Eco-Friendly Backpacking Gear at the Cutting Edge of Sustainability
Sustainability is the new frontier of product innovation, and our first-of-its-kind, lightweight, hyper sustainable backpacking gear list tracks the cutting edge while hardly compromising on functionality. For most categories of item a backpacker requires to live in the backcountry, we have a best-in-class, eco-friendly recommendation to consider, in case you can’t find what you’re looking for secondhand. Remember, buying used is always the most sustainable option!
New Sustainable Backpacking Gear Criteria
- Functional
- Sustainable Materials
- Responsibly Manufactured
- Ethical Business Practices
This unique ~15 pound lightweight gear list is currently in the beta test phase and constantly evolving. At time of publication, we are still trying and acquiring new gear, and many items have been featured speculatively. Every time a new best-in-class item is discovered, we will update accordingly. Jump ahead for the 100% comprehensive item-by-item gear list with weight and price in table format. Note, at time publication, there is not a sustainable option for every category of gear. While you’re here, don’t miss our guides to sustainable recycled water bottles, and the performance-optimized ultralight gear list, fastpacking gear list, and day hiking gear list.
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Sustainable Backpacking Gear Highlights
Used Hiking Gear Is The Most Sustainable Option
The most sustainable backpacking gear is that which requires no manufacturing and already exists – AKA used, secondhand, or preowned. Many large outdoor equipment and apparel brands now resell lightly used returned items through programs like Patagonia Worn Wear, The North Face Renewed, and Arc’teryx ReGear. Furthermore, you can find an array of used gear on sites like ebay and Gear Trade. Whatever type of gear you’re shopping for, you can likely find it used!
NEMO Persist 45 Endless Promise
100% Recycled Main, Recyclable | 59 oz | $250
Nemo Persist 45L Endless Promise is the most sustainable backpacking pack currently in existence, and an obvious choice to haul this kit. While any pack worth its sustainbility salt is now made with recycled materials, the 100% recycled and solution dyed CERO fabric is durable, water-resistant, and can be returned to NEMO for recycling at end of its long lasting useable life. Add that all up and Persist enters a league of its own. That being said, no pack is perfect and we wish this one had larger external pockets across the board, and was offered in a 55-60L capacity version. As-is, loading ‘er up involves more cramming, strapping, and compressing than is strictly necessary.
NEMO Dagger OSMO 2P Tent
100% Recycled Fabric, Bluesign Product | 53 oz | $500
In the Dagger 2P, NEMO is first to market with a fully bluesign approved tent. And that means every component is certified for responsible manufacturing, including poles, stakes, cords, and of course the 100% recycled, solution dyed, high performance OSMO fabric fly fabric. What’s more, it’s superbly livable, with a high volume interior and massive vestibules. Compared to its previous version, this Dagger has significantly better head room, even larger vestibules, improved hardware, one ounce of weight savings, and somehow costs $30 less! Nice work, NEMO!
NEMO Pulse 30F Endless Promise Quilt
100% Recycled Fabric, Recyclable | 18 oz | $550
A number of factors make the new-for-2025 NEMO Pulse Endless Promise Quilt one of the most compelling options in its category. But for our purposes, we love that it is both hyper sustainble, and truly ultralight. The 1000 fill power down ensures a high warmth-to-weight ratio, on top of the fact that it’s karo step baffled. What’s more, the quilt can be returned to NEMO for recycling once its reach the end of its useable lifespan. Quilts are lighter, comfier, and higher warmth-to-weight ratio than sleeping bags – once people try quilts, they never go back.
NEMO Quasar 3D Sleeping Pad
100% Recycled Insulation & Fabric | 25 oz | $160
It may be twice as heavy as their best-in-class ultralight Tensor line, but NEMO Quasar 3D is easily the most sustainable and one of the cushiest sleeping pads on the market. This is thanks to the use of 100% post-consumer recycled PrimaLoft insulation, and 100% bluesign approved post-consumer recycled polyester ripstop. Post consumer recycling is always preferred to pre-consumer, and the double tap on that front is admirable.
Big Agnes TwisterCane BioFoam Pad
60% Biobased | 14 oz | $50
Big Agnes TwisterCane BioFoam, what a name! And from a sustainability perspective, what a product! This is the only bio-based closed cell foam pad on the market, and an obvious include on this list. Sure, it’s not quite as comfy, lower R-value, and a bit bulkier (due to roll-not-fold) than Therm-a-Rest ZLite and NEMO Switchback. But the user experience is roughly equivalent, and it’s way more eco-friendly.
