6 Eco-Friendly Outdoor Gear Essentials that Give Back

Last Updated on June 2, 2021 by foxintheforest

We all love to get outside, but have you thought about the environmental impact of outdoor recreation? It turns out that we use a tremendous amount of plastic and energy in the name of chasing that big view, climbing a mountain or even just enjoying a leisurely hike. Eco-friendly outdoor gear helps lessen our impact.

Don’t believe me? I kept all of the plastic my household produced in a month and a whopping 30 percent of that waste came from outdoor exploits. The next time you buy gear, give back to the environment with these eco-friendly outdoor gear essentials.

What Makes Outdoor Gear Eco-Friendly?

When it comes to the wild realm of outdoor gear, there’s a lot of marketing out there. Without proper standards, it’s easy to get confused with finding the right eco-friendly outdoor gear. Not to mention, even within the realm of sustainability, there is a lot of discourse and no real consensus on what may be right or wrong. When shopping for eco-friendly outdoor gear, pay attention to the following:

  • The company’s mission. Do they support sustainable initaives? Do they give back to the community? Are they focused on integrating recycled material? Investigate a company’s mission.
  • Look for certifications. There is an array of different types of certifications that verify if a product or company is on the right track with sustaianability. Look for labels like Responsible Down Standard, BluSign, registered B-Corp and more. 
  • Pay attention to packaging. This is a big one. Polybags (or the plastic bags everything comes in when shipped) are a huge environmental hazard. So are excessive packing, tons of hang tags with plastic, and more. Pay attention to how the product is packaged and if the company uses innovative ways to package goods.

1. Stay Warm with GoLite’s ReScooba Jacket

The GoLite ReScooba is a grab-and-go mid-layer provides plenty of warmth that also allows you to breath. Perfect for a chilly morning hike or sitting at a belay station, this jacket uses 28 recycled bottles and contains a durable eco-friendly Teflon with EcoElite DWR. What’s even better is GoLite’s mission to not only recycle but to provide ethical activewear for humanitarian efforts across the globe. 

Price: $150
Best Uses: Hiking, running, trail running, biking, and climbing
Drawbacks: It can fit a little snug  at the shoulders (but still offers mobility, more of a style thing) and doesn’t come in many colors.

2. Say “No” to Plastic with Stasher Bags

Take the plastic out of your snacks with Stasher Bags. These plastic-free, medical grade silicone bags are an amazing, lightweight alternative to regular plastic bags. They are dishwasher safe for multiple uses and come in a wide variety of sizes (the sandwich and snack sizes are my personal favs for on-the-go adventure). You can even put your backpacking meals in the larger sizes and add hot water since the bags are heat resistant.

Price: Varies from $9.95 to $19.95
Best Uses: Hiking, road trips, travel, backpacking
Drawbacks: Don’t overfill the bags or they won’t seal properly.

Related: Outdoor Gift Ideas for Her 

3. Hike for the Ocean with Adidas Terrex Parley Climacool Voyager Sneakers

These are marketed as water shoes, but I’ve taken them all over. From the canyons of Utah to the beaches of Belize and beyond. These sneaks have some stellar rubber that will keep you stable both in town and on the trail. The best part? Adidas teamed up with Parley for the Ocean and uses recycled ocean trash to create their shoe.

Price: $100
Best Uses: Easy trails, approaches to climbs and on slippery rock
Drawbacks: Price tag. Also, there isn’t much support around the ankle.

eco friendly outdoor gear

Adidas teamed up with Parley for the Ocean to create shoes made from recycled ocean plastic

4. Affordable, Recycled Moisture-Wicking Tee by Recover Brands

I got really excited when I discovered Recover Brands. Why? They are serious about recycled material. Recover offers a 100% recycled shirt by spinning post-consumer plastics and recycled polyester fibers to create their own textiles. These are then transformed into moisture-wicking shirts that work. At first, I thought the plastic might be itchy, but the shirt is quite cozy. I’ve worn mine to the gym, on the trail, and at the crag. Each shirt recycles approximately eight plastic bottles. The best part? At under $30, this tee is also affordable.

Price: $24 – $29 for a tee
Best Uses: Anything that will get you breaking a sweat
Drawbacks: I wish they offered a looser fit for women.

Related: Amazing, Budget-Friendly Outdoor Clothing for Women

eco-friendly hiking gear

You CAN wear recycled plastic, look good, and love it!

5. Stay Hydrated with the Grayl GEOPRESS

I’m a huge fan of the BPA-free Grayl GEOPRESS for all things travel and water purification. This easy-to-use water purifier takes out everthing from harmful viruses to microplastics. It’s so simple to use, simply fill, vent and press and you’ll have 24 oz of drinking water in seconds. 

This incredible water purifier is the ideal choice for world travelers who want filtered water on the go, or those going on long hikes looking for a water filter that doesn’t take eons to use. 

Price: $89.99 
Best Uses: Travel, backpacking, hiking
Drawbacks: It’s a touch heavy for backpacking and hiking

Related: How to Select the Best Water Filtration for Your Adventure

6. Light it Up with the Luci Light Pro with MPowered

Luci Lights are simply genius. This blow-up LED, solar powered light uses the sun to charge and quickly gives you ample light. Simply hit the power button to alternate through different intensities, along with a strobe mode for emergencies. The Pro series also lets you charge a USB from the solar panel. The whole system charges in sunlight in just a few hours. MPOWERED believes in providing sustainable solutions to light the world. They provide low-cost purchasing options for communities in need of light, bringing business, education, and light to all corners of the globe.

Cost: $34.95 (Pro) or $19.99 for the basic outdoor model
Best Uses: Backpacking, car camping.
Drawbacks: It isn’t the greatest at charging phones on the go, but it will do the trick in a pinch.

Related: Must-Have Car Camping Accessories You Can’t Live Without

eco-friendly hiking gear

Luci Light saved the day when it took longer than expected to cook dinner along the rim of the Grand Canyon. Image by Rami Hanna.

These eco-friendly outdoor gear essentials go beyond simply supplying us with useful tools. Buy gear that gives back to the places you love to play.

Want more gear? Here’s a few resoures just for you:

Eco-friendly gift ideas for hikers, campers, and backpackers. Sustainable and eco-friendly outdoor gear. The best outdoor gear gift ideas. #sustainable #hiking #giftideas #camping
Eco-friendly gift ideas for hikers, campers, and backpackers. Sustainable and eco-friendly outdoor gear. The best outdoor gear gift ideas. #sustainable #hiking #giftideas #camping
Meg Atteberry
Meg Atteberry

Meg is a long-time Colorado local and outdoor industry professional. She's spent the last 15 years hiking, climbing, mountaineering, and canyoneering all over Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and Nevada in search of the best views. She's written for Outside Magazine, REI, Backpacker Magazine, and appeared on the Weather Channel.

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Hi There!

Meg Atteberry standing on a mountain sticking her tongue out

Meg aka Fox is a 30-something who's born to explore. Toddler mom, queer, and neuro-spicy her favorite things to do are climb in the alpine and camp in the desert. Her mission is to get you out on your greatest adventure.