Best 10 Backpacking Potty Trowels Of 2024

Backpacking potty trowels can help you dig holes so that you can bury human waste items rather easily. It is important to dig holes for your waste items because you can spread germs and bacteria to the forest and streams if you do not. The rain water can carry your waste items to rivers and other pools of water. I highly recommend getting a backpacking potty trowel so that you can dig holes rather easily. I am recommending a few down below, and I am certain that these trowels are very durable and very good.

Best Backpacking Potty Trowels – Quick Chart

How To Choose A Potty Trowel

Types Of Trowels For Backpacking

Gardening Trowel

Gardening trowels are great for backpacking. They are not as compact as outdoor potty trowels but the gardening trowels work well. They are light in weight and small enough to not occupy a lot of backpack space. These trowels feel very comfortable to hold and they are easy to dig with.

Tactical Shovel

Tactical shovels are often shovels that are multipurpose. They often come in multiple parts and the head of the item are interchangeable. There will be an axe head, shovel head, hoe, and so on. These shovels are very useful and can be used in a lot of ways. These shovels can often be collapsed or folded into a smaller size.

Outdoor Trowel

Outdoor trowels are trowels that are made specifically for backpacking. These trowels sometimes do not have a handle. They are just one big metallic piece with a pointy head that can dig. These trowels are very durable and very good for camping or backpacking.

Different Types Of Handle Material

Wood

Wood is the classic and traditional handle for a lot of tools. It looks nice, stylish and gripping wood feels comfortable. Wood is very affordable also so the handle does not increase the price of the item by a lot. Wood is durable and works well.

Steel

A lot of potty trowels for backpacking will not have any handle material whatsoever. They will just have one material to minimize the weight. So a lot of handles are made out of steel because the head of the potty trowel is steel. Steel is very good and very durable. However, the grip is very hard and not comfortable.

Plastic

Plastic is very cheap or inexpensive. Plastic is very durable as well. A lot of tools will have a plastic handle to provide comfort. Plastic does not cost much so the price of most tools with a plastic handle are often very inexpensive as well.

Rubber

Rubber is another good material for a handle. Rubber feels good on the skin and it provides a comfortable grip. Rubber is also light in weight which makes this handle perfect for backpacking. Rubber is not very durable though and bits and small pieces of the handle tends to chip away in time.

Pooping Outdoors Should

• Minimize the chance for water pollution.
• Minimize the spread of disease.
• Minimize aesthetic impact.
• Maximize decomposition.

What To Do With Your Poop

Bury It

One of the best things that you can do with your poop is to bury it. Burying your poop will prevent the bacteria from going to a water source. You will not spread diseases and harmful microorganisms if you bury your poop. Cats bury their poop, so should you.

Pack It Out

Packing your poop and carrying it outside the park is also a good idea. You should bring a waste plastic bag if you are going backpacking. This plastic bag will allow you to pack your poop and not leave it on the park.

Smear It

If you cannot bury or pack your poop, then it is best to smear it on a hard surface where the sun can shine down on it. The sun’s rays will kill some of the bacteria that is on the poop. If the sun’s rays are hot enough, they may kill all of the harmful bacteria and microorganisms.

Backpacking Considerations For A Potty Trowel

Lightweight

The item should be lightweight. Weight is a big factor when it comes to backpacking. The lighter the trowel, the better. There are a lot of trowels that are lightweight and easy to carry. But at the same time, every little ounce counts. I also have a lot of backpacking gear that are very small and lightweight. They add up very fast. My backpack become 25 pounds rather easily.

Durable

We all want durable items especially for backpacking equipment. Backpacking gear are often thin because they need to be lightweight. However, we still want our gear to be durable. To last for many years to come. If your potty trowel hits a rock, you want your item to survive. There are just some really crappy items out there that when they hit a rock, they get bent and become unusable. So always make sure that the item you are getting is durable.

Easy To Clean

The item should be very easy to clean. It is going to have dirt and mud all the time. It would be great if the dirt does not stick to the trowel. Something easy to clean where you just spray some water and the dirt is gone. So when you get your trowel, test it out. Make sure it is durable, easy to clean and so on. If not, return it.

Dimensions

The dimensions of the trowel is very important. We are going to put this in our backpack after all. Our backpacks do not have an infinite amount of space. We need our backpack space for other backpacking gear as well. So it is great to bring a potty trowel but at the same time, we need to make sure that it is compact or small or easy to carry.

