By Brian Merchant
Brooklyn, NY, USA | Tue Mar 24 16:00:00 GMT 2009
A green vacation in the great outdoors is above and beyond pitching a tent. No, camping may seem inherently green when you're surrounded by wilderness and solitude, and enjoying the fresh, open air—but a responsible trip is more than a reservation at a campsite. It starts with buying the right tent.
In one market where you'd expect an extra interest in green goods, there's a surprising lack of green options when it comes to camping tents. Most tents these days are still made of vinyl, or PVC, a plastic that's dangerous both to your health and the environment. Both PVC-producing factories and the products themselves emit dioxins that can cause cancer, asthma, and birth defects, among other ailments. In other words, PVC is a key material to avoid when looking for green tents.
These five tents range from fashionable green designs to sturdy sustainable wonders to tepees made the ol' fashioned way.
For more camping pointers check out our How to Go Green: Travel & Outdoors guide.
Why We Like It: The Salt Creek 2 tent from Big Agnes is lightweight, stylish, and ideal for either camping or backpacking. Parts are extremely durable, waterproof, and finely crafted, so you'll get years of good use out of this freestanding three-season shelter.
Eco Factor: Nearly the whole tent is made out of recycled components, down to the zippers. The fly, floor, and tent body are treated 100 percent recycled dye-free polyester (even the mesh inside is 100 percent recycled). The J stakes that you use to pound in the stakes are anodized, which increases their durability and thickness so they'll last longer and stay out of a landfill (we all know how those little suckers are liable to get bent up and tossed after a mere few pound-ins). And there's no PVC to be found.
Ideal For: The committed outdoorsman.
Where: Big Agnes
How Much: $350
Image courtesy of Big Agnes
Why We Like It: Acclaimed designer Celia Birtwell's entry into outdoor goods, the Monkey Puzzle Tepee, is unique, quirky, and stylish. Although not exactly what you'd pick for excursions into the Himalayas, it's ideal for casual nature lovers on a lazy weekend getaway, and sleeps four comfortably.
Eco Factor: This polyester tent is PVC-free, waterproof, and durable—sure to last many more seasons than the standard tent.
Ideal For: The green city kid seeking a stylish place to crash at Coachella.
Where to Buy: Millets
How Much: $100
Image courtesy of Celia Birtwell
Why We Like It: Cam Brensinger, the brains behind Nemo Equipment, brings an engineer's eye to outdoor gear—his products are always cutting-edge and of the highest quality. The Nano OZ backpacking tent allows for lightning-fast setup and maximum durability. Clocking in at 4 pounds 3 ounces, the OZ will nonetheless fit two people comfortably with 36 square feet of floor space.
Eco Factor: Nearly all of the OZ is made of rugged recycled material: The fabric, the edge binding, the cord, the webbing, the stuff sack, and even the zipper tap are made of post consumer waste PET Bottles. Side release buckles and ladder locks are reground plastic and the tent poles are bamboo.
Ideal For: The extreme backpacker bent on gutsy outdoors endeavors.
Where: Nemo
How Much: $450
Image courtesy of NEMO Equipment
Why We Like It: It's the original tent we're talking about here: The Traditional Tipi from Earthworks is an authentic, custom designed tepee. Earthworks takes pride in their amazing, handcrafted tepees—they're truly a sight to see. And while the company advocates permanently living in the tepees to take 'leave no trace camping' to the next level, (you guessed it, 'leave no trace living') these tepees would make a great home-base on a lengthier camping trip.
Eco Factor: The tepee is made from natural materials: Buffalo hide, lodgepole pine, and canvas all count among the ingredients in these highly traditional structures. The company itself is also über green—It has an ambitious recycling program, uses biodiesel to power trucks, purchases wind power from an electric co-op, and uses some solar power in displays and production areas.
Ideal For: Long-stay campers.
Image courtesy of Jane Sindell
Why We Like It: H. Nizam Din and Sons in Pakistan has been making tents since 1869—quite a legacy. The company even had the distinction of creating the largest tent in the world back in 1951. And yes, these affordable, high quality tents are regularly shipped to North America. The waterproof Nepal Tent From Nizam Canvas can be customized to come in 2-4 person sizes.
Eco Factor: Nizam's Nepal tent is PVC-free and made of biodegradable cotton. The tent factory employs over 400 people in Karachi, Pakistan, and the business is firmly entrenched in a tradition spanning over 100 years. So even if it's not the greenest idea to have them shipped halfway around the world (although they come by boat, so it's not as bad as plane delivery), you'll be supporting people who work in a third-world country.
Ideal For: The uutdoorsman with humanitarian impulses.
Where: Nizam
How Much: Prices vary depending on size—contact Nizam for more information.
Image courtesy of Nizamcanvas.com
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