Rebecca Parsons
Sustainable Swimwear: OY Surf Apparel
Founded in 2012, OY Surf Apparel was born from a desire to fill a niche that was missing in the surf industry—stay put swim and workout gear
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Matthew Chebatoris
- Dec 8, 2019
- 2 min
Gear Review: Drinkfinity Bottles and Pods
You have a lot of choices when it comes to staying hydrated. There’s gatorade, powerade, and various other brands out there, but they all tend to be loaded with sugar, plus they come in single-use plastic bottles. Drinkfinity challenges this notion with their sustainable bottles and juice pods! I know what you’re thinking, what are pods? Well, they are small 1.42 oz (42 ml) plastic pods which contain concentrated juice which can be mixed with water to provide maximum hydratio
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Rebecca Parsons
- Dec 8, 2019
- 6 min
The PaddleXaminer 2019 Sustainable Gift Guide
According to Stanford University, Americans throw away 25 percent more waste during the holiday season, amounting to approximately 25 million tons of garbage. To help combat waste this holiday season, consider wrapping with reused and recycled materials, power your lights with renewable energy sources, and shop for sustainable gifts. To make things easier, we’ve compiled a eco-conscious holiday gift guide, with something for everyone on your list. Happy shopping! Sustainable
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Rebecca Parsons
- Nov 24, 2019
- 2 min
Examining Toad & Co’s Eco-Friendly Fall Line
“When it comes to sustainability, buck naked is best. Unfortunately, Johnny Law (and Old Man Winter) feel otherwise. Yes we all need to wear clothes. But not all of those clothes are created equal. The issue: the apparel industry is the fourth largest polluter of air and water on Earth. Our solution: wear sustainable.” –Toad & Co. At Toad & Co., they acknowledge that choosing sustainable options isn’t always the easiest route but they do believe it is the only route. They put
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Rebecca Parsons
- Nov 13, 2019
- 3 min
Sustainable Swimwear: Patagonia’s Stay-Put Suits & Shorts
For years, Patagonia has been regarded as a leading brand for outdoor gear and acknowledged as pioneers in the industry of sustainable clothing. Each year, Patagonia adds more pieces to their collection and continues to up their efforts in sustainability and strives to further reduce their carbon footprint. While clothing is what they are most well known for, Patagonia also offers a wide range of swim and athletic gear, perfect for a day on the water. This summer, I had the o
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Matthew Chebatoris
- Jul 10, 2019
- 2 min
Gear Review: Costa Sunglasses – Rinconcito & Spearo
Are you looking for you’re next pair of sunglasses? Well, Costa Del Mar Sunglasses has you covered, literally! Costa has been in the business of making quality polarized sunglasses for over 35 years. Based in Dayton Beach, Florida, they know a thing or two about the sun. Paddlexaminer met with Costa back at the Winter Outdoor Retailer in January 2019 in Denver to talk about their new line coming out in the spring of 2019. The two designs which stuck out to us the most were th
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Matthew Chebatoris
- May 28, 2019
- 2 min
Sustainable Swimwear: Raw x Salt
Emily Crawford and Olly Lewis are ocean lovers through and through. Inspired by a deep love and respect for the ocean, they set out to create a bikini company that helps to clean instead of pollute the ocean and the planet. All of their bikinis are ethically manufactured in Bali, from regenerated fabrics. They use ECONYL nylon yarn, which is made from recovered fishing nets, carpets, and other waste, and REPREVE nylon, which is made from pre-consumer waste by recycling nylon
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Matthew Chebatoris
- May 8, 2019
- 2 min
Sustainable Swimwear: Indigo Swimwear
Eco Swimwear That Supports the Waters In Which It Was Made to Swim Indigo Swimwear was founded in 2018 in Encinitas, California by Philippa Brennikmeyer. Brennikmeyer was born in California, but grew up in Germany, where she developed aspirations of travelling the world and doing something meaningful with her life. A lover of all things beachy, Brennikmeyer decided to found a swimwear company with a purpose in mind: to support the waters in which it was made to swim. From sta
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Matthew Chebatoris
- Feb 8, 2019
- 3 min
How to Be An Environmentally Conscious Traveler
Traveling and sustainability may sound like a juxtaposition, but with a little planning and some smart choices doing both is definitely within the realm of possibility. Before booking a trip, take into consideration how you’ll get there, where you’ll stay, and how you’ll get around. The environmentally conscious choice may not always be the obvious one and oftentimes it will take a bit more effort on you end. To make things a little easier, we’ve rounded up six tips for being
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Matthew Chebatoris
- Jan 16, 2019
- 3 min
Carve Designs: Water Wear Made By Women for Women
Carve Designs is made by women, for women. The extensive line of swimwear, athletic wear, and lifestyle clothing is the brainchild of Jennifer Hinton and Thayer Sylvester. While on a surf trip to San Pancho, Mexico, the friends got to talking about how difficult it was to find surf wear that looked good, fit well, and could keep up with their active lives. With no solution in mind they decided to create one of their own. And so, Carve Designs was born. If you’re looking for s
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Matthew Chebatoris
- Dec 12, 2018
- 4 min
The 2018 PaddleXaminer Sustainable Gift Guide