Easy To Use

The trowel should be easy to use. A trowel that can dig easily. You may think I am joking, but if you ever did gardening, some trowels they are not that good digging. They are very hard to use. Some trowels, you have to put a lot of effort to get a deep hole. So make sure that your trowel is pretty easy to use and very durable.

Best Backpacking Potty Trowels

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1. Wilcox 9-” All-Pro Stainless Steel Digging Trowel

Technical Specs
Weight: 3.52 oz
Material: Stainless Steel
Dimensions: 9 x 1.5 x 0.2″
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Take your backpacking and treasure hunting to a whole new level using this trowel to dig and discover. Fits great in a backpack or portable tool box, handle is coated in heavy duty plastic, comfortable for a tight grip when digging or transporting materials

Short Review: I am usually astonished for the reason that this lightweight shovel continue to satisfy a lot of people. This is constructed out of heavy-duty stainless steel. The trowel features sharp points for easy cutting and has an easy to clean surface. This also comes with a plastic handle grip features ribbing and grooves to accommodate a comfortable positioning in your hand. I am recommending this item simply because it is well-crafted and it is one of the best trowels that you can get for backpacking. We can carry more because this is very light and very small. Items like this one make camping and backpacking a lot more fun and provide lots of usefulness.

2. Coghlan’s Backpacker’s Trowel

Technical Specs
Weight: 2 oz
Material: Styrene
Dimensions: 11″ x 2.75″
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Material is very durable, company is very good, lightweight and easy to carry

Short Review: Simply by going through the positive customer reviews, I know that this outdoor shovel is marvelous. This is a very durable trowel made out of plastic. The plastic and construction is very basic but this works well. The trowel is very durable, lightweight and can dig through soil easily. This can be used in a garden also. If you need something low-priced or something that looks wonderful, this is an awesome choice. Being very compact is amazing because we now have extra space in our backpacks for other outdoor gear. This is great for backpacking and performs very well and this is very versatile as well.

3. Fiskars Ergo Trowel Garden Tool

Technical Specs
Weight: 3.2 oz
Material: Cast-aluminum
Dimensions: 13 x 4 x 2″
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Ideal for digging when planting, taking up plants, turning up earth and more, ergonomically designed handle reduces hand and wrist fatigue while weeding, cuts through tough turf cleanly

Short Review: One of the greatest garden trowels is this. I’ll acknowledge that I was hesitant to try this but I later found this to be extraordinary. This is meant for gardening but I also bring it for outdoor purposes. This is constructed out of polished aluminum that resists rust for lasting value. The cast-aluminum head resists rust and won’t snap off while you’re digging, no matter how tough your soil. Any person can certainly tell that this is amazing which explains why this has lots of positive consumer reviews. One of the most durable items that you can get. This awesome item is one of the finest I have ever tried this is why I will continue buying items from this company simply because of this.

4. GSI Outdoors 2010 Trowel

Technical Specs
Weight: 3.1 oz.
Material: Lexan, recycled polycarbonate
Dimensions: 10.3″x2.6″x1
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Catholes are used to dispose of waste or waste water, such as the water from cleaning dishes, by hikers and others engaging in outdoor recreation, sharp serrations easily cut through matted forest flora, root cutters can be deployed for really tough situations

Short Review: There are a great deal of consumers that really like this lightweight shovel. This features harp serrations easily cut through matted forest flora, root cutters can be deployed for really tough situations. This is constructed out of re-purposed GSI Outdoors Lexan recycled polycarbonate, continually encouraging less impact on nature. I am certain that this is high quality and it has often surpassed my expectations. I think this is incredible. This does everything as advertised. This is exceptionally resilient and this can dig a hole rather well. Compact design makes this very desirable and this potty trowel works well.

5. The Tentlab The Deuce of Spades Backcountry Potty Trowel

Technical Specs
Weight: 0.6 oz
Material: 7075-T6 aluminum
Dimensions: 6.8 x 2.6
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Revolutionary design can be used handle down for 4 times the digging power in hard ground, the large scoop makes mockery of “digging tools” like sticks, boot heels, trekking poles or tent stakes, made from strong, tough 7075-t6 aluminum

Short Review: This magnificent backpacking potty trowel will satisfy your needs. This features a revolutionary design can be used handle down for 4 times the digging power in hard ground. This is made from durable 7075-T6 aluminum that works well in digging soil. This  digs down and slices right through small roots unusually well. This outdoor item is good to have. Helps a lot if you need to dig holes for human waste products. Trowell was everything I was expecting it to be. Terrific price tag, wonderful item! The positive customer feedback that this has can provide you with more information about this.

