United By Blue – Sustainable Men’s Outdoor Apparel and Accessories Review
Created in 2010 in the spirit of conservation, United by Blue believes in the power of active change and a little elbow grease, and taking those seemingly little steps towards a better planet. Wishing to encourage more conscious consumership, United By Blue combined clean-up efforts with the manufacturing of high-quality goods derived from recycled materials.
Litter, most prominently plastic, has accounted for much of the present environmental damage, with an astronomical 8 million tons of plastic ending up in our oceans and waterways each years, and 1.5 million of that being owed to plastic bottles alone. (The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a floating island of litter, is twice the size of the state of Texas).
United by Blue has made it their mission to not only continue with their clean-up efforts, but introduce responsibly sourced materials such as recycled polyester, organic cotton, and bison fibers, into their products. Most notably, UBB has created an innovative way to turn bison fibers, which otherwise would be landfill waste, into a usable source of insulation. The “prime” as they call it, is the perfect fiber when you consider just how well buffalo can withstand the extreme cold in Alaska to the blistering hot heat in Texas.
The result is a top-tier line of active as well as chic casual wear, outdoor gear, and lifestyle accoutrements crafted to stand the test of time as well as stand up for a higher purpose. Ongoing partnerships, tireless conservation activism, and luxury product standards have set United by Blue apart from its peers, with no signs of slowing down.
United by Blue believes that it’s time to boost the popularity and demand for recycled over brand new, and prove once and for all that the reused can be transformed into formidable market competition.
Quick Highlight:
24L Arid Backpack
- 100% recycled polyester construction
- Available in olive, navy/tan, and black color variations
- DWR (Durable Water Resistant) treatment repels moistures and resists stains
- TSA-friendly dedicated laptop compartment (go through security without removing device)
- Zippered exterior pouch pockets
- Magnetic snap button exterior pocket
- Side stretch pockets
- Zippered interior pockets
- Open interior storage compartments
- Leather haul strap
- Adjustable, padded shoulder straps for comfort
- Cross sternum strap
- Water bottle sleeve for bottles up to three inches in diameter
- 24-liter volume
- 13” W x 18” H x 7” D dimensions
- Vegetable tanned leather details
- Rust-resistant aluminum hardware
Ultimate Bison Sock
- 1×1 Spandex rib-knit welt construction
- Spandex knit throughout the leg
- Reinforced heel and toe areas for added durability
- Spandex rib arch support
- Flat knit side panels and toe seam
- 64% merino wool, 17% bison down, 16% nylon, 2% polyester, 1% spandex
- Available in natural, red and navy color options
Cartwright Pant
- Available in olive and grey color variations
- 8.85 oz. twill construction
- DWR (Durable Water Resistant) treated finish
- Five-pocket pant
- Stretch slim (straight, classic) fit true to size
- Tack button closure with zippered fly
- Commuter pocket
- Articulated knees for natural range of motion
- Pieced back leg panel
- Reflective print at the interior cuff of the pant
- 98% organic cotton, 2% stretch
Holt Work Shirt
- Classic fit (true to size)
- Full button-down placket
- Hidden snap down collar points
- Sleeve armpit gussets for superior range of motion
- Pen slot
- Left chest pocket concealed side zip
- Natural corozo buttons
- 98% organic cotton, 2% spandex
Olive United By Blue 24L Arid Backpack Review
Take the United By Blue 24L Arid backpack to school or work. Take it on hikes or weekend getaways.
The company offers a TSA-friendly compartment large enough for a 13-inch laptop. The compartment lets you send the bag through the x-ray machine without having to remove the laptop. Whether you are traveling or hiking, this makes the ideal bag because its water repellant finish doesn’t stain nor get wet. Water runs off the durable bag. Hikers will find its plethora of outer pockets and storage compartments handy.
Stow granola or trail mix in the large exterior zipper pouch pockets, while stashing your cell phone or camera in the snap button pocket or side pockets. You can easily access items on the go without having to stop moving to do so. Carry it using the leather haul strap or the adjustable, padded shoulder straps. For extra comfort carrying heavy loads use the cross sternum strap.
