It feels only fitting that we should be environmentally minded when we’re shopping for gear needed for going out into nature for recreation. That way we’re ensuring that we’re taking care of our beautiful resources for generations to come while still getting to enjoy them today! In my own personal quest for a more sustainable lifestyle I’ve found that our clothing and gear choices are a huge area of opportunity to improve on that is frequently overlooked. So I wanted to take some time to dive into the details and learn how we can make more informed decisions when it comes to buying clothes and gear for the outdoors!

This blog post was made in partnership with REI. Some of the links provided in this blog post are affiliate links. If you end up purchasing some of these pieces of gear we get a very small portion of the sales. Thank you as always for supporting us and our life on the road, it gives us the opportunity to share so extensively with you all! Now, let’s talk sustainability.

Types of Sustainable Production Processes

Bluesign®

Bluesign® is a system that operates at every step in the supply chain to prevent harmful substances from entering the manufacturing process. The bluesign® team includes experts in chemistry and textile production, as well as a robust system of factory auditing and certification.

Organic Cotton

Conventional cotton is said to be the dirtiest crop on earth because the chemicals used in standard cotton production contaminate the soil, air, and groundwater. Non-organic cotton also releases huge amounts of greenhouse gas into our atmosphere. Organic cotton production has significantly less impact on the land in which it’s grown due to the lack of pesticides and also has far fewer carbon emissions. For more information on organically grown cotton I recommend giving this article a read.

Fair Trade

By now you may recognize the Fair Trade logo on your favorite chocolate or coffee packaging, but it has expanded into apparel and beyond. Fair Trade is an overarching standard that ensures sustainable living and work practices for farmers and workers all over the world. Fair trade standards work to keep the planet healthy for generations to come by prohibiting the most harmful chemicals and taking measures to protect natural resources.

Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC)

An FSC certification denotes that wood or some sort of wood-based product was used to produce an item and that it meets a series of rigorous standards of responsible forest management. A wood-based product could be anything from paper, wood, natural rubber, or even fibers such as Lyocell and Tencel. A FSC certification covers a broad range of what it protects, including environmental stewardship, legal and regulatory compliance, indigenous people’s rights, and the social and economic well-being of workers and communities.

Recycled Materials

There have been some great advancements in using recycled materials in new products, such as recycled plastic bottles that then get turned into the polyester. Recycled polyester can be turned into a wide range of clothing and gear from thermal layers to backpacks! Keep your eyes peeled for labels that will sometimes state how many bottles went into a given product. The benefit of using recycled materials is that it’s eliminating the need to use raw material and keeping more materials from ending up in landfills.

Animal Welfare

Often animal products are used in the production of a lot of gear that we know and love. These are various certifications that denote the welfare standards in which the animals are raised.

Responsible Down (RDS): A certification that protects the well-being of the ducks and geese that provide the down and feathers found in items such as jackets, sleeping bags, and more.

Responsible Wool (RWS): Denotes that the sheep were raised on farms that operate using the leading animal welfare standards in the production of wool.

Vegan: Much like food, this means that there were no animals used in the process of making an item.

We love that REI states at the bottom of all product pages if the item meets any sustainability practices in the production process. It makes it easy to see what all went into the production of each item so you can make an informed decision on what’s best for you!

Sustainable Ways of purchasing Gear

Buy it second hand! Every piece of gear you buy second-hand is one less piece of gear that ends up in a landfill! The added bonus of buying used gear is that you also get a deal. Cheaper gear means you can put more money towards your next adventure! REI has an amazing used gear section on their website where you can shop all the brands you already know and love!

Fun fact! All of the mesh on REI tents are made without chemicals, which saves over 100,000 gallons of water each year! Making them the first in the industry to find a better way of producing this mesh. Pretty cool right?!

These are some pieces of gear that we personally use and love. All of which are made to meet one or more of the sustainability practices that we talked about here!

Patagonia Better Sweater

100% recycled yarn, dyed with a low-impact methods. 100% recycled trims and handwarmer pockets. Fair Trade Certified™.

I’ve fallen in love with mine since this past fall. I’m hard-pressed to take it off long enough to wash it!

Patagonia R1 Pullover

Contains recycled materials, Product meets the bluesign® criteria, Fair Trade Certified™ sewing.

This is the do-everything long sleeve we wished we had on the John Muir Trail.

Patagonia Thermals

Contains recycled materials, Fair Trade Certified™ sewing, Contains materials that meet the bluesign® criteria.

I purchased both pieces second hand. They’re warm, cozy, and easy to wear under as a layer.

Patagonia Capilene Cool Trail Shirt

The product meets the bluesign® criteria.

These are great, fast drying technical shirts for your sweatier activities!

Patagonia R1 Hoodie

Contains recycled materials, Product meets the bluesign® criteria, Fair Trade Certified™ sewing.

This is the do-everything long sleeve we wished we had on the John Muir Trail.

REI Co-op Tee

Contains recycled materials, Contains materials that meet the bluesign® criteria, Contains organically grown fibers, Fair Trade Certified™ factory.

Owen lives in these shirts and loves how soft the organic cotton is.

Patagonia Baggies

Contains materials that meet the bluesign® criteria, Contains recycled materials.

Owen’s go to shorts for… everything.

Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL2 Bikepack Tent

Contains materials that meet the bluesign® criteria.

This is the tent that we used on the John Muir Trail! It’s incredibly light and durable.

Patagonia Black Hole Duffel - 55L

Contains recycled materials, Contains materials that meet the bluesign® criteria.

This is our favorite away from vehicle travel bag. We have two, one 55L and one 40L.

Patagonia Ultralight Black Hole Tote Pack

Contains materials that meet the bluesign® criteria, Contains recycled materials.

Our go to work backpacks. We each have one because they pack into themselves when they’re not in use!

Patagonia Ultralight Black Hole Mini Hip Pack

Contains recycled materials, Contains materials that meet the bluesign® criteria.

I like hiking with a small fanny pack. That way I have easy access to small items without having to stop. I hiked every mile of the John Muir Trail with this guy around my waist and now run with it!

Gear that Prevents Waste

Bedrock Sandals

Best sandals anywhere for any outdoor adventure. Bedrock Sandals offers a resole program so you can breathe new life into a tired pair of Bedrocks, thus keeping them out of a landfill!

Hydro Flask

The average person uses 156 single-use water bottles and over 500 disposable coffee cups a year. All of that can be prevented with a reusable water bottle and travel mug! Hydro Flask is our absolute favorite and offers a wide range of stainless steel water bottles, travel mugs, and other liquid carrying vessels. Anytime you fill up your reusable water bottle or use your own coffee mug you are reducing those numbers that are listed above! 

Sea-to-Summit Portable Utensil

This is Owen’s all-time favorite eating utensil! So much so that on numerous occasions he’s made claims that he will never use anything else! We carry these portable utensils with us everywhere we go so we never have to use single-use plasticware.

Reusable Straws

This year we gave everyone in our family this little set. It comes with a few straws, cleaning brush, a tiny spork, as well as a convenient carrying case. It’s perfect for leaving in the car 

Thank you so much for reading this post on sustainable clothing and gear for the outdoors! It’s so important that we make a conscious effort in choosing gear that is gentle on the environment that we love to spend so much time in! A huge thank you to REI for providing so many sustainable options and for advocating for sustainable improvements in the outdoor industry! 

Love, MAK