‘Tis always the season to shop with a conscience. And the 2019 holiday season should be no different. Check out these small, sustainable gifts that have a bigger impact.
REI is loaded with gear and apparel that outdoorsy people love. Whether you want to reduce single-use plastic or are searching for gear made of recycled materials, you’re in luck. We’ve found the best of the bunch so you can stuff this year’s stockings with feel-good surprises. Plus, all of these gifts are under $30.
FinalStraw 2.0 Stainless Steel Straw: $25
Raise your hand if this is the coolest sipper you’ve ever seen. Already packaged in a colorful container, the reusable FinalStraw is made for your sustainable stocking-stuffer mix.
The collapsible straw weighs under an ounce and can even attach to a keychain for those who suffer from straw withdrawal. The brand claims you can cycle it twice a day for 16 years, meaning one FinalStraw could help one person eliminate thousands of single-use plastic straws over its lifetime.
See the FinalStrawFlowfold Recycled Sailcloth Craftsman Wallet: $15 (26% Off)
American-made from repurposed boat-racing sailcloth, Flowfold’s crafty wallet is both ultraslim and ultratough. It’s water-resistant and has just enough features to keep essentials safe: one center cash pocket and two card slide-ins. Plus, it’s on closeout, so at $15 you can stuff even more in that stocking.
See the Flowfold WalletNoso Puffy Patch X: $5
Prolong the life of your favorite gear and avoid the landfill with a super-tough, stay-on Puffy Patch from Noso, the little Jackson Hole outdoor company that could. We love these playful fabric patches for keeping everything from tents to jackets intact.
It’s hard to believe these lightweight fabric adhesives will last, but we dare you to put them through a snowstorm — or the washing machine.
See the Noso PatchStasher Reusable Silicone Sandwich Bag: $12
Stasher is all the rage in reusables. This is the everyday sandwich bag, but REI has several Stasher bag sizes and standup options. These heavy-duty silicone food-grade bags are an excellent alternative to single-use plastics.
Stashers work well for camping foods, too. Just throw them in the dishwasher when you get home. And amazingly you can bake, microwave, sous-vide, boil, and freeze in these airtight suckers.
See the StasherBee’s Wrap — Set of 3: $18
Use this beeswax-based natural alternative to plastic wrap for covering food and camping supplies like bar soap and toothbrushes. A Bee’s Wrap starter set comes with small, medium, and large moldable casings.
The key to this functional plastic substitute is learning how to prolong its life: Use warm hands to soften and seal, wash with cool water and mild dish soap, and let it air dry. When it’s time to say goodbye, compost it, or use it as a natural firestarter.
See the Bee’s WrapUnited By Blue The Utensil Set: $24
Ideal for those interested in more sustainable travel, the UBB utensil set comes in an outdoorsy carrying case. Choose from three themed — “To the City” (above), “To the Mountains,” or “To the Woods” — recycled polyester hook-and-loop-closing wrappers. The travel kit comes with two stainless steel straws, a silicone straw tip, a straw cleaner, and a stainless steel spork and chopsticks.
See The Utensil SetYETI Rambler 12oz Bottle: $30
Anything YETI is a fun gift to give because it’s a splurge — something that many people have trouble doing for themselves. This 12-ounce stainless steel, reusable, double-wall vacuum-insulated bottle doesn’t mess around when trying to keep liquids hot or cold.
We’re picturing the screw-top Rambler holding piping hot chocolate on a horse-drawn sleigh or bone broth for scaling that snowy peak this season. It has lots of uses, but the best is preventing another single-use container from mucking up the planet.
See the YETI Rambler BottleREI Co-op Life Outdoors Small Tote: $6
REI’s inspirational every day $6 totes are a simple, sustainable gift that folds down into any stocking. Just add a recycled bow. The 15 x 12.5-inch poly-cotton bag has reinforced handles for hauling groceries, library books, or outdoor gear. And with every use of this tough, washable bag, you get to re-commit to the anti-plastic revolution.
See the REI Totes
Patagonia Ultralight Black Hole Mini Hip Pack: $29
These days, a lot of Patagonia products utilize recycled materials. This handy little retro hip pack is made of recycled ripstop nylon outside and a recycled polyester lining. The 1L zippered case is a perfect purse alternative for outdoor adventures, and there are two extra pockets to separate keys from cash or your phone.
See the Patagonia Hip PackThis article is brought to you by REI. Check out more sustainable stocking stuffers at REI.com.
