19 Eco Friendly Gifts for Outdoor Adventurers
Holidays are not known for being the most sustainably-minded times. In fact, Americans throw away 25% more trash (or 25 million tons more) between Thanksgiving and New Year’s every year.
For people who love nature and want to preserve it, this is obviously concerning. So how to show them you care and get them something, without compromising their (and hopefully your) values, too.
As with buying gifts for vanlifers and road trip gifts, minimalism is often the key to sustainability, but sometimes planting a tree in someone’s name just doesn't feel like enough (though still a great supplement to any gift!). That’s why we’ve scoured the web for eco friendly outdoor gear brands making products that would make for the best eco friendly gifts for outdoor lovers or just gifts for outdoor adventurers in general.
As we head into the holiday season, remember this. Whether the gift you choose is big or small isn’t what’s important. What’s important is that it’s impact is small.
*This post contains affiliate links.
Navigation for Sustainable Outdoor Gifts for Nature Lovers
Toad&Co Burnside Trucker Jacket
Image credit Toad&Co
Clothing can be one of the most failsafe eco friendly outdoor gifts… so long as you know the garment is actually eco friendly. Which is harder than it sounds, since fashion is the second dirtiest industry in the world.
But year by year, it gets easier thanks to the many sustainable outdoor clothing brands like Toad&Co.
Their Burnside Trucker Jacket, made of bluesign® and Global Recycled Standard-approved recycled wool and partly recycled polyester sherpa fleece lining, has something every outdoor loving guy and gal wants: a plaid flannel-like outer with a high pile fleece interior. Warm, cozy, and sustainable to boot.
Don’t let the picture fool you, this is a gift for outdoor women or men as the jacket is made for both.
Find it here: Toad&Co
Rumpl Original Puffy Recycled Blanket
Image credit Rumpl
Puffy camp blankets are among the truly great gifts for outdoor lovers. They’re durable and warm, for tents, cars, and campfires, making them a van life essential.
Rumpl is easily the biggest name in puffy blankets and their Originally Puffy Blanket just got an upcycled upgrade.
Starting in 2019, Rumpl started increasing the percentage of post-consumer recycled materials in their products and have since given second like to millions of discarded plastic bottles.
This “bottle to blanket” initiative has finally yielded their first fully recycled puffy blanket, including both the synthetic insulation and outer shell.
Alternatively, they also make versions stuffed with humanely and ethically sourced down feathers.
If these weren’t eco friendly gifts enough, Rumpl is also 1% For the Planet, Climate Neutral Certified, and donate to several organizations like Save the Waves.
Find it here: Rumpl / REI
Cotopaxi Del Dia Pack
Image credit Cotopaxi
For some of the best eco friendly gifts for outdoor adventurers, look no further than Cotopaxi and their determination to “Do Good”... and make people look fly while doing it in their ultra bright colors (chosen by the individual makers themselves). Named after an active volcano in the Ecuadorian Andes that mountaineers have been challenging themselves on for years, Cotopaxi gear will take you to the top.
Part of their larger (Re)Purpose™ Collection of clothing and gear, the Del Dia pack line has everything from packable daypacks to the Allpa 35L travel pack (complete with built-in packing cubes).
Whatever the style, they “make leftovers shine” by being made completely of recycled deadstock, or leftover fabric from other fashion productions.
Cotopaxi is yet another sustainable rounded company, too, being a Certified B Corp, offering a lifetime guarantee of repair or replacement, and putting 1% of their earnings to the grant-giving Cotopaxi Foundation.
Find it here: Cotopaxi / REI
BioLite CampStove 2 Bundle
Image credit Biolite
Everyone loves a good campfire, and what better gift for fire lovers than an eco friendly way to cook your food and charge your devices all in one compact package.
The most eco friendly part of this stove is that it doesn’t require LP or white gas, meaning you can say goodbye to those single use canisters forever. Instead, the BioLite system runs on organic matter like leaves and twigs (anything small you can gather from the woods, really).
Not only can it boil a liter of water in 4.5 minutes, but it also converts thermal energy into 3 watts of electricity to charge up a 2600mAh built-in battery. Use this to charge a phone or GPS while cooking, or save up the power for later when you might need it.
The Bundle is the way to go if you want to give the full camp cooking experience, as it comes with a full in grill (that packs down to 3 inches) and a pot within which the stove itself nests. If you’re on a budget, they also just sell the stove.
To be extra eco friendly, they even have a special Carbon Neutral edition to celebrate the fact that they co founded the nonprofit Climate Neutral, which tons of companies have now joined in effort to offset their carbon footprints.
Plus, BioLite’s range is “gear that give back” thanks to them donating a percentage of each order to bring clean energy access to families in Africa.
