For anyone even paying the slightest bit of attention, it’s no secret that our beloved planet has a serious pollution problem.

Conscious about how what you buy affects the planet? Look into upcycling. Photo: Courtesy of Picture. But while the outdoor recreation world is by no means an innocent bystander in the world of consumerism (read: the gearhead in all of us), there is a growing number of outdoors companies building gear from recycled materials, creating a unique upcycling movement to reduce our footprint on a global scale. Before updating and restocking your summer gear, take a look at these upcyled gear alternatives and treat yourself while protecting the natural playgrounds we all love. Nomadix Towel ($55)

Turn your plastic bottles into a darn good beach companion. Photo: Courtesy of Nomadix. This do-anything towel, yoga mat, and camp mat is the ultimate in upcycled utility. Made from recycled plastic bottles, the Nomadix Towel is quick-drying and anti-microbial, making it perfect for any type of multi-day adventure. Better yet, featuring a ton of different colorways and patterns, the towel is as cool-looking as it is earth-saving. Alchemy Goods Ballard Belt ($40)

Bike tubes have never looked this cool. Photo: Courtesy of Alchemy Goods. Everyone has popped a bike tire or two, but how many of us have put that busted tube to good use? The team over at Alchemy Goods in Seattle has created a unique line of products utilizing these old bike tubes, including the sleek Ballard Belt. Stitched like your favorite jeans supporter, the Ballard’s rubber construction lets you stretch the belt to your own comfort without stretching out permanently like its leather alternatives. Sharp-looking and practical? We’re all about it. Rareform Surf Bag ($88)

Rareform makes a surf bag with a story. Photo: Courtesy of Chris Burkard/Rareform. It may come as a surprise, but highway billboards are not made from big poster boards, but rather weather-resistant vinyl. Unfortunately, much of this vinyl ends up in landfills, and worse yet, never breaks down. California’s Rareform has taken up the challenge of repurposing the material in recent years, creating surf bags and tote bags made exclusively from upcycled billboards. Boasting that no two bags are the same (each is taken from a different section of billboard, after all), Rareform’s bags are as unique as they are utilitarian. Costa x Bureo Untangled Sunglasses ($199)

Helping to save the ocean has never looked so good. Photo: Courtesy of Costa. Plastic fishing nets account for approximately 640,000 tons of plastic pollution to our oceans every year, but Costa Sunglasses and Bureo have teamed up to tackle the issue one pair of sunglasses at a time. Using upcycled fishing nets, the companies have created a four-piece sunglasses collection built for beach season. Aside from their obvious environmental impact, the shades of the Untangled Collection also feature Costa’s 58 Lightwave tech for filtering out yellow light and providing contrast on the water, in the city, or wherever summer’s adventures might take you. Picture Civic 3.2 Zipfree Wetsuit ($370)

Picture has built a brand on using bio-safe products to make its gear. Now they’ve entered the wetsuit game. Photo: Courtesy of Picture. Typically constructed of environmentally harmful neoprene, wetsuits have long been a sore spot for eco-conscious surfers. French brand Picture Clothing is currently doing its part to correct that, introducing its own bio-sourced wetsuits like the Picture Civic 3.2 Zipfree that utilize not only natural rubber alternatives to neoprene, but also recycled polyester from plastic bottles to create a functional wetsuit for any wave catcher. In fact, one Picture wetsuit recycles approximately 45 plastic bottles.

The Perfect Gear for Summer Backpacking In The Sierra

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For anyone even paying the slightest bit of attention, it’s no secret that our beloved planet has a serious pollution problem.

But while the outdoor recreation world is by no means an innocent bystander in the world of consumerism (read: the gearhead in all of us), there is a growing number of outdoors companies building gear from recycled materials, creating a unique upcycling movement to reduce our footprint on a global scale.

Before updating and restocking your summer gear, take a look at these upcyled gear alternatives and treat yourself while protecting the natural playgrounds we all love.

Nomadix Towel ($55)

This do-anything towel, yoga mat, and camp mat is the ultimate in upcycled utility. Made from recycled plastic bottles, the Nomadix Towel is quick-drying and anti-microbial, making it perfect for any type of multi-day adventure. Better yet, featuring a ton of different colorways and patterns, the towel is as cool-looking as it is earth-saving.

Alchemy Goods Ballard Belt ($40)

Everyone has popped a bike tire or two, but how many of us have put that busted tube to good use? The team over at Alchemy Goods in Seattle has created a unique line of products utilizing these old bike tubes, including the sleek Ballard Belt. Stitched like your favorite jeans supporter, the Ballard’s rubber construction lets you stretch the belt to your own comfort without stretching out permanently like its leather alternatives. Sharp-looking and practical? We’re all about it.

Rareform Surf Bag ($88)

It may come as a surprise, but highway billboards are not made from big poster boards, but rather weather-resistant vinyl. Unfortunately, much of this vinyl ends up in landfills, and worse yet, never breaks down. California’s Rareform has taken up the challenge of repurposing the material in recent years, creating surf bags and tote bags made exclusively from upcycled billboards. Boasting that no two bags are the same (each is taken from a different section of billboard, after all), Rareform’s bags are as unique as they are utilitarian.

Costa x Bureo Untangled Sunglasses ($199)

Plastic fishing nets account for approximately 640,000 tons of plastic pollution to our oceans every year, but Costa Sunglasses and Bureo have teamed up to tackle the issue one pair of sunglasses at a time. Using upcycled fishing nets, the companies have created a four-piece sunglasses collection built for beach season. Aside from their obvious environmental impact, the shades of the Untangled Collection also feature Costa’s 58 Lightwave tech for filtering out yellow light and providing contrast on the water, in the city, or wherever summer’s adventures might take you.

Picture Civic 3.2 Zipfree Wetsuit ($370)

Typically constructed of environmentally harmful neoprene, wetsuits have long been a sore spot for eco-conscious surfers. French brand Picture Clothing is currently doing its part to correct that, introducing its own bio-sourced wetsuits like the Picture Civic 3.2 Zipfree that utilize not only natural rubber alternatives to neoprene, but also recycled polyester from plastic bottles to create a functional wetsuit for any wave catcher. In fact, one Picture wetsuit recycles approximately 45 plastic bottles.

The Perfect Gear for Summer Backpacking In The Sierra

Read article

For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!

The Perfect Gear for Summer Backpacking In The Sierra

Read article

The Perfect Gear for Summer Backpacking In The Sierra

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