The best eco-friendly alternatives I’ve found for this Black Friday

Keen to be more environmentally-friendly this Black Friday? It doesn’t mean missing out on some great buys, plus you can take the opportunity to help the planet at the same time. Here are a few brands for triathletes that I’ve found.

Saving money is always useful when you do three sports in one. The cost of kit to swim, bike and run as well as all the extras you need such as warm kit for after training, nutrition and storage can mean us triathletes tend to buy more gear than most sporty people.

Come Black Friday, I would definitely be looking to sniff out the best deals ready for next season and handily we’ve rounded up many of them for you already – go to this article to get started.

There is also the opportunity to buy from brands that are giving back and supporting environmental causes though. As triathletes, we all travel and enjoy being in beautiful places to train and race, so the need to protect the world around us is never far from our minds. So if you are in the market for new kit this Black Friday, here are a few brands you could consider.

It’s also worth saying that Christmas isn’t too far away either – so buying from these brands while they have these offers in place will again help support environmental causes.

Finisterre

First up is Cornish surf and outdoor brand Finisterre. I’ve loved their swimsuits for a while now, plus you’ll also find changing robes, towels, swim boots and gloves and warming kit like bobble hats and gloves. From 25 November to 2nd December the brand’s ‘Blue Friday’ campaign encourages shoppers to choose donations over discounts this Black Friday. £2/$2.50 from every purchase made in-store and online over their Blue Friday week will go to ocean partners, Surfers Against Sewage and Surfrider Foundation.

Passenger

Passenger also have a wide range of cool stuff for swimmers and outdoorsy folk. Changing robes, bobble hats, fleece and other warm kit abounds, as well as a good selection of bags and holdalls. The brand already plant a tree with every order made and have planted over 2.5 million of them so far. They are celebrating ‘Green Friday’ and for the ninth year will plant five trees with every order placed between 21st November and 1st December.

Dryrobe

We’re envious of the team at Dryrobe – under the #optoutside banner celebrated by the brand this Black Friday, they’re giving everyone the day off to enjoy the great oudoors. Dryrobe state: “We don’t participate in Black Friday or Cyber Monday sales; they simply don’t suit our business. We respect and value our relationship with our customers, our products are built to last, and if you buy something from us, you can trust that it won’t feature in a seasonal sale. This year, we’re once again going to #OptOutside on Black Friday. We’ll be closing our office, giving our team a paid day off and encouraging them to spend the day outdoors.”

BAM

Offering a Black Friday discount of 30% are BAM, home of ethically-made running, yoga and outdoorsy kit made from natural fibres. They’re a certified B Corps and have transparency on sourcing of materials and supply chain online. I’ve used their run tights and socks for years.

Zone3

Triathlon brand Zone3 have some pretty tasty Black Friday discounts online, but I’m going to highlight their extensive range of Yulex products as worth a look. This alternative to neoprene is made from tree sap rather than petrochemicals which has a huge impact on the environmental effect of these products. Choose from swimsuits, jammers, accessories and wetsuits all made from the alternative material and with deals ranging from 30% to 70% off.

Vivobarefoot

Rather than participating in Black Friday sales, Vivobarefoot is pushing its circular economy arm, ReVivo. The brand explicitly states “No to Black Friday” and “Yes to ReVivo” — encouraging purchase of refurbished footwear over new, and accepting old shoes (even from other brands) for recycling or resale. 

Haglöfs

The Swedish outdoor brand Haglöfs avoids the Black Friday sale culture; in previous years they have closed their stores or stopped discounting, promoted repair/second-hand gear via their “Haglöfs Restored” program.

Ortlieb

As part of the same “greener Black Friday” coverage, Ortlieb offered a “Repair Week” (in the US/UK) rather than traditional discounting — i.e. free repairs for bags instead of pushing new sales.