6 picks for eco-friendly gear
Do your part for Mother Nature by buying products that are as good for the earth as they are at what they do
Innate Caravan Compartments (from $21)
These organizing cubes are made from repurposed scraps. In the past, the cuttings would have been incinerated. Instead, Innate collects and cuts them into three zippered compartments. Totally waterproof and easily packable, these cubes are equally ideal for adventure travel, business trips or backpacking; and clothing, food or toiletries.
More info: Innate Gear
Mammut Transformer (ropes from $220, slings from $7.25)
The most efficient way to dye yarn is to gradually modify the colour. For example, when dying a climbing rope from blue to red, there can be up to a kilometre of yarn that goes from blue to light blue, to white, to pink and finally red. Most rope makers toss that section of yarn, but Mammut decided to use it to create Tranformer ropes and slings, cutting huge amounts of waste. It’s the same 100 percent strong yarn, but each sling and rope is a unique colour combo.
More info: Mammut
Patagonia Updraft ($320)
Last Black Friday, Patagonia placed an ad in the New York Times telling consumers “Don’t buy this jacket.” This ad, part of the company’s push for a more sustainable world, became famous. Patagonia advocates buying only what you need and ensuring their products are multi-purpose and high quality. So if you like what Patagonia preaches and are in the market for a new shell, consider the Updraft, made from superlight Gore-Tex Paclite and backed by a solid guarantee. With a metro look (funky chest pocket, clean style, and storable hood) you won’t feel like an outdoor geek walking to work, but it packs all the waterproof and breathable punch of any Gore-Tex shell.
More info: Patagonia
Camelbak Groove (from $30)
By now, everyone knows that drinking water from disposable plastic bottles is bad for the environment – emissions from transportation, more garbage, etc. – but when tap water tastes gross, what’s an environmentally-minded, water-dependent person to do? Grab a Groove: These handy water bottles from Camelbak feature Brita-style filters in the straws. Suck on the soft nozzle at the top and chlorine and odours are eliminated en route to your lips. The big twist-top is easy to refill and the soft nozzle folds back to prevent leaks. No more excuses.
More info: Camelbak
Nite Ize BioCase (from $25)
This soft and protective iPhone case is made from a compostable and biodegradable resin—so when you’re done with it, it won’t leave a toxic puddle. But don’t expect that to be any time soon: BioCases wrap phones in durable organic material armour with a much smaller carbon footprint than petroleum-based plastic cases. Better yet, they’re packaged in sleeves of recycled cardboard, printed on with non-toxic ink. BioCases comes in a variety of colours and fit the iPhone 4 and 4S. Chuck it in your compost and it will disappear within a year.
More info: Nite Ize
Zeal Optics (from $80)
No matter what pair of Zeal sunglasses you buy, you’re putting green technology—and safe vision—first. All of the company’s frames are made with castor bean oil instead of crude oil. Castor beans grow in marginal soil, are drought resistant and fast growing—meaning they don’t compete with food crops, require few resources and are sustainable. A good bet from Zeal’s line is any style featuring their new Hyperion lens technology, which not only blocks 100 percent of UVA, UVB and UVC rays; but also 95 percent of HEV rays, light that’s been linked to macular degeneration and cataracts.
More info: Zeal Optics
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