The holidays are a time of giving and spreading cheer but unfortunately a lot of the gifts we purchase are manufactured in ways that are destructive to our planet. Luckily, there are a number of companies committed to protecting the environment and paving the way for greener alternatives in the watersports industry. Here, we’ve rounded up six of our favorite sustainable gifts this holiday season.
Patagonia Uprisal Crew Sweatshirt
We’re long time fans of Patagonia for their commitment to sustainability and protecting our beautiful planet. The Uprisal Crew comes in a number of different styles and is made from 95% recycled materials. 10.6 plastic bottles and 0.6 pounds of cotton scrap go into making these sweatshirts, saving 143 gallons of water when compared to a traditional cotton sweatshirt. This sweatshirt fits true to size and is thicker than most, making it a great option for cozying up after chilly paddles. To further their efforts in making ethical and sustainable clothing, the Uprisal Crew is Fair Trade Certified and the fabric is bluesign approved.
Check it out: Uprisal Crew Sweatshirt
NSP DC Surf Wide
If you’re familiar with our site, you’ve heard us rave about NSP’s DC Surf Wide. Using CocoMat and/or CocoFlax technology, this board is one of the most sustainably made standup paddleboards in the industry. The Cocomat technology uses coconut husk fibers from sustainably grown plantations to create a strong micro sandwich for the boards, making the board incredibly light yet durable. The award winning CocoFlax technology uses flax fibers on the rail sections to improve strength and rigidity and the entire board is bonded with Greenpoxy bio-resin. In addition to the DC Surf Wide, NSP offers a number of other surfboards and SUPs featuring both the CocoMat and CocoFlax technology. This is definitely a higher price point item, but if you’re in the market for a new SUP this one is a winner for both novice and experienced paddlers alike.
Check it out: DC Surf Wide
Costa Sunglasses
Photo: Jonathan Kemnitz
Founded in 1983, Costa has been in the business of making functional sunglasses for watermen and waterwomen for over three decades. With hundreds of styles and lens options to choose from, Costa has a pair of shades for your every need. For SUP women, we’re big fans of the Remora—medium-sized glasses with a lightweight frame and Hydrolite grip. For men, we recommend a pair from Costa’s most sustainable collection to date: The Untangled Collection. Every pair of glasses in the Untangled Collection is made from 100% recycled fishing nets and features mineral glass lenses and PLUSfoam recyclable nose pads. To further their commitment to sustainable practices, Costa has a ‘Kick Plastic’ campaign, regularly hosts beach cleanups, and is a long-term supporter of OCEARCH.
Check them out: Sunglasses
Sensi x Trew Gear Bikini
Professional kite boarder Sensi Graves prides herself in making ‘bikinis for girls who rip’ and her latest collaboration with TREW Gear is no exception. A fellow Hood River, Oregon company, Trew Gear makes high quality outerwear that combines function and style. The two PNW brands partnered up to release The Funky Fern collection: a print inspired by the 90s that features bright colors and fun designs. The print comes in a number of different bikini styles and if you purchase a bikini, you’ll receive 20% off a Trew Funky Fern Pack Jack. We’re big fans of the collab and like all of Sensi’s bikinis, this one stays in place no matter you’re adventure. To top it off, Sensi Graves bikinis use recycled packaging, are made in the USA, incorporate recycled fabrics into their suits, and donate 1% of their sales to environmental causes.
Check them out: Bikinis
Slowtide Fleece Blanket
Slowtide has been turning heads since 2015 for their fun prints featured on beach towels and rounds. Just in time for winter, they’ve added fleece blankets to their collection. The best part: the blankets are made from 100% recycled materials. Slowtide cares about the planet and as a result, they use clean, ethical factories and sustainably sourced materials. These blankets pack down small, making them a great option for travel or cozying up in after a chilly paddle. As if we needed another reason to love them, Slowtide recently teamed up with Good360 by donating towels and blankets to support disaster relief efforts from Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Michael in North Carolina.
Check them out: Fleece Blankets
Patagonia Provisions
Photo: Amy Kumler
“The tradition and culture of food have always been important to us at Patagonia,” says Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard. “On our many travels, the meals—cedar-planked salmon with First Nations friends in BC, tsampa in yak-hair tents in Tibet, asado and chimichurri with Patagonian gauchos—become a vital part of the experience. What we eat does more than just fill our stomachs and nourish our bodies; good food lifts our spirits and helps us understand the world a little better.”
Patagonia has been making high-quality outdoor clothing for years but it wasn’t until recently that they added food to their selection. Through Patagonia Provisions, Patagonia strives to make the best products possible, cause no unnecessary harm, and inspire solutions to the environmental crisis. The food industry causes a lot of destruction to our planet—Patagonia implements the best existing practices where possible and searches for new sustainable solutions where they don’t already existed. The entire line of Patagonia Provisions is organic and includes options such as savory grains, mussels, seeds, fruit bars, wild salmon, and soups. You can purchase items alone or in a gift box, which includes a selection of items. Like everything Patagonia does, their provisions are top notch and are a great option for snacking mid-paddle or packing along for a multi-day trip.
Check them out: Provisions
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