NEMO Resolve Endless Promise 25L Daypack
100% Recycled Fabric, Recyclable | 38 oz | $250
We know that daypacks aren’t backpacking gear, but figured it was worth adding a recommendation anyway. And NEMO Resolve Endless Promise takes the cake. Despite running a smidge heavy, this model meets all of our technical needs, is made with 100% recycled fabric, and is recyclable at end life.
Patagonia NanoPuff Hoodie
100% Recycled Fabric & Insulation | 12.8 oz | $289
It’s pretty basic for us to award Patagonia NanoPuff the top slot for our puffy jacket category, but extensive marketplace research didn’t yield any options with a better blend of both performance and sustainability. A couple of jackets, including the Rab Microlight, are available with recycled fabric and recycled down, combining the desirability of bio-based ingredients and re-use. But those jackets were all too heavy, coming in at >1 lb, and aren’t sold by a company owned by a non-profit. Compared to other synthetic insulations including their own PlumaFill, Patagonia’s use of PrimaLoft Gold won us over with P.U.R.E. reduced emissions and 100% postconsumer feedstock.
Patagonia Recycled Cashmere Hoodie
100% Biobased, 95% Recycled | 13.6 oz | $249
As sustainable backpacking gear shoppers, we’re frequently choosing between recycled or biobased materials. But why not both at once? Patagonia’s Recycled Cashmere Sweaters gives you that option by reclaiming pre-consumer cashmere waste, breaking it down, and spinning it back into new yarns. And lastly, we can’t emphasis enough how important is for the eco-conscious backpacker to choose a woolen mid-layer over fleece, due to the shedding of microplastics.
Patagonia TorrentShell 3L Rain Jacket
100% Recycled Face, 13% Biobased Membrane | 14.1 oz | $179
The Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Rain Jacket is another no brainer for sustainable backpacking gear list inclusion. From a performance perspective, it offers three layer composition, pit zips, and solid durability. From a sustainability perspective, you get 100% recycled nylon face with a 13% biobased membrane. While 13% is small, any biobase whatsoever in a membrane is new and exciting, and Torrentshell is steering rain jackets into a more sustainable future.
Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Rain Pants
100% Recycled Face, 13% Biobased Membrane | 11.8 oz | $129
Just like the corresponding rain jacket, the Torrentshell Rain Pants offer best-in-class sustainability thanks to the use of 100% recycled nylon and an unprecedented 13% biobased membrane. They’re also durable, have pockets, and 3/4 length side zips.
Paka Alpaca Thermal Base Layer Bottoms
100% biobased, Traceable | 7.8 oz | $125
Warm, soft, light, naturally anti-microbial, and 100% biobased, the Paka Alpaca Thermal Base Layers are a go-to for additional leg warmth in cool weather. The alpaca wool is traceable, and Paka is a certified B-Corp.
Patagonia Brodeo Beanie
70% Recycled Wool | 2.9 oz | $49
Recycled wool is the preferred option for sustainable headwear, and the wide-cuffed Patagonia Brodeo Beanie is 70%. The remainder of the ingredients include 26% recycled nylon, and 4% mystery fiber that likely comes from the recycled wool mix.
SkyGoat Camp Mitts
100% Recycled, 1% for the Planet | 1.0 oz | $18
The SkyGoat Camp Mittens are both ultralight, and made in the USA with 100% recycled fabric. While less warm than average, the overall warmth-to-weight ratio is perfectly respectable. What’s more, the grid fleece is dreamy soft and highly breathable. These use a stow away system to secure the flip top; simply stuff the top of the flip mitt into the gap directly over back-of-hand. Lack of thumb convertibility is a dexterity bummer, but simplifying the system does keep cost and weight down.
Smartwool Second Cut Hiking Socks
Made of 33% Recycled Socks | 2.8 oz | $23
Smartwool Second Cut Socks stand out as uniquely circular, and push the boundaries of how sustainable a sock can be – 33% of their fabric is comprised of recycled socks from Smartwool’s takeback program. That being said, they are thicker and warmer than our preferred trail running socks, and have a loose fit that leads to bunching. We wish they made them sportier, but they’re still great as cozy camp socks. For all-day performance wear to use while hiking, we recommend the Paka Trail 3/4 socks – more on those in the next section.
