Natural Backpacking Project
An experiment in natural material performance apparel & gear
A lightweight backpack that’s fully compostable. Made with Ventile, merino wool, cotton web, and felt padding.
January - May 2026
Prompted by concerns about synthetic fabric’s microplastic shedding and general nastiness, I’ve started a research project using exclusively natural fibers to build apparel and equipment for backcountry travel.
I’m building a complete kit for summer backpacking in the American mountain west. It’ll use only metal and natural materials, and nothing petroleum-derived. Due to the amount of processing needed, I’m skipping cellulosic synthetics on this one - just plain cotton, wool, silk, and linen. Even thread must abide by the rules, which is tough, and all waterproofing agents as well (so no paraffin-based waxes allowed).
The goal is not to claim that naturals perform better than synthetics, but to explore what compromises are needed to use lower-impact gear and clothing, and to show that in our bioregion, hardcore synthetic materials aren’t always necessary.
This summer, I’ll test and photograph the kit on a backpacking trip along a section of the Pacific Crest Trail in Oregon.
Project Sponsors:
Lavalan Wool Insulation
A catenary-cut one person tarp made from oiled silk, cotton reinforcements, and tarred linen cordage. Weight: 440 grams.
Garments and gear for the project. Made of cotton, silk, linen, and wool.