Going Green: A Guide to Eco-Friendly Hiking Gear

The Importance of Eco-friendly Hiking Gear

Our hiking gear and outdoor clothing doesn’t just impact our wallets — the goods we buy also affect our well-being, and that of the planet. Eco-friendly and sustainable apparel and gear help to keep chemicals out of waterways, waste out of landfills and re-use and reduce consumption. Through responsible manufacturing processes and material choices, brands can make a real impact on how their production impacts the planet. And by wearing hiking apparel and using hiking gear that is made without “forever chemicals”, toxic materials and unethical labor, you’re investing in both your physical and mental well-being.

Top Sustainable Brands for outdoor apparel and gear

When it comes to sustainability, some brands wear their earth-friendly attributes on their sleeves, while others quietly make changes to existing or new product launches with much fanare. Well-known sustainability stalwarts include Patagonia, Tentree, Cotopaxi and Picture Organic. Prana, Outerknown, Houdini, and Smartwool each have sustainability initiative as well.

How to identity eco-friendly hiking products

There are a few reliable methods to picking truly eco-friendly hiking products and sustainable outdoor clothing, the first being to familiarize yourself with sustainable certifications to look for while shopping. Some of these include 1 Percent For the Planet, Climate Neutral, Certified B Corps, Bluesign Approved, Fair Trade Certified and more. Brands that earn any of these badges for their products or supply chains have to go through rigorous third-party vetting to be approved, and looking for these badges while you shop is a helpful eBay to determine if a product is made sustainably.

Another method to determine if a piece of outdoor hiking apparel is eco-friendly is to look at the list of materials used to construct it; oftentimes, truly sustainable brands will have each material listed out, and some brands go so far as to link to where those individual materials are sourced. Finding truly eco-friendly outdoor equipment takes time, but it’s worth the effort for you and the planet.

Source: https://www.fieldmag.com/articles/sustainable-hiking-gear-guide