Portuguese Cork Sandals
100% Biobased | 8 oz (pair) | $55
We looked far and wide for a lightweight, backcountry-friendly, sustainable sandal and were coming up blank; everything was either too heavy, or made from too much virgin plastic. But these 100% cork sandals available on Etsy bucked the trend! Portugal is the cork capital of the world, and they’re doing exciting things with this mega renewable tree bark that is both lightweight and waterproof. The biggest downside is that they have to ship directly from Portugal; we hope an American manufacturer takes up this concept to reduce the carbon footprint further.
Allbirds Trail Runners SWT
100% of Materials are Biobased or Recycled, Low Carbon | 12 oz | $140
The Allbirds Trail Runners SWT are a new breed of sustainable outdoor shoe, and nothing else comes close on an eco-friendly axis. Just scope the materials and you’ll see that every single component is either biobased or recycled, including merino-Tencel blend uppers, sugarcane and castor bean oil-based mid/insole foams, natural rubber outsoles, and even biobased TPU seam tape! Admittedly though, they’re a bit lackluster from a performance perspective. SWTs are heavy, warm, slow to dry, aren’t springy, and we’ve never liked tongue-free designs. They might not be HOKAs, but at least in our limited experience of running and walking, they haven’t caused blisters. Until proven otherwise on the trail in 2025, these will be our top pick for sustainable hiking footwear.
Paka Trail 3/4 Crew Socks
40% Biobased, 57% Recycled, Traceable | 1.3 oz | $24
The Paka Trail Socks were already our go-to performance pick for running and hiking, and we’re delighted to recommend them from a sustainability perspective too. They offer a best-in-class mix of comfort, security of fit, breathability, quick-dry time, odor-resistance, and blister prevention. On top of that, they’re made by a B-Corp certified brand with 97% sustainable materials. Full crew and quarter crew lengths are also available.
Grass Sticks Bamboo Trekking Poles
100% Bamboo Shaft | 18 oz (per pair) | $144
Grass Sticks Bamboo Trekking Poles are harvested, not manufactured, which makes them much more sustainable than traditional options. After testing, we can confirm that the cured bamboo shaft is incredibly strong and surprisingly light, albeit not comparable to best-in-class carbon fiber, but superior to aluminum. Make sure to upgrade to cork handles for sustainability and adjustable recycled polyester straps – neither of which are default. Despite lack of adjustability and collapsibilty degrading functionality, these are clearly the most sustainable trekking poles out there, and easily outperformed Leki’s Hemp One Vario in our testing.
Paka Sol Sun Hoodie
81% Biobased, 14% recycled | 9.2 oz | $95
A sun hoodie is the best and most versatile layer for hiking and backpacking, and Paka’s Sol Hoodie is the best natural option to score a UPF rating. The majority Tencel blend is soft, comfortable, and airy, albeit not as quick-drying or lightweight as polyester.
Patagonia Hampi Rock Pants
53% Biobased, 44% Recycled | 11.3 oz | $99
It’s easy enough to find recycled nylon or polyester pants, but hard to find a lightweight, majority biobased pair. Patagonia Hampi Rock Pants offer the breathability of plant-based fibers, with the quick-dry performance of polyester. Designed for climbing, but perfectly suitable to hiking as well, these make for a great all-day wear.
Arcade Belts
85% Recycled Fabric | 2.5 oz | $35
Arcade Belts are high performers in the outdoor belt genre, comprised of 85% recycled polyester and 15% natural rubber. They are soft, lightly stretchy, don’t rub or chafe, and pair perfectly with hiking pants. Note, the aforementioned Patagonia Hampi Rock Pants do not require a belt.
Icebreaker Merino 125 Speed Shorts
100% Biobased | 3.9 oz | $95
Finding a pair of 100% biobased running shorts is exceedingly difficult, but we finally locked in on the Icebreaker 125 ZoneKnit Speed Shorts, available in a 3″ inseam for women and 6″ for men. The merino-Tencel blend is airy, soft, odor-resistant, comfy, and surprisingly durable. That being said, it dries much slower than polyester, and its only pocket is the back phone pocket which doesn’t actually fit phones. It also, sigh, comes with liner underwear, and performance users will want to cut that out.
Ridge Merino Underwear (Women’s & Men’s)
84% Biobased, 12% Recycled | .5-2 oz | $20-40
Ridge Merino is our purveyor of choice when it comes to natural underwear, and merino in particular is a premium option in terms of its antibacterial properties. Furthermore, their blended fabric uses recycled nylon, while many competing brands supplement their wool fibers with virgin nylon or polyester. They make a wide array of cuts for men and women, including underwear and bras.
