Sustainable and Eco-friendly Camping Gear

For that long-awaited adventure in nature, you want to be properly equipped for your favourite activities. Choosing the right tent, sleeping bag, flashlight, utensils, stove or alternative power source are all worthwhile things to consider, as is a product’s origin and life cycle.

With more and more people not just enjoying nature, but understanding our close link to it, never before has there been such a high demand for products that match our values. In this post we review some of the longest lasting, most ethically and sustainably made camping gear we could find, that won’t compromise on performance.

THE BEST MULTI-PURPOSE CAMPING HEADLAMPS

Third Eye Headlamps are our top choice for outdoor lovers. Whether you are trekking at dusk or need to light-up your campsite, these lamps will not disappoint. The whole range is manufactured from 100% recycled materials while still delivering on style and aesthetics.

BioLite headlamps are award-winning. With a front profile of only 10mm and weighing only 78 g, HeadLamp 425 sits flush on the forehead without worry of bounce or slippage. Moisture-wicking fabric keeps you cool and dry for any activity and the rechargeable battery means you can leave the alkalines behind.

The Bosavi lamp is another product showing flashes of brilliance, with its USB rechargeable, long life battery and multi-functionality. The unit has different programmable settings, including an eco-mode that boasts 65 hours of battery and a nifty, power saving light-boost mode that automatically reverts to the previous setting after a minute’s use, squeezing every last drop of energy from the battery. The lamp can also be adapted for use as a conventional camping light with the use of the packaging or as a bike light using a special support.

PREMIUM QUALITY REPAIRABLE AND SUSTAINABLE TENTS

We took some time to check out some of the cool designs at the Vaude store. Their Green Shape range combines functionality and responsibility by ensuring fair working conditions for factory workers, ethical material standards throughout the supply chain and production processes that are completely transparent.

Throughout the product development process, from design to production through to care and repair, sustainability and product life-cycle are prioritised. Vaude’s pioneering approach to outdoor gear puts durability over profit by offering customers replacement parts, accessories and patches as well as a repair service. Other brands which meet our high durability and care and repair standards for tents include Hilleberg and Big Agnes.

Having brands that offer long lasting and easily repairable tents is undoubtedly a step in the right direction towards ethical and responsible consumption. But, with research and development of new materials being both costly and complex, it’s no surprise there are still very few tent manufacturers working with recycled or eco-friendly materials. As the demand for sustainable products increases, The Fair Cottage expects to see more brands investing in these technologies.

ANIMAL FRIENDLY SLEEPING BAGS YOU CAN PUT YOUR TRUST IN

After a day spent braving the elements, there’s nothing better than tucking in for a warm and cosy night. But what else makes its way into sleeping bags? Most of the top selling Outdoor brands that use feather down, such as Mammut, stick to the Responsible Down Standard, who’s RDS certification ensures the welfare of birds that provide the basis for insulation.

Gruezi bags makes environmentally-friendly sleeping bags made with materials that are sustainable and biodegradable, and the company is committed to reducing its carbon footprint. Their sleeping bags are designed to be as light and compact as possible, making them easy to carry on backpacking trips. They also have features like draft tubes and hoods to keep you warm in cold weather.

Bergans of Norway produces a range of sleeping bags for different seasons and weather conditions. The company's sleeping bags are known for their high-quality construction and attention to detail. Bergans uses a variety of insulating materials in its sleeping bags, including down, and wool. The company recommends washing its sleeping bags with a mild detergent and allowing them to air dry.

THREE GREEN BOTTLES THAT REDUCE PLASTIC WASTE

We champion multifunctional environmental solutions that offer an alternative to a single use consumer products, especially those made from plastic, like drink bottles and plastic packaging. Klean Kanteen are manufacturers of sleek aluminum bottles, cups and food containers, which encourage people to reuse containers for their daily consumption. They offer insulated canteens, with a typical 592ml bottle able to keep drinks cold for up 50 hours and hot for up 20 hours.

Dutch Dopper’s bottle design resembles some kind of space age ray-blaster, thanks to its unscrewable cap, which when flipped can be used as a handy cup. As well as making futuristic-looking reusable bottles, the brand supports safe drinking water programmes in countries such as in Nepal. Soulbottles, who operate out of Germany, manufacture multiple use glass bottles, with cool and customisable designs.

SAY GOODBYE TO SINGLE USE WITH ECO-FRIENDLY CAMPING UTENSILS

It’s not just beverage containers which cause pollution. The US alone disposes of enough single use cutlery per year to circle the earth 300 times. That’s why To-Goware offer forks, knives and spoons made from bamboo that are lightweight, hygienic, dishwasher safe and reusable. The innovative brand also offers a range of metal food containers as tupperware alternatives.

The Finnish brand, Kupilka have developed a completely new eco-friendly material. The attractively designed cups and bowls, inspired by the designer’s Finish annectors, use Kareline, an eco-friendly material which combines wood cellulose and thermoplastic. Like typical kitchen utensils, they are dishwasher safe, lightweight and durable. The Fair Cottage hopes they will inspire a legacy of ethical consumption as long lasting as their original designs.

THANK HEAVENS FOR SOLAR AND ALTERNATE POWER SOURCES

Whether you’re heading off on an eco-friendly rock-climbing or trekking adventure, it’s more important than ever to stay connected, leading to an ever growing number of nature lovers depending on external battery chargers. Thank goodness for Waka Waka’s bright idea of incorporating solar panels into battery chargers to harness the most abundant energy source around, the sun.

The units can be hung from backpacks for easy charging, have a range of battery capacities to suit your needs and some double-up as torches or feature water and dust resistant properties. Waka Waka collaborates with NGO’s and other organisations to distribute solar energy solutions around the world to people without access to the grid.

Solar isn’t the only alternative source of energy. BioLite uses wood-burning stoves to generate electricity. Their products include portable camping stoves, grills, and lanterns that use wood as fuel and have built-in thermoelectric generators to produce electricity. This electricity can be used to charge electronic devices such as smartphones and tablets, as well as to power LED lights. The stoves and grills are designed to be lightweight and easy to pack, making them ideal for camping and other outdoor activities. BioLite's products are popular with outdoor enthusiasts and are known for their innovative design and functionality.

OUR VISION FOR CONSCIOUS CONSUMPTION

We hope you have found this article informative. At the Fair Cottage, we believe Information is the key to creating transparency, awareness and a more conscious consumption model. Stay with us over the next few months as we continue to discover and review new products, share information on ethical consumption and explore our online shop, providing a range of sustainable outdoor accessories and clothing

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