6. Vargo Titanium Dig Dig Tool

Technical Specs
Weight: 1.6 oz
Material: Titanium
Dimensions: 8.1 x 1.7 x 0.8″
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Crafted from the highest quality materials, built for performance and durability, dual use trowel and tent stake saves weight and increases versatility, made from strong, lightweight titanium that’s more durable than plastic or aluminum

Short Review: One of the best items which I have ever tried is this backpacking potty trowel. This dual use trowel and tent stake saves weight and increases versatility and comes with an ergonomic design for digging ease and efficiency. Works like an actual shovel. This is constructed out of strong, lightweight titanium that’s more durable than plastic or aluminum and has serrated edges cut through the tough ground and roots that other trowels can’t. I like that this is simple to use and very durable. The handle feels nice and this has a good grip to it. The outdoors can be easier with this because this provides lots of benefits. This does have outstanding features and the price is pretty low.

7. Ultra Lightweight 11″ Backpacker’s Trowel

Technical Specs
Weight: 2 oz
Material: Durable plastic
Dimensions: 11″ long and 3.5″
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: An indispensable tool for dispensing in the great outdoors, tough, single piece plastic construction stays strong in hard, dry soils, features a rubber thumb grip for superior control, and a metric/imperial depth gauge

Short Review: You will not go wrong if you choose this backpacking shovel. I really like this item a lot. This features a durable single piece plastic construction that  stays strong in hard and dry soils and comes with rubber thumb grip for superior control, and a metric/imperial depth gauge. Made from plastic which allows this to carve through tough ground without breaking or cracking. I like that this is extremely high quality plus this is extremely superb. The design made this very lightweight and the handle provides a nice grip. I am extremely happy I have found this due to the fact this is very durable and goes to the ground with ease.

8. Stansport Prospecting Hand Trowel

Technical Specs
Weight: 4oz
Material: Rugged ABS plastic
Dimensions: 11″ length x 3.5″ width
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Heavy-duty hand trowel is perfect for scooping material into the gold pan, reinforced handle with a comfortable grip so you can search for gold all day without wearing out your hand, or breaking the trowel

Short Review: This lightweight shovel is very great. This is made from durable plastic, the trowel is both strong and lightweight, and will never rust or chip. This also features reinforced handle is wrapped in comfortable grip for all-day use, and comes with measurements up to 4″ and 10 cm on the blade. This is extremely  heavy-duty which is perfect for scooping material into your pan, trenching around a sluice, or just poking around in a stream-bed. The weight of this is very light so we will have more energy to enjoy in the outdoors. Having a great item like this is great if you are going on a long backpacking trip. Simple to use, good grip and very durable.

9. Sea To Summit Alloy Pocket Trowel

Technical Specs
Weight: 3.5oz
Material: 6066 – T6 aluminum alloy
Dimensions: 9.75″; collapsed length 5.5″
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Durable, lightweight, and compact collapsible pocket shovel for backpacking, camping, and hiking, handle retracts into the blade to save space in a backpack; extends to the same length as the ideal “cathole” depth

Short Review: I like using this backpacking shovel and I know you will also. This is constructed out of very durable ultra light reinforced Nylon 66 and has a storage space in handle for lighter or toilet tissue. This can withstands extremely cold temperatures and hard ground which makes this amazing for outdoor adventures. The handle also provides a comfortable grip to make it easier for people to dig.  This is an excellent item considering that it is easy to use and works well. A very good item to have if you love to go outdoors and made out of high quality materials.

10. Stainless Steel Folding Hand Shovel Trowel

Technical Specs
Weight: 0.2 Pounds
Material: Stainless Steel
Dimensions: 2.63″ x 0.8″ x 8.75″
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Premium grade hand tool folds and stores in its own belt holster, heavy gauge stainless steel blade and handle stands up to tough use, will not rust or corrode, use for camping, digging, planting, and weeding (with hand shovel)

Short Review: There are plenty of consumers who really like this camping trowel. This is constructed out of heavy gauge stainless steel blade and handle stands up to tough use, will not rust or corrode. This premium grade hand tool folds and stores in its own belt holster. A high quality item that will absolutely become one of your favorites. This has a fantastic design. This item is foldable and very compact. The space saving design is great for the outdoors. This is a multipurpose outdoor item that is great for a lot of things. This is very durable and the stainless steel is of high quality. This has plenty of amazing consumer reviews and this great item is what I was searching for.