Outdoor Research Swift Surplus Cap
Reclaimed 60% Recycled Top Panels | 2.5 oz | $30
What a delight to find out that our favorite/hiking running cap is now made from partially upcycled materials. The top fabric of the OR Swift Surplus Cap is made with scrap materials that would otherwise have gone to waste. Unfortunately, the body of the cap is still made with virgin polyester, so there is lots of room for further sustainability improvements.
Eclipse Fingerless Sun Gloves
87% Recycled | .4 oz | $29
Eclipse Sun Gloves, made with polyester derived from recycled water bottles, are a great way to protect your hands and reduce sunscreen use. They maintain dexterity and hold up surprisingly well to wear and tear on the trail.
Used Automatic Field Watch
No Manufacturing/Battery Required | 2.7 oz | $150
The most sustainable backpacking gear is that which is does not need to be manufactured. And it just so happens that there is a prolific marketplace available for secondhand (get it?) watches on eBay. In fact, there are so many readily available used watches that it is nigh inexcusable for the sustainability oriented shopper to buy new. We recommend choosing an automatic field watch, and specifically the Seiko 5 Sports for high performance at a great price, or Hamilton Khaki Field for a more premium option. These mechanical watches are powered by the movement of your wrist, requiring no battery, and will last a lifetime. For optimal performance, choose a watch with white numerals on a black dial.
Sunski Sunglasses
100% recycled frames | .7 oz | $48
Sunski’s make high performance, polarized sport sunglasses that are as effective as they are great looking. And for the eco-shopper, their SuperLight™ frames are made with 100% recycled scrap plastic that is “intercepted from the waste stream”. Not sure if that is just a fancy way of saying “recycled”, but either way, they make for great sunnies. We’ve tested and recommend the Sunski Puerto, but any model with the SuperLight™ frame designation will do.
Silva Terra Scout Hybrid Headlamp
Rechargeable, 100% recycled and/or biobased | 3.0 oz | $55
Silva Terra Scout is the only headlamp with sustainable casing, made of 80% recycled plastic and 20% hemp, and the headband is 100% recycled. It has all of your normal headlamp functionality, including 350 lumens, red light mode, and IPX5 water resistance. It is compatible with either Silva’s Rechargeable Hybrid Battery (38007), or three AAAs, but we know you’ll choose the former. Silva is a Swedish brand that isn’t well-known in the USA and tracking down a Terra Scout can be hard. In addition to shopping REI, make sure to check their brand site, as well as Amazon.
Osprey Ultralight Dry Sacks
100% Recycled bluesign Fabric | 2.1 oz | $28 (for 20L version)
Osprey’s Ultralight Dry Sacks easily earn our recommendation via the use 100% recycled bluesign® approved ripstop nylon in addition to an impressive light weight. No viable alternative is competing with a recycled fabric.
ALPS Mountaineering Reclaimed Foam Sit Pad
100% Reclaimed Waste Foam | 4.0 oz | $15
Slightly heavier and less cushy than Therm-a-Rest Z-Seat, but significantly more sustainable, the ALPS Mountaineering Reclaimed Foam Sit Pad diverts foam from the landfill instead of adding to it. We tested the NEMO Chipper too, also made from reclaimed foam, but found it to be much heavier, scratchier, and more prone to microplastic shed; a total no-go. As an alternative, you might consider the Big Agnes TwisterCane BioFoam sit pad.
Sigg Traveler MyPlanet Bottle, 1L
100% Recycled Body, Biobased Lid | 5.1 oz | $20
Ditch that heinous Smartwater for a 100% recycled/100% recyclable aluminum Sigg Traveler MyPlanet bottle. These 1L bottles are lighter weight and more sustainable than a comparably sized Nalgene Sustain, which are made of plastic and are only 50% recycled. When shopping Sigg bottles, make sure to choose the biobased lid for a plastic-free design.
Used Pocket Knife
No Manufacturing Required | 2.7 oz | $30
There is a booming market for high quality used pocket knives on eBay, which makes it inexcusable for the sustainable backpacking gear shopper to buy new. Most popular, mass produced knives are available. We recommend the Benchmade Bugout/Mini Bugout, Spyderco Delica, and Kershaw Leek/Carbon Leek.
Eha Earth Friendly Mug
Majority Biobased | 6.1 oz | $11
These majority biocomposite mugs are made using a blend of repurposed bamboo, rice husks, and coffee husks that would otherwise be wasted. What’s more, they’re lightweight and very sturdy. Not quite on titanium’s level, but a big step forward when it comes to backcountry drinkware sustainability.
