Why We Chose It: Made using repurposed tents, Glasgow-built, cool design
The Zero Waste Sling is part of a cool collaboration between Scotland-based brands Vango and Trakke called the Past Tents Collection. Using old, or rather pre-loved, tents, the two outdoor brands have combined minds to produce a line of bags including the 10.5L backpack, a 21L rolltop, and a neat wee tote bag, to name a few.
Related: Vango F10 Krypton UL2 Tent Review
This here, however, is the handy 1L Zero Waste Sling, which is also made out of waste tent fabrics, and is limited edition by number. In this sense, since each item is constructed using different tents that have lived entirely different lives, you get an entirely unique bag.
Whilst giving end of life tents a new lease of life, this eco-conscious method additionally avoids clogging up landfills – and therefore reducing the production of nasty greenhouse gases – across the world. They’re also handmade in Glasgow so have that extra personal touch to them too.
What Is the Zero Waste Sling Best Suited To?
This is the kind of sling that wouldn’t look out of place anywhere. You could just as easily use it for urban exploring as you could for chilling about your campsite when it’s handy to have your essentials near you and not tucked away in the far corners of your tent. We can also see it working on short walks, when you want to carry as little as possible, or for quick cycle rides around town.
Eco Credentials
Unsurprisingly, the main eco selling point here is the use of repurposed tent materials. More specifically, the Past Tents Collection is made from the Icelandic II tent and the Force 10 Classic tent.
They have also tried to avoid using plastic wherever possible and so the canvas and webbing straps are made of a durable cotton instead of synthetic alternatives. Likewise, the buckles are made from 70% recycled marine-grade stainless steel, and should hopefully – Vango and Trakke say – ‘last a lifetime without costing the earth’.
Whilst they’ve used an efficient cutting pattern to reduce as much waste as possible, any offcuts from the production will be saved for use in repairs or everyday production and other projects. Along with a free repair service, Trakke also recently launched their ‘Remade by Trakke’ initiative that takes customer trade-ins, scrap fabric and sample products, and makes them into something entirely new.
