Meet the solar briefcase that makes all your electronic, outdoor activities sexy… and sustainable.

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How to camp, whether you’re planning a journey into the backcountry (or just some car camping at a nearby state park): These eco-friendly techniques will help save money and keep Mother Nature just as you found her.

The city is scorching and everyone is restless. A long weekend approaches, and you’re ready to get out of town for some much-needed respite away from work, the phone and the Internet. It’s time for a camping trip.

Whether you really like roughing it (think 30 mile backpacking trip in the wilderness) or prefer “glamping,” camping is a great way to get some fresh air in the lungs, burn some calories, and spend some uninterrupted quality time with the ones you love.

But don’t head to Wal-Mart for disposable cups and propane tanks just yet. The best way to respect the great outdoors is to practice Leave No Trace camping:  be prepared, respect the trail and anyone you meet along it, and most importantly, leave each place you visit exactly as you found it. That means producing as little waste as possible, and taking whatever trash you do create with you when you leave.

With a little pre-planning and a few select gadgets, Leave No Trace camping is a piece of cake. Here are our favorite tips for planning an eco-friendly camping trip.

Borrow or Buy Used Gear

If you’re an infrequent camper, you might not have enough sleeping bags, water bottles, tents, or backpacks to go around. Before rushing out to buy new stuff that you’ll only use once, ask friends or family members if they have anything they’d be willing to loan. If nothing turns up, check out peer-to-peer sharing sites like Craigslist, yerdle, Freecycle, or Swap It Green to see if anyone has gear they’re willing part with, possibly in exchange for something you’re not using.

Use Reuseables

When packing cooking supplies for your camping trip, try to bring as many reuseable dishes, utensils, and storage containers as possible. To that end, avoid processed foods altogether. These “foods” are the boxed, canned, bagged, treats that are so convenient to grab, but not so healthy. And they just produce waste packaging that you’ll have to haul around for the rest of the trip (Leave No Trace, remember?). Bring washable plates, beverage containers, cutlery and napkins, reuseable bags for gathering up trash, and pack foods you’ll prepare in resealable glass or plastic containers.

Burn Clean

Campfires (when allowed, always check with the Forest Service about fire bans in your state) are often restricted to prepared sites with fire rings to prevent accidentally setting the forest ablaze. Charcoal is terrible for the environment and a pain in the butt to lug around. If you are going to invest in new camping equipment, think about a high-tech stove like the Biolite (pictured above). The Biolite campstove can cook your meals with nothing but twigs (so you don’t have to go all lumberjack on the trees) and eliminates the need for heavy, expensive, polluting petroleum gas. Best of all, it converts heat from the internal fire into power for your mobile gadgets (if you bring them along, of course).

Tread Lightly

Rugged surroundings make most people reach for the biggest hiking boot they can find, but don’t! Big, heavy boots can tear up the ground and damage plants encountered on your journey. “If you’re out on a hard trail hike, then wear your hiking boots,” recommends Post Consumers. “However, if you’re just spending time in your campsite, then soft-soled shoes are your friends. They’re also the planet’s friends.” Great options are TOMS Shoes, outdoor sandals like Chacos or Tevas, running shoes, or heck, just your bare feet!

Images: Einir Pritchard, mgspiller, fboyd, Biolite, organisciak

Related On Ecosalon: 

9 Sustainable and Stylish Camping Essentials

Are You Like Naturalist John Muir? 

The post How To Camp on a Budget with Minimal Impact (but Plenty of Comfort) appeared first on EcoSalon.

Stylish camping essentials to pack for your camping trip this summer.

Summer is essentially here, and for outdoorsy types that means one thing — camping. We’re dreaming of hitting the road in a stylish Cricket Trailer or eco-chic VW Microbus. But a nice little tent will do as well, as long as it’s pitched in a gorgeous spot with a view. One of the keys to having a grand time out in the wild is packing wisely. Here’s what we’re bringing on the road (less traveled) this summer.

