By It’s winter, and for most of us that means spending much of our free time on the snow—on skis, snowshoes, snowboards, sleds, or any other contraption with a sliding surface. We’re a cold-climate tribe, like-minded folks who understand the reward of bundling up and pushing our bodies through the elements.
The Sustainability of Ski Resorts
Pure backcountry skiers need only look at their gear’s supply chain and their own tracks in the snow to see the environmental footprint of their fun. For those of us who enjoy the occasional chairlift ride and hot soup mid-mountain, the sustainability of skiing infrastructure becomes more complex. Ski Area
Thrifting for the Savvy Skier
Ski season is heating up across the country, but the freedom of sliding with gravity comes at a high cost. Most expenses are fixed and non-negotiable – lift tickets, rental gear, après cocktails. With so much money flying, don’t be tempted to scrimp on your apparel. Set yourself up for
Nikwax Supports Recent Greenpeace Report to Ban Harsh Chemicals
A recent study by Greenpeace reports on levels of perfluorinated compounds (also known as PFCs) used in the production of outdoor apparel. PFCs are bio-persistent chemicals that are linked to a range of human health problems (see selected bibliography for studies). Many companies use PFCs to add water repellent finishes to apparel and gear. Nikwax has been
Will This Be a Year of Deep, Light and Cold? Ski Area Opening Dates Around the Country
Move over Colorado and Vermont. The mighty Midwest won the crown for having the first ski area to open for the 2012-13 winter season. Wild Mountain, in Taylor Falls, Minnesota, opened on Sunday, October 7th – a mere two weeks after fun-seekers were splashing down the Wild Mountain summer water
Significant Glaciers of Chile: Ice, Water and Community Survival near Santiago, Chile
The following is a trip report from one of our AAC Nikwax Alpine Bellwether Grant recipients, tasked with researching the effects of climate change in high alpine environments. Introduction Glaciologists have stated for some time that glacial mass recession may be a decisive indicator in our understanding of climate change.
Nikwax is Green to the Core!
For the third consecutive year, Nikwax has received a highly regarded Sunday Times Best Green Companies award, which goes to companies that are recognized as visionaries of sustainable, environmental business practices. Nikwax was founded in 1977 with environmental responsibility as one of its main principles, and continues to lead by
Happy Earth Day!
We here at Nikwax get all warm and fuzzy inside on Earth Day. It’s always so touching to see people from across the globe coming together to help make the world a better place. We enjoy all the attention that Earth Day brings to topics like conservation, responsibility, and working
Reuse again and again and again! Nikwax for the whole family
We at Nikwax know that outdoor adventurers come in all ages and sizes AND that keeping all those little fast-growing trail-monsters outfitted can be both a logistical and an economic challenge. Then there’s the environmental impact of discarding all those tiny boots and mittens! Not to worry, parents, Nikwax can
You Don’t Need a New Jacket!
You may know this story. You buy a brand new jacket. It is shiny and wondrous. You love your new jacket. You go places together, and it keeps you dry and toasty. Time passes, as it inevitably does, and suddenly your jacket is no longer shiny. As a matter of
