Backcountry Forum
Backpacking & Hiking Gear

Backcountry Forum
Our long-time Sponsor - the leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear
 
 
 

Amazon.com
Backpacking Forums
---- Our Gear Store ----
The Lightweight Gear Store
 
 WINTER CAMPING 

Shelters
Bivy Bags
Sleeping Bags
Sleeping Pads
Snow Sports
Winter Kitchen

 SNOWSPORTS 

Snowshoes
Avalanche Gear
Skins
Hats, Gloves, & Gaiters
Accessories

 ULTRA-LIGHT 

Ultralight Backpacks
Ultralight Bivy Sacks
Ultralight Shelters
Ultralight Tarps
Ultralight Tents
Ultralight Raingear
Ultralight Stoves & Cookware
Ultralight Down Sleeping Bags
Ultralight Synthetic Sleep Bags
Ultralight Apparel


the Titanium Page
WM Extremelite Sleeping Bags

 CAMPING & HIKING 

Backpacks
Tents
Sleeping Bags
Hydration
Kitchen
Accessories

 CLIMBING 

Ropes & Cordage
Protection & Hardware
Carabiners & Quickdraws
Climbing Packs & Bags
Big Wall
Rescue & Industrial

 MEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 WOMEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 FOOTWEAR 

Men's Footwear
Women's Footwear

 CLEARANCE 

Backpacks
Mens Apparel
Womens Apparel
Climbing
Footwear
Accessories

 BRANDS 

Black Diamond
Granite Gear
La Sportiva
Osprey
Smartwool

 WAYS TO SHOP 

Sale
Clearance
Top Brands
All Brands

 Backpacking Equipment 

Shelters
BackPacks
Sleeping Bags
Water Treatment
Kitchen
Hydration
Climbing


 Backcountry Gear Clearance

Topic Options
Rate This Topic
#195043 - 04/23/16 12:04 AM Homemade Potty Trowel
4evrplan Offline
member

Registered: 01/16/13
Posts: 913
Loc: Nacogdoches, TX, USA
I made a "Deca Spades", albeit a very ugly one. I haven't tried it yet, but I hope it will dig better than the plastic monstrosity I've been using. It's definitely a whole lot lighter and smaller. I meant to add the jimping along the spine of the handle like the designer did, but I forgot. Perhaps I'll get back to that
_________________________
The journey is more important than the destination.

Top
#195050 - 04/23/16 12:45 PM Re: Homemade Potty Trowel [Re: 4evrplan]
aimless Online   content
Moderator

Registered: 02/05/03
Posts: 3292
Loc: Portland, OR
That should work just fine. For those like me who are less handy and want a cheap, effective, multi-use potty trowel, I'd recommend this:

https://www.rei.com/product/845328/rei-snow-stake

It was $2 until recently. Now it is $2.50. Still pretty darn cheap and very sturdy. Can also be used as a tent stake.

Top
#195405 - 05/19/16 12:57 AM Re: Homemade Potty Trowel [Re: 4evrplan]
bobito9 Offline
member

Registered: 01/25/08
Posts: 408
that could also double as a very helpful prison shank if you are ever caught up in a riot while doing time in the pen

Top
#201000 - 05/16/18 08:41 PM Re: Homemade Potty Trowel [Re: aimless