Gossamer Gear Bamboo Long Spoon
100% Biobased | 0.7 oz | $7
When an ultralight product is available in a 100% biobased iteration, we say go for it. While any bamboo option will do, the Gossamer Gear Bamboo Spoon is classic, trail-tested, and long-handled for eating freeze dried meals. Annoyingly though, our spoon came in a disposable plastic bag.
Pela Phone Case
100% Biobased, Compostable | 1.5 oz | $50
Pela is a sustainable gear brand to keep your eyes on. These 100% biobased, compostable phone cases are made with flaxstraw, and the end result is tough, light, soft, grippy, and pleasant to hold. This case does everything your plastic version does, but without harming the environment. Plus, the brand is superbly ethical and supports non-profits.
ANDA Ultralight Zip Wallet
100% Upcycled Recycled Fabric | 0.2 oz | $15
For hiking, backpacking, and also everyday use, we recommend a zipper pouch wallet. Compared to the classic bifold, zip pouches are lighter, more secure, and fit more cards for less bulk. From a sustainability perspective, ANDA’s Zip Wallet happen to be made of scrap fabric leftover from the trimmings of camp tarps. What’s more, the base fabric is already recycled, making these double circular!
Compostic Zip Bags
At Home Compostable | .2 oz | $0.25 per
Compostic Zipper Bags are basically Ziploc bags made out of the green material commonly associated with food scrap composting bags. Despite being biodegradable, they are still quite waterproof, and have lasted a full eight day backpacking trip without any noticeable degradation. Available in snack, sandwich, quart, and gallon sizes. A very useful, all-purpose item for storing snacks and toiletries.
EcoLips SPF Lip Balm
100% Biobased Tube, Organic Balm | .5 oz | $4 per
Did you know you can now get affordable, organic, SPF-rated lip balm in a plastic free biobased tube? EcoLips Lip Balm is manufactured by a B-Corp with 100% renewable energy and is Fair Trade certified. What more could you ask?
Sea Turtle Bamboo Toothbrush
100% Biobased | .3 oz | $2 per
Ultralight, 100% biobased toothbrushes, like this Sea Turtle Bamboo brush, are readily available. They’re most commonly made with bamboo handles and brushes of either castor oil-derived nylon or boar bristles. Store in a Compostic zip sandwich bag for +0.2 oz.
Bamboo & Charcoal Floss + Bamboo Container
100% Biobased (Excluding Metal Strand Cutter) | .9 oz | $12
Standard floss and floss containers create loads of single-use plastic waste, and we should all be cutting back. And that’s to say nothing of potential microplastics from the use of nylon fibers in your mouth. Instead, choose 100% biobased bamboo charcoal floss in a bamboo container. There’s lots of options, but this version from Me Mother Earth works well.
Unpaste Toothpaste Tabs
100% Compostable Packaging | .01 oz per tab | $.1 per tab
Disposable toothpaste tubes are another area where we can all step up to reduce waste. Instead brush with Unpaste Tabs, sold in 100% compostable packaging. To use, simple chew two tabs (directions call for one tab, but that doesn’t seem like enough) into a paste and brush as normal. Sustainable backpacking gear shoppers will appreciate that these tabs are lighter weight than traditional paste. Store in a .1 oz Compostic snack bag.
Who Gives A Crap Toilet Paper
100% Recycled, Biodegradable, B-Corp | Weight Varies By Amount | ~$2 Per Roll
Just like the rest of your toiletries, you should pack toilet paper from a sustainably minded B-Corp brand like Who Gives A Crap. Their TP is 100% recycled, and bio-degradeable, with 50% of profits donated to charity. Always remember to pack out your used TP, and we recommend doing so in a Compostic Zip Bag.
Farm to Summit Freeze Dried Meals
Biodegradable Packaging | Weight Varies | ~$14
Farm to Summit Freeze Dried Meals are delicous, vegetarian, and contained in Omnidegradeable packaging. These meals bags accomodate boiling water as per usual, but break down in any environment where microbes are present, including your home compost or a landfill! Unfortunately, they decompose slightly too slowly to be allowed in your municipal compost bin.
Used Kershaw Leek & Seiko 5 Sports purchased on ebay.
Hyper Sustainable Backpacking Gear List Conclusion
Thank you for researching your next purchase with our sustainable gear list, where we hope you found your next piece of kit. The marketplace for eco-friendly equipment is constantly evolving, and we’d love your feedback and suggestions. If you’ve discovered an item that is as-or-more sustainable as the current recommendation for any given category, please drop us a line in the comments. Thank you and happy hiking!
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