Nothing says romance like a corporate-created holiday about love. But I have to admit, I enjoy getting gifts and eating nice meals and part of me appreciates this mid-February excuse to do it. This year, rebel against the commercialism of Valentine’s Day by getting one of these sustainable (and practical, mostly) green travel gifts.

ecoSNEAKS sustainable sneakers by Simple Shoes - $70.00

Quality footwear is essential when you’re hiking around new cities for six hours every day. ecoSNEAKS are made of organic cotton, recycled paper pulp, and old car tire, which makes for a pretty sweet pair of sneakers.

W’s Guanaco T-Shirt by Patagonia - $29.00

When shopping for travel gifts, my general philosophy is if it isn’t practical, it doesn’t make the cut. But when I saw this t-shirt I remembered how tired I got of wearing the same four solid-colored shirts every day for six weeks when I traveled around Eastern Europe. Sometimes it’s good to get a gift that’s unique and fun - even if it’s not totally practical - and this organic cotton T is a great place to start.

Fair Trade Hemp Messenger Bag by Taraluna - $45.90

The first time I traveled abroad, I only brought my ginormous backpack and a standard-size backpack. I didn’t think to bring a medium-sized bag for carrying books, water bottles, or a few groceries, but quickly realized how much I would have appreciated having a messenger bag. This fair trade hemp bag would have been perfect to grab on the way out the door.

Handmade Recycled Cotton Journal by World of Good - $24.95

Whether you’re in a park in Poland or a coffee shop in Thailand, take a minute to jot down your travel adventures. You may not think you’ll ever forget where you were when you left your backpack on the bus and had to chase it down the street (even if you want to), but memories blur together over the years and journal can help you sort it all out.

Organic Cotton Moisturizing Socks by Ecoland for Her - $7.00

Okay, so socks aren’t the most romantic gift. But they’re practical. When your loved one has been vagabonding around Argentina for 3 days in the same pair of socks, then discovers she has this one last pair hidden under her dirty t-shirts, she’ll thank you.