Green Gear for the Great Outdoors
Summer is officially in full swing, beckoning us out of our homes and into the splendor of the wilderness! While many assume that they must compromise their eco-integrity in order to enjoy an outdoor hobby, activities like running, hiking, swimming, and camping can now be easily enhanced with environmentally conscious equipment and apparel. Keep your body (and the earth) healthy with these wonderful accessories!
Running
Whether you’re free to trek along dirt trails through the trees and hills, or you’re content to run amongst your urban jungle, these green running products are designed for you and the environment in mind:
Reduce your carbon footprint by slipping into these shoes, all earning top marks for sustainable features like non-toxic dye, recycled materials, and brand eco-ethics:
Don’t forget to cushion your feet with Teko Socks too!
These stylish and sustainable brands of running apparel use both organic and recycled fabrics in their products:
- Lululemon
- Patagonia (one of America’s greenest companies!)
- Gaiam (mainly for yoga, but some pieces can double as running pants!)
Hiking
Ready to take to the forest and forget about the bustling city for a few hours? These environmentally conscious brands and accessories are unbelievably handy for your hike:
Shoes and boots specifically made with recycled, 100% man-made, and/or “vegan” (animal-free) materials:
- Jambu Gemini Vegan Shoes
- Garmont Kiowa
- Crimson Vegan Hiking Shoe
- Hi-Tec Cascadia Hiking Boot
- TrekSta Women’s Evolution
- Hurricane Ridge by Montrail
- Inov-8 Vegan Hiking Boots
- Wicked Hemp Path Finder
- Airseal Boulder Boot (plus more vegan selections!)
Want to waterproof those boots from streams and natural water obstacles? Spray them with NIKWAX — a water-based and fluorocarbon-free waterproofer!
Get even closer to nature with this eco-friendly gear:
- Rambler’s Way (sustainable wool clothing for insulation)
- Patagonia
- Earth Divas hemp head gear (they also make packs!)
- the BlueLounge Backpack
- EcoGear’s Water Dog Hydration backpack
- Cycle Dog Trail Buddy Collapsible Dog Bowl
Camping
An extended form of hiking, camping is ideal for those who want to make peace with nature. And what better way to honor Mother Earth than to use organic, recycled, and eco-friendly camping gear?:
Even MORE eco-conscious shoe brands:
Here are some highly rated eats for the hungry camper:
- MaryJane’s Organic Farm Meals
- organic protein and energy bars like Clif, Hammer, Earnest Eats, & LUNA
- vegan jerky or organic beef jerky
- Backpacker’s Pantry organic foods
- Made In Nature organic dried fruit
- Outdoor Herbivore
Every eco-friendly camper needs a sustainable accessories kit, including (but not limited to):
- bamboo utensils (reusable, and safe in nature if you accidentally lose them)
- recycled mugs and canteens, or eco-conscious brands (ex: Klean Kanteen, Nalgene)
- non-disposable containers for food (ex: BPA-free GSI Infinity Plate set)
- non-toxic dishwashing liquid and detergent (ex: Seventh Generation, Campsuds)
- Stanley eCycle Infinite Mug/Bowl set (for a BPA-free container)
- titanium pots and pans
- Fozzils foldable plates and bowls (yes, reusable AND foldable!)
- TapGuard self-filtering water bottle insert
In need of some environmentally friendly gear? This list of essentials will have you covered:
- Nano OZ Tent, Reliable Tent and Tipi Company, & The Fly Creek 2 Platinum tent
- Yellowstone Light Eco Sleeping Bag, Big Agnes’ Encampment 15 sleeping bag, & MEC Oasis Sleeping Bag
- FEED Health Backpack (it doubles for hiking too!)
- SolaDyne Solar Lantern
- BioLite gear
- Seventh Generation unbleached toilet paper
Click here for more camping tips from Tree Hugger!
Swimming
Nothing defines the summer more than a refreshing dip in the water– be it an ocean or an above-ground pool! Give equal protection to your body as well as the beach with these green swimming tools and accessories:
Ditch the old bathing suit and shop these eco-chic brands:
- Ecouterre’s bikini gallery & onesies gallery
- Koru Swimwear
- Vitamin A
- Odina Surf
- Zero + Maria Cornejo
- Curlee Bikini
- Hemp Huggers
- Jita Wear
Don’t forget the eco-friendly swim gear:
- Hemp Huggers accessories
- cloth swim diapers for the kiddos (ex: Finis, Huggies, Kushies, Tuga)
- organic cotton and/or bamboo beach towels
- eco-minded umbrellas
- reusable bottles and containers (ex: Kids Konserve insulated beach sack)
- natural beach tote bags (ex: Eco Bags)
- Ecouterre’s eco-friendly sunglasses or Nau sunglasses
- Splaff Lazy Boy flip flops & sandals
Keep your kids as safe as possible with these non-toxic toys:
- Magic Cabin organic/eco-friendly toys
- Schlori swim cushions (a non-PVC alternative to floaties)
- Zoe b Organic Biodegradable beach toys
- Green Toys sand play set
And finally: remember that natural sunscreen and organic bug repellent are always your allies. Now go enjoy that fresh air!