1. SoCo Camping Hammock
Although it’s large enough to comfortably hold two people  (up to 450 lbs) the SoCo Hammock packs down to the size of a softball. The high strength, triple stitched, breathable, mildew-resistant parachute nylon guarantees durability, and the optional SoCo straps allow it to be hung between two trees up to 32-feet apart. SoCo also works toward empowering the poor through nonprofit partnerships and a commitment to fair wages.
$69.95, SoCo Hammocks

2. Go! Towel
Disposable wipes are handy, but most of them are not very good for the environment. Go Towels, however, are made from bamboo and are completely biodegradable. Each one weighs only a third of a gram, making them ideal to bring when you’re backcountry camping. In a pinch, they can also be used as coffee filters.
$14.95 for a pack of 10, Go! Towel

3. To-Go Ware RePEaT Utensil Set
Disposable dinnerware is just not stylish, even if you are camping. Instead, pack this bamboo utensil set, which contains a fork, knife, spoon and chopsticks and comes in a holder make from recycled PET (plastic bottles). The bamboo is heat and stain resistant, durable, easy to wash and light to carry — perfect for camping.
$12.95, To-Go Ware

4. BioLite CampStove
This portable stove cooks your meals with nothing but the twigs you collect on your journey, eliminating the need for heavy, expensive, polluting petroleum gas. It uses thermoelectric technology to convert heat to electricity that powers a fan to make the fire ultra-efficient. BioLite also uses the same technology to bring clean, safe energy to families across the developing world. The extra electricity that is generated can be used to charge small electronics like mobile phones and LED lights. It’s quick and easy to use.
$129.95, BioLite

5. Mountainsmith Juniper 50 Backpack
This carry-all pack by Mountainsmith was designed especially for women and is large enough to fit all your essentials (and some non-essentials too). Made with 450d recycled PET (each bag contains about 21 16-ounce plastic bottles) it also features a detachable daypack for shorter excursions and summit wanderings. It’s better looking than most backpacking packs and comfortable and easy to carry.
$194.99, Next Adventure

6. Everly Pomegranate Maqui Berry Drink Mix
Designed to support truly healthy hydration for active, adventurous types, Everly was recently successfully funded through Kickstarter and is starting to produce their first three flavors. Made from all natural ingredients, the low-cost, low-waste powder packets can be cleverly carried on a carabiner.
Available soon, Everly

7. Badger Anti-Bug Balm
A natural mosquito repellent is a must when you’re camping. Badger’s tried-and-true formula consists of 100 percent organic ingredients like citronella, cedar, and lemongrass essential oils, which have been used for centuries to repel insects naturally. It contains no DEET, petrolatum or other chemicals and comes in a handy tin. Best of all, it smells super nice.
$9.99, Badger

8. Capsul Case
Store cash, credit cards, business cards (you never know when you may need them, right?) in a sturdy wallet by Capsul case. Made in Canada from of highly recyclable non-toxic polypropylene, it will keep all those valuables safe, dry and in one place.
$12, Capsul

9. Falcon Enamelware TumblersThis set of sturdy tumblers are as pretty as they are practical — use them for everything from coffee to white wine. Light to carry and easy to wash, they’re perfect for camping. Buying them in different colors makes it easier for your group to keep track of which mug belongs to you. Unlike plastic cups, they make a nice clinking sound when you do a cheers.
£4.99 each, Falcon Enamelware

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Designer camping with a conscience.

These high performance, design-led tents are not for glamping; they’re for roughing it in the rugged outdoors, confectionary style.

FieldCandy tents are like the Skittles of the great outdoors, offered in a kaleidoscope of colors and cornucopia of designs. While some might not camouflage your campsite from encroaching bears, others meld into the scenery like bucolic apparitions.

The European-based company (designed in Italy and manufactured in the UK) relies on REI-like standards: a 100% natural cotton inner tent, which protects against condensation; digitally printed waterproof flysheet; nylon ground sheet; all propped up with precision engineered aluminum poles.

