Sustainable Bamboo Exercise Gear is Here!

The best way to get out of an exercise routine rut is by changing it up, getting out of your box, and challenging both your body and mind. The newest green way to update your fitness regimen is with bamboo.

One of nature's most sustainable resources, bamboo is a tropical grass with an extensive root system that sends out an average of four to six new shoots per year, naturally replenishing itself and growing to heights of 60 feet or more—that's one tall piece of grass! Some bamboo species grow up to four feet per day and can be harvested every three to four years. Naturally resilient, bamboo is grown without the use of pesticides or chemicals, plus it's naturally regenerative.

Common household use of the durable woody weed is as flooring. But beyond its surface appeal, there are over 1,000 documented uses of bamboo, a growing list that now includes fitness gear! Here are a few of our favorites:

Bamboo Bikes

Bikes are already a natural way to workout. But now it's even greener with the advance of the bamboo bike. Why bamboo? Same reason it's used as an alternative to hardwood flooring—it is strong and durable. It also helps soften some of the bumps, acting as a natural shock absorber. Calfee Design Bamboo Bikes are made with a bamboo frame and hemp fiber lugs.

Bamboo Surfboards

Surfers take pride in their natural sport. And now even the boards they're shredding on are going green. A couple of environmentally conscious surf companies are helping their wave riding clientele preserve the environment by producing boards made with sustainable and ethically produced and sourced materials, as well as employing fair trade standards. Try the bamboo boards made by AltarNative Bamboo Technologies.

Bamboo Skateboards

Despite the common notion that it's just for fun, skateboarding is a sport that is also a serious workout. Not only does skateboarding do your body good, now it's better for the environment. The newest skateboards are from a much better material than maple—bamboo. Because it's both strong and flexile, bamboo the ideal material for skateboards. BambooSK8's boards have a 100% bamboo deck that is lighter and more resilient than the average maple skateboard. Plus they come in all sorts of great designs.

Bamboo Baseball Bats

Baseball is one of the oldest all-American past times, it's also one of the first to acknowledge how fabulous bamboo is. For decades, bamboo bats have commonly been used for practice thanks to its durability, resilience and longevity. Try the Mizuno Classic Bamboo Bat crafted for maximum speed and balance.

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