Tote your water bottle in the three-inch sleeve that holds up to a 24 liter bottle. If you expect this bag to be huge, think again. The backpack measures 13”W x 18”H x 7”D making it an ideal carryon that fits under the seat or in the luggage bins above the seats. Choose from three colors/color combinations – black, navy with tan accents or olive. Customers who purchased this backpack confirm its lightweight nature and say that even full of notebooks and books, it remains light.
If cleaning up the environment is important to you, United By Blue removes one pound of trash from world waterways and oceans for each product sold. It funds clean up events that its employees and customers undertake.
Red United By Blue Ultimate Bison Sock Review
The Ultimate Bison Sock did not get its name euphemistically. It is partially comprised of bison down. This, combined with merino wool, results in an exceptionally warm sock that its manufacturer describes as “softer than cashmere and warmer than wool.”
That accurate description stems from the 17 percent of bison down in each sock. Bison down doesn’t retain moisture, so it keeps feet warm and dry. The rest of the sock’s composition consists of 64 percent merino wool, 16 percent nylon, two percent polyester and one percent spandex.
The Spandex helps with rib arch support and provides substance and support. You won’t get holes in your socks at the toe or heel since they are both reinforced.
Despite the bison materials they are still machine washable. Plus, if you try to buy American, these are made in the USA of all domestic materials.
Olive Men’s United By Blue Cartwright Pant Review
These Commuter Pants are the perfect pair for weekends. You’ll head out Friday morning for work and end up fishing on the dock or sitting belly to the bar on an old stool by Friday night. I love that it doesn’t matter where you are wearing these pants. They look fantastic and can definitely pass for office attire.
Don’t let that fool you, however. They are rugged and durable with a specially seamed knee that allows for extra movement and flexibility on the dancefloor or on the construction site. The cuffs roll up and they are waterproof to deflect both rain and cocktails. The handiest feature of all is probably the easy access, hidden cell phone pocket. Priceless.
They come in all the standard muted colors and are true to fit making them easy to order online. They are an excellent wardrobe choice for trips and vacations too where the agenda can sway wildly from attending meetings or lectures to hiking or horseback riding.
You’re covered wearing these Cartwright commuter pants made of 98% organic cotton. Just machine wash and lay flat to dry. Their slender durability makes them easy to fold and store as well. Take them onboard a cruise ship, on a cross country flight, or throw them in a bag for a weekend trip. They fit every occasion.
One of my favorite features of these pants is how easily they pair with just about anything. A rugged work shirt might be necessary but changing to a collared dress shirt or even a dressy T-shirt changes the look completely. When you’re always crunched for time, this is a big perk. A super reason to get a pair of these in each color. You’ll always have a coordinating outfit.
Overall, you can’t go wrong with these pants. They are sturdy and will last a while. You can’t get much easier to take care of. They require a simple washing and just laying out flat to dry. They’re stylish too.
Grey Men’s United By Blue Holt Work Shirt Review
I know I’m not the only man who has a wide variation in his work day. I may spend my morning in the barn, my afternoon in the boardroom, and my evenings in the office making phone calls and crunching numbers. To make things work today, you have to have your hand in a lot of baskets. Having a men’s Holt Work Shirt was one of the best business decisions I’ve ever made. No matter where I had to be, or what I had to be doing, this shirt is what I needed. Pockets of different sizes and types in the right places help immensely. This shirt was clearly designed with direct consultation from real working men.
As hard as it is for some working-class men like me to say, this shirt is fashionable. Not just in a passable work-ish type way, but in a men’s magazine, trendy type of way. It is a button down, classic fit, collared shirt that could easily be worn into an upscale restaurant for lunch before going back into the field. No need to worry about those pesky curled collars either because they have hidden snaps to hold them down. The arms are gusseted so you can easily reach across the table or a saddle without ripping a seam.
It looks great. That’s a given. Surprisingly, it feels just as good and is also easy to take care of. When something looks this good, and is also easy to keep that way, it’s a win-win situation. It is 98% organic cotton making it soft and comfortable but also durable. The 2% spandex gives and takes with your movements and helps wick away moisture. It looks great after a quick cold-water wash and tumble dry on low. How simple is that?
Most of all, I love the hidden pockets for cell phones and zippered places for pens, eyeglasses, and personal stuff you don’t want to get a way. Overall, there is nowhere you can’t wear this shirt and not find it useful and looking good.