Pitching should take less than five minutes for the seasoned camper, who will also sleep easy knowing that the company supports charities including The Prince’s Trust, Movember, Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience, Tropical Health & Education Trust and Greenpeace.

Sweet dreams are made of these.

The post FieldCandy is the New Eye Candy appeared first on EcoSalon.

ColumnA stove, a tent and a sunset is the formula for appreciating simple food.

Mediocre wine is excellent if you have a view, coffee is exponentially more delicious when brewed after a night in a tent, and trail mix can compete with the fanciest hors d’oeuvre when you’re in the middle of a hike. It’s simple: food always tastes better outdoors.

I was thinking of this in the process of drinking a mug of wine, overlooking a horizon of red rock formations last week. Dirtbags, sunsets and merlot do go hand in hand after all.

I was on the tail end of a trip and my father insisted I take a few days off the grid and get outside. Fathers often know best, so I accepted his invitation and was soon in one of my favorite landscapes of North America, the slickrock country of Southeastern Utah, peppered with canyons, arches and beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

Three days of hiking and sleeping under the stars requires fuel, and while for many food is an afterthought, for me it’s the number two priority, second only to water.

There is a certain formula to food when you’re camping. Keep it simple. Invest in good peanut butter. Always have some fresh fruit that can last a few days. This was all instilled in me as a small child, growing up spending summers in a tent across the Pacific Northwest.

The memory of hot chocolate on brisk summer mornings in some far off campground are still clear in my mind. My father would fuel up our old Svea stove, mom would create some fancy one-pot concoction – there is a family standard recipe of couscous with pine nuts and dried apricots that I first remember eating on the Oregon coast – and we would pull out our blue and red checkered tablecloth, intended only for outdoor eating occasions. There was a process; we didn’t leave good food when we left the house, we carried it, and a routine dedicated to appreciating good food, with us.

That process quickly wore off on me, making quesadillas on a kayaking trip at the age of ten that has become another standard family backcountry recipe. Which meant my father was overjoyed when I busted out a new rendition on this recent trip with a sauteed portobello, sweet potato, red pepper combination. But it’s not because I’m a foodie-freak that’s packing a kit of sea salt and fancy spices (although I do believe in always having curry powder and cinnamon along) that food in the outdoors is good. It’s because it’s simple.

Be it on a camping trip or on a picnic, we all have strong attachments to eating outdoors. The second it gets warm we flock to outdoor patios and plan picnics. Think about your favorite moments from last summer and I’ll bet one of them involves an outdoor meal. There is an undeniable connection between food and being outside that not only gives us time to appreciate nature, but makes food taste better in the process. Dig out an apple and peanut butter from your backpack on a hike and it will most certainly taste better than it does when you’re in front of your computer in need of an afternoon snack.

But why does food taste better outdoors? Because in our everyday lives, we are removed from the effort that is involved in food and when we’re outdoors, we’re reminded of what that process looks and feels like.

There was a time when we were responsible for hunting our own food, whittling spearheads out of rock and chasing wild animals in nothing but our bare feet. We foraged for edible plants. Later we industrialized the process, but were still responsible for running farms, waking before dawn to milk the cows and living in rhythm with the seasons as we tilled our own land.

Nowadays, the large majority of us are almost completely detached from that process. Our meat comes on styrofoam beds wrapped in plastic, our milk in cartons and our salad from an aisle that’s doused with refreshing water at regular intervals. Besides the actual preparation of a meal, our most “laborious” moments come from a trip to the grocery story, and if we’re feeling extra lazy, eating can be as simple as picking up the phone, dialing a number and rummaging through your wallet to make sure you have enough cash when the delivery person shows up.

Add a dose of the outdoors into that equation and things immediately change.

If you’re backpacking, you have to haul your food by your own means. If you’re car camping, you have to get creative with what you’re making and do without the usual luxuries of running water and a large stove. Eating outdoors forces us to think more about what we’re eating and truly engage with the process of putting it on the table. We’re still not taking on the labors of working the farm or hunting our own food, but things that are simple and require little thought at home suddenly require more work and attention.

