- While the holiday season may be
considered the most wonderful time of year,
it is definitely not the most sustainable time of year.
That's why we partnered with REI to bring you
our top travel gift ideas
that are both sustainable and ethical.
I'm Tom Wahlin with Pack Hacker,
where views are expertise and real-world experience
to provide practical resources and honest opinions
guiding you towards smarter travel.
So, if you new to the channel consider subscribing.
While we acknowledge that any type of product production
has an impact on the environment,
all of the products on this list here are sustainable,
meaning they're made from recycled plastics,
they are bluesign approved, or some combination of both.
And make sure to click the link in the description below
to follow along with the blog post
over at packhacker.com as we're going through the video.
Let's jump right in.
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We think the FinalStraw 2.0
is one of the best reusable straws on the market.
Pair that with the folding design
and the compact carrying case,
and you've got something
that's really great for one bag travel.
While it does take some time to get used to,
the FinalStraw 2.0 quickly becomes
a joy to use with the silicone tips,
a carrying case small enough to clip to a keychain,
and an included extendable minibrush for easy cleaning.
As if things couldn't get any better,
FinalStraw donates 1% of their sales
to environmental nonprofits.
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On the road these lightweight,
highly absorbent microfiber towels
are a great catch-all on the road, literally.
Pick up a couple different sizes
and your favorite eco traveler can use them as a napkin,
pillow, or an actual towel.
Plus, they're exceptionally soft
and made from bluesign approved materials.
Because it's a microfiber towel,
it feels a little odd against the body,
but its packability, quilted pattern,
and quick-drying nature make it a great for travel.
I've even used the smallest version of this towel
for a two year trip around the world,
using it at hostels
when there are no towels available in a pinch.
A little bit small for the full body,
but it can get the job done
if you're trying to stay minimal.
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Patagonia's entire Black Hole line
is ideal for eco-warriors longing to see the world,
and the Black Hole packing cubes are no exception.
We're digging these packing cubes
which are made of 100% recycled
bluesign approved polyester ripstop,
and 100% recycled polyester lining.
So yeah, most of the materials on these cubes
are sustainable and ethically made.
Plus, they're built to last
so they won't end up in a landfill by February.
Sustainability aside, these are great little cubes
for keeping a bag organized,
especially those larger top-loading bags
or those massive bucket clamshell backpacks.
Grab a couple of these,
and it's easy to tell where everything is inside of a bag.
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The Buff USA Original
is one of the most versatile pieces of clothing
for minimal one bag travel.
This nifty gadget works as a hat, scarf,
sleeping mask, bandana, helmet liner,
bathing suit cover, sweatband, and a bunch of other things.
It's great for summer.
The fabric has an SPF rating of 50,
but it also makes a great wind blocker
on those freezing cold days as well.
Plus, this polyester version
is made from recycled plastic bottles.
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If a friend or family member is about to embark
on a long-term trip around the world,
the Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter compression cubes
are a great companion to have along for the ride.
They're lightweight, stain resistant,
and of course compressible,
so you can pack a ton of stuff in a small space.
Backed by eagle Creek's lifetime warranty,
these things won't end up in a landfill anytime soon.
A lot of us on the team have been
using these for a very long time
for one bag perpetual travel
and have had really great luck with that.
Plus, the tech versions are made
with bluesign approved materials as well.
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Made of bluesign approved polyester,
this handy little pouch from REI
is another great way to stay organized on the road.
Your loved ones can toss it in their pack,
or if they're especially hip,
use a carabiner to hook it through their belt loop.
In contrast to the two packing cubes we just covered,
this little pouch is great for smaller items
due to its thin design.
It's highly packable and weatherproof to boot.
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This seriously sticky tape seals tears
and prevents them from spreading.
If the traveler in your life
has a run-in with an errant tree branch,
just use a little bit of this to ensure
that their jacket isn't going to need
to be sent directly to the landfill.
Plus it's tape, so it doesn't require the same finesse
to work with as a needle and thread.
And let's face it, patching slightly damaged gear
is a lot better than sending something
directly to the landfill
if there's just a little bit wrong with it.
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Approximately 100 million disposable chopsticks
are thrown away in a landfill every year.
It's madness.
While not everyone on your list
will need or want reusable chopsticks,
it's a great little item to have in a pinch
when they don't wanna use a plastic fork at the airport
during their third layover of the day.
These ones from Snow Peak are made with bamboo and titanium
which not only looks classy,
but it makes them easy to clean and nice to use as well.
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We've already discussed why
everything in Patagonia's Black Hole line
is ideal for environmentalists.
They're all made from recycled bluesign approved materials.
This hip pack is, of course, all that
and a really handy accessory to have while on the road.
Your friends will love it for flights, day trips,
runs, or whatever other adventures they've cooked up.
At one liter it is a nice small size
for carrying just a little bit extra
than what pockets can hold comfortably.
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We probably don't need to tell you
why charging gear with the sun
is a lot more eco groovy than using an outlet.
Environmentalism aside, this gadget is super handy
for anyone who travels to remote areas,
where plugging something into an outlet isn't an option.
Perfect for backpackers, roadtrippers,
or your friends that end up
on the roads a little bit less traveled.
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The reusable water bottle is basically
the OG of single-use plastic alternatives.
This one is from Hydro Flask, made exclusively for REI.
It's double-wall insulated,
meaning it'll keep cold drinks cold
and hot drinks hot for a ridiculously long time.
And the stainless steel interior
doesn't add any unwanted flavor
to whatever beverage is inside.
It's rugged too, meaning you can gift it
to your clumsiest friend without worrying
it'll break in a month when they've
accidentally kicked it down a flight of stairs.
Plus, we're digging the retro fit and feel
of this colorway specifically.
There're a bunch of other options over at REI.com.
A lot of them feature the 1938 date,
which is the year that REI was founded.
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An alternative to disposable plastic wrap for food,
these beeswax wraps are really easy to use.
Simply use the warmth of your hands
to mold it around whatever food item you'd like to wrap up.
Fruit, sandwiches, basically anything other than raw meat.
If you want to win the holidays,
bake your loved ones their favorite dessert
and wrap it up in a slice of Bee's Wrap.
Or gift this to your super-sustainable
eco-friendly traveler friend.
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This gift is a great solve for your eco-warrior friend
that always forgets to bring
reusable grocery bags to the grocery store.
This packable tote made from recycled materials
can be tossed in a backpack, sling bag,
or whatever, and be forgotten about until needed.
And it works for far more than groceries.
Use it as a lunch bag, work tote,
or a personal item on a fight.
Better yet, United By Blue says for every product sold
they remove a pound of trash from oceans and waterways
which we can all probably agree is pretty awesome.
We like the handy little triangular carabiner clip
that comes with the bag as well.
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The flask, essentially a reusable water bottle
but for booze.
We like the fun holiday designs on each of these flasks,
and we think it's handy that the screw cap
is attached to the flask as well.
And yeah, that's about it, a flask.
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Organic, biodegradable, and effective,
this soap is the triple threat of eco groovy soaps.
You can use it as body soap, shaving cream,
laundry soap, shampoo, dish soap, and mouthwash.
Yeah, this thing works as shampoo
and mouthwash for the adventurist.
Gentle on the environment,
this soap is especially good for your outdoorsy friends.
So, there you have it, our Eco-Groovy Gift Guide with REI.
We would love to hear
what your favorite sustainable product is
in the comments below,
so make sure to share it there with us.
Thanks for commuting here at Pack Hacker,
your guide to smarter travel.
We'll see you in the next video.