The Green Hiker

Christmas Gift Ideas For Hikers and Campers

While researching Christmas gift ideas for hikers that I know need updated hiking gear, I came across a couple of posts that may help others with similar shopping objectives. So here they are:

• The Bellingham Herald offers 20 Ideas for the outdoors lover on your Christmas list. Not all of these ideas are for hikers, but it’s a start.

• Holiday gift ideas for your favorite hiker or outdoor enthusiast.

• Eco-friendly gifts for an outdoor adventurer.

• Eco-Friendly “Experience Gifts” .

And you can always see the latest Green Gear from Mountains Plus by clicking the banner to the right and below.

Amazon Top-Rated Hiking Gear

For the latest top-rated (at least four-out-of-five stars) hiking gear from Amazon, simply click any of the category links below:

• Top-Rated Gear: $25 to $50

• Top-Rated Hiking Gear: $50 to $100

• Top-Rated Hiking Gear: $100 to $200

• Top-Rated Hiking Gear: $200 & Above

And for bargain shoppers here’s a link for 50% Off or More on hiking gear.

Now Go Outdoors! (… Or Shop)

Eco-Friendly Tools and Programs

Consumer Reports Greener Choices, from the non-profit Consumers Union, has a wonderful resource page that links to an array of useful and eco-friendly programs and tools.

From “Appliance Calculators” to “Toxics”, you probably cannot find a more environmentally focused, single-page asset. Here are a few of the 21 categories:

• Appliance Recycling
• Carbon Footprint Calculators & Offsets
• Climate and Energy Basics
• Government and Industry Links
• Household Energy
• Toxics

I guarantee you’ll bookmark the page. It’s almost addicting to go from link to link.

Check out the Greener Choices page.

And if you’d like to donate to Greener Choices, go here.

Other Consumer Reports News Items

• Baby Boomers
• Aggressive Mosquito
• Healthy Fast Food Spurned

 Now Go Outdoors!

Hiking Packing List

Kelly Montgomery in Digital Trends Gear Guide offers a very basic yet useful hiking packing list.

Most readers of this blog already own these hiking gear essentials. But for the novice outdoors-person to-be, her post is a great hike-off point.

And …

There is one “no-brainer” item that does need further emphasis:  sunscreens. Eco-friendly, effective, sunscreens.

With one basal cell cancer cut from my cheek(face!), a good sunscreen is now part of my basic hiking pack. So what are some good sunscreen choices for the  green hiker?

Eco Friendly Sunscreens

Of course,  if you want fail-proof, eco-friendliest sun-block protection, wear a hat and a shirt. No joke.

But for the next step up, consider these choices from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) 2011 Sunscreen Guide (and review their rigorous methodology for assessing sunscreens).

Here are some of their top-rated sunscreens and sports sticks, in alphabetical order:

• Aubrey Organics Natural Sun Sport Stick Unscented Sunscreen, SPF 30

• Badger Sunscreen, Unscented, SPF 30+

• Badger Sunscreen Face Stick, Unscented, SPF 30+

• California Baby No Fragrance Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30+

• Eco Skin Care Eco Baby, SPF 30+

• Hara Body Care Sport SPF 30

• Lavanila Laboratories The Healthy SunScreen SPF 40 Face Cream

• Soleo Organics All Natural Sunscreen, SPF 30+

• Green Beaver Company Certified Organic Kids Non-whitening Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30

And the product I use? Lavanila. Why? It’s the one my wife bought for me.

If you want more info on any of these sunscreens/sports sticks, visit the EWG site or click on any product in the carousel below.

Now Go Outdoors!

The 2011 National Trails Day is Saturday, June 4th.  Themed “Made With All Natural Ingredients” (mountains made of rock? rivers flowing with fresh water?), the 19th edition of Trails Day encourages all to experience the magnificent outdoors.

The sponsor, the American Hiking Society cheers any outdoor activity on this day:  hiking, trail repair, kayaking, and health fairs ….

So here’s the plan.

If you’re  a loner, or family-centric teen or parent, or a gregarious outdoors person, or a club leader, or a business owner …. mark this day on your Summer calendar. Plan an outdoor adventure. Make a day of it with family, friends and fellow workers.

Not sure what to do? The above AHS link has a state-by-state search map of June 4th events.

And if your community organization would like to participate or even host an event, you can Register Here .

Now Go Outdoors!

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)

Now Go Outdoors!

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

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

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

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 …

Now Go Outdoors!