The Green Hiker

A study by Ethical Consumer magazine claims that companies that produce hiking boots, tents and all sorts of outdoor gear are causing serious damage to the environment …. and are abusing workers’ rights. Ouch!

You can read more about the allegations …. and some of the named outdoor gear manufacturer’s  responses here.

Other News Accounts:

• Common Dreams

• Toxic Shirts?

Related articles by Zemanta

• Outdoor gear contains petroleum, nanotech (sfgate.com)

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Just a few basic eco-friendly hiking and camping tips. With a fun little lunch box video on the end.

Eco-friendly Camping Tips | Family Camping

It is our jobs to take the same care when we are out camping, hiking and exploring this summer. We can all do this by being conscious of our impact as we camp and how we can reduce that impact to create a more green and sustainable …

Publish Date: 05/26/2010 8:16

http://www.tchea.org/camping-tips/eco-friendly-camping-tips

Eco Camp Gear Can Include Compostable Bags, Recycled Plastic

Earth-friendly gear for your camping trips can be good for everyday routines, too. Outdoor living offers many opportunities to make the greener choice.

Publish Date: 05/05/2010 21:39

http://hikingbackpacking.suite101.com/article.cfm/eco-camp-gear-can-include-compostable-bags-recycled-plastic

Plan a Greener Camping Trip by Purchasing Eco-Friendly Gear

Tents made of nearly 100% recycled materials, innovative accessories, and solar lights and ovens make it possible to shop greener for the next camping trip.

Publish Date: 04/30/2010 0:42

http://hikingbackpacking.suite101.com/article.cfm/plan-a-greener-camping-trip-by-purchasing-eco-friendly-gear

Latch Tiffin Lunch Box – Eco Friendly Stainless Steel Food Containers

These are reusable and eco friendly stainless steel food containers by Happy Tiffin. This video displays Latch Tiffin Lunch Box’s functionality of each tier of each section. Happy Tiffin specializes in eco-friendly products that help sustain green …

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With the tag “Get Outdoors Wherever You Are”, the National Wildlife Federation’s Get Outside page sports the nifty Nature Find tool that allows you to find outdoor events and/or sites within one to 500 miles of any U.S. location.

Using Google Maps and a database of almost 30 site types including parks, aquariums, trails, and preserves, you can easily find a local destination no matter where you are in the country.

And you can filter your search to show only sites that include activities:  NWF events, camping, water sports, snow sports, cycling, walking, and nature events …. to name a few.

Check out my crude screen capture video to get a better flavor of this “you-have-no-excuse” Nature Find.

Nature Find Video

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The India arm of the World Wide Fund For Nature has initiated The Green Hiker project to encourage responsible tourism throughout the entire Himalayan ecosystem.

Battered by both baggage-toting tour groups and climate change, the Himalayan mountains and wetlands struggle to maintain their high altitude identity.

The Green Hiker Campaign simply encourages all involved to help reduce their tourism baggage.

Of course, anything brilliantly named The Green Hiker has to be eco-friendly.

Photo by swamysk

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The Big Agnes Salt Creek Recycled Tent earned Backpacker Magazine “Editors’ Choice 2009 Green Award”. This 2-person, three-season tent uses 100% recycled materials (including the reflective guy lines and plastic clips). Without any toxic dyes, this green tent is a somewhat shocking white.

The Salt Creek is not just some eco-friendly experiment or “paean to green”. You’ll want to pack this tent from windy Spring through chilling Fall. The Big Agnes is a 3-season camping workhorse. From the Backpacker Magazine’s review :

“Wind and rain whipped the Salt Creek on trips from high-alpine Colorado to the peaks of northern Wales, and everywhere the green construction proved both durable and weatherproof”.

Specs:

• Packed weight 6 lb 12 oz
• Floor area 36 sq ft
• Head height 38 in
• Single side door with vestibule
• Recycled zippers
• 2 mesh floor pockets
• Hub/pole design makes set up easy
• More specs and features
  

Click here for more info on this great Big Agnes Recycled Tent!

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Are you a dedicated green hiker or backpacker looking for additional eco-friendly info and insights?

One place to start is Backpacker Magazine’s Green Guide. This compilation places a link list under three categories:  Featured Stories, Nature, and Gear.

So … here comes Super Poison Ivy? (Under the “Nature” category.)

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