Why You Should Look for Eco-Friendly Fabrics When Buying Hiking Gear

For anyone who loves to hike, the connection to the natural world is a powerful and personal one. We are drawn to the trail by the quiet of the forest, the grandeur of a mountain vista, and the simple, grounding feeling of our boots on the earth. We are a community that is deeply committed to the “Leave No Trace” ethos, dedicated to preserving the beauty of the wild places we love.

But as we strive to minimize our impact on the trail, it’s also worth considering the footprint of the gear we carry on our backs and the clothes we wear. The outdoor apparel industry has always been at the forefront of technical innovation, and today, a growing number of brands and dedicated DIY gear makers are making sustainability a top priority. Choosing eco-friendly fabric is a powerful way to align your gear with your values. It’s about protecting the very landscapes we cherish.

When you’re shopping for your next piece of gear before your next hiking trip, here are some of the key sustainable materials and certifications to look for.

The Workhorse: Recycled Polyester and Nylon

This is one of the most common and impactful eco-friendly options in the outdoor industry. A huge number of high-performance fleeces, rain jackets, and backpacks are now made from recycled synthetics instead of virgin, petroleum-based fibers.

• Recycled Polyester is typically made from post-consumer plastic waste, primarily clear plastic water bottles. These bottles are cleaned, chopped into flakes, melted down, and extruded into a new, high-quality fiber.
• Recycled Nylon is often made from post-industrial waste, like discarded fishing nets and carpet scraps.

Choosing recycled fabrics diverts a massive amount of waste from our landfills and oceans and uses significantly less energy and water to produce than their virgin counterparts, all without any sacrifice in performance.

The Natural Performers: Responsible Wool and Hemp

Some of the best performance fibers are not made in a lab, but by nature itself.

• Merino Wool: This natural fiber is a hiker’s dream. It’s incredibly soft, it wicks moisture away from your skin, it insulates even when wet, and it is naturally odor-resistant. When you’re buying merino wool base layers or socks, look for certifications like the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS). This is your assurance that the wool comes from farms that have a progressive approach to managing their land and a high standard of animal welfare.
• Hemp: Hemp is another natural powerhouse. It’s an incredibly durable fiber that is breathable and gets softer with every wash. As a crop, it has a very low environmental impact, requiring very little water and no pesticides to grow.

The Seal of Approval: Look for Bluesign® and OEKO-TEX®

Sometimes, the environmental impact of a fabric comes not from the fiber itself, but from the dyes and chemicals used to process and finish it. This is where two major third-party certifications become incredibly important.

• The Bluesign® System: If you see a fabric that is “Bluesign Approved,” it means that it has been manufactured in a way that is safe for the environment, the workers, and you, the consumer. Bluesign works with mills to eliminate harmful substances from the very beginning of the manufacturing process, ensuring a cleaner and more sustainable product.
• OEKO-TEX® Standard 100: This is another global standard. If a garment has an OEKO-TEX label, it means that every single component—from the fabric and the thread to the buttons and zippers—has been tested for and is free from a long list of over 100 substances known to be harmful to human health.

Being a conscious consumer is a powerful extension of being a responsible hiker. By taking a few extra moments to check the tag and choose gear made from sustainable materials, you are casting a vote for a healthier planet and ensuring that the wild places we love will be there for generations of future adventurers to enjoy.