Find it here: BioLite / Backcountry / REI
Alpaca Threadz Handwoven Blankets
Image credit Alpaca Threadz
Looking for an absolutely beautiful and functional gift to dress up someone’s camper van or RV?
How about blanket by Alpaca Threadz. Made of a blend of alpaca wool and recycled acrylic, these lightweight yet warm blankets not only look great but are low impact. Plus, you can keep them looking great for a long time because they’re machine washable (and quick drying by air).
So picnic and campfire lounge away without fear of getting your blanket dirty on the ground or smelling like smoke forever.
Alpaca Threadz is a small company based in Fort Collins, Colorado. The blankets, however, are made by friends of the founders in Ecuador. They started the company as a way to provide gainful employment for their Ecuadorian friends during the pandemic. The family responsible for the weaving does everything on a handloom and each sale directly benefits these talented artisans.
Find it here: Alpaca Threadz
Stanley GO Growler
Image credit Stanley
Nothing says “gifts for outdoorsy people” like a growler full of beer from a favorite local brewery. After all, beer and outdoor adventuring go together like, well, beer and outdoor adventuring!
Or to make it more of an eco friendly outdoor Christmas gift, fill it with some boozy eggnog or Irish coffee.
Either way, the 64 oz. Stanley GO Growler is a GO-to by keeping things hot for 18 hours, cold for 24 hours, and iced for 4 days.
Featuring a leak-proof latch lid and airtight Ceramivac technology that’ll keep things carbonated longer than your average glass growler, it’s one of the best beer lover gifts around. Plus, it’s eco friendly stainless steel, BOA-free, dishwasher safe, and can replace lots of single use beer bottles and cans over its years and years of use.
We were personally gifted this exact growler in the past and we absolutely love it.
In addition to this, you’ll find lots of other Stanley products for vanlife and other outdoor activities.
Find it here: Stanley / Backcountry
Patagonia Provisions Camp Meal Kit
Image credit Patagonia Provisions
Patagonia doesn’t just make bomb outdoor clothing and retro-style fleece pullovers ( a staple of Amber’s van closet). They also make sustainable backpacking food.
From good-for-you fully dehydrated meals to trail snacks, Patagonia Provisions has it all, each one made from ethically sourced, organic food providers.
They write: “We understand that fixing the broken food chain means sourcing ingredients that are grown, raised and harvested using methods that are friendly to our home planet.” If you don’t want to spend that much, they have plenty of other smaller snacks, like jerky and dried fruit, perfect for fuelling your friends on their next day hike.”
The 2-Day Camp Meal Kit for Two is a good place to start looking with some delicious sounding options like Roasted Garlic Mackerel to Wild Sockeye Salmon.
Looking for the best secret santa gifts for outdoor lovers? Look no further because show us the outdoor enthusiast that doesn’t love food.
Find it here: Patagonia / Backcountry / REI
Sunski Sunglasses
Image credit Sunski
For useful yet small gifts for outdoor lovers, here’s a lens through which to consider. How often do us outdoorsy people break or lose sunglasses? The answer is “too often”, so we don't know anyone who would complain about having a backup pair.
Especially one that’s ultra durable and eco friendly.
Sunski’s eco friendly outdoor sunglasses are made entirely of recycled plastic diverted from U.S. landfills. The polycarbonate lenses aren’t recycled, but they are polarized and block both UVA and UVB rays.
As far as durability goes, these sunglasses have passed the FDA basic impact test and Sunski offers a lifetime warranty for extra peace of mind. If the lenses get damaged or scratched, they offer a lens replacement service, too. So you’re not only gifting a great pair of sunglasses, but one that will hopefully last a very long time.
Lastly, Sunski is a member of 1% For The Planet (but they actually donate 12%), are in the process of getting Certified Carbon Neutral, and ship all sunglasses in plastic-free in folded paper boxes.
Find it here: United by Blue / Backcountry / REI
Tentree Tencel Pacific Jogger Pant
Image credit Tentree
Joggers are back, baby! And boy are we glad for it, because they’re some of the most versatile and comfortable outdoor pants out there. We wear them for climbing, hiking, and just lounging around the van.
Tentree’s are some of the best and softest out there, made of 100% TENCEL Lyocell. For those who don’t know, lyocell is “semi-synthetic” fabric made from eucalyptus pulp. The maker TENCEL is known for making the most sustainable lyocell on the market thanks to their closed-loop processing methods which recycles all water and chemicals. You can read more about this amazing and somewhat new fabric innovation here.
When compared to similar pants, each pair saves an average of 12.44L of water and 2.02 kg of CO2.
Tentree is a brand we should all be supporting anyway, because, if you haven’t gathered from the name, they plant TEN TREES for every single purchase made. As of October 2020, they just surpassed the 500 million tree mark and they hope to hit 1 billion trees planted by 2030. They’re also a certified B Corp so you know every part of the supply chain is help to strict ethical and eco standards.