The holidays are a time of giving and spreading cheer but unfortunately a lot of the gifts we purchase are manufactured in ways that are destructive to our planet. Luckily, there are a number of companies committed to protecting the environment and paving the way for greener alternatives in the watersports industry. Here, we’ve rounded up six of our favorite sustainable gifts this holiday season. Patagonia Uprisal Crew Sweatshirt We’re long time fans of Patagonia for their co
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Matthew Chebatoris
- Dec 5, 2018
- 3 min
5 Ways to Be More Eco-Friendly This Holiday Season
5 Ways to Be More Eco-Friendly This Holiday Season With Thanksgiving done and dusted, the holidays are in full swing. Lights are dotting the streets, carols are streaming through the radio and spirits are high. Despite all the well wishes and good cheer, the holidays are a wasteful season. But they don’t have to be. Here at PaddleXaminer, we are committed to protecting our planet and keeping it beautiful for future generations to come. With an eco-friendly NSP Cocomat board u
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Matthew Chebatoris
- Oct 30, 2018
- 3 min
Five Simple Ways to Be a Greener Paddler
If you’re anything like us, you spend the majority of your free time in and on the water. And if you’re like us, you’ve probably noticed how much damage and destruction our species has had on the ocean and its inhabitants. As paddlers, it’s our duty to protect our favorite playground. Doing so may not always be the easiest or most convenient option, but it is the only option. Like they say, there is no Planet B. Here, we’ve rounded up five tips to help you be a more eco-frien
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Matthew Chebatoris
- Oct 1, 2018
- 3 min
Swell & Sustainability South of the Border
A Baja road trip with my NSP Cocomat longboard I’ve lived in southern California my entire life. Only 90 miles from the border and 100 miles from perfect, empty waves. And yet, I’ve never made the trip. Why, you might ask? Because I was scared. Plain and simple. My parents drilled into me from a young age that Mexico was dangerous. It’s not clean, their police system is corrupt, the drug cartel is running wild, yada yada yada until one day, I believed them. They’re not entire
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Matthew Chebatoris
- Aug 31, 2018
- 3 min
From One Lineup to the Next, Everyone’s Stoked On the NSP Coco Endless Longboard
Review of NSP’s Coco Endless Longboard NSP’s sustainably made Coco Endless longboard rides like a dream. Over the past five months, I’ve tested it in different lineups and conditions and it is by far the best board I’ve ever owned. But don’t take my word for it. Everyone has different opinions and preferences so I spent the summer swapping boards with friends in the lineup. The downside—they didn’t want to trade back. The jury’s out, this board is a winner! Fun in the sun! Th
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Matthew Chebatoris
- Aug 19, 2018
- 2 min
Grass Sticks Bamboo SUP Paddles
Bamboo is the new black Grass Sticks was founded in 2014 in a garage in Steamboat, Colorado. Andrew Beckler, an engineer and skier, grew frustrated by the abundance of bent and broken ski poles on the mountain. He found himself going through multiple pairs of poles a year, so, he set out to create his own set. He chose bamboo for its flex and durability. Fast forward four years, and SUP and canoe paddles have been added to the collection. Photo: Kellie Goff Why Bamboo? Standa
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Matthew Chebatoris
- Jul 17, 2018
- 2 min
How to Extend the Life of Your SUP: Five Easy Tips
Easy tips for getting the most out of your SUP One of the most critical factors in being a sustainable paddler is extending the life of your gear. I’ve been test-driving NSP’s sustainable Cocomat series and while I’m stoked that they’re made from innovative and natural materials, energy and greenhouse gases are still emitted through the manufacturing process. In order to keep my footprint as small as possible, it’s crucial to make my stuff last as long as possible. Here, I’ve
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Matthew Chebatoris
- Jul 11, 2018
- 2 min
Wave Tribe Recycled Leashes
The Story Wave Tribe was founded by Derek Dodds and a tribe of fellow surfers to create top of the line products with the planet in mind. They make Hemp Day bags and travel boardbags, cork deckpads and traction, and recycled leashes. As the business grew, they began adding other surf-related hemp products to their inventory but in 2016 decided it was time to return their focus to the original trifecta. In addition to rad eco surf and SUP gear, Wave Tribe provides their custom
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Matthew Chebatoris
- Jul 11, 2018
- 2 min
Sustainable Swimwear: Zimzala Swim
Zimzala Swim – Swimwear for life’s adventures Georgia and Kendall are adventurers at heart. United by a passion for travel, the two met in the Canadian wilderness and after many bikini-clad adventures they were inspired to create something of their own. They felt there was a lack of comfortable yet functional swimwear available on the market so they designed their line of bikinis to feel like a second skin. They created fun prints in an effort to encourage their customers to
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Matthew Chebatoris
- Jul 10, 2018
- 3 min
United By Blue: Environmentally Aware and Proud
Fantastic boardshorts options for environmentally conscious paddlers United By Blue was created with the idea that a successful outdoor brand can do serious conservation work. This means everyone at United By Blue routinely digs in and rolls up their sleeves to remove plastic bottles, styrofoam, and a host of other man-made detritus from waterways across the United States. The enterprising environmentally conscious brand even takes it a step further by organizing and hosting
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