Keep it fresh on the trails while being kind to Mother Earth with these 11 products
Ursa Major
It’s amazing what a quick face cleanse can do for your entire mood on the trail. Even if you don’t have time for—or access to—a full shower, you can run a wipe across your face and feel instantly refreshed. Ursa’s 4-in-1 Face Wipes cleanse, exfoliate, soothe irritated skin, and hydrate in one fell swoop thanks to ingredients like sugar cane, willow bark, birch sap, and aloe vera. These biodegradable wipes come individually wrapped, so you can stash as many as you need in your backpack.
Sea to Summit
Shampoo and conditioners are about the most toxic products in your toiletry kit. But, Sea to Summit swaps out all the icky stuff in its phosphate-free, biodegradable formula. Unlike most other eco-friendly camping suds, this one also conditions, so your hair doesn’t end up feeling like hay. As with any soapy stuff (natural or not), just make sure you’re using it at least 200 feet from a natural water source and dispose of waste in a 6-to-8-inch-deep cat hole.
Maybe you have short strands or aren’t concerned about dry hair, and you just need a solid multi-purpose soap. Well, after 71 years, it’s still tough to beat Dr. Bronner’s. This workhorse eco-friendly hygiene product can be used for hair, body, dishes, clothes, and everything in between—and it’s equally effective in every scenario (from cutting bacon grease to getting the grime off skin). Plus, it comes in nice, not-harsh scents like lavender and even scent-free, which is always recommended for camping. The formula is famously concentrated, which means even the 2-ounce bottle will last a decent amount of time and that you should follow directions to dilute it.
It may not be a hygiene product, per se, but a Buff will definitely help you stay clean. For one, the fabric’s moisture-wicking properties help keep sweat under wraps. Use it to cover your nose and mouth in particularly dusty areas or to scrub your face clean. When all else fails, your Buff will come in handy covering up greasy hair. Recently, the brand updated to 100-percent recyclable material, using plastic bottles that have been removed from the ocean, making it even more sustainable on top of being all-around amazing.
Courtesy United by Blue
For those who prefer the good old fashioned bar soap, United by Blue’s made-in-Oregon bars are inspired by wild locales like the Siskiyou Forest and Mt. Mazama and made with coconut oil, olive oil, and essential oils. You can’t do much better in eco-friendly hygiene products than one that puts its money where its mouth is: For every bar sold, the company removes one pound of trash from the ocean. Keep using it back home, and the gentle, woodsy scents will transport you right back to nights spent under the stars.
Courtesy Schmidt's
Truth be told, deodorant is the first thing to go when camping—and seriously, it’s fine. But if you can’t go without, Schmidt’s is a solid option. Go for the fragrance-free, which is key since deodorant smells can attract bugs and bears. For ultimate sweat-fighting power, stick with the regular formula made with baking soda. It's powerful but can irritate sensitive skin. If that’s you, buy the Sensitive Skin formula made with natural magnesium instead.
Courtesy EO Products Everyone
Courtesy Patch
Knicks, scrapes, and blisters are common on the trail—and so is the possibility that your bandage might fall all when you’re sweating, getting rained on, or swimming. That’s why it’s best to go with biodegradable bandages like these bamboo ones from PATCH. If one of those suckers happens to fall off, it will eventually break down and disappear harmlessly into the Earth. A father of two created these after he noticed his sons were having allergic reactions to the bandages and ointments they were using. So, not only do the adhesive bandages protect but they also help accelerate wound care with aloe vera, coconut, and activated charcoal.
Courtesy Lena Cup
Your menstrual cycle should bear no effect on your outdoor adventure. If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of tampons or pads, which aren’t easy to dispose of in the backcountry, consider a cup. Switching might just be the most eco-friendly hygiene product you can swap for. Lena’s is made of medical-grade silicone and consistently ranks as being softer and easier to use than most. The cup will last a good 12 hours before you need to clean it out. Dispose of the waste like you would anything else, in a cathole, 200 feet from any water sources.
Courtesy Thinksport
Any outdoor adventure needs sunscreen, and a lot of it is toxic—especially to coral reefs and other marine life. In recent years, brands have been rolling out the reef-safe sunblocks. ThinkSport’s formula relies on non-nano zinc, which is said to be the safest option. Plus, it rubs in nicely, is less greasy than other brands and holds in the water for up to 80 minutes.
It’s pretty common to brush and spit, but most commercial toothpaste is filled with harmful ingredients that muck up our waterways. Natural pastes can be a more considerate alternative to Mother Earth. We dig Bite Toothpaste, which comes in tiny pellets that you can easily portion out to cover the duration of your trip. Pop one into your mouth and the tablet dissolves into powder. Get a little water in your mouth, then brush as usual. As a response to the more than 1 billion plastic tubes that end up in the landfills, every year, the Los Angeles-brand uses zero plastic for its packaging, instead opting for little glass jars that can be reused in a myriad of ways. A one-month supply sets you back $12 or you can go the subscription route for $30 for four months.