Spending time outdoors hiking, adventuring, camping, and overlanding is one of the simplest ways to connect with nature and appreciate all the beauty and abundance it has to offer. If you’re looking to maintain a more eco-friendly lifestyle and reduce plastic use, you might notice that when shopping for outdoor and camping gear, there’s still an abundance of plastic.
Working toward hiking sustainability doesn’t mean you have to ditch all the current gear you do have. Small, thoughtful swaps can help reduce waste and make your next camping trip just a little more eco-friendly! From choosing a clean sunscreen to replacing your disposable, single-use plastics, we’re sharing some ways you can plan your next sustainable hike, outdoor adventure, or camping trip.
Sustainable Outdoor Gear for Hiking and Camping
Whether you’re looking to start your first outdoor gear collection, or wanting to replace your current set up, focusing on quality, durable, and long-lasting materials is a great start. Simply stocking up on a few silicone bags for packing your food to choosing a mineral sunscreen instead of a traditional ones is an easy way to reduce your carbon footprint.
Some products you might want to grab for your more sustainable outdoor adventure that you didn’t even realize had a healthier, non-toxic alternative are:
- Natural bug sprays
- Lip balms
- Crayons, paints, and chalks
- Backpacks and travel bags (often made out of plastic)
- Children’s toys
Hiking Sustainability: Leave No Trace Behind
The concept of Leave No Trace is essentially the mantra for anyone looking to explore and embark on an outdoor adventure–it simply means to leave the space exactly as you found it. It’s a simple idea that you should minimize your impact on the environment, trails, campsites, and any natural spaces that you visit.
That means sticking to trails, respecting wildlife, not taking plants, rocks or other natural items home, and most importantly, packing out everything you brought with you. You should not leave any trash, wrappers, paper products or any “trace” at all that you were even there!
This ensures the next person who comes across the spot, enjoys it just as much as you did.
Eco-Friendly Backpacks and Travel Bags
What to look for when shopping for a sustainable travel bags:
- Plastic-free packaging and shipping
- Organic materials like cotton
- Recycled plastics
- Low impact dyes or inks
- Made with fair trade practices
Sustainable Toiletry Bags by Terra Thread
Available in a variety of colors, these heavy-duty and convenient travel bags are made with Fairtrade Certified Organic Cotton and are GOTS Certified. They’re also made without GMOs, toxic dyes or chemicals, so you can bring peace of mind with you in the forest.
GOT BAG Rolltop Backpack by Jason Momoa
Durable, water-resistant, and designed for comfort, this sustainable, travel-ready pack is made from recycled Ocean Impact Plastic through GOT BAG’s clean-up program in Indonesia. Every backpack helps remove plastic waste from coastal ecosystems and gives it new life.
Sustainable Camping Storage Boxes and Food Bags
Something first-time campers generally don’t realize is just how much food you need to pack for a family, even just for a weekend!
Not only that, but that food has to be stored and transported properly. Remember that you want to safely store food away from the prying noses of wildlife like bears as well. Stock up on camping storage boxes, reusable silicone bags, and other storage solutions to stay safe, clean, and full.
Stainless Steel Seal Cup by ECOlunchbox
When camping especially, you’ll want to have ingredients and leftovers packed up safely and conveniently. Say goodbye to plastic, and pack these easy to stack and easy to wash stainless steel cup set for a more sustainable camping trip.
3-Tier Stainless Steel Tiffin by To-Go Ware
Perfect for a picnic, this tiered storage food system uses recycled plastic and other materials to provide you with a great way to keep your cold foods cold, and hot foods hot.
Silicone Stasher Sandwich Bag by Stasher
Designed to be reusable, washable, and totally sustainable, the Silicone Sandwich Bag by Stasher is the perfect size for snacks, sandwiches, and sides. Stasher is the world’s first–and only–self-sealing, airtight, non-plastic bag to go against wasteful single-use plastic bags.
Clean Sunscreen and Body Care for Your Adventures
Tinted Zinc Sunscreen by All Good
All Good's Tinted Zinc Sunscreen is made from organic and oxybenzone-free ingredients, with added zinc oxide, green tea, rose hips, and buriti oil and is free from parabens and phthalates. This clean sunscreen is safe for our coral reefs and pristine lakes, and made in the USA.
Natural Anti-Bug Spray by Badger
Say goodbye to DEET and hello to non-toxic essential oils like citronella, rosemary and wintergreen to ward off mosquitos naturally. Cruelty free with no phthalates, this is the perfect companion for your camping adventure.
Shampoo and Conditioner Bars by ZWS Essentials
Travel-sized toiletries are one of the biggest culprits of quick single-use plastics. Bring along your shampoo and conditioner bars for a more climate neutral, compostable option for washing up. ZWS Essentials Shampoo Bars are plastic, cruelty, paraben and phthalate free.
Balm for Hardworking Hands by Badger
Certified organic and phthalate free, this hardworking balm is perfect for applying to hands, feet, and other rough areas after a long, grueling hike in the amazing wilderness!
Small Swaps for a More Hiking Sustainability
These reusable, eco-friendly swaps will make any outdoor adventure more sustainable and enjoyable.
Reusable Paper Towels by ZWS Essentials
From cleaning up kids’ messes, to napkins for dinner, these reusable paper towels come in a pack of 12 or 24, and are an essential for any outdoor adventure.The uses are endless, and they’re the perfect size to have everyone throw a couple in their bag!
Compostable Trash Bags by ZWS Essentials
Essential for truly leaving no trace and no impact on the environment, be sure to bring compostable trash bags with you on any hiking or camping outing. When you bring it back home, be sure to check your local composting guidelines when disposing. If your hiking companion is your pup, you might want to grab some compostable pet waste bags too.
Make Your Next Outdoor Adventure More Sustainable
When looking to embark to the great outdoors, don’t forget that preparedness is key. Making small swaps for more sustainable options is a great way to honor the nature we all love and appreciate so much. Cover your kitchen essentials, body care items, and sustainable travel bags and you’ll be ready to explore!
Bamboo Utensil Set by To-Go Ware
Grab one utensil set, and you’re set for life! Get rid of the wasteful plastic cutlery and go for these bamboo utensils, perfect for picnics, camping, and hiking.
