Choosing the Best Eco-Friendly Rain Gear

eco-friendly-rain-gear
PHOTO COURTESY OF COLUMBIAFunctional, stylish—and good for the environment? Eco-friendly rain gear is the latest outdoor trend.

The outdoor gear industry has used PFC-based coatings for decades, but only in recent years have the associated risks brought increased scrutiny. Most notably, in 2012 Greenpeace launched its Toxic Threads campaign, which tested gear from a range of manufacturers for PFCs and then called out companies with the chemicals in their products. In response to this and a growing backlash from consumers, some companies have eliminated the toxins from their products, while others are gradually phasing them out. Here are a few product lines to watch.


 

About the Author…

Matt Heid

Freelancer

Equipped blogger Matt Heid is AMC's gear expert: He loves gear and he loves using it in the field. While researching several guidebooks, including AMC's Best Backpacking in New England, he has hiked thousands of miles across New England, California, and Alaska, among other wilderness destinations. He also cycles, climbs, and surfs.

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