24 Ways to Tell Your Valentine “I Love You Like You Love the Planet!”

Sierra’s 2022 V-Day Gift Guide

By Katie O'Reilly

February 8, 2022

filename

Photo by iStock/Prostock-Studio

It’s that special time of year when you get to express to loved ones how much they mean to you. Why not show a little love for the natural world while you’re at it? We scouted out 24 items that say “I see you and your planet-loving, flaming-green streak, and I love it.” From the traditional to the surprising and from sweet little tokens to big splurgy gestures, here’s how we want to help you and yours feel the V-Day love this year.

NL Sky Collection

The cure for a bad case of cabin fever might lie in bringing the wonders of the earth to your winter-bound love’s wardrobe. If your S.O.’s been aching to spend more time outside, check out Timberland’s line modeled after one of this good green Earth’s most impressive natural phenomena: the northern lights. The NL Sky Collection includes outerwear, hoodies, polar fleece, and tees featuring iridescent prints and reflective elements inspired by the arguably most incredible sight our night sky has to offer. We love “urban world meets natural world” items like the women’s puffer ($100) and men’s raincoat ($100)—and the fact that the whole collection is responsibly made, with fabric woven from upcycled plastic and fortified with 100 percent recycled insulation. 

Running Through My Brain Tee

The uniquely satisfying gift that is the perfect graphic T-shirt gets even better when the object of your affection is a trail runner. Designed to help regulate skin temps and wick moisture, Roark’s Running Through My Brain Tee ($49) boasts a slim fit, a neckline cord hanger loop for climbers, and of course, a most apropos V-Day sentiment.

Idlewild 30° Double Wide sleeping bag

Ensure you and your S.O. keep things cozy in the wild with the gift of the two-person sleeping bag. We find Marmot’s Idlewild 30° Double Wide variety ($179) to be a particularly functional-yet-romantic option.

Rakau Picnic Table

Up the romance factor on your next camping trip or picnic with the gift of the compact table for two that is the Rakau Picnic Table ($50) from GSI Outdoors. Complete with wine glass holders and sustainable bamboo, all you two have to do is add snacks and vino. Boom!

yoga mat

Your yoga-loving lover will be overflowing with namastes after receiving the super-grippy namaSTAY yoga mat ($125) from REECH. Made from sustainably sourced materials, it’s 100 percent biodegradable. Plus, REECH plants 15 trees for every mat purchased and will send the gift sans single-use plastics, in recyclable and biodegradable packaging. 

Polar Escape fleece jacket

Make your favorite one to hug that much more huggable in super-soft fuzzy fleece that’s sustainable to boot. The fleece items and jackets from PrAna’s Polar Escape collection ($40 to $72) are made from Bluesign fabrics and recycled fibers like wool and polyester. Plus, all products ship without any plastic.

backpack cooler

How to shower love on the adventurer who has everything? How about a durable backpack cooler that’ll keep your better half’s drinks cold for more than 24 hours? Check out the various waterproof options from Icemule ($50 to $80)—they’re portable, floatable, rollable, and available in a wide range of hues—and surprisingly stylish.

interactive magnetic tile set

Don’t forget to show your fave tots some love this V-Day. This interactive magnetic tile set ($45), inspired by Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar, helps build the storytelling/sequencing skills of kids ages 3+. And what else says “I love you” quite like an adored caterpillar who’s been inching its way into hearts for more than 50 years?

Ellie dog jacket

Very good dogs deserve V-Day love too! If Fido’s been having a ruff time venturing out in frigid February temps, look no further than the Ellie dog jacket ($45) from Lolë, a Canadian activewear brand that’s expanding into the US market. Not only is this vest so comfy and well-insulated your pup might not want to take it off once back inside, but it’s made from landfill-bound fabric leftover from the brand’s other inventory. An extra “treat”? A percentage of gross proceeds are donated to environmental nonprofits.

Love Your Body Bath Bundle

Not only does hemp sequester carbon but it also requires little water and few chemicals. It also grows tightly spaced, crowding out weeds, boasts a deep, soil-aerating root system, and can be used as a cover crop. Crafted from hemp grown on a 160-acre farm nourished with snowmelt from Rocky Mountain National Park and fertilized by none other than TikTok stars who happen to be alpacas, the Love Your Body Bath Bundle from Miraflora is the perfect “treat yourself” V-Day gift, containing two bath bombs, a lip balm, and a CBD recovery balm.

bamboo number

Don’t forget the bath caddy! This 100 percent bamboo number ($43) features a cellphone tray, built-in wine glass holder, foldup media stand, and protective lacquer finish to ensure long-lasting me time for your better half.

