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Vegan Mountaineering/Alpine climbing gear

Original Post
Tim Sipe · · Portland, OR · Joined Apr 2015 · Points: 0

So I went back three months and couldn't find any topics. Feel free to link me to other parts of the forum, or other boards if you know of good info. Any ways, on to the post.

I'm vegan. Plan to get into mountaineering this summer. I'm wondering if any one can point me in the direction of the best non animal product gear?
Synthetic bags/jackets. Synthetic climbing shoes, and mountaineering boots. Non leather gloves. You know, every thing. I'm starting from scratch.

There's got to be a few other vegans on here, right?

Alex Caillat · · Portland, OR · Joined May 2013 · Points: 0

I'd say that most if not all quality and/or common manufacturers make gear that's suitable. My recommendation is to spend some time on their website and identify the gear that doesn't use animal products, and then see if those specific products match up to your needs, read reviews, etc. There's actually quite a bit of stuff out there and using only synthetic products is totally reasonable if you try a bit. Gloves can be tricky, but OR has a good selection. And you might have issues with cold(er) weather footwear. I remember reading recently that a climbing shoe company only made vegan shoes, was it Tenaya? Hope any of this helps.

Gunkiemike · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 3,492

I'd say if you just avoid leather, down, and wool, you're already 99+% of the way to vegan. And those components are clearly indicated in product descriptions, so that's easy.

Are there other animal products that you are aware of that you need to avoid? I know just enough about veganism to know that animal products can find their way into myriad processes used to produce ostensibly non-animal products (e.g. bone char bleaching of ingredients). For example - rubber used on boots is black because it contains carbon. Are you concerned about where that carbon comes from?

Dobson · · Butte, MT · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 215
Gunkiemike wrote:I'd say if you just avoid leather, down, and wool, you're already 99+% of the way to vegan. And those components are clearly indicated in product descriptions, so that's easy. Are there other animal products that you are aware of that you need to avoid? I know just enough about veganism to know that animal products can find their way into myriad processes used to produce ostensibly non-animal products (e.g. bone char bleaching of ingredients). For example - rubber used on boots is black because it contains carbon. Are you concerned about where that carbon comes from?
I saw some research spurred on my the old mad cow outbreak. The authors were trying to trace every product that could contain cow and therefore the offending prions. The task ended up being impossible, but they did find cow in thousands of items including hundreds of car components and even the roads we drive on.
Rob D · · Queens, NY · Joined May 2011 · Points: 30
Dobson wrote: I saw some research spurred on my the old mad cow outbreak. The authors were trying to trace every product that could contain cow and therefore the offending prions. The task ended up being impossible, but they did find cow in thousands of items including hundreds of car components and even the roads we drive on.
at least for me.... being vegan is about doing the best I can to use as few animal products as possible. I can't (realistically) stop using a computer nor can I stop taking the subway or walking on sidewalks, so I cut out as many other things as possible.

that said, when buying any outdoor stuff I avoid leather (easy on most stuff), down, and wool. Wool is the hardest because warm synthetic baselayers and socks kind of suck. I also buy the highest quality stuff that I can afford because synthetic stuff tends to wear out quicker than leather, and rebuying and throwing away synthetic is just as awful for the planet. If you buy higher quality stuff it tends to last longer.
Marc801 C · · Sandy, Utah · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 65
Gunkiemike wrote:Are there other animal products that you are aware of that you need to avoid? I know just enough about veganism to know that animal products can find their way into myriad processes used to produce ostensibly non-animal products (e.g. bone char bleaching of ingredients). For example - rubber used on boots is black because it contains carbon. Are you concerned about where that carbon comes from?
It can be daunting if being vegan is taken to its logical extreme.

Does the OP drink beer? Was it clarified with isinglass, which has been used for centuries? Isinglass comes from fish swim bladders. For that matter, what about the yeast cells that are discarded after beer and wine fermentation? Or the microbes that produce cheese, sauerkraut, and pickles?

Speaking of wine, many producers use fining agents to help in clarification and filtering. The most common are casein (milk protein), albumin (egg whites), isinglass, and gelatin.

What about the glue used in his vegan non-leather shoes? Does it contain keratin, an animal protein?

What about furniture and wooden musical instruments? Most are made with glue from animal hides.

Do the plastic washers or triggers in his cams contain a slip agent? Almost all plastics do and 99% of those agents come from animal fat.

Animal based stearic acid in his car and bike tires? Does he avoid fireworks, since most of those also contain stearic acid?

The ingredients of his shampoo might list "Panthenol", "Amino acids", or "Vitamin B" - those can be from plant sources, or from animal by products.

Glycerin turns up in a large array of products - it can be from plants, but animal fat is 7% - 13% glycerine and is a much cheaper source.

And few realize it, but nylon is made from the intestines of bunny rabbits.
Jon Weekley · · Denver, CO · Joined May 2010 · Points: 70

...nylon is made from the intestines of bunny rabbits.

What? They didn't show that shit on "HOW It's Made".

webdog · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 0

Do you drive a car, buy fuel, buy batteries, throw away plastic? You're ok with raping of resources from the earth but don't want to harm animals?

Marc801 C · · Sandy, Utah · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 65
webdog wrote:Do you drive a car, buy fuel, buy batteries, throw away plastic? You're ok with raping of resources from the earth but don't want to harm animals?
Perhaps it's best to separate the value judgements about veganism from what the OP actually asked.
Michael Layton · · Sonora, CA · Joined Sep 2012 · Points: 5

on the flip side of the OP quandary, I have been trying to source out a supplier of meat-based ropes. Also it's springtime and that means meat helmets.