Find it here: Tentree
Pachamama CBD Athletic Rub
Image credit Pachamama
Pachamama is our all time favorite CBD brand. Ever since we tried their Turmeric and Black Pepper anti-inflammatory full spectrum CBD tincture, we were hooked. It’s aid in post climbing and training muscle recover is the best we’ve experiences.
Speaking of soothing muscles, our second favorite product is their Athletic Rub. Made from the highest quality organic, single-origin Colorado-grown hemp extract and essential oils, this rub is the perfect gift for the outdoor athlete in your life always complaining about sore muscles.
Designed to help folks “stress less, move more”, it can be before, during, or after physical activity, and especially on rest days in between!
There are so many CBD brands out there these days, but what makes Pachamama special? They are the proud winners of the Clean Label Project Purity Award, being the first of only three CBD brands to ever do so. This is because of their patented air extraction process which uses heat and pressure rather than chemical solvents to extract the CBD.
They are completely against animal testing, make the purest and more sustainably made products, and package them in either compostable or reusable containers.
Find it here: Pachamama
Selk’bag Nomad Wearable Sleeping Bag
Image credit Selk’bag
Once we would have said it’s tough to outdo pure genius of the wearable sleeping bag. From winter camping, climbing van trips during sending temps, to just staying downright cozy around the campfire, the idea of the wearable sleeping bag is appealing to so many outdoor activities. Not to mention all the built in features: balaclava, hood, kangaroo pocket, removable foot booties, hand mitts, and leg vents.
Only Selk’bag, the originators of the wearable sleeping bag idea, could outdo their own creation by turning it into something so darn eco friendly.
Selk’bag’s Nomad wearable sleeping bag won’t only save you from a cold night around the campfire; it’s saving the planet, too. In fact, it’s made of mostly recycled material! The outer and inner liners consist of 100% post-consumer recycled water bottles (65 per bag, in fact). Even the YKK® Natulon® zippers are made of PET bottles, post-consumer fibers, and other polyester remnants.
The inner insulation isn’t totally recycled, but it is partially. Primaloft® Black Insulation ThermoPlume® provides down-like insulation in a more eco friendly, cruelty-free way, and the unique baffle design locks in heat.
Selk’bag is also a member of 1% for the Planet.
Find it here: Selk’bag
Pine Ranch Coffee Co. Tea Bag Coffee Pouches
Image credit Coffee Blenders
Just looking for small and inexpensive gifts for outdoor lovers? Pine Ranch Coffee Co. has the stocking stuffer you’re looking for.
Better than instant (which, granted, is a very low bar), easier than pour over, and less messy than an Aeropress (as great of coffee as these make), their Tea Bag Coffee Pouches are a perfectly portable way to get a nice hot cup of joe on the trail with minimal effort.
They hardly weigh anything or take up any space in a pack, and require no extra dishes besides the usual water boiling apparatus. Whether shopping for alpinists, thru-hikers, bikepackers, or ultralight backpackers, these are a winner.
Plus, the whole thing can be composted!
Find it here: Coffee Blenders
Saola Sneakers
Image credit Saola
Soala (SOW-la) is named after one of the most rare endangered animals on earth, so that should tell you a little about the brand’s motivation. As a member of 1% for the Planet, they donate 1% of profits toward wildlife conservation.
That means you’re gifting both eco friendly outdoor shoes and saved animals, all in one.
From ethical knit sneakers to slip-ons to more burly hikers, these stylish kickass kicks are good for both getting out in nature and going out on the town.
Most shoes combine recycled bottle uppers and PU uppers with organic cotton laces, cork and recycled algae foam insoles (read more about Bloom Foam), and partially recycled EVA outsoles. Their most eco friendly shoe is the Samnoz with a 100% recycled canvas knit upper.
Find it here: Saola / REI
Coalatree Java Socks
Image credit Coalatree
If your loved one is anything like us, they probably love socks and they probably loves coffee. What outdoor lover doesn’t love these things, frankly?
So get them a gift that combines their two loves with Coalatree’s Java Socks, easily one of the most unique gifts for outdoor lovers we’ve ever seen.
These eco friendly hiking socks combine organic cotton, recycled bottles, and (get this) recycled coffee grounds to create a moisture wicking, odor-absorbing sock to carry someone miles into the backcountry.
How’s that for a soft footprint?
Plus, you’ll be stoked when your backpacking buddy takes off their hiking boots and fills the tent with the smell of coffee rather than sweaty feet. Win-win for everyone.
Find it here: Coalatree
Patagonia Black Hole® Mini Hip Pack
Image credit Patagonia
While some 80s styles were definitely better left there, fanny packs were not one of them. Let’s bring the fanny pack back!
