Welcome to Sea n' Soul!

We are in the midst of a climate crisis, and while it is undeniable that the majority of damage is being done by a few extremely large companies (according to The Guardian , one-third of all greenhouse gas emissions are caused by just 20 companies), it is also undeniable that we, as a global community, have the power to enact seemingly small changes in our lives that collectively will make a huge difference in the fight against climate change. Here are 5 ways that you can make your home more environmentally friendly:  Wash your clothes in cold water - according to Energy Star , up to 90% of the energy used by your washing machine goes to heating the water. So naturally you can reduce up to 90% of your laundry energy by using cold water. Hang dry everything you can - not only will this greatly reduce the energy consumption of your laundry routine, but it is also better for your clothes and will make them last longer. Win win! Use a programmable thermostat - this cool little device allows you to schedule the heating/cooling of your home. On most models you can schedule, by time of day and day of the week, when you want your system to heat, cool, or turn off completely. In the winter it’s best to lower the indoor temperature while you are sleeping to save energy, and you can program a thermostat to start heating your home 20 minutes before you wake up to ensure you are still comfortable while saving energy! Get window treatments - not only will these make your home look amazing, but in the summer months they help to shade your home and keep direct sunlight out. This will stop your home from overheating and therefore stop your AC from working overtime. Use a toaster oven - this might sound silly, but hear me out. Heating up your oven every single time you need to cook something (like 1 or 2 potatoes) is a huge waste of energy. We suggest you batch cook your food weekly if you can, this will save you from heating up your oven multiple times throughout the week. If you need to re-heat something or cook something in the moment, you can use a toaster oven which requires much less energy than heating the whole oven. There are so many more ways to make your home more energy efficient, but these are the top few that we think are really important and accessible to everyone. What’s your best tip for an eco-friendly home? Tell us on Instagram @seansoulreuse !

It sounds easy enough: buy a backpack, fill it with your survival essentials, and hit the trail for a few days in the backcountry. But what happens when 2 hours into the trail your hips are sore and your shoulder blades feel like there’s a knife stuck between them? Choosing the right backpack for your body can make all the difference between a leisurely, enjoyable trip to the woods and what feels like a survival nightmare. Make sure you are outfitted with the right pack by following the tips below. The three main areas that are most important to dial in are: Pack capacity: how long you will be in the backcountry will decide how large of a pack you need. Torso length: this is more important than your overall height Pack features: these are refinements that allow you to adjust your pack and make it mold to your body perfectly Questions to ask yourself to help you choose the right pack:  How long will you be in the wilderness? As a general rule, the longer you plan to be backpacking the larger your pack needs to be. This is simply due to the fact that you will need more space for food, water, etc. General guidelines: weekend trip 30-50L, multi day (3-5 nights) 50-80L, and extended trips of 5+ nights 70L or larger What kind of frame do you want? Internal frames are the most popular these days because they don’t put so much pressure on certain points of your hips and back, but there are also external frames and frameless options available. How do you want to access the items in your pack? Most packs are top & bottom opening allowing you to store overnight, less accessed items at the bottom and items you will need throughout the day on the top (like snacks, sunscreen, hat, etc.). But some packs will also have panel openings along the side or middle of your pack. This option is purely for your own ease of access and won’t necessarily affect your hiking experience. Are you a pocket person? Some packs come with lots of little pockets for you to shove little things into like chapstick, batteries, SPF, etc. and some packs come much more streamlined without the extra pocket space. Personally, at Sea N’ Soul we like the pockets because it allows us to put those little odds and ends in easy to access places so if you need a re-up of chapstick you don’t have to take off and open up your whole pack to get to it. How much padding do you want? Once you’ve been on the trail for a few hours you might start to notice areas of your pack that are putting more pressure on your body than others. Pack design has come a long way since the inception days, and you can find packs with lots of padding to cushion areas of your body that might be more susceptible to those pressure points. If you have protruding hip bones you might want to look for a pack with considerable padding along the hip belt. Do you travel with trekking poles or a climbing helmet? Getting a pack with attachment points is amazing for putting those large, awkward items onto your back but not into your pack. Daisy chains, gear loops, and reinforced crampon patches are all options for securing your extras to the outside of your pack that you should consider when choosing your pack. There are so many details you can look for when choosing your backpack, but the ones stated above are the most important to your overall comfort while out in the wilderness. All information here was found on www.rei.com and we are so grateful for the wealth of knowledge that they share! Do you have an extra backpack that doesn’t fit you right, or you haven’t used in a while? List it on Sea N’ Soul! Someone else is bound to love that pack and you will make a little money back on your investment - win/win if you ask us! Happy trails!

