Women’s Running USA – September 2019

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48 WOMEN’S RUNNING SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019

TIMBUK2 L CONVERTIBLE BACKPACK TOTE

Repair is a step above recycling when it comes

to helping the environment. This brand off ers a

lifetime guarantee (their San Francisco–based team

repairs more than 6,000 a year), which along with

the company’s other sustainability programs has

helped send zero Timbuk2 bags to landfi lls since

2014. Trust us, this super-sleek and lightweight
      convertible bag is one you’re never going to want
      to break up with. $199, timbuk2.com

SMARTWOOL MERINO 150

BASELAYER LONG SLEEVE

Thanks to wool’s natural abilities to regulate body

temperature, cancel out odors, and wick away

moisture, it’s a popular material in run apparel.

The ethically sourced threads that make up this

long sleeve will not only last longer than other

threads, but are biodegradable, reducing their

impact when it’s fi nally time to say goodbye.

$80, smartwool.com

SUNSKI ANDIAMO SUNGLASSES

Proving that you do not have to sacrifi ce cool design for doing good for the planet, these frames

not only are made from recycled resin but come with a lifetime warranty and eco-friendly

(read: no plastic) packaging. $89, sunski.com

Do

Yo u r

Part

Looking for an easy way

to make an impact? Try

living by this simple mot-

to: Buy less, buy better,

and recycle. A typical

American family can

throw away an average

of 60 pounds of clothing

each year. Only 15 per-

cent of that is recycled

or donated; the rest

winds up in landfills or is

incinerated. (Synthetic

fibers, like polyester, are

non-biodegradable and

can take up to 200 years

to decompose.) Before

you recycle, make the

most of your gear’s life

span by taking care of it.

Here, three easy tips:

WASH SPARINGLY

Yes, it may sound a lit-

tle gross, but it makes a

huge impact on the life

of your technical gear.

Machine washing leads

to wear and tear, short-

ening your garment’s

life span.

AVOID FABRIC

SOFTENER

It leaves a waxy residue

on your clothing that

can aff ect its perfor-

mance (like the ability

to wick away moisture,

for example).

AIR-DRY

Tumble drying is a

complete no-no for

some technical gear,

so always check your

garment’s care label.

But as a general rule of

thumb, machine drying

also adds extra stress on

your clothing, wearing

it down faster. Hang it

up to air-dry whenever

possible instead.

ATHLETA CRUNCH COLORBLOCK BRA

Specifi cally made for runners, this new, highly

technical fabric is made from recycled nylon

(made in a Fair Trade–certifi ed factory) and

has already helped to reduce more than 15 tons

of waste to date. Run your heart out knowing

you are helping the Earth with each stride.

$54, athleta.com

GEAR TREND ALERT