Even boiling water, normally a task we do at home, sleepy-eyed and barely conscious, takes more thought than usual. Because we can’t just open the refrigerator or pantry, instead of mindlessly consuming, in the outdoors, we think about meal times in a different way. We revert to something more fundamental, breathing fresh air and eating food that we put work into making, two activities that are basic, yet essential to our well-being. We’re not texting, we’re not tweeting, we’re not analyzing, we’re just eating.

Food tastes better outdoors because we simplify. We take down all the walls that our everyday routines require us to put up, and we enjoy food for food’s sake.

A worn tablecloth. A spork. A bowl of sauteed vegetables. A group of friends taking the time to reconnect. A view. A sunset. A dinner with no distractions. That’s even better than the best food truck.

Editor’s note: This is the latest installment of Anna Brones’s weekly column at EcoSalon, Foodie Underground, discovering what’s new and different in the underground food movement, from supper clubs to mini markets to the culinary avant garde.

Images: Anna Brones

The post Foodie Underground: The Beauty of Eating Outdoors appeared first on EcoSalon.

Overnight outdoor adventure for grownups. 

Granted, the promotional photos on Shelter Co.’s website nullify certain realities of camping, including mosquito bites and outdoor receptacles – and we will show you many of those photos, whereby we will also imagine ourselves as the well-outfitted catalogue characters inhabiting them. What Shelter Co. offers in real life is pop up lodging for the seasoned earth-dweller, campers of a certain age that hold roasted marshmallows and 400-thread count bedding in equal esteem.

Sleeping under a canopy of stars, immersed in filtered remembrances of camping trips past, splayed out on an area rug. Possibly sipping a mint julep.

Shelter Co. provides custom camping adventures (rather glamp outings, considering the starting tent rate of $750) for families, businesses, events and retreats, encompassing everything from ambiance lighting to outdoor movie theaters. Catering is covered, too, as well as big raging fire pits.

The company was founded by camping enthusiasts Kelsey and Mike Sheofsky, “born out of a love for California’s diverse landscape combined with nostalgia for the days of summer camp.” The Sheofsky’s and their team supply fully-furnished European style canvas tents with amenities like toilets, showers, organic toiletries and board games.

They promise pretty much everything – including the stars. Everything, except typical camping.

The post Gimme (Pop Up) Shelter appeared first on EcoSalon.

For a weekend of space age-style camping in France, fill your bag with comfy pieces that are good for spending a night under the stars.

When packing for a weekend stay at one of these chic white-and-clear sphere hotels – funky bubble tents popping up all over France – bring comfy pieces that are perfect for a night of laid-back stargazing. Think about being warm and cozy, of course, but don’t forget to throw a little something unexpected in the mix too.

Made By… Open Back Party Sweater
Just like staying in a see-through bubble is not your regular type of camping, this is not just an ordinary cable knit sweater. The front is simple and traditional, but the back is gorgeously open and decorated with a snazzy bow. This doesn’t mean it’s any less appropriate for cozying up next to a camp fire. Made By… uses sustainable practices and fair trade labor to produce their garments
$334, Future:Standard

Jensen-Conroy Encased Brass Cuff
This gorgeous cuff by Jensen-Conroy is beachy and maritime-inspired without getting into clichées. It’s tough and craftsy at the same time, and is the perfect way to bring those simple solids in your wardrobe to life. Made from brass and encased with a knitted cord.
$275, Maryam Nassir Zadeh

Hanky Panky Organic Cotton Boyshorts
I don’t know about you, but when I get ready to immerse myself in nature, all I want to do is sit around in comfy knits (see above), fluffy boots (see below) and boyshorts. These cute ones from Hanky Panky’s Cotton with a Conscience Organic cotton collection are made with Supima cotton organically farmed in the United States.
$29, Hanky Panky