When it comes to outdoor gear and apparel, some brands just do it better. While reselling is the best way to extend the life cycle of your gear, we also want to make sure we are supporting brands that put the environment first in their business model. Below are some of our favorite ethical outdoor brands: Mountain Hardwear: from flame retardant free tents, to responsible down, to using recycled materials, Mountain Hardwear puts their money where their mouth is when it comes to sustainability. They make high quality gear with a low-impact manufacturing process. Marmot: not only does Marmot use recyclable and reusable materials in their apparel, they also started a transportation reduction initiative in 2011 that was designed to reduce the amount of miles that raw materials would have to travel. Since the launch of this initiative they have cut air shipments by 60%. Patagonia: where do we even start with this brand - they are everyone’s favorite and arguably are the gold standard for putting the planet over profit. Not only have they drastically reduced their carbon footprint by removing oil from their products, using 100% renewable energy in all stores & offices in North America, and choosing materials based on an environmental profit & loss metric model, but they also support community led projects to reduce fossil fuels in and protect nature. Lastly, they are constantly encouraging their community to be stewards of the environment and get involved in climate change activism. We could write a novel on why Patagonia is the most environmentally conscious company on the planet, but you can see for yourself at their website. We always promote for everyone to shop secondhand, but we understand that there will always be a market for new gear & apparel, but we hope that this short list of brands that put Planet over Profit will help you make an informed decision next time you’re looking for something shiny and new.

Making simple small swaps every day can make a big impact over time. Here are some of our favorite everyday swaps that can help you be greener little by litte: Use non-toxic plant based cleaning products, NOT traditional toxic cleaners. This is good for your health AND the environment. We love Branch Basics for a safe cleaning system. Use glass containers NOT plastic tupperware. Again, this is better for your health and the environment (seeing a pattern?) Use a reusable water bottle NOT single use plastic water bottles. Drinking water is essential to our health, and carrying a Hydroflask around the house with you is a great way to stay hydrated while also reducing your impact on the planet. No more plastic bottles, promise? Use reusable paper towels NOT traditional single use paper towels. This is a cool one! We love this brand Papaya because they make reusable paper towels that are not only pretty, but a single Papaya towel will replace on average 17 rolls of traditional paper towels! They are also antibacterial so you don’t have to worry about it getting gross. Biodegradable trash bags NOT plastic trash bags. This one is simple and sweet - why not throw out your trash in a bag that is designed to decompose? Simple swaps that are better for you and for the planet, what’s not to love?

Climate change, environmental destruction, corporate pollution, carbon footprints - the environmentalism movement is nuanced and can sometimes feel overwhelming - like you need a 4 year degree to even scratch the surface of understanding. But don’t fret quite yet, understanding climate change and environmentalism is not as big a mountain to climb as you might think. Check out these 5 documentaries that help explain different aspects of the climate movement in easy to understand diction and stunning cinematography. Top 5 Environmental Documentary Films You Must Watch: Before The Flood “Presented by National Geographic, features Leonardo DiCaprio on a journey as a United Nations Messenger of Peace, traveling to five continents and the Arctic to witness climate change firsthand. He goes on expeditions with scientists uncovering the reality of climate change and meets with political leaders fighting against inaction. He also discovers a calculated disinformation campaign orchestrated by powerful special interests working to confuse the public about the urgency of the growing climate crisis. With unprecedented access to thought leaders around the world, DiCaprio searches for hope in a rising tide of catastrophic news.” ( source ) 8 Billion Angels “8 Billion Angels tells the truth about the conflict between the size of our global population and the sustainability of our planet. It dispels the misperceptions that technology can save us, that reducing consumption is the answer, and that the blame lies solely in the developing world.” ( source ) My Octopus Teacher “The winner of the 2020 EarthxFilm Festival, this film documents a year-long relationship between filmmaker and conservationist, Craig Foster, and an octopus he befriended in the kelp forests near the coast of South Africa. This incredible, uniquely shot film sheds insight on animal intelligence and the intricacies of human-animal and human-nature relationships as a whole.” ( source ) Extinction: The Facts “With a million species at risk of extinction, Sir David Attenborough explores how this crisis of biodiversity has consequences for us all, threatening food and water security, undermining our ability to control our climate and even putting us at greater risk of pandemic diseases.” ( source ) Public Trust “Today, despite support from voters across the political spectrum, our public lands face unprecedented threats from extractive industries and the politicians in their pockets. Part love letter, part political exposé, Public Trust investigates how we arrived at this precarious moment through three heated conflicts—a national monument in the Utah desert, a mine in the Boundary Waters and oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge—and makes a case for their continued protection.” ( source ) We hope you enjoy these films, and that they leave you with a feeling of hopefulness at what we CAN do as a global community to reduce our impact on the planet. Have comments? Send us a DM or leave us a comment on Instagram at @seansoulreuse

