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01 Mar

Hit the Trail in These More Sustainable Outdoor Clothing Brands

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We went on the hunt to find more sustainable outdoor clothing brands so you can leave nothing but footprints next time you hit the trail.

Doing your bit on the trails

I’m sure many of us have been there: you’re out enjoying the great outdoors, walking in nature, enjoying the sights, feeling the wind on your face and spotting a few animals. Suddenly, you stumble upon a single plastic water bottle lying on the ground. You come closer to pick it up, with the firm intention to throw it away in the next trashcan you see. Why do people do that? As you get up, you start spotting other items that have no business here: a crisp packet, a lonely glove, a lost beanie.

Whether you’re an outdoors fan or not, it’s heartbreaking to see trash in nature polluting the soil and waters, and it’s even more heartbreaking when you know that some of them can take thousands of years to break down.

So, what can we do beyond not leaving trash behind and doing our bit by picking up others’ trash when we can?

A good place to start is thinking about what we put on our bodies when we go out in nature. There are brands out there creating more ethical and sustainable outdoor wear, so you can enjoy the great outdoors, knowing your gear isn’t contributing to the exploitation of our planet and its inhabitants.

With this list, you’ll be responsibly dressed from head-to-toe, with light jackets, base layers, essential pants, and comfortable shoes. Let’s hit it.

Patagonia

Rated: Good
Person wearing a grey sleeveless jacket by Patagonia.

Better Sweater® Fleece Vest – Ships internationally from the US

Patagonia is a brand that truly lives and breathes the great outdoors. It makes clothing for trail running, climbing, mountain biking, surfing, skiing, and snowboarding. Patagonia has strong labour rights and uses recycled, rather than virgin, polyester. It has also committed to reducing its energy use and emissions and stocks sizes XS-3XL.

This warm, 100% recycled polyester sweater vest is dyed with a lower-impact process that significantly reduces energy and water use compared to conventional dyeing methods.

See the rating.

Shop Patagonia @ LVRSustainable.

Shop Patagonia Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective.

Shop Patagonia.

éclipse

Rated: Great

EveryWear Tunic – Ships internationally from the US

éclipse creates climate control UPF 50+ clothing essentials and accessories to help keep the whole family sun safe. It manufactures locally to reduce its carbon footprint, and its entire product range is vegan-friendly. This tunic is versatile enough to do the job of a long sleeve top and a tunic in your outdoor wardrobe: wear it on its own as a cover-up in the summer, or use it as a base layer in the winter.

Products are stocked in sizes S-XL.

See the rating.

Shop éclipse.

Outerknown

Rated: Good
Person wearing checkered blanket shirt by Outerknown.

Blanket Shirt – Ships internationally from the US

Founded by surf champion Kelly Slater, Outerknown is a responsible brand that aims to blend style and function with the protection of natural resources. The brand is Bluesign certified and has partnered with the Fair Labour Association. The Blanket Shirt is Outerknown’s all-time best-selling style, and it just might be the cosiest damn shirt ever made.

Find the range in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Outerknown.

Shop Outerknown @ Wearwell.

Shop Outerknown @ Good.

 

tentree

Rated: Good
Close-up of a person wearing a burgundy sustainable rain jacket by tentree.

Nimbus Short Rain Jacket – Ships internationally from Canada

Made for coffee runs, rainy day walks, visits to the dog park or a national park, this more sustainable women’s rain jacket is lightweight and waterproof. Made from 24 recycled plastic water bottles and recycled materials, tentree has thought of all the details, like a stowaway hood and reflective cuffs.

Canadian brand tentree believes big change starts small. Small as in bringing your reusable bag to the grocery store, making fewer, more thoughtful purchases, and choosing to purchase more sustainably when you do. The brand plants ten trees for every item purchased to help regenerate ecosystems and provide planting jobs in communities around the world and has already planted over 65m trees.

All tentree’s products are created with an Earth-First approach, meaning they’re made in fair, safe working conditions and constructed using only responsibly-sourced and recycled materials.

tentree’s super comfy fabrics and easy wardrobe staples are typically available from XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop tentree.

Dedicated

Rated: Great
Organic cotton socks 3 pack by Dedicated featuring hiking embroidery on the sides.

Socks Sigtuna Hike 3-pack – Ships internationally from Sweden

Be one with the outdoors with these hiking themed more sustainable socks from Dedicated. If you love a great graphic print, Swedish label Dedicated has you covered. Dedicated is a responsible streetwear brand for men, women, and children. All cotton used in its pieces are 100% organic, and most are Fairtrade-certified, which means that you don’t have to sacrifice your ethics to dress in style.

Find the clothes in XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Dedicated.

Shop Dedicated @ Earthkind.

Happy Earth

Rated: Great
More sustainable green hat with white fir Happy Earth logo on the back.

White Fir Hat – Ships internationally from the US

Make unsustainable headwear a thing of the past. 100% organic, 100% relaxed—this Earth-first dad hat isn’t just for dads. Happy Earth Apparel is a US organic clothing brand that works to give back, inspired by nature and dedicated to preserving it. This B Corporation certified brand makes the planet a better place with every purchase. Through its partnerships with nonprofits and Happy Earth ambassadors, it’s planting trees, fighting climate change, and cleaning up trash.

Find most items in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Happy Earth.

Tripulse

Rated: Great
Person sporting ethical cycling shorts by Tripulse.

