Better Trail Launches The Sustainability Index, an Outdoor Industry First

October 1, 2026

The Better Trail Sustainability Index gives consumers, brands, and industry stakeholders a trusted, data-backed resource for evaluating the environmental responsibility of outdoor gear—for the first time

/OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – Better Trail, a leading independent website covering outdoor gear, sustainability, and public lands, has launched the Better Trail Sustainability Index, which is the most exhaustive sustainability database in the outdoor industry.

The Index allows consumers to search and compare sustainability ratings across nearly 1,000 products, 160+ brands, and 50 outdoor gear categories, spanning hiking, backpacking, camping, trail running, skiing, snowboarding, and more. Users can easily sort ratings by brand and by product category, giving them a clear, side-by-side view of how companies and products compare on environmental responsibility.

The database reflects years of research by Better Trail’s dedicated sustainability team, which evaluates products against a comprehensive set of product- and brand-level criteria. They include factors like recycled materials, PFAS-free membranes and DWRs, responsible manufacturing, repair and resale programs, carbon tracking, and annual impact reporting. Every data point and rating comes from human research: combing through product listings and brand websites, analyzing annual impact reports, cross-checking third-party certifications, and meeting with brands for clarifications.

“The outdoor industry has a sustainability problem. Not because brands aren’t trying or doing important things, but because consumers have had no reliable way to evaluate the claims being made,” said David Wilkinson, CEO and Co-Founder of Better Trail. “The Better Trail Sustainability Index was built to change that. For the first time, anyone can look up a brand or product and get an honest, independent, data-backed answer to the question: How sustainable is this?”

The Index launches alongside Better Trail Certified, the platform’s highest sustainability designation, awarded to products that earn a rating of 4 out of 5 or higher. These products meet the vast majority of the criteria in their respective product categories and are among the most sustainable on the market. Together, the Index and Better Trail Certified represent the site’s commitment to bringing transparency and accountability to an industry that has long struggled with greenwashing.

“We built this from the ground up because we couldn’t find anything like it,” said Wilkinson. “We wanted one comprehensive resource that cut straight to the data. The Index is unique in the outdoor industry, and we’re proud to finally share it and continue to help move sustainability in the outdoor industry forward.”

About Better Trail
Better Trail is an independent outdoor gear platform founded in 2024 by David Wilkinson, John Ellings, and Jenny Abegg—three outdoor industry veterans who share a belief that gear coverage could be more honest, beautiful, and impactful than what exists elsewhere on the internet. Better Trail reaches 2 million annual readers and growing across nearly 50 categories. The Sustainability Index is the most exhaustive sustainability database in the outdoor industry.

For more information about the Better Trail Sustainability Index, visit bettertrail.com/sustainability.
For more about Better Trail Certified, visit https://bettertrail.com/sustainability/better-trail-certified.