OUTDOOR PURSUITS

Getting out and being active is a joy we can all experience, whether we’re running, cycling, hiking, camping, swimming, sailing or just sitting on the deck. But even wholesome and healthy activities can leave one almighty carbon footprint – which is why, over the next 18 pages, you’ll find the very best in high-performance, long-lasting, eco-friendly outdoor gear.

[ Words Chris Haslam ]

ARC’TERYX AERIOS 35 BACKPACK

With droves of urban hipsters plus the likes of Drake and Bella Hadid all wearing Arc’teryx, this Canadian brand might be too trendy for its own good. It’s easy to forget that it makes some of the world’s best outdoor kit, designed for the harshest environments on earth… yes, even Sunderland.

The roll-top Aerios 35 is the firm’s latest daypack. Intended for long hikes and overnight trips virtually anywhere, it’s inspired by running packs and loaded with features, but is it worth the high price? I’ve been putting the miles in to find out.

The 100% recycled Hadron LCP rip-stop fabric is something of a wonder product: ultra-light but also resistant to scuffs and tears. Even after deliberately rough use, the bag remains unscathed. Every hook, clip and strap –and there are plenty of them, some alittle fiddly if I’m honest –is equally rugged.

But it’s the fit that deserves the most praise. At first feel the straps lack padding, but they distribute weight evenly, and by adjusting the length you can find perfection. The shoulder straps also have space for soft flasks and a phone.

It’s a superb pack in every sense; and while it is pricey, I believe it will last for decades. And even if it does fail, the brand’s sustainable ReBird repair guarantee has your back.

Price £220 /go.stuff.tv/Aerios

Key specs

• 35L • 8 pockets • 540x285x230mm, 1.16kg

STUFF SAYS This super-light daypack is versatile and durable ★★★★☆

HAPPY CAMPER pt1

Forget what’s on TV and head for the hills (or nearest campsite) armed with this kit for surviving and thriving

IGLOO TRAILMATE ECOCOOL

Giant wheeled coolboxes are all the rage in American campgrounds, but they’ve never quite seemed practical for weekend campers in the UK.

However, coolers don’t come any cooler than the Igloo Trailmate. So I loaded it up to find out if it’s worth the boot space.

The lovechild of a snowmobile and a Jawa Sandcrawler, this 66L chill palace boasts huge all-terrain wheels, a retractable handle for towing, four cup-holders and two bottle-openers. And despite its bulk, it benefits from being made out of 100% recycled plastic and uses Thermecool insulation, which is ultra-eco-friendly.

Now, this cooler weighs 15.7kg when empty. That’s the equivalent of a chunky 4-year-old… and once full of ice and beer, it can feel more like you’re hefting a 40-year-old out the boot. But on firm ground, the handle and big wheels make lugging it relatively easy.

Aside from keeping its contents really cold –chilled drinks stayed appreciably cold for almost five days and ice was still usable after three –it’s loaded with features, including a tray that converts the handle into a table.

If you’re hitting the festival circuit, few items will make new friends faster than this. You need muscles and an SUV, but hauling it is well worth the effort.

Price £440 /go.stuff.tv/Ecocool

Key specs

• 66L • Max 4-day ice retention • 879x600x500mm, 15.7kg

STUFF SAYS A whopping great cooler with top eco credentials ★★★★☆

NOW ADD THIS…

KLEAN KANTEEN STEEL PINT 16oz

The gift that keeps on giving, these high-quality lightweight stainless steel pint glasses will serve you and your family for literally generations. £39 for 4 / kleankanteen.co.uk

MORE INTREPID IDEAS

First I was afraid, I was petrified… but then I bought these

Therm-a-Rest Honcho Poncho Down

Your sleeping bag, cosy blanket, cushion and coat rolled into one, this multi-purpose poncho is made from GRS-certified 100% recycled nylon and stuffed with hydrophobic sustainable down. It also has a DWR water-resistant coating so you won’t get soggy during unexpected showers. It easily packs down into the kangaroo room pocket and takes up no more room

than a normal jumper, but could save you from a grim old time. £221 / outdoorgear.co.uk

Primus Kuchoma Stove

When you’re bored of cooking Super Noodles on the stove and can’t face trying to get the firepit hot enough for serious cooking, the Kuchoma Stove is here to help, offering the ability to grill and even smoke like a classic gas barbecue. Easily transportable with kickstand legs and an extremely powerful 8500 BTU (2500W) grill, it might just mean you can finally do your rib-eye justice when off-grid. £215 / primusequipment.co.uk

Heimplanet Cloudbreak Classic

Heimplanet pioneered the modern inflatable tent –and while the outdoor industry has very much caught up, its sci-fi shelters remain by far the sexiest options available. Their latest geodesic domicile has a 14.5m² total footprint, including a 7.6m² bedroom, and features the brand’s multi-chamber inflatable beam structure that’s quick to pitch. Even if one valve fails (or you get apuncture), the structure won’t collapse around your head. €2310 / heimplanet.com

Nemo Disco 15 Down Sleeping Bag

‘Endless Promise’ is Nemo’s commitment to making the highest-performing but most sustainable products from recycled and reclaimed materials, all of which can be repaired or recycled. Rated down to -9°C, the highly packable Disco is a recycled version of their most popular sleeping bag with a clever spoon shape, offering extra room at the elbows and knees for comfy side sleeping. from £320 / nemoequipment.eu

Cotopaxi Del Dia Allpa 60L Gear Hauler Tote

Taking stuff from the car to the pitch can often be one the most tedious aspects of a camping trip. Cotopaxi is here to make it all the easier with this 60L hauler tote. Think of it as an Ikea shopping bag on steroids, with handy interior divider pockets and compression straps to keep your kit secure. Plus it’s made using repurposed fabrics rescued from other Cotopaxi production lines, so nothing is wasted. £85 / uk.cotopaxi.com

Helinox Chair Two HDB

Helinox makes the lightest, most hi-tech camping chairs –so light, in fact, that you can even buy a tether to stop them flying away in the wind. But with this limited edition, they’ve opted for durable and sustainable comfort by using Bluesign-certified undyed canvas. Using recycled polyester fabric combined with DAC aluminium poles, this laidback chair still only weighs in at a little over 1kg and packs down into its own 49x11cm zip-up case. £150 / helinox.co.uk