Essential eco-friendly camping gear for your next trip

Portable solar panels

Charging your devices can be tricky when you’re in a tent — especially if you're off the grid. Portable solar panels allow you to stay in touch with friends and family while you're enjoying nature. They can pack down very small and still pull plenty of energy from the sun.

Having a small battery bank to charge up gives you a helpful power backup when you’re camping at a dry site or you’re trying to reduce your energy consumption. Even if you don’t have a solar system of your own, try choosing a campground that uses solar to reduce grid power use.

If you're looking for a portable solar panel to charge your devices, we recommend the BigBlue SolarPowa 30 ETFE Solar Panel Charger. This small but powerful panel has great reviews and is compatible with several devices.

Reusable kitchen goods

When you’re planning a camping trip, it can be tempting to make cleanup go faster with disposable plates and plastic cutlery. But reducing waste can go a long way toward a more eco-friendly camping trip and better practice of Leave No Trace.

If you want to save space, invest in collapsible silicone bowls and metal sporks. Some camp cooking sets store away nested together for a compact setup.

Bambu creates eco-friendly camping cookware that's composed of bamboo, making it extremely lightweight and perfect for transportation.

Eco-friendly sunscreens

Not all sunscreens are created equal. It’s best to go for creams over aerosol sprays and avoid ingredients like oxybenzone, octinoxate, nano zinc oxide, nano titanium dioxide, and homosalate. These chemicals can cause harm to waterways and the critters living in them.

And some, like oxybenzone and homosalate, might even be harmful to people when absorbed through the skin. Scan the ingredients next time you’re shopping for sunscreen, and find a bottle that leaves out the harmful additives.

Eco-friendly soaps and cosmetics

This is a consumer choice you can make both at home and at the campground. But biodegradable soaps are especially important when you’re camping and might not have access to a sink while you’re doing your dishes. Just remember that biodegradable soap doesn’t give a green light to clean up directly in a stream or lake.

It’s not just about the ingredient list. You can also choose more sustainable options by taking a look at the packaging. Plastic is difficult to recycle and can stick around on Earth for way longer than you thought possible. Check for compostable packaging or, better yet, package-free products like shampoo bars and laundry detergent sheets.

If you're looking for eco-friendly camping soap, check out Campsuds on Amazon! This biodegradable, all-purpose soap has great reviews and has been used by campers for over 50 years.

Equipment from brands that give back

When you’re making your big gear purchases, like tents, sleeping bags, camping pads, chairs and stoves, make sure your money goes toward companies that are doing the most for the planet. Some outdoor outfitters are opting to use recycled materials, finding more ethical factories for production, or refining practices to make them more sustainable. Vote with your dollar and spend where it matters.

Don’t stop at sustainable gear: seek out regenerative accommodation as well. Starry Night Lodging takes regenerative and sustainable tourism seriously, always incorporating new ways to help make the planet, and our communities, a better place.