Five Eco Friendly Gear Items for the Day Hiker

Five Eco Friendly Gear Items for the Day Hiker

We put together a list of our top five eco-friendly gear items that are perfect for use on a day hike and will lessen your impact on the earth.

Kula Cloth™

Anastasia Allison designed The Kula Cloth™, an antimicrobial peecloth designed for women, after a backpacking trip to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in Washington State. She was enjoying a spectacular sunset at Robinson Lake and stepped behind a tree and found a bunch of toilet paper. Perplexed by the amount of toilet paper in the wilderness, she began her journey in finding a toilet paper option that adhered to Leave No Trace Principles. After researching pee cloths (aka bandannas) she created her own pee rag from a piece of micro fiber and the beginnings of a unique piece of gear was born. After trial and error, and a bunch of research, Anastasia invented the Kula Cloth™, a reusable cloth designed for absorbing pee. It is the first of its kind, “an intentionally (and obsessively) designed antimicrobial p-cloth for adventurous women”. So, what makes it so special? The Kula Cloth™ was designed as a piece of gear, not an afterthought. It has an antimicrobial silver infused wipe area that is super absorbent and is designed as a hygiene product. The backside of the cloth is waterproof, so you won’t get any urine on your hands while wiping. It snaps on the outside of your pack and has a double snap feature for privacy and cleanliness while on the trail. The retro-reflective thread makes locating it with your head lamp at night easy. Anastasia envisions a Kula Cloth™ on every backpack and no toilet paper in the wilderness- a vision we can get behind! history. Get yours here.

CNOC Outdoors 2019 Vecto 2L Water Container, 28mm

According to One Green Planet, 1,500 water bottles are consumed every second in the U.S. On the environmental side, plastic bottles litter our trails, oceans and beaches, or lay stagnant in landfills leaching chemicals like BPA and phthalates into the ground. In production of the bottles, the plastic-making process requires over two gallons of water for the purification process of every gallon of water and it takes 25% of the bottle’s size in oil to produce. These stats don’t even take into account the environmental costs of the massive transporting of bottled water. One of the best ways we can help alleviate this plastic problem is by using re-useable water bottles, especially ones that are BPA free like CNOC Outdoors Vecto 2L Water Container. It’s lightweight, collapsible, and has a patent

pending dual opening that allows for easy filling from a wide opening on one side and a narrow mouthpiece on the other. It is also compatible with water filtration systems like Sawyer, HydroBlu and LifeStraw filters. Plus CNOC Outdoors is known for their amazing customer service and support trail maintenance in collaboration with 1% For The Planet. Get your own here!

Sea to Summit X-SEAL & GO SET

Food packaging creates many negative environmental impacts like over consumption of natural resources such as wood, pollution from the processing of packaging, packaging waste littering our trails, filling our landfills, and creating huge floating garbage patches in our ocean that kill sea life. When you purchase your trail food in bulk, not only can you pick and choose your favorite trail mix ingredients but also your consumption of packaging is highly minimized. Using Sea to Summit’s X-SEAL & GO SET is a perfect way to transport your bulk food purchases in a BPA free, food grade, leak and air proof, and heat resistant container that is re-usable. It is also collapsible so it makes a perfect addition to your day pack. Buy your set here.

Patagonia Capilene Baselayers

Patagonia is the industry leader when it comes environmental and social responsibility. For the past 40 years, Patagonia has supported grassroots activists by donating one percent of sales, or 10 percent of pre-tax profits (which ever is greater), to those who demonstrate radical and strategic steps to protect habitat and wilderness and biodiversity. In addition, Patagonia audits the materials and methods they use in their manufacturing to ensure they are creating the least amount of environmental impact, takes responsibility for the entire lifetime of their products through dedicating an entire website to re-selling worn gear a recycling program, responsible materials sourcing, and ensuring all products are Fair Trade Certified™ and workers earn a living wage. Really just supporting Patagonia is a great way to be eco-friendly but purchasing their Capilene Polyester Base Layers add an extra level of eco friendliness. According to their website, the Capilene Polyester Base Layers are “exclusive, recycled-content fabrics that highlight the environmental position of the Capilene line, and

all other base layers are recyclable through their Common Threads Recycling Program". All fabrics are also bluesign® approved, ensuring the highest level of consumer safety by employing methods and materials in their manufacture that conserve resources and minimize impacts on people and the environment”. These polyester base layers are wicking, breathable, and feature Polygiene® permanent odor control that stops the growth of odor-causing bacteria on fabric. They come in three weightslightweight, midweight, and thermal weight for different temperatures and exertion levels Visit Patagonia's website here.

Vaude Green Shape Core Collection

Vaude states “Our Green Shape Core Collection is an unwavering expression of what we imagine the future of sustainable outdoor gear to be –it embodies our ecological and social values and testifies to the essence of what motivates VAUDE as a brand.” Vaude, a 100% family owned company, is making eco waves with their Green Shape Core Collection. The Green Shape Core Collection is a collection of nineteen products unique in their own way, and made from 90% biobased, recycled, or purely natural materials such as biodegradable fiber instead of fleece and plant based down. The collection includes jackets, vests, pants, shirts, shorts, beanies, and shoe options. Environmentally friendly manufacturing practices and fair working conditions make these products the most sustainable products Vaude manufactures. The products are functional and the criteria for the Green label is strict and transparent. The line is under constant review and covers the entire lifecycle of the product from design, through production, care and maintenance, to repair and the product’s end of life.agine Check out the collection here.