Wool, organic cotton, waxed canvas, beeswax — and the synthetics we still choose on purpose.
Wool, organic cotton, waxed canvas and beeswax — and the modern materials we still choose on purpose.
This is where we explain what our gear is made of and why. Start with the non-toxic camping gear guide for what is in conventional gear — PFAS coatings, flame retardants, polyurethane foam — and what to look for instead. Then the head-to-head pieces: the best non-toxic sleeping bag checklist, a waxed canvas rain jacket against membrane shells, and whether a canvas backpack for hiking is worth its weight.
Natural fiber outdoor clothing gets a three-part layering series, and waxed canvas care covers re-waxing a jacket, pack or tarp so it lasts decades. We are plain about limits too: zippers, thread and tarps where a synthetic still does the job better.
Waxed canvas is the one piece of outdoor gear you can bring back to new at your kitchen table. When rain stops beading on a jacket, pack, tarp or tent, the fix is a bar of wax, an iron or a hair dryer and half an hour. This is how to rewax waxed canvas the
Waxed Canvas Care: How to Re-Wax a Jacket, Pack or Tarp Read More »
The funny thing about my search for non-toxic camping gear is that it started at home. After a decade of living with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities I had gone organic with my clothing, bedding and cleaners — and my outdoor gear, which was supposed to get me closer to nature, was still the most toxic, unnatural
Non-Toxic Camping Gear Guide: PFAS, Flame Retardants, Foam Read More »
The best non-toxic sleeping bag is the one whose materials you can name all the way down — fill, shell, liner, thread and zipper — because you spend eight hours a night with your face on the collar, breathing whatever it gives off. I sewed my first one because I had become allergic to my
Best Non-Toxic Sleeping Bag: What to Look For (and What to Avoid) Read More »
Why Natural Fibers Outperform Synthetic Gear Introduction Natural fiber outdoor clothing offers superior breathability, moisture regulation, and comfort compared with synthetic gear. Unlike synthetic materials that can trap moisture and heat, natural fibers like wool work with the body’s physiology. This supports thermo-regulation and creates a healthier micro-climate next to the skin. This alignment makes
Natural Fiber Outdoor Clothing Part One Read More »
How to Build a Natural Fiber Outdoor Wardrobe That Actually Works Introduction A natural fiber outdoor wardrobe works best when clothing is treated as a system rather than individual garments. By using breathable materials like wool and waxed cotton, the body can regulate moisture and temperature more effectively, supporting comfort, adaptability, and long-term outdoor vitality
Natural Fiber Outdoor Clothing – Part Two Read More »
Choosing a Wind and Rain Shell — without synthetics Why the Shell Layer Matters More Than You Think Modern Outdoor clothing systems rely on synthetic rain shells. These have one major drawback: lack of breathability. Even if the material is advertised as ‘breathable’, the reality is, they don’t work when soaked through. That is, the
Natural Fiber Outdoor Clothing: Part Three Read More »
For decades, the outdoor industry has celebrated innovation through synthetics—lighter, stronger, and more technical fabrics made from petroleum-based materials. But as we grapple with the environmental costs of producing many synthetic products, is a shift underway? Wool, waxed cotton, and hemp are gaining popularity. This resurgence is not just a nostalgic throwback. Brands and individuals
Lucky Sheep interview on Outdoor Minimalist Podcast Read More »
Pull a fleece over your head in a dry tent and you’ll hear it crackle. Sleep in polyester and you wake up clammy and shocked by the zipper. Sleep in wool and neither happens. Readers find this article by asking whether wool conducts electricity, whether synthetic fabrics cause static, and which fabric to sleep in.
Synthetic vs Natural Fabric Next to Skin: Static, Moisture and Sleep Read More »
A canvas backpack for hiking has to answer the weight question before anything else, so here it is: the Lucky Sheep® 65 L organic canvas backpack weighs 32 oz, or 2 lb, and it is frameless, so the sleeping pad you are already carrying becomes the frame. That puts it lighter than most framed packs
Canvas Backpack for Hiking: Weight, Load and Waxed-Canvas Care Read More »
As synthetic fibers and plastic pollution continue to wreck havoc on the planet, many of us are looking for sustainable alternatives. This is the very reason Lucky Sheep Outdoor Gear was started! Some people believe recycled plastic textiles are eco-friendly. This article looks at just how eco-friendly is it, and what are the wiser alternatives.
Recycled Plastic, Not What It’s Cracked Up to Be Read More »
