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Outdoor sports are naturally green exercises...unless of course you are choosing environment polluting activities like power boating or four-wheeling. But generally speaking, kayaking, surfing, basketball, volleyball, even Frisbee are all very green ways to have a good time outside while burning calories. With no electricity sapping gym equipment, it's just you, the great outdoors, and your gear. Now you can make your favorite outdoor activities even greener by trying out the newest in eco-conscious exercise sporting equipment that are not only better for the environment, but better for your game.
Recycled Ocean Kayaks are Stronger
Amidst the other plastic goop and junk, the Great Garbage Patch is littered with kayaks. Instead of contributing to the waste, help reduce the clutter by choosing a kayak made from 100% recycled material. REI's Ocean Kayak Scrambler Recycled Sit-On-Top kayak is made from 100% recycled ocean kayak post-industrial plastic waste that's actually stronger than the original material. But don't think you are serving the earth to the detriment of your own comfort. The open cockpit has an adjustable, padded, molded seat and molded foot wells. It also has a specially molded rear well and comes with bungee cords to secure a scuba tank, ice chest or other gear. It even has a flat deck area that?s perfect for mounting fishing rod holders or GPS units.
Natural Rubber Balls Bounce Back
Your average high-end sports balls are made out of polyurethane or synthetic leather and rubber. Not the soccer balls, volleyballs, rugby balls, footballs, and basketballs from Fair Trade Sports who specialize in balls made from FSC-certified rubber and synthetic leather. The FSC certification shows that the rubber is harvested from responsibly managed forests. The balls are then stitched by adult workers who are paid fair wages. So how does natural rubber stand up to its conventional competitors? Natural rubber has more friction when it comes in contact with, say, a kicking foot or slamming hand, allowing more technical maneuvers—like putting spin on the ball—to be more effective. It's also stronger and tends to bounce back into its original shape better as it ages. But it does age faster.
Recycled Plastic Frisbees are in Balance
A game of ultimate Frisbee can be a serious workout. Problem is: Frisbees are generally made of virgin plastic. Not the Wham-O Re-Flyer 175g Ultimate Recycled Frisbee Disc. It's made from post consumer recycled plastic and it still maintains its perfect balance—essential for performance and flight.
Cork Yoga Blocks are Firmer
Yoga is innately focused on the health and well-being of the mind and body. Well now the planet is also being taken into account with greener yoga gear options that allow the practice to be mind/body and earth beneficial. Forget about your average environmentally-taxing foam Yoga block. Blocks are being greened with cork. Natural Fitness has created a Cork Yoga Block made from the naturally renewable, sustainable material. Better than foam, cork gives just enough while providing a firmer, more stable grip not found in synthetic foam blocks.
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