What better way to do that with one of Patagonia’s super colorful and fully recycled ones?! Made of an ultralight recycled polyester (down to the hip strap itself), these 1L packs can keep all your daily travel and hiking essentials safe and close to the belt… literally! When you’re done using them, they stuff into their own front pocket to create a palm-sized bundle great for traveling.
That’s on top of the fact that Patagonia is easily one of the most sustainable outdoor brands around. They publish all manufacturing info via their Footprint Chronicles (the Black Hole® line is all made in Vietnam, FYI), founded 1% for the Planet, and can help you get involved in local activism through the Patagonia Action Works… to name just a few of the many ethical initiatives by this uber responsible company
Find it here: Patagonia / Backcountry / REI
Patagonia Black Hole® Duffel
Image credit Patagonia
If a fanny pack just doesn’t quite cut if for your giftee’s packing hauling needs, check out the rest of the Black Hole® line, including backpacks, duffels (which convert into backpacks with stashable straps), and rolling luggage.
While the Black Hole Hip Packs are certainly better for light day hikes and trekking around town, the Black Hole® Duffels are Patagonia’s “workhorse” bags designed for travel and expeditions. Choose between 40L, 55L, 70L, and 100L sizes.
But here’s the really cool part: Like the fanny packs, these eco friendly duffels are made from 100% recycled polyester ripstop coated with TPU-film laminate to provide incredible weather and damage resistance. Even the inner linen, straps, and webbing are made of 100% recycled polyester. All components are also bluesign® approved, PVC-free, and phthalate-free.
Each Black Hole® bag is made via a Zero-Wastewater Discharging System. This means all manufacturing water (for dying, laminating, etc) is fully treated to be non-toxic.
Find it here: Patagonia / Backcountry / REI
Outerknown Reimagine Cashmere Sweater
Image credit Outerknown
Cashmere is a classic luxury Christmas gift. Unfortunately, most cashmere is far from ethical and eco friendly.
The single best type of cashmere we sustainably-minded folks can buy is recycled cashmere. Already making use of what would otherwise be a wasted material, recycled cashmere has all the softness of its virgin counterpart with non of the direct animal cruelty and desertification.
Outerknown’s Reimagine Cashmere sweater, available for both men and women, is made of 95% pre-consumer recycled cashmere (so you’re not giving someone’s dirty donations) and 5% extrafine Merino wool (which IS one of the most ethical forms of wool).
When comparing the impact of recycled cashmere to virgin cashmere, each of these sweaters has been calculated to save 96% CO2 , 92% water, and 82% energy.
Soft to wear and soft for the planet; sustainable outdoor gifts don’t get much better than that.
Find it here: Outerknown
Patagonia Storm Tech Wash
Image credit Patagonia
If you’re gifting a cashmere sweater, you better give them some eco friendly wool wash to go with it.
Most outdoor gear requires specialty washing, or at least it does if you want to properly care for it. This includes sleeping bags, down jackets, waterproof clothing, and wool of any sort. Patagonia's Storm Washes are an eco friendly way to properly clean all technical gear. They also carry washes specific for down, waterproof clothing, and a spray for restoring water repellency to things like tents and backpacks that aren’t so easily washed.
These pH neutral cleaners are specially formulated to gently clean gear through the use of earth-safe non-ionic surfactants. Plus, it comes in an all aluminum bottle, which is fully recycling at just about any municipal recycling facility.
Made their clothes washing extra friendly with a Guppyfriend microplastic catching wash bag. Synthetic fibers are a reality of technical outdoor clothing, but that doesn’t mean they have to lead to further water pollution!
Find it here: Patagonia
Solight Solar Puff™ LS Solar Lantern
Image credit Solight Design
Solar inflatable lights are super handy, for everything from backpacking to car camping. They’re lightweight, extremely bright, and will never die on you as long as there’s a little sun.
Solight has improved this already genius concept by making an eco friendly version made of. recyclable PET sailcloth. It’s PVC free and UV resistant, so leaving it out in the sun to charge won’t cause the material to break down as with some other similar brands.
This eco friendly lantern has a dusk-to-dawn light sensor mode, bright and warm light settings, and 3 brightness settings. On low, it can provide up to 12 hours of lights and charges fully in 8-10 hours.
Find it here: Solight Design
Before You Drive Away….
We hope this list has helped you in your quest for gifts for outdoor guys and gals.
Holidays are generally a less than eco friendly time of year, but they don’t have to be. With a little extra thought and consideration for the natural world we love so much, we can both show our loved ones we care while also showing the planet some T.L.C.
Happy holidays, everyone!
**This post contains affiliate links to support the continued creation of these van life guides. This just means that if you purchase one of these eco rock climbing ropes from one of the links above, I get a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Read more here or reach out with more questions.