by weight.
  • By 2040, they will be net zero across their entire business.
  • Their takeback program recycles old cotton tees
  • Numerous waste, water, energy, and transportation emission reduction strategies in place
  • 100% renewable electricity in global owned-and-operated facilities by the end of 2025
  • I love that each of their stores get connected with local environmental issues and organizations. Their Action Works page can connect you to groups in your area.

This isn’t everything, and if you would like to read for yourself about all Patagonia is doing, click here.

Big Agnes

Big Agnes is my ultra-outdoorsy brother’s favorite gear company—he even used to shoot photos for their website and write blog posts for them. We’ve come to love their gear as well. Based in Colorado, Big Agnes not only makes top-notch outdoor products but as a founding member of the Outdoor Industry Association’s Climate Action Corps, they’re committed to actively working toward sustainability.

Here are just a few of their eco-friendly initiatives:

  • Renewable Energy: Their three U.S. facilities run on 100% renewable electric energy through offset programs.
  • Water and Energy Conservation: Their Solution-Dyed Fabric tents significantly reduce water and energy use during manufacturing.
  • Ethically Sourced Down: All their down-insulated sleeping bags and apparel are RDS (Responsible Down Standard) certified, ensuring humane treatment of animals, and bluesign certified for sustainability.
  • Recycled Materials: Most of their synthetic sleeping bags feature 50-100% recycled insulation.
  • Eco-Friendly Materials: An example is the TwisterCane pad, made from sugarcane.
  • Sustainable Tent Poles: Since 2023, they’ve used 25-30% recycled aluminum in their tent poles, manufactured with a green anodization process to lower energy consumption.
  • Plastic Reduction: They’ve eliminated poly bags from tent poles and camp furniture frames.
  • Non-toxic Substances: They’re phasing out harmful PFAS chemicals while maintaining a Restricted Substance List to avoid hazardous materials such as PVC and flame retardants; camping shelter fabrics are rigorously tested to ensure the absence of prohibited flame retardants.

Check out my bro’s super cool outdoor adventures with his wife and four boys on Instagram @wildrootsoutdoors

Yeti

YETI, probably most famous for their popular drinkware and coolers, is a company committed to doing their part for the environment, as a founding member of Outdoor Industry Association’s Climate Action Corp and as demonstrated by their most recent ESG reports.

  • In 2023, YETI launched a circular consumer strategy with two new programs that currently covers 70% of their products:
    • Their Rescue program gives used gear new life, which you can purchase for less than a new item.
    • The Rambler recycling program recycles your damaged drinkware and gives you $5 towards a $25 purchase.
  • The Restricted Substance List (RSL) program offers transparency about the chemicals used in their products and specifies the chemical restrictions applicable to substances used in manufacturing YETI components, products, and packaging. The company requires material suppliers to use accredited 3rd party labs for all testing and certification processes; YETI uses UL for their testing. Specific chemicals of note that they focus on include:
    • PVC, which will be eliminated from the entirety of their supply chain by 2025.
    • PFAS (forever chemicals), which were successfully eliminated by YETI and its suppliers in 2021.
    • Bisphenols have been eliminated from their products.
  • Maintains gender pay equality, with progress towards goals for gender parity at leadership levels by 2025 and racial/ethnic diversity at all levels by 2030.
  • 95% of packaging is recyclable.
  • 100% of the Austin headquarters electricity usage comes from renewable sources and they are purchasing high-quality verified, renewable energy certificates (RECs) for the remaining electricity usage in their globally owned and operated facilities.
  • Goal to achieve zero waste to landfill across their value chain by 2030. In 2022, their landfill diversion rate was 84%, having diverted 554 tons of waste across their U.S. and Canada operations and Austin HQ.
  • Since 2021, YETI has donated $1.3 million to support organizations and individuals working to preserve the wild, and has partnered with many of these types of organizations.

