Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Outdoors

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Why 2022 Is Finally the Year for Eco-Conscious Outdoor Adventure Gear

Mike Richard
By
2021 Will Be the Year for Eco-Conscious Outdoor Adventure Gear
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Despite what the conspiracy theorists would have you believe, we’ve been facing a climate change crisis for some time now. Green-savvy companies in almost every industry are working to clean up their manufacturing processes as much as possible. But outdoor stores and brands, more than any other, have been at the forefront of the movement. They’re leaning into clever, often plant-based materials and processes to minimize greenhouse gas production, cut waste, and create better overall products to boot. This year, however, is shaping up to be the year when you can finally expect a sea change in how the newest gear in your closet could be made. Here are the eco-conscious trends we’re excited about right now.

Related Guides

Fancy Fabrics

On the “lighter” side of the push toward greener gear is the use of more enviro-friendly manufacturing processes that cut down on waste and pollution. Last month, for example, Colorado-based Big Agnes announced the 2021 debut of a collection of ultralight tents made from solution-dyed fabrics. The production process requires 80% less energy and 50% less water over traditional dyeing methods. Even better, it uses 80% fewer chemicals, too. The best part is that camping tents are made from fabrics that are more UV fade-resistant, resulting in a more durable, better quality product.

Recommended Videos

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Creating products from recycled materials isn’t new. But, continually recycling things derived from fossil fuels isn’t a viable path to a greener future. We need to rely on recycling sustainable natural materials. Next month, Big Agnes is also releasing two all-new TwisterCane-based products, including the BioFoam Pad and BioFoam Hiking Seat . This closed-cell foam pad is made from 60% sugarcane extract, which is fully renewable and maximizes sustainability. At its source, the sugarcane production helps reduce greenhouse gases through active CO2 capture and minimizes toxic Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate (EVA) during manufacturing.

vollebak plant and algae t shirt
Vollebak

Worm Food Wear

Few companies are leading the future-forward charge for sustainable apparel like Vollebak. In 2019, the brand debuted an innovative, 100% biodegradable t-shirt. The plant-based fabric was sourced from eucalyptus pulp and beech, while the logo design was made entirely from algae grown in bioreactors. What’s more: It’s compostable. Bury it in your backyard, and it’ll be worm food in about 12 weeks. It’s a slow process, for sure, but way more enviro-friendly than its plastic and microfiber counterparts. The downside is that high-tech green alternatives like this have always been pricey (this Vollebak edition runs more than $100). As demand for apparel like this firms up this year, however, expect those prices to drop as more companies offer similar products.

Related

“Used Is the New New”

Beyond relying on recycled materials from the start, more brands are encouraging their customers to buy less and recycle the end products, too. Patagonia has been leading this charge for years, in accordance with its mission statement of being “… in business to save our home planet.” But the company’s CEO said in a recent interview that, starting this year, it’s pushing its Worn Wear initiative even harder. The program aims to connect directly with Patagonia customers to find ways to keep their apparel and outdoor gear out of landfills and in use for as long as possible. Several companies offer similar programs like REI Used Gear , MEC Gear Swap, Arc’teryx’s Used Gear , and The North Face Renewed .

With that in mind, the easiest thing we nature lovers can do as good stewards of our planet is to simply buy secondhand. Most high-quality brand-name gear is designed to outlast you, so there’s rarely a reason to buy new. Look to secondhand markets like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and Geartrade to score gently used (sometimes like new) gear at a fraction of the price.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Mike Richard
Mike Richard
Contributor
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
This tiny caravan uses one smart feature to almost double its space when parked
One of the smallest travel trailers on the market sleeps four thanks to a one-of-a-kind "trap door"
Sportcaravan Cube 1 Microcarvan Travel Trailer isolated on a studio background.

Ultra-compact, lightweight, and as minimal as it gets, tiny teardrop trailers are the purest expression of RV camping. They're a clear step up from sleeping in a ground tent (or even a rooftop tent), but they're designed to strip away all the flash and luxury of today's fanciest motorhomes. That design ethos got Germany's Sportcaravan thinking about how to make its already pint-sized Cube "caravan" trailers smaller and bigger simultaneously. Enter the Cube 1.

The full details on Sportcaravan's "mega micro" travel trailer
The newest entry into Sportcaravan's Cube line-up is also the smallest. The Cube 1 is tiny, even by teardrop trailer standards. By the numbers, it weighs just 700 pounds — light enough to be towed by almost anything with a hitch, from Subaru Outbacks to Honda CR-Vs to Toyota RAV4s. The shell measures just 10.5 feet from tip to tail and stands less than 5.5 feet tall when collapsed down. For reference, that's less than two feet longer and four inches taller than a Smart Fortwo, making it more than capable of fitting in any standard garage or even in a parking garage space.

Read more
Westfalia just dropped a new camper — its first in over 20 years — that is perfect for van life
One of the world's most iconic van customizers, maker of the OG "van life" van, returns to the U.S.
Young couple stepping into mountain stream with Westfalia Wave van in the background.

Van life living might seem like a "new" thing. But there were self-professed "dirtbags" and road-tripping hippies long before Instagram was ever a thing. Way back in the 1950s — we're talking before Buzz and Neil even set foot on the moon — Westfalia was turning Volkswagen buses into pop-top RVs so our parents' parents could road trip in (relative) style. Now, after a two-decade absence, the company is returning stateside with an all-new custom ride that's swankier, roomier, and more luxurious than any Westfalia van before it.

The inside scoop on the all-new Westfalia Wave camper van
While Westfalia made a name for itself by customizing VW buses in the 1950s, its latest project takes a surprisingly different tack. The Wave is based on the tried-and-true Ram Promaster 3500S platform with a 3.6L V6, pushing 276 horsepower through a nine-speed automatic transmission. Westfalia makes good use of the van's 20.7-foot bumper-to-bumper length, allowing for tons of space for sleeping, cooking, storage, and even showering.

Read more
Good investment or an elitist ripoff: Is expensive winter outdoor gear worth the money?
You get what you pay for, right? What about with winter gear, though?
Winter road

Hobbies are expensive. Whether you picked up golf clubs and decided it is your new obsession, or began riding motorcycles across the country, your hobbies cost a ton of money. It shouldn't cost as much money as it does to explore and experience the world. Yet here we are. Winter gear is some of the most expensive apparel on the market, and it leaves many of us wondering if buying outdoor gear for winter is worth the money. It isn't a straightforward answer, so we took a stab at it.

 
Do you get what you pay for with outdoor gear?
This is no easy place to start this piece, but in the interest of getting it out the way straight away, yes, you do. This is a tentative yes, not an outright certainty, and there are two major caveats I also want to address early.

Read more