Erik Schlimmer tells the story of how he learned to fastpack the Adirondacks, a grueling 110 miles and 19,000 vertical feet of climbing, in five days with only 11 pounds on his back.
When this issue hits the gyms and stores, the story that inspired this column will be old news, but I’m writing about it anyway because I think it raises some really important issues in the active community.
Our monthly review of the latest and greatest gear and gadgets.
Simple ecoSNEAKS
Committed to change, meaning changing the things they take from the planet and changing the things they waste, Simple strives to make their shoes as green as possible. Their fun and funky ecoSNEAKS, such as the women’s Satire ($70), use recycled car tires on the soles and organic cotton on the upper, so they leave an eco-friendlier—and fun tire track—footprint than many other shoes. While car tires aren’t “all natural,” they are being reused, saving them a trip to the landfill. Cool fact: Simple is able to make six men’s size 9 outsoles out of one car tire. www.simpleshoes.com
More and more people—particularly in the yoga community—are looking to wear only organic clothing. Beckons offers an eco-friendly, colorful and fashionable line of tops (some are reversible) and bottoms to please those palates. The Love Capri ($85)—with scalloped hems and a playful tie closure—is a great example, made with a blend of hemp and organic cotton, plus a touch (only 3 percent) of Lycra for fit. www.beckonsyoga.com
Slip into Horny Toad’s man-made yet natural duds for the latest jaunt around town. You’d never guess that the Zade tank ($42, at right) or the soft corduroy of the Katy skirt ($64) originally came from beechwood and bamboo, respectively. Or curl up after a workout in the super-soft Veronica bottoms ($60), made of 50-percent organic Velush that makes even your softest fleece seem like a third-class citizen. For guys, trade your regular after-hours shirt for the Kramer ($70), an almost all-organic option that’s durable and moisture wicking. Short-sleeve for warm days, you can also purchase a 100-percent organic long-sleeve when the autumn breeze kicks in. www.hornytoad.com
By land or by sea, weathering a storm or relaxing after a rough journey, adventure addicts gravitate to the Pen Shell Clog, especially if they’re green-minded. Slip into a mold-to-your-foot, light-as-a-feather slide and know that you’re most likely offsetting your carbon imprint on Mother Earth. Mion strategizes to construct its lineup using renewable energy—they purchase wind power in South Dakota and their distribution center uses solar panels for 60 percent of its power—in an effort to become carbon neutral. Be sure to read the Ecometrics label, the first of its kind, which quantifies the clog’s environmental impact. $95, www.mionfootwear.com
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