Printique

Up the ante on the inherently eco-friendly gift that is a framed photo by mounting a cherished shot on a beautiful piece of wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. Printique is a Brooklyn-based photo lab that employs a photo-onto-wood process designed to reveal wood’s natural grain and add a soft, matte, heirloom-quality finish. Each final product (starting around $35) is ¾ inches thick, with sanded edges, and is both water- and heat-resistant. 

six ceramic coasters of insects

Calling all lovers of entomology lovers! Your love bug probably doesn’t have a set of six ceramic coasters featuring intricate renderings of supermodel-worthy insects … not yet, that is!   

Talons by Pit Command

Keep the fire alive with the gift of a one-handed fire pit tool forged to last a lifetime. Created by two dudes who’ve built, tended, and sustained hundreds of fire pits over the years, the carbon steel tools that are Talons by Pit Command ($169) are ideal for ergonomically picking up and setting logs (you don’t want Sweetie to burn their hands!), all while holding a drink and looking like a true pit master.

iKamper’s Disco Series

Elevate outdoor dining for your partner (and yourself) with the gift of iKamper’s Disco Series ($490). Inspired by traditional Southwestern cooking methods, this modular tripod cooking system utilizes a wide, concave, cast-iron desk skillet that’s ideal for stir-frying, scrambling, grilling, and just about any other al fresco culinary endeavor. This cooking system takes seconds to set up and break down, stows compactly, and looks super cool at camp.

Ninja Suits

Photo by life.on.Aspéro

As they say, the couple that wears Ninja Suits ($210) together stays together. In all seriousness, this most whimsical among one-piece base layers for cold-weather adventurers from Airblaster offers a uniquely fast-drying blend of merino wool (all non-mulesed), Tencel, and spandex. It offers plenty of stretch, as well as a waistband drawcord, an easy-access zipper for when nature calls, a form-fitting hood with a chin protector, and our favorite part: singular ninja star embroidery on the chest.

Blinder Mini Love

Light up your bike-loving lovah’s world with safety—and love too!—with the unique gift of Knog’s Blinder Mini Love ($30), a compact, 50-lumen bike light with a whimsical heart graphic, eight different modes, and integrated USB recharging powers. What’s more to love? It’s 100 percent waterproof and has a 30-hour run time when used in eco-flash mode.

Bespolk

If you have trouble saying sweet nothings out loud, why not have them custom-stitched onto a cozy beanie? The Maine-based milliners behind Bespolk not only knit each winter hat ($120) by hand, but they also customize according to your preferred color-ways, pom-poms, and sentiments.

book that plays home videos

Save some trees by uploading favorite photos and videos of you and your paramour to the website of the video book-makers known as Heirloom. They’ll create a physical book that plays home videos ($49 to $69) and ship it straight to your beloved. Each video book is rechargeable (so it can be cherished for a lifetime) and will arrive in five business days.  

Dr. Tusk products

Plant-based, nourishing skin care made from ingredients sourced from small farmers is always a slam-dunk gift. Level things up for your animal-loving sweetie by wrapping up some exfoliating body bars ($7), moisturizers ($9), masks ($10), shave creams ($10), and more from Dr. Tusk—they'll love knowing that 5 percent of profits support the rehabilitation of elephants.

Nauseni slippers

Handcrafted in Nepal from 100 percent natural wool, breathable Nauseni slippers ($75) offer the gift of comfort … and whimsy too. Available in a range of jaunty colors for adults and kids, they feature wool felt mid-soles and Himalayan buffalo suede leather outer soles for an added dose of durability. The brand was created to help Nepalese women rebuild and earn living wages following the devastating 2015 earthquake. 

Gamma MX ReBird hoody

Good news for all the circular economy-championing, mountain-loving sweeties out there. Arct’teryx recently launched ReBird—a line that upcycles, repairs, and resells existing gear. The Gamma MX ReBird hoody ($349) was manufactured at a Fair Trade certified facility to offer weather resistance, breathable warmth, and exceptional freedom of movement.

lab-grown diamonds

Got a glam mate who deserves a serious treat this year? Look no further than lab-grown diamonds. Created by scientists in a lab (zero mining of the earth required!), they’re often described as even more pure and radiant than traditional diamonds. Clean Origin offers ethical gems (starting around $350) in the form of rings, earrings, bracelets, and stunning pendants.

Online Star Register

Does your main squeeze already have everything? It’s time to reach for the stars; i.e., to name an actual star—or even a whole constellation!—after them, via the Online Star Register. For your efforts (which start at $33), they’ll receive a PDF or mailed record that allows your love to locate her/his/their star coordinates and take a look at its place in the night sky. Who ever said romance was dead?!