equipment

Green up your style

The environmentally friendly ski outfit

by Lisa Amenda • 12/21/2018

Outdoor clothing is harmful to the environment, full of PFC, conventional down or other problematic materials. As skiers, we often have to face these accusations. However, there are also companies that do things differently and place value on sustainability and environmental friendliness in their products. We have put together an outfit from such manufacturers for you here - from helmets to skis.

Helmet - Picture Unity

The French manufacturer Picture - Organic Clothing focuses on sustainability and eco-friendliness, even in its name. Its Unity Helmet is therefore made from 100% environmentally friendly materials. What does that mean? Completely recycled plastic is used - without being in any way inferior to other freeride helmets.

Price: 99.95 euros

Goggles - Spektrum Helags Duo-Tone Edition

The small goggle manufacturer Spektrum from Åre in Sweden has set itself the task of making ski goggles a little more sustainable. Together with Mid Sweden University, they have developed a model that not only stands out due to its clean, Nordic oversize design, but also because the frame is made from bio-plastic, i.e. based on castor oil instead of petroleum. The goggle straps are made from recycled polyester.

Price: 169 euros incl. interchangeable lens

Jacket - Haglöfs Nengal and Khione 3L Proof Jacket

Haglöfs cares about nature, which is why the Swedish outdoor manufacturer doesn't use environmentally harmful PFC in the Khione and Nengal 3L Proof Jackets. The 3-layer men's and women's jackets are naturally waterproof and breathable and are made entirely from recycled nylon ripstop fabric using Haglöfs' own PROOF ECO technology. Haglöfs has also treated the jackets with a PFC-free DWR to ensure that water and dirt still roll off.

Price: 480 euros

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Pants - Patagonia W's PowSlayer Pants and Mammut Stoney

There's hardly anything more to say about Patagonia and environmental protection, but the company from Ventura in California not only supports environmental organizations, but is also constantly working on environmentally friendly product solutions. This season, for example, Patagonia is offering the PowSlayer Pants, which it claims are the first ski pants with a 3-layer Gore-Tex Pro material made from 100 percent recycled nylon outer material.

Price: 500 euros

An alternative to the PowSlayer Pants from Patagonia is the Stoney Pants from Mammut for men. They are classic freeride and touring pants that even accompany team rider Jérémie Heitz on his adventures. The materials used are bluesign® certified. Mammut has also been a founding member of the UN Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action since December 2018. By signing the charter, the Swiss company commits to implementing and supporting the 16 principles of the Fashion Climate Charter, which were defined in accordance with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. These include, for example, topics such as decarbonizing the production process, using climate-friendly and sustainable materials, raising consumer awareness and working with political decision-makers. An initial goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030.

Price: €299.00

Midlayer - The North Face ThermoBall Eco

There is also something environmentally friendly for underneath: The North Face is giving its ThermoBall jacket a sustainable makeover and will be producing the jacket from 100 percent recycled materials from 2018. The outer fabric is made from recycled polyester and the PrimaLoft insulation material is also recycled and contains at least five recycled plastic bottles that have been removed from the waste cycle and processed into synthetic down.

Price: 230 euros

Underlayer - Pyua Perk Longsleeve and Devold Hiking 3/4 Long John

When talking about environmentally friendly outdoor clothing, Pyua is not far away. The German manufacturer not only offers outerwear true to the motto "Ecorrect Outerwear", skiers can also dress from head to toe in fairly and sustainably produced items. For example, with the Perk longsleeve as a base layer. Made from 100% recycled polyester and produced socially and fairly in Europe, the longsleeve ensures a comfortable fit and fast moisture wicking. The Vivid-Y longsleeve is available for men.

Longsleeve price: €54.95

For all those who swear by merino wool as an underlayer, there are the Hiking 3/4 Long Johns from Devold. The Norwegian manufacturer specializes in clothing made from wool. It sources this from Australia, New Zealand and Argentina and processes it in its own factory into functional ski underwear or sweaters and T-shirts for everyday wear. The Viking 3/4 Long John Pants have a chafe-free seam construction and, thanks to their length, also fit easily with ski socks.