Hiking is a favorite activity for tons of people across the world - it’s great exercise, has amazing benefits for mental health, and can lead to wonderful social connections. However, it’s important to understand that the more people venture out into the wilderness the more impact we have on the delicate ecosystems that exist there. Here are 4 ways to be a responsible hiker and leave no trace in the wilderness:  Stay strictly on the trail - it might be so tempting to just tip toe off the trail to get a photo of that stunning wildflower, but this can cause immense damage to the delicate ecosystem that lives on the floor of the forest. Veering off trail can kill delicate flora, disturb ground nests, cause soil erosion, etc. Your one or two footprints might not make a huge impact in themselves, but think of the thousands of people that traffic any particular trail and you can understand the impact that so many people trodding off trail would have. Leave all animals and plants alone - this one should go without saying. Please leave all animals (especially the big ones that can harm you) and plants alone. It can be so tempting to take that beautiful flower with you but please leave things be. Flowers need to pollinate and animals need to live their lives free of human intrusion. Parks and wilderness areas usually have specific guidelines for space to keep between you and certain animals. For example, in Yellowstone National Park they recommend staying 25 yards away from bison and 100 yards away from bears and wolves. This is for your own safety and to keep the animals from being too comfortable around humans. Respect other hikers - when you come upon other people on the trail please remain respectful and courteous. Common “hiker etiquette” often includes right-of-way rules like descending hikers should move over for uphill hikers when the trail is narrow. If you are playing music please keep it low so that other hikers who are in the area to enjoy the sounds of nature cannot hear it. A quick hello to your fellow hikers is also a nice touch! No soaps or detergents in waterways - You had an amazing lunch and now you need to wash the sticky PB&J remnants off your hands, but please do not wash your hands in any waterways! Even if a soap says ‘biodegradable’ it’s best to leave them completely out of any river, stream, pond, or lake. Soaps and detergents are harmful to aquatic life and the delicate ecosystems within the waterway so it’s best to leave them out completely. It’s also important to make sure if you are washing your hands with a water bottle away from the water, be sure you are far enough away that the soapy water won’t trickle down and make its way into the water anyway. Might we suggest taking wipes with you (and packing them out!) these are easier to use and don’t risk any contamination to waterways. If this seems like a lot of rules, we understand that! It all boils down to respecting nature and respecting your other hikers. We aim to be essentially invisible in the wilderness and leave it as is or better than we found it. We hope you are enjoying the last bit of hiking season as we move into the colder months. Happy trails, adventurers!

The fashion industry, specifically the fast fashion industry, is a primary contributor to climate change and environmental degradation. While a lot of the problem needs to be solved from the top down, there are still some ways you can make a positive difference and help to influence the industry in the right direction. Read below for our tips: Only buy items that you know you will wear repeatedly. It can be so tempting to get trendy items that aren’t exactly practical - but look really cool - but we urge you to consider how often you will realistically use an item before purchasing. One time wear pieces are particularly detrimental to the environment because when you get rid of them they almost always end up in the landfill. Re-sell old clothes and gear that you no longer want or need. This one is arguably the most important since on average people are buying 60% more clothes but keeping them for half the time that they used to ( source ). Seek out re-selling apps like Sea N’ Soul to find new homes for the items you no longer want - and a bonus of this is you can make back some of your investment! Seek out brands that put the environment over profits. Brands like Patagonia make it very clear that they honor the environment and take their impact into consideration with every step of their process. Along with Patagonia some of our favorite environmentally conscious outdoor brands are Arc’teryx, The North Face, and Marmot. Consider the fabric used. Synthetic fabrics like spandex are toxic to the environment during the manufacturing process (by way of chemical runoff, factory pollution, etc.). Look for fabrics like hemp, linen, cotton, and bamboo as these all have a much lower impact on the environment during manufacturing. At Sea N’ Soul we truly believe that thinking globally and acting locally is a key to enacting widespread change, and we encourage you to constantly be evaluating your personal choices and how you can be 1% better every day. Thanks for being a part of this movement with us!