Astrological Sign Necklace by Kimberly Baker
One of the best parts of sleeping in a bubble is that you can lay awake all night and just watch the stars. Wear Kimberly Baker‘s astrological sign necklace around your neck and try to find your own sign in the night sky.
$110, Olivine

Frock Los Angeles Kyla Dress
Who says you can’t dress up just because you happen to be spending the night in a tent-like structure? Channel the shape of your sleeping bubble and get dolled up in this asymetrical backless dress by Frock Los Angeles, sustainably made in the U.S.
On sale for $137, Frock Los Angeles

Julian Organic Scarf by Nudie Jeans
A good scarf is a must when traveling, and when you’re spending time on the beach it can double up as a sarong and towel to lay out on.
Made from soft organic cotton jersey, the color is grey melange that is overdyed with strong blue.
$49, Nudie Jeans

EMU Stinger Lo Aust Made
I know what you’re thinking right now – “did she really include UGG-like boots in a fashion post?” Oh, yes I did. I happen to have a pair like this that I wear around the house almost every day to warm my always cold feet. Even if this is glamorous camping (“glamping,” if you will) it may get chilly at night and you’ll thank me for telling you to pack these along. EMU’s Aust Made line is made in Australia using Australian eco sheepskin and 100% pure Australian wool.
$149, EMU

The post Weekend Bag: Le Bubble Blanc appeared first on EcoSalon.

At Free Spirit Spheres you can literally hang out in a Canadian forest.

How often do you stay in a handcrafted room? Not furniture wise, strictly speaking. But in an entire, spherical handcrafted structure (capsule, really) made from wood and fiberglass, which is then suspended from trees in a coastal rainforest on Vancouver Island? Never, you say. Well, it’s time to plan your next glamp-out in a circular porthole of your own.

Like something out of a surrealist Spanish movie, these convex structures look like giant eyeballs.

There are three Free Spirit Spheres: meet Melody, Eryn and Eve (whose details page is, naturally, called All About Eve). Well, they’d have to be female, offering such curvy, womb-like accommodation. Be warned: since they’re suspended, they do sway.

Designed with comfort and compactness in mind, rather than high style, each pod has a double bed and a small table for two. It’s a tight fit. Measuring three metres diameter, Eve (cedarwood) is on the cozy side, while Eryn (spruce) is slightly roomier, at 3.2m, with a second bed on a loft gallery, plus fridge and sink. Melody is the deluxe version, in yellow fiberglass with a walnut interior. She also features a drop-down bed.

Get back to nature when nature calls in the mushroom-shaped composting outhouse.

As if it needed mentioning, there’s no WIFI here, although there are speakers fitted for you to plug in your iPod: the very definition of surround sound. In a separate nearby building are bathrooms with showers, a sauna, and a barbeque deck.

Rates from $269 including tax, arrival snacks, and the gentle croaking of Pacific Tree Frogs.

Images: Free Spirit Spheres

Places & Spaces is a travel guide that will inspire you to carve out a vacation on your calendar. All of the gorgeous locations and accommodations in our guide share our concern for the environment. From tent glamping to lavish built environments, fair warning, you’ll feel compelled to pack your suitcase.

The post Places & Spaces: Free Spirit Spheres, Vancouver Island, Canada appeared first on EcoSalon.

One of the decisive trends for 2011 is nature. Pure, rustic nature. The call of the wild and the desire to mingle with Mother Nature will manifest in our homes, travel plans, and urban environments. As technology continues to present shiny little devices to keep us connected, our innate desire to disconnect grows stronger. Here are a few ideas of how the hunger for nature will impact the fresh new year.

Ever heard of glamping? It’s the adventure of camping with the addition of glamour (which, in my opinion, drastically dwindles the amount of adventure). Glamping is the latest five star brush with nature. Yes, I said five star. The overwhelming movement toward luxury glamping destinations over the last few years may be about to shift toward less luxury, think National Parks and outhouses. Nothing takes away the temptation to plug in more than a travel destination without outlets.