Gunkiemike · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 3,492
MFL wrote:on the flip side of the OP quandary, I have been trying to source out a supplier of meat-based ropes. Also it's springtime and that means meat helmets.
If you climb without any rope at all, I guarantee all your falls will be arrested by meat.

And bone.
Patrick Shyvers · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 10
Gunkiemike wrote:I know just enough about veganism to know that animal products can find their way into myriad processes used to produce ostensibly non-animal products (e.g. bone char bleaching of ingredients).
You know, I realize this is veering way off topic, but that introduces a whole new question about veganism to me. Are "byproducts" of animals, such as bones, manure, and viscera, acceptable? Should they be?

If a cow is going to be slaughtered for it's meat to make hamburgers and steak for omnivorous humans, is it non-vegan to use the scraps that might otherwise be thrown away?

I'm sure most vegans would say, "yes it's non vegan!", but I've always been too much of a pragmatist to be something as idealist as a vegan.
Marc801 C · · Sandy, Utah · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 65
Patrick Shyvers wrote: You know, I realize this is veering way off topic, but that introduces a whole new question about veganism to me. Are "byproducts" of animals, such as bones, manure, and viscera, acceptable? Should they be? If a cow is going to be slaughtered for it's meat to make hamburgers and steak for omnivorous humans, is it non-vegan to use the scraps that might otherwise be thrown away? I'm sure most vegans would say, "yes it's non vegan!", but I've always been too much of a pragmatist to be something as idealist as a vegan.
There are indeed vegans who will not drink beer or wine clarified with isinglass. There are vegans who will not eat honey. Hard core vegans will not wear anything that contains leather. So to answer your question, no, use of animal by-products is definitely non-vegan and not acceptable.
Ray Pinpillage · · West Egg · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 180
webdog wrote:Do you drive a car, buy fuel, buy batteries, throw away plastic? You're ok with raping of resources from the earth but don't want to harm animals?
OP emailed me and said he is OK with rape and oil.
Patrick Shyvers · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 10
Marc801 wrote: There are indeed vegans who will not drink beer or wine clarified with isinglass. There are vegans who will not eat honey. Hard core vegans will not wear anything that contains leather. So to answer your question, no, use of animal by-products is definitely non-vegan and not acceptable.
Yeah, I know there are vegans who will not eat honey, and I know there are vegans that would find it not acceptable. I was more wondering the opposite- are there vegans to which the using of waste byproducts is acceptable.

Also to be clear, leather and honey are not the kind of by-products I am talking about. I mean the parts that are not all that useful, that we put to work so as not to waste them. Ears, hooves, scales, fins etc.

It's obvious why vegans object to leather and honey- animals were exploited for the purpose of getting that leather and honey. But I've never heard of fish being exploited just to get their fins- i.e., it's a by-product we find a use for.
The Blueprint Part Dank · · FEMA Region VIII · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 460
Tim Sipe wrote:So I went back three months and couldn't find any topics. Feel free to link me to other parts of the forum, or other boards if you know of good info. Any ways, on to the post. I'm vegan. Plan to get into mountaineering this summer. I'm wondering if any one can point me in the direction of the best non animal product gear? Synthetic bags/jackets. Synthetic climbing shoes, and mountaineering boots. Non leather gloves. You know, every thing. I'm starting from scratch. There's got to be a few other vegans on here, right?
Do you think your ethics would survive a societal collapse? Either economic or environmental.
Patrick Shyvers · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 10
The Blueprint Part Dank wrote: Do you think your ethics would survive a societal collapse? Either economic or environmental.
The core of vegan philosophy, to my knowledge, rests on two points:

1) Exploiting animals is cruel

2) I do not have to exploit animals, thanks to the modern world and my omnivorous nature

Even if the world collapses and #2 is not true anymore, they can continue to believe #1 while being forced to violate #1 to ensure survival.

That "don't have to" is the key. I haven't met any vegans who are so hardline they would rather starve to death than exploit an animal.

(Maybe that's all wrong and my friends are fake vegans, but that's my knowledge of the matter)
Tom-onator · · trollfreesociety · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 790

"Yes I eat cow I am not proud"

-Curt Cobain

The Blueprint Part Dank · · FEMA Region VIII · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 460
Nivel Egres wrote: Almost no ethical norms survive in a societal collapse, even a short-term one. An average person will dine on the liver of his neighbors child if his survival depends on it.
Yes
The Blueprint Part Dank · · FEMA Region VIII · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 460
Patrick Shyvers wrote: The core of vegan philosophy, to my knowledge, rests on two points: 1) Exploiting animals is cruel 2) I do not have to exploit animals, thanks to the modern world and my omnivorous nature Even if the world collapses and #2 is not true anymore, they can continue to believe #1 while being forced to violate #1 to ensure survival. That "don't have to" is the key. I haven't met any vegans who are so hardline they would rather starve to death than exploit an animal. (Maybe that's all wrong and my friends are fake vegans, but that's my knowledge of the matter)
And again, yes
Amélie · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2013 · Points: 314

It appears this point needs to be brought up again: this thread isnt about questioning the OP's choices, but it IS about clothing/gear

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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