Getting outdoors is important for your health and it’s a great way to get in touch with the planet we’re trying to save! But don’t let your outdoor adventures cause further problems for the earth. Choosing eco-friendly outdoor activities and gear is important if you truly want to enjoy this planet we’re part of.

• Rent outdoor gear for your next hiking or camping trip. This will cost you much less than purchasing new gear and will save the energy cost of producing new gear that may only get used once or twice each season.
• Whether you’re out for a hike or on the road for a few weeks of camping, you’ll likely want to charge up your electronics (cell phones, radios, laptops, and the like). Power-up all of your battery-using technology with the sun! Find solar chargers of all shapes and sizes for every imaginable purpose to make your trip really green.
• Manufacturing disposable plastic water bottles requires significant infusions of energy. Choosing to carry water in a reusable water is cost effective and energy-saving, and could reduce your drinking water bill annually by upwards of $1,400.
• If you’re in need of outdoor gear but don’t want to rent, why not purchase used equipment? You’ll be keeping usable items from being trashed and saving money in the process. In addition to sites likeFreecycle and Craigslist, you can check out GearTrade and CampingSwap to find all sorts of secondhand outdoor gear.

Traditional grilling will not only cost you for fuel and briquettes, it’ll also add loads of air pollution to the environment. Needless to say, there are better ways to enjoy the great outdoors, and a solar oven is a great way to do so. With these clever devices, all you’ll need is the warmth of the sun to cook almost anything! It’ll take a bit more time than normal, but you’ll save on fuel and other barbecuing supplies, while being kinder to the planet and your own lungs, too.

Solio Charger

Portable Solar with Solio

A standard in any green backpack, the Solio Charger from Solio will charge devices anytime (there’s a battery on board for storing energy) from anywhere.  It’s small and versatile.

Cost: $50

Voltaic Systems Solar Backpack

Solar-powered anything with Volaic Systems Solar Backpack

A favorite with greens for many years, this Voltaic solar backpack can charge nearly any device (comes with 11 standard adaptors) as you walk to work or hike a mountain. There’s also a battery back that will store energy until you need it.

Cost: $249

NovoThink iphone-solar-skin

Sun-powered skin for the iPhone or iPod Touch by NovoThink

Available by the end of September, the NovoThink Solar Surge will make it a whole lot easier for iPhone or the iPod Touch owners to power-up their portables with solar. According to the literature, the Solar Surge will provide 30 minutes of talk time on 3G networks and 60 minutes on 2G networks with just 2 hours of charging in direct sunlight. The battery built into the skin will also hold 120 percent of the iPhone 3G’s capacity, too.

Cost: $70

Brunton SolarRolls

Roll-away solar charging is convenient, compact

The SolarRoll by Brunton is made to be packed pretty much anywhere—in your car, your backpack, or your briefcase—because it’s lightweight and compact. It’ll charge most hand-held devices and comes with three watt capacities for added flexibility.

Cost: $295-$480

SolarGorilla Laptop Charger

High Wattage with SolarGorilla Laptop Charger

From PowerTraveller comes the SolarGorilla, a portable solar charger that’s big on power. It’s compact, fold-up design is rugged and easy to use, and will power most devices, including laptops. Comes with many attachments for maximum usability.

Cost: $276