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Article is open in Vancouver with a gorgeous new store you didn’t know you were craving
Summer is the time for venturing outside the gym and working up a sweat in the great outdoors. We’ve listed fun ways to exercise outside and also rounded up some of our favourite new sustainable workout gear and clothing.
The easiest summertime exercise for all ages, abilities, and fitness levels is walking, whether along a seawall, on a beach, in a park, or through a forest. Elevate your heart rate by jogging or running. To add a sustainability component, try plogging: jogging while picking up litter. In addition to helping save the planet, plogging burns extra calories by incorporating bending, squatting, and stretching.
Some walking paths are suitable for cycling, roller skating, and inline skating. Or head for the hills and go hiking or mountain biking. If dogs are allowed on the mountain, bring your favourite four-legged friend for some fresh-air fun.
Parks are the ideal green backdrops for jumping rope and stretching. Or give your mind and body a workout at the same time by practising yoga, qigong, or tai chi. Many parks also have outdoor courts for tennis, pickleball, and basketball, along with fields for team sports such as soccer, rugby, football, and baseball.
If you’re near a lake or the ocean, swimming is the ultimate way to cool off while exercising in the hot summer sun. Other quintessential water workouts include stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, and rowing.
Whichever workout you choose, be sure not to damage your surroundings or leave litter in the great outdoors. As the famous saying goes, take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, and kill nothing but time.
When outfitting yourself for alfresco activities, first look inside your own closet. The most eco-friendly (and affordable!) clothing, footwear, and equipment is what you already own. Also consider borrowing or renting items you use infrequently. Some public libraries in British Columbia lend out yoga mats, soccer balls, golf clubs, baseball gloves, and more. Used sports and fitness equipment can often be found for sale on Craigslist, Kijiji, and Facebook Marketplace.
If it’s time to shop for something new, first research the businesses and brands you’re considering buying from and evaluate their sustainability claims. One positive sign is B Corp certification, which means the company has met a third-party standard for social sustainability and environmental performance. Also take the time to read some of the product’s online reviews, which can provide valuable information about durability and longevity. Getting more years out of each product is a key element of sustainability.
Here are some of our top picks from companies that are striving to balance the tough task of lowering their carbon footprints while also producing high-quality, long-lasting clothing and gear.
Skullcandy’s EcoBuds True Wireless Earbuds boast a carbon footprint that’s half compared to similar products on the market. Made from 65% certified recycled plastics, the earbuds nestle into a battery-free open case—the minimalist design drastically reduces the amount of plastics and heavy metals required for production. And don’t let the lack of external battery worry you: these water-resistant Bluetooth earbuds have eight hours of battery life, along with a built-in USB-C cable, allowing for on-the-go charging from a smartphone.
Sunski Yuba Polarized Sunglasses from MEC are useful for reducing glare while on water, snow, or pavement, thanks to their polarized lenses. All of Sunski’s sunnies are made from SuperLight, a recycled polymer created out of post-industrial scrap plastic, and no single-use plastic is used in any packaging. Sunski is a member of 1% for the Planet, a network of businesses that donate one percent of their annual sales to environmental organizations.
The durable b, mat cork from b, halfmoon is crafted from natural renewable materials: cork on the top, rubber on the bottom. Take it outside for a few sun salutations and some savasana on a sunny day, or head indoors to a hot yoga class, where you can sweat without sliding around, since moisture activates the cork’s grip. Canadian company b, halfmoon (a merging of BC’s Halfmoon and Ontario’s B Yoga) is a certified B Corp.
The Promaster Altichron from Citizen is powered by Eco-Drive solar technology, which means it never needs a battery—it recharges using ordinary light sources such as desk lamps and overhead fluorescents. Water-resistant up to 200 metres, this handsome timepiece has a rugged Super Titanium case, an advanced metric altimeter, and an electronic compass function.
Herschel’s Premium Classics collection takes some of the Vancouver brand’s most popular backpack and tote-bag styles and redesigns them in lightweight twill fabric made from 100% recycled post-consumer water bottles. The 30-litre Little America Backpack is the perfect size for a day of hiking, and it has EVA-padded shoulder straps, two expandable external water bottle pockets, and a side-entry zipper to allow easy access.
Soft, warm, and breathable, the Covert Cardigan from Arc’teryx is made from 100% recycled polyester. It works well either on its own or as a cozy layering piece, when there’s a chill in the air. Arc’teryx created ReBIRD to be a dedicated hub for all of the company’s initiatives related to circularity, from repairing to reselling to upcycling.
Voglia Swimwear and Wood Underwear teamed up to create summer’s sweetest swimsuits. Their Oh, Honey! collection features coordinating swim trunks, bikinis, rash guards, sarongs, and more, all of which pay homage to everyone’s favourite pollinator: the honeybee. Partial proceeds go toward various beekeepers’ initiatives. Voglia avoids single-use plastics, instead using regenerated nylon, eco-friendly inks, and biodegradable packaging. The company also partners with Ocean Co., to help collect and recycle ocean-bound plastic, and One Tree Planted, to support global reforestation.
Every Smartwool product is made from ZQ-certified merino wool, known as the gold standard for sustainable wool. A naturally breathable and odour-resistant fibre, wool is renewable, biodegradable, and wrinkle-resistant. The Men’s Active Ultralite Short Sleeve is part of Smartwool’s Ultralite collection, perfect for keeping cool and dry while working out in the summer heat and humidity.
The WDN Energy Men’s 7″ Shorts are part of the breathable, moisture-wicking WELL.DER.NESS collection from Kathmandu, a certified B Corp. The main fabric used to construct these lightweight, quick-drying shorts contains recycled polyester, as well as elastane for stretch. Plus the shorts have been treated with a plant-based peppermint oil that controls odours.
The Modal Bra Top and Modal High-Rise Bike Shorts from Good for Sunday are constructed from EcoMove, a performance fabric containing 84% modal and 16% spandex. Breathable and soft but highly moisture-wicking, modal is produced from tree cellulose. Good for Sunday makes wardrobe staples using eco-friendly materials, and every piece is dyed, cut, and sewn in Toronto, then shipped in compostable and recyclable packaging.
EcoLight fabric is the secret to how soft and stretchy the Reversible Ultralight High-Rise Leggings from Rose Boreal are. Breathable and durable, this fabric is comprised of 20% spandex and 80% polyester made from recycled plastic bottles. The reversible leggings come in three smile-inducing colourways—Groovy Meadow (pictured), Aurora Borealis, and Bandana—each with a solid colour on the inside. Rose Boreal is a certified B Corp out of Montreal that uses ecologically minded materials such as recycled polyester, recycled nylon made from old fishing nets, recycled cotton, organic cotton, and Tencel modal and Naia acetate, both of which are made from wood pulp.
Reach the peak in Swiftwick’s Flite XT Trail Five socks, which deliver the perfect balance of comfort and compression. These durable high-tech socks are made from a mix of nylon, Olefin, and merino wool—a sustainable fibre that is naturally antimicrobial, meaning no more stinky feet, even after a sweaty day of hiking or trail running.
Lightweight and versatile, the Cloudvista shoes from On were engineered for pounding along hard-packed trails. About 70% of the polyester used to make these comfy shoes is recycled, and overall about 15% of the materials are recycled.
Hit the trails in a pair of Cottonwood Low Waterproof shoes from Oboz, a certified B Corp. These comfy kicks represent the company’s most sustainable hiking shoes to date, with their bio-EVA midsoles and their uppers and linings made from recycled materials. For every pair of footwear Oboz sells, the company plants a tree—which adds up to more than six million trees (so far).
