Show your love for the Earth with planet-friendly ways to swim, bike, run, and shop.
(Photo: Al-Tahadi family)
Published on April 22, 2026 at 06:00 AM
As triathletes, we of course value the land, and want to be able to continue to swim, bike and run outdoors.
But just because we enjoy its natural beauty does not necessarily mean we are the best stewards of our planet. See: used Gel packs Being discarded on roads, neoprene wetsuits clogging up landfills, and the relentless pursuit of the latest and greatest “aviation gear.” Triple gear Without extending the life of the previous iteration – or getting rid of it properly.
While we know that three sports require a lot of equipment, we also realize that even small steps – like racing locally instead of flying, actually… Use for you Reusable water bottle Instead of using a disposable version, you can fix that hole in your wetsuit instead of throwing it away – when done en masse, it can have a huge impact on the future.
So let’s take a moment to rethink how we approach training, racing, and shopping. Follow these simple steps to make your gear last longer, reduce your impact, and help protect our corner of the universe so athletes can keep racing for generations to come.
Extend the life expectancy of your wetsuit
Most triathletes expect only triathlons Tri-suit To last a few years, but this short lifespan can usually be attributed to poor care, not poor quality, and with proper care, you can make your suit last for up to seven years.
To start, make sure you invest in a high-quality suit from the beginning. Purchase a suit with more stretch, more layers, and more than one type of seal to reduce the possibility of rips. Then make sure to swim in it often so it doesn’t become brittle.
There are right and wrong ways to wear your suit – make sure you wear your suit the right way every time. Follow these tips to enjoy a long and happy relationship with your swimsuit.
Repair your wetsuit before purchasing a new one
One of the core principles of the sustainable living movement is to purchase less because it reduces the environmental impact of manufacturing, transporting and disposing of products, which leads to climate change, resource depletion and increased waste in landfills. So, the longer you can hold on to your triathlon gear — like your wetsuit — the better it is for the planet.
And a lot of what goes wrong with your wetsuit, like tears, stuck zippers, and bad odors, can all be fixed if done the right way. Just be sure to skip the duct tape and dental floss and follow this guide to repairing your wetsuit and adding years to the life of your suit.
Buy used equipment when possible
Besides the obvious cost-saving benefit, buying used triathlon gear has an even greater feel-good effect: you’re helping the environment by extending the life of your triathlon gear, reducing waste, and reducing demand for brand new products.
But you have to know where to look and how to shop. To save on shipping costs (and environmental impact!), start local. You can browse the members-only classifieds page at your triathlon club, your local bike shop or triathlon shop, or local Facebook groups. If you need a wider selection, check this out Triathlon market in USA or Triathlon buy and sell. Follow these tips for smart used shopping when you’re looking for used triathlon equipment.
Properly dispose of your old wetsuits
When your neoprene wetsuit has served its purpose, don’t just throw it in the trash. The same qualities that make wetsuits useful in cold water make them terrible in a landfill—they’re specifically designed to never break down. Cold-water surfwear company Finesterre estimates that more than 9,200 tons — that’s more than 18 million pounds — of old wetsuits end up in landfills every year.
Alternatively, if it’s really unusable, you can recycle your wetsuit. Some wetsuit companies, like Rip Curl, are strong Wetsuit recycling programs. The material can then be reused in things like soft mats for playgrounds. Or a place like Soga yoga He uses old wetsuits to make yoga mats.
Be sure to research the best way to recycle your type of wetsuit and how to collect the suit. Learn more about swimsuit recycling tips and programs — and about perks like discounts or coupons on new products.
When you register for the race, skip the swag
A well-accepted perk in racing is swag (an endurance athlete’s shorthand for “the stuff we all get”), especially Racing t-shirt. But this is one of the less environmentally friendly aspects of racing. On the front end, producing one cotton T-shirt requires as much water as a person drinks in two and a half years.
Then, on the back end, the goods usually remain unused and end up in the trash. And even if you donate them to a charitable organization, you can’t assume that the goods will be used by less fortunate people – some countries have begun to reject such donations because they have more than they can handle. But this is the place Trees no tees COMES: They are partnering with race directors to give athletes the option of giving up a free race jersey. In return, the race gives the money they would normally spend on a jersey to the organization to plant a tree instead.
Give your triathlon gear a second life
Even if you’re ready to move on from your tri gear, that doesn’t mean it should be destined for the trash. Consider donating it to someone who would benefit from it (perhaps to a local college triathlon team?) or selling it to a fellow athlete.
If your equipment needs repair, find ways to fix it. Even if it is worn beyond repair, reusing one old shirt in a new way (such as a cleaning cloth) can save 700 gallons of water. Remember, for every pound of clothing not sent to a landfill, you save 3-4 pounds of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere.
Discover some new ideas to keep your triathlon gear out of the landfill.
Buy sustainable sports nutrition
A more planet-friendly sports fueling option would be to use whole foods, but we can’t all have bananas and dates. The second, more environmentally friendly option is to make your own fuel, but not everyone has the time for that (if you do, we have recipes for that). Homemade energy bars, Energy gelsand Sports drinks).
The next best thing is to be more earth conscious when choosing your sports nutrition. All products have an environmental cost, but some do less Because of its impact on the environment more than others. Consider purchasing products from companies that are actively shifting to more sustainable processes, such as using organic ingredients, supporting environmental organizations, or reducing the use of plastic. Find out which brands your sports nutritionist recommends.
Keep your old equipment out of landfills
Once you’re ready to move on from your tri gear, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s reached the end of its life. And these days, both independent companies and brands are making it easier to recycle or recycle our mountains of multisport stuff.
Although it may not be as simple or quick as throwing it in the trash, it is worth the effort. You’ll feel good knowing that you’re not only helping the planet by reducing what ends up in landfills, but also finding a new home for your beloved triathlon gear.
When buying new, look for recyclable materials
We get it – you can’t buy used shoes and you need to buy new running shoes regularly. But old running shoes aren’t the easiest to recycle. But what if you could get new shoes in the mail and return your old shoes in the mail to be recycled by the original brand?
This is the idea behind running Hurricane program. Cyclon shoes are completely recyclable – made from things like bioyarn made from castor beans. Salomon and Adidas also showcased fully recyclable shoes. Try to think about the end of the life of your running shoes next time you go shopping.