Gloves - Ortovox Swisswool Freeride Mitten

If you like wearing mittens, the Swisswool Freeride Mitten from Ortovox is a good choice. The inside of the gloves is lined with merino wool fibers, while the Swisswool® filling provides insulation. Wool has played an important role for the Taufkirchner since the company was founded, and since 2011 Ortovox has been focusing on products with Swisswool®: Swiss wool, which is characterized by its regional origin, short transport routes, complete processing in Europe and fair payment of wool farmers. The merino wool is also from controlled, species-appropriate farming. On the outside, the gloves are equipped with a Tora Dermizax® EV layer. This is windproof and water-repellent.

Price: 159 euros

Socks - Icebreaker Ski+ Light Over The Calf

The New Zealanders from Icebreaker are the first port of call when it comes to merino wool clothing. Of course, there's one thing you can't do without when skiing: Ski socks. The Ski+ Light Over The Calf socks are made from a blend of merino wool, nylon and Lycra and have an anatomically shaped toe box as well as a reinforced Achilles, ankle and instep area. Merino wool is a renewable raw material and Icebreaker is also committed to ensuring that the merino wool used is traceable and meets the highest environmental and animal welfare standards.

Price: €28.95

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Backpack - Vaude Nendaz 25

If you talk about sustainable outdoor companies in Germany, the name Vaude always comes up. Of course, the Tettnang-based company is also a pioneer in this field. They make no distinction between clothing and equipment. The main material is completely bluesign®-certified and the 25-liter backpack has everything you need in the backcountry: Helmet holder, ski attachment, safety compartment for shovel and probe, holder for poles and ice axe. The main compartment also has space for a hydration bladder, snacks and a change of clothes. With the Green Shape label, Vaude also guarantees that the product is made from sustainable materials and that fair working conditions are guaranteed throughout the entire supply chain during production.

Price: 130 euros

Boots - Scarpa Freedom RS

Scarpa supplies the Freedom RS, a freeride/touring boot with a shell made from Pebax Rnew. A plastic made from castor oil. Scarpa is therefore one of the few manufacturers to reduce the use of fossil raw materials in ski boot production and rely on plant-based, renewable alternatives. Apart from the material, the Freedom RS is a freeride boot with a ski and walk mechanism including a 25° angle of movement on the ascent (20° forwards, 5° backwards), Dynafit inserts and a Vibram interchangeable sole for alpine bindings.

Price: 669 euros

Poles - Poleplant Freeride

Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants, so the makers of Poleplant thought: "why not make ski poles out of it like they used to?" Today, they produce unique pieces by hand in Tignes, France, and even promise that their poles are twice as strong as classic aluminum poles. If you fancy it, you can also order a custom model, where either your own name or ski motto is branded into the pole.

Price: 94.99 euros

Ski - Earlybird Skis Jackdaw or Völkl 90Eight

Freerider and engineer Hanno Schwab founded Earlybird Skis in 2014 with the idea of becoming a pioneer in sustainable ski construction. With an ISPO Award from 2015 and a fine, handmade collection, he is now on the right track. The collection currently comprises three different models with widths of 98, 108 and 118 millimetres. The all-rounder is probably the Jackdaw with dimensions of 138-108-124 mm, full rocker construction and tapered tip and tail. However, all models share the Earlybird Eco Performance construction: a lightweight FSC-certified wood core reinforced with natural flax fibers and carbon stringers, sidewalls made from solid robinia wood, bio-based epoxy resin and a sintered racing base made from recycled raw materials. The ski wax is also 100% bio-based and the topsheet is made of robinia wood veneer with a branded logo. A natural wood oil is used as a finish. Earlybird uses as little carbon as possible, but wants to increase the lifespan of the skis by using carbon fiber. All skis are produced by hand near Bern. And even the ski press is made of wood.

Price: CHF 1,395

If you prefer a more versatile yet environmentally friendly ski, you should take a closer look at the Völkl 90Eight. The dimensions of 133-98-116mm make it the ideal companion for every day. Whether on the piste or in fresh snow, the Straubinger feels at home everywhere. Völkl not only manufactures the all-rounder in Germany, but also pays attention to sustainability during production. According to Völkl, it uses edges made from recycled steel, recycled bases, water-based prints and wood cores from sustainable forestry.

649.95 euros

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