The Best Eco-Friendly Travel Gear

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Traveling sustainably can be tough, but you can lighten your impact on the planet by choosing eco-friendly gear for your adventures. Fortunately, with amazing innovations in materials, picking a product made from recycled materials doesn’t have to mean sacrificing performance or style. From recycled fleece to sustainable suitcases, this is the best eco-friendly travel gear around.

Patagonia Lightweight Synchilla Snap-T Fleece Pullover

Patagonia has been making clothing from recycled plastic bottles since 1993, way before it was trendy. Their Synchilla Snap-T Fleece Pullover is quite possibly the most sustainable fleece on the market today. It’s made from 100 percent recycled Synchilla polyester fleece, its Fair Trade Certified sewn, and one percent of every sale goes back to environmental causes.

The fleece itself is the perfect travel layer to pack for chilly airplane rides, nights around a campfire, or extra warmth on a ski trip. It’s available in a men’s and women’s specific fit, has a functional snap pocket that can hold a passport or a phone, and weighs just 12.8 ounces. Available in fun colors and patterns, the Snap-T Fleece Pullover is designed with the perfect comfortable and casual fit that’s just the right blend of relaxed and tailored. 

Everlane ReNew Sport Sandal

Made from 100 percent recycled materials, the ReNew Sport Sandal will help lighten your footprint as you explore out in nature. In addition to using recycled materials in their ReNew line, Everlane has also eliminated 90 percent of virgin plastic from their supply chain as part of their No New Plastic campaign, so your sandals will arrive in sustainable packaging.

These sporty sandals are comfortable both on- and off-road, thanks to a cushioned insole, secure strap design, and ultra-soft lining. Unlike other, bulkier sport sandals, Everlane has designed these to be able to transition from day to night, meaning you could get away with just packing these sandals for an entire trip.

Paravel Aviator Luggage

Your flight might not be carbon-neutral (although you can at least attempt to offset it), but your suitcase can be, if you have a bag from Paravel’s Aviator luggage line. The Aviator suitcases are all carbon-neutral (Paravel offsets all the emissions involved in sourcing, assembling, and shipping the suitcases—plus adds on an additional offset to cover the estimated carbon emissions of your first trip with your new bag). 

Available in a carry-on, carry-on plus, and grand size, the suitcases are all made with a recycled polycarbonate shell, recycled zippers, and a lining made from 15 recycled plastic bottles.

Patagonia Altvia Backpack

Patagonia’s Altvia Backpack is helping to clean up the planet. Patagonia sources the 100 percent recycled nylon for the backpack from postindustrial waste fiber and discarded fishing nets. Additionally, the Altvia backpack is waterproof without being harmful, since it uses a PFC-free durable water-repellent coating that doesn’t degrade and contaminate the environment. 

The Altvia is available in four sizes, from 14L to 36L that will fit any size trips. The backpack is ergonomically designed, with comfortable shoulder straps made from an ultra-breathable, Regulator airmesh material, plus features a suspended mesh back-panel, both of which provide excellent airflow and moisture-wicking. Despite all the thoughtful design elements (and an included rain cover), this backpack only weighs 1 lb. 8 oz. for the 22L size.

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INDYEVA Clothing

Eco-friendly clothing company INDYEVA is a member of the Sustainability Working Group. The clothes are created in partnerships with bluesign certified fabric mills (which meet strict criteria around working conditions and sustainability). All orders ship in recyclable packaging.

INDYEVA’s wrinkle-resistant, moisture-wicking fabric is great for travel, and is also made from a recycled polyester blend. Check it out in the Ringan top, which has a UPF rating of 30+ and is perfect for hiking trips or active vacations. Or, pack the Lieve dress, a lightweight and stretchy piece that’s versatile and easy to handwash in a hotel sink. 

Samsonite Eco-Nu Wheeled Underseater Carry-On

Samsonite’s Eco-Nu Wheeled Underseater Carry-On’s light weight (5.29 lbs.) can be attributed to its innovative construction, which incorporates the brand’s patented Recyclex fabric. All of the fabric portions of the suitcase (including the lining) are made from a material that’s created using 100 percent recycled plastic bottles. 

This bag is designed to tuck under the seat in front of you and avoid the dreaded last-minute gate-check, even if the overhead is full. Despite it’s small size, this suitcase can easily fit enough for a weekend trip.

Girlfriend Collective Compressive Leggings

Girlfriend Collective’s Compressive Leggings are made from 79 percent recycled polyester—each pair uses 25 plastic bottles that might otherwise be discarded. The leggings will be shipped to you in 100 percent recycled (and recyclable) packaging. 

Looking for something a little more relaxed? The brand’s FLOAT leggings are made from 90 percent recycled plastic bottles but have a more buttery, lightweight feel. 

Summersalt On-The-Go Zip-Up Jacket

The perfectly packable On-The-Go Zip-Up Jacket by Summersalt folds down small to fit in any-sized carry-on (or bag for an emergency rain layer). To make each jacket, 13 plastic water bottles are turned into a recycled polyester fabric that composes 91 percent of the material.

There are plenty of pockets in this jacket, including ones to securely hold your phone or IDs. 

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