As all classes of travelers start to feel the itch, I foresee a respective swing for fresh air. Those dining at five star restaurants and staying at five star hotels may take up glamping in its most luxurious form (butlers who serve s’mores and maids to tend to the ‘tent’ is pure luxury from my point of view). Travelers who danced with glamping and slept in yurts last year may be inclined to brave a simple tent in a simple campground this year. And last year’s campground campers may take to the trails and invite adventure with a complete lack of amenities.

Traditional camping and temporary escapades with the wild isn’t the only way nature will establish a firm hold in 2011. In my humble opinion, the charm of nature will find a significant place in design and décor. Natural materials in natural states will continue to allure home owners with tonal wood emphasizing organic wood grain furniture, green leafy plants and succulents will permanently reside in prominent corners, and photography that captures a glimpse of the great outdoors will dangle on walls.

The inclination of nature in our lives isn’t just intrinsic (the decisions of travel and design), but extrinsic, too. The wisdom of urban planners is about to sprinkle some green in the concrete jungle. The untamed success of The High Line park (click here for more information) in Manhattan is the likely beginning of urban industrial park development in a city near you. Is there anything more poetic than lifeless industrial skeletons being revitalized into green escapes for urban dwellers? JWT Intelligence includes the development of urban industrial parks as one of its 100 Things to Watch in 2011. According to the clever creatives at JWT, Philadelphia, Berlin, and Chicago are already slating projects to rival the High Line (not an easy task).

Catch up with the rest of our 2011 shelter trends while to plan your next trip to the woods.

The post Camping Without a Butler appeared first on EcoSalon.

Whether renting a cabin, climbing a mountain, or toasting marshmallows around a backyard campfire, don’t be shy about packing up your pooch and taking him along for the adventure. With a little preparation, your dog can enjoy the great outdoors just as much you do!

Find Pet-Friendly Destinations

Not all trails, campgrounds, parks, or cabins are pet-friendly. Use a resource like GoPetFriendly to locate the pet policies of various destinations. No matter where you go, be an ambassador for pet-friendly camping: Follow leash laws, pick up after your pet, and don’t leave him unattended.

Help Your Dog Have Fun

To make your trip more enjoyable, help your dog acclimate in advance. If Fido is typically a couch potato, go for longer walks leading up to your trip. If you will be sleeping in a tent, set it up in your backyard for a few days. Crawl in there with him and sit calmly for a few minutes to help him feel comfortable. Some dogs take longer to adjust to new or unusual things, so lay out any equipment or gear ahead of time to prevent unexpected surprises.

Pack Your Pooch’s Essentials

In addition to enough food and water for the entire trip – plus a little extra, just in case – pack a dog bed or blanket, a leash, and poop bags. Even dogs that are reliable off-leash can become distracted or disoriented in a new environment. To give your dog a little freedom while ensuring his safety, bring a 20-foot lead in addition to your regular leash. And while you may enjoy singing songs around the campfire, your dog may get bored, so bring some of his favorite toys to keep him occupied during people-only activities.

Plan for Your Dog’s Health and Safety

Start with a pest-prevention plan, and check your dog once or twice a day for ticks. Bring a pet first aid kit to treat any on-the-spot injuries. If temperatures soar, soak a bandanna in cold water and tie it around your dog’s neck. Be sure he has access to plenty of fresh water. If he starts to overheat, use the rubbing alcohol from your first aid kit to swab the inside of his ears and the pads of his feet – since dogs can’t sweat, this helps to cool them off.

Hiking Tips

There are extra considerations if you’re hiking: If you expect your dog to carry his own food or water, incorporate the pack into your daily walks a few weeks before the trip. Start with an empty pack and slowly build up to the full weight. In addition, hiking can be rough on a dog’s feet; pads can tear or lacerate. When you stop for the day, wash your dog’s feet and coat any cuts with an antibiotic ointment. And just as you need frequent water and trail mix breaks, your dog will require plenty of water and additional calories. Stop often and allow your dog access to clean water and healthy snacks.

Images: Laertes, jljohnstone

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