Made to Move Shorts – Ships internationally from Sweden

Offers

Model in t-shirt

Tripulse – T-shirt For Men

Short sleeved workout t-shirt for men with a timeless versatile design made from 100% plants and 0% plastic. Buy two or more men's t-shirts, get 20% off with code GOYMENS20 (Ends: 30 NOV)

Checkout code: GOYMENS20
Shop now

These shorts are your perfect and ultra-comfortable all-around more sustainable workout and activity companion, and your skin and nature will thank you for them. Plus, they are Climate Neutral Certified. Tripulse is a Swedish activewear brand on a mission to create high-performing activewear that protects our planet and its people. The brand believes that physical and mental fitness is the foundation for a good and healthy life and gives people the courage to live the life they dreamed of, become their best selves, make bold moves, and change the world for the better.

Find most items in sizes XS-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop Tripulse.

Finisterre

Rated: Good
Person standing in front of the sea, wearing a navy outdoor hoodie by Finisterre.

Patron Hoodie – Ships internationally from the UK

Made from an incredibly durable recycled polyester fabric, the men’s Patron Hoodie is a warm fleece-lined hoodie built for coastal explorers. Featuring a super warm fleece pile inner fabric, it’s ideal for everything from winter walks to post-surf warmth. Born from the needs of hardy British surfers, Finisterre is a pioneering, more sustainable outdoor brand built to inspire a love of the sea and anchored in exceptional products.

Find this hoodie in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Finisterre.

Houdini

Rated: Good
A grey quick drying TENCEL and merino wool active t-shirt by Houdini.

Activist Tee – Ships internationally from Sweden

You can’t go wrong with a quick-drying TENCEL Lyocell and merino wool t-shirt. The light fabric and athletic fit make this a perfect outdoor companion for everything from hiking or climbing to biking or training. Houdini is a functional, more sustainable outdoor clothing label for men, women, and kids. It uses a medium proportion of lower-impact materials in its range, including recycled materials.

Find the range in sizes 2XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Houdini.

VAUDE

Rated: Good
Black men's trekking trousers with zip function made by VAUDE.

Farley Stretch T-Zip III Pants – Ships internationally from Germany

These convertible zip pants and are very stretchy, making them ideal for your next hike or trekking expedition. Vaude is a European family-run outdoor wear brand. It responsibly produces clothes and materials for the outdoors, using lower-impact materials, like recycled fabrics. It is also a member of the Fair Wear Foundation and has a Code of Conduct that covers all of the ILO Four Fundamental Freedom principles.

Find the range in 2XS-4XL.

See the rating.

Shop Vaude.

Superstainable

Rated: Good
Orange recycled polyester zip-pull fleece jacket by Superstainable.

Almind Zip Sweat Caramel Cafe – Ships internationally from Denmark

Stay warm on your next walk with Superstainable’s zip-pull jacket, made from 95% recycled polyester in a soft brushed fleece. It has a great shape and fits perfectly under your jacket or plain as it is, making it a perfect companion for colder times. Superstainable is an outdoor brand based in the outdoor capital of Denmark, Silkeborg, and made with the utmost respect for people and the planet. Its outdoor essentials rely on quality, consciousness, and transparency. All styles are made in organic or recycled materials.

Find the clothes in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Superstainable.

Girlfriend Collective

Rated: Good
Person wearing a pink lightweight puffer jacket by Girlfriend Collective.

Jam Hooded Packable Puffer – Ships internationally from the US

Meet the hooded lightweight puffer jacket for hikes and backpacking trips alike that conveniently packs into a built-in inside pocket. Girlfriend Collective creates minimal, luxury clothes made with certified fair labour, certified by the Social Accountability Standard International SA8000. The brand lower-impact materials like recycled polyester as well as non-toxic dyes and is fully OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certified.

Inclusively sized Girlfriend Collective offers products from 2XS-6XL.

See the rating.

Shop Girlfriend Collective @ LVRSustainable.

Shop Girlfriend Collective.

Cotopaxi

Rated: Great
Colourful day backpack by Cotopaxi.

Batac Del Dia – Ships internationally from the US

This stowable daypack is unstructured for added versatility. It’s excellent for fast-and-light day trips, hikes, and other spontaneous excursions. Cotopaxi is a clothing label that creates innovative outdoor products that help relieve poverty and move people to do good.

See the rating.

Shop Cotopaxi.

Wildling

Rated: Good
Flexible wool and hemp active shoes by Wildling.

Chestnut Shoes – Ships internationally from Germany

Keep your feet toasty warm, all while supporting landscape conservation projects with these cute, minimal kicks made from hemp and wool. Wildling is a German footwear brand that encourages novice and experienced walkers alike to rediscover pleasant, natural walking.

Find the shoes in EU sizes 36-48.

See the rating.

Shop Wildling.

Thesus (Alice + Whittles)

Rated: Good
Someone wearing weekend boots by Thesus.

Weekend Boots – Ships internationally from Canada

Go for the Weekend Boots made with plant-based and recycled materials for a durable, sturdy boot that keeps you dry and comfy all day. Thesus favours transparency, responsible manufacturing practices, and lower-impact materials as a means of creating long-lasting, positive change.

Find the boots in most EU sizes 36-46.

See the rating.

Shop Thesus.

We also recommend our guides to sustainable running clothes and ethical hiking gear

Editor's note

Feature image via Finisterre, all other images via brands mentioned. Good On You publishes the world's most comprehensive ratings of fashion brands’ impact on people, the planet, and animals. Use the directory to search thousands of rated brands.

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