7 Climbing Gear Picks for Earth Month
Every piece of climbing gear comes with a carbon footprint. But some gear is better than others when it comes to its impact on the environment. From belay devices and harnesses made with recycled materials, to chalk that helps keep plastics out of the ocean, here are a few eco-conscious climbing gear picks to choose in honor of Earth Month.
1. A limited-edition collection that supports Access Fund
Access Fund x Wild Country Limited-Edition Gear ($34.95-$104.95)
Wild Country teamed up with Access Fund to drop a limited-edition collection designed to support the nonprofit’s mission of preserving sustainable access to climbing areas, while conserving these environments. They collabed to create a rope tarp, a bouldering bucket chalk bag, and a daypack.
Each Access Fund x Wild Country product pays homage to an iconic climbing destination; the rope tarp to Boulder’s Eldo Canyon, the chalk bag to Utah’s Joe’s Valley, and the daypack to Washington’s Index area. We also love that all the gear is PFAS-free and Wild Country is a member of the Fair Wear Foundation, which means they make their products at a factory that respects human rights. A portion of each purchase directly benefits Access Fund; this collection is only available at REI.
Shop Access Fund x Wild Country Chalk Bucket
Shop Access Fund x Wild Country Climb Pack
Shop Access Fund x Wild Country Rope Tarp
2. A high-performance vegan shoe we love
La Sportiva Skwama Vegan Shoe ($219)
No crag animals or crag-adjacent animals were harmed in the making of this aggressive shoe that we love for the steeps. In lieu of leather, the Skwama Vegan uses a “SkinLike” insole that feels and acts like leather. We reach for this versatile shoe for everything from 40-degree sport climbs to long days training in the gym. If you’re looking to support environmentally minded companies this month, you’ll be stoked to know that La Sportiva is also a Climate Neutral Certified brand.
Shop Skwama Vegan Shoe (men’s)
Shop Skwama Vegan shoe (women’s)
3. A belay device made with recycled plastic
Petzl Neox ($155)
The Petzl Neox is a smooth operator, dishing out slack and lowering with ease. While it might not outclass the Grigri’s functionality, it does one-up its brake-assisted cousin when it comes to sustainability. That’s because the Neox only uses recycled plastic in its design. If you’re not ready to step away from the Grigri, see the praises we sang of Petzl’s newest belay device here.
4. A Bluesign-certified harness
Edelrid Sendero and Autana Harnesses ($100)
We’ve been fans of Edelrid’s Sendero Harness (men’s version) and Autana Harness (women’s version) since 2020. While oriented toward the alpine, this harness feels comfy, supportive, and utilitarian on a variety of climbs. Another reason to tie in with the Sendero or Autana is that these harnesses are bluesign certified, meaning they were made using an eco-conscious manufacturing process that reduces pollutants and helps protect the environment.
5. A harness made with recycled fabrics
Petzl Luna Harness ($105)
Petzl updated its classic Luna Harness last year. The low-profile design never inhibits movement, while the lightweight materials keep us feeling limber on belay. The large gear loops also make racking up or cleaning climbs a breeze. One upgrade we’re really stoked about? The waistbelt and leg loops are now made from 100% recycled polyester fabric.
6. A sleeping bag made with recycled fabric
Mythic Ultra 200 Sleeping Bag: 34°F ($550)
We listed this sleeping bag as one of our favorite pieces of camping gear for climbers last fall. With 900-fill down, it kept us plenty warm camping around the Canadian Rockies between climbing objectives. Our tester praised the superlight Mythic Ultra for its “plush comfort” and “efficient design.” Plus, it’s eco-minded with all recycled fabrics so you can sleep outside in good conscience.
7. Chalk that helps remove plastic from the ocean
Zigzag Impact Chalk ($20)
Chalk comes with its environmental challenges, so the least we can all do is try to choose a brand that does less harm. We are impressed by Zigzag’s commitment to sustainability and to reducing the impact of its products, including its chalk. For each bag of chalk purchased, Zigzag helps keep one pound of plastic out of the ocean through its partner, CleanHub. Plus, the chalk bag packaging is made from 87% post-consumer recycled materials and the packaging is 100% recyclable.
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