Big Agnes recently announced multiple new products made from sustainably sourced materials unique to its categories. The products include a collection of nine ultralight tents constructed from solution-dyed fabrics and sleeping pads made with sugarcane extract, a first for the brand.

“Big Agnes is committed to producing gear made from the most sustainable materials possible to help minimize our environmental impacts and increase the durability of our products,” said Bill Gamber, co-founder and president, Big Agnes. “The unique materials sourced for these tents and pads will help lower the energy consumption, water use and chemicals used for production. Our team is working hard to reduce our impact one tent and pad at a time.”

The solution-dyed fabrics used to create the fly and inner body of each of Big Agnes’ tent “help reduce energy consumption by 80 percent and water use by 50 percent compared to traditional fabric dyeing methods,” said the brand. Fabrics woven from solution-dyed yarns can be more resistant to UV fading, which improves the quality and durability of the tents. The production of the solution-dyed tents results in “80 percent fewer chemicals used in the fabric dyeing and finishing processes,”  said Big Agnes.

Products in the nine-tent Solution-Dyed Tent collection include:

  • Fly Creek HV UL Solution Dye 1+2
  • Tiger Wall UL Solution Dye 1,2,3 and Tiger Wall mtnGLO Solution Dye 2+3
  • Tiger Wall UL Bikepacking Solution Dye 2+3

The closed-cell foam TwisterCane BioFoam Pad and companion Hiking Seat are engineered for “ultralight backcountry trips, providing a firm, cushioned barrier that is durable, comfortable and insulated,” said Big Agnes.

The TwisterCane pad and seat incorporate “more than 60 percent sugarcane extract, an extremely sustainable material solution that is fully renewable and helps reduce the dependence on Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate (EVA) while maintaining function, durability and warmth. The sugarcane is sourced using the Proforest Standards and helps “contribute to reduced greenhouse gas emissions by CO2 capture,” said the brand.

The TwisterCane Pad was a finalist in the 2021 Outdoor Retailer Innovations Awards.

Photo courtesy Big Agnes