Transportation is something we all participate in - whether it be to work, to a friend's house, to run errands, or maybe even to go on a vacation. Reducing our impact in terms of how we move around is relatively easy and there is sure to be something that works for you that you can incorporate into your daily or weekly routine. Ride your bike more often. This is a tried and true recommendation - if you live in an area where this is possible, ride your bike wherever you can. This will reduce your overall impact and also give you some more exercise, which is paramount to your health as well! Use public transportation. This is a great option if you live in a city. The easiest way to go about this is to map out your most traveled routes and start there. Cities like San Francisco, Chicago, and New York have amazing public transit that most of the time ends up being easier than driving a car. Reduce the number of flights you take. Condensing your travel plans can reduce your environmental impact immensely! By condensing your plans this is what we mean: if you have to go to New York and Miami, instead of going from home to NY round trip, then a second trip from home to Miami round trip, resulting in 4 total flights and much more air miles, try to combine the trips and go from home to NY to Miami to home. This results in 3 legs instead of 4 and saves tons of pollution along with also probably saving you some money! Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Reducing the electrical demand of buildings, and get some extra cardio in, by taking the stairs instead of the elevator if you are physically able. Carpool whenever possible. This one is a no brainer, especially if public transportation is not an option where you live. Drive with your coworkers to work, friends to dinner & cut down your combined CO2 emissions by half! These are some tried and true ways to reduce your impact on the environment by how you move around your city. And bonus is that most of these will also result in more physical activity, which is amazing for our health - a win win!

It's one thing to know there's a problem. Doing something about the problem is another thing altogether. One of the founders of Sea n’ Soul spent a career in the fashion industry. While overseeing the entire supply chain for a well-known international fashion brand, he witnessed firsthand the harmful effects the overproduction of apparel and textiles has on the environment. He vowed to do something about it. We founded Sea n' Soul with a mission in mind — to prevent waste, stop pollution, and support sustainability at all costs. We accomplish this by providing you with a one-stop shop for selling your used outdoor gear, instead of sending it off to the landfill. In this way, not only do you help us in our fight against waste prevention and overproduction, but you also help the environment while putting money back in your pocket. It's a win-win-win! If you're like us, you love the outdoors. You couldn't imagine your life without the wonders of nature surrounding you at all times. But, as any nature-lover will tell you, it's easy to get carried away. One day you're buying your first surfboard, excited to feel the ocean breeze in your hair, and then, the next thing you know, it's ten years later and you have eight surfboards, with 5 gathering dust in the ceiling of your garage. You'd like to get rid of those 5 boards you no longer use, and potentially find another board that fits your evolved surfing style. You'd also like to give someone else a chance to experience the thrill of the ocean without resorting to contributing to the ongoing problem of overproduction. You start thinking about selling your old surfboards but aren't sure how to go about it. This is where we step in. Sea n' Soul makes selling your old surfboards easy! All you have to do is take a few pictures (and/or videos) of those old surfboards and upload them to the Sea n' Soul app. Once the right buyer comes along, you can meet up in person (having already been paid in the app), or take your board to UPS if it can be shipped. It couldn't be simpler! Now you can rest easy knowing you've done your small part to help stop pollution and prevent waste. Or maybe you're looking to buy instead? Sea n' Soul has you covered! Say you're in the market for a mountain bike but you're not looking to spend all your money on a new one, and you want to support sustainability and help the environment too. Simply go to the Sea n' Soul app, and search or browse for used mountain bikes you are interested in buying. Within seconds you're looking at a list of fellow outdoor enthusiasts, selling their old mountain bikes. You find the bike that best suits your budget and buy. You’ll then have the mountain bike of your dreams, and you feel great knowing that you didn't contribute to the destructive practice of overproduction while also having contributed to nonprofits like Outdoor Alliance who are helping protect the trails you ride! Don’t wait, help by buying and selling used adventure gear now! Whether it's selling your old mountain bikes, surfboards, or anything in between, you can do it all while helping us prevent waste and stop pollution. Login or download the app, and start buying and reselling today!