NEMO

NEMO was founded in New England in 2004 and has won multiple awards from their beginnings, including overall winner of the ISPO Brand New award in 2005 and one of the 100 best inventions of the year awarded by TIME and Popular Science.

  • Over 100 of their products are bluesign approved
  • Goals to be completely PFAS and flame retardant-free by 2025
  • All down used is RDS-certified
  • 90% progress towards goal to eliminate the use of virgin petroleum-based plastics in packaging
  • Products in the Endless Promise line are 100% recyclable
  • Utilizing recycled materials in products, such as their OSMO tent material, which is made from PFAS-free, 100% recycled yarns
  • Founding member of Outdoor Industry Association’s Climate Action Corp

Kammok

Kammok is a certified B Corp that specializes in hammocks, trail quilts and blankets, among other things. They are a 1% for the Planet member and are Climate Neutral certified.

  • Some products contain upcycled materials like fabric scraps and hardware.
  • Their gear has a lifetime warranty, but if it becomes to worn to be usable, you can send it back to them for recycling.
  • Their website doesn’t contain any information about prohibited chemicals.

Outdoor skin protection

When you’re out and about, don’t forget to protect your skin with non-toxic products!

Natural bug repellent

Go Green: DEET-free

For itchy bites, try Fat and the Moon’s Bite & Burn Spray, made with yarrow, witch hazel extract, and lavender and tea tree essential oils. Murphy’s Natural Bite Relief Soothing Balm or Stick is another good choice.

Non-toxic Sunscreen

There are two categories of sunscreen: chemical and mineral.

Chemical sunscreens filter and absorb UV light with chemicals such as avobenzone, octinoxate, oxybenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate. The concern with chemical sunscreens is that all of these substances have been shown to absorb through the skin. There is not enough research available to determine whether this is harmful or have long term health effects, except in the case of three of these chemicals.

Make sure whatever brand you buy does not contain oxybenzone, octinoxate, or homosalate, which are endocrine disruptors. In addition, oxybenzone and octinoxate are toxic to coral reefs. Check ingredient labels to be sure, but usually products without these chemicals are labeled ‘Reef Safe.’ Read more about these and other skincare chemicals that are toxic to coral and other marine animals.

Mineral Sunscreens are considered physical sunscreens since they block and reflect UV rays. This barrier can lead to a white cast left behind, especially with darker skin tones, which is a big downside to some people. The active ingredients–zinc oxide or titanium dioxide–are the only ones the FDA considers to be safe in sunscreen, however concerns arise regarding inhalation when used in spray and powder products.

If you’re interested in a deeper dive into chemicals in sunscreen, check out the EWG’s The Trouble with Ingredients in Sunscreens.

Zero waste sunscreen

Plastic-free suncreen packaging is a great eco-friendly to keep your skin protected from the sun’s harmful rays.

  • Utu – These mineral sunscreens are made with USDA Biobased and Leaping Bunny certfied ingredients, packaged in aluminum tubes. Their sunscreen stick comes in an aluminum tube that you can purchase refills for. Available at ZWS / EarthHero.
  • All Good Sunscreen Butter – Mineral sunscreen made with organic botanical ingredients, many of which come from their own organic farm. The sunscreen butter is packaged in a tin; they have other sunscreen and body care products available in plastic. They are a Certified B Corp, WBENC certified Women Owned, Climate Neutral and Leaping Bunny certified, and 1% for the Planet member. Available at Grove / EarthHero / ZWS
  • Badger Mineral Sunscreens – Badger offers two of their sunscreens in a tin. Made with organic, Fair Trade certified ingredients. The company is a Certified B Corp andWomen Owned. Available at Grove / EarthHero / Target
  • Raw Elements – Many plastic-free options available. Non-Nano Zinc Oxide is their only active ingredient; the rest are either certified organic or certified natural and sustainably sourced. EWG Certified, Leaping Bunny, 1% for the Planet member. Available at Grove / Amazon / Target

Click here to find clean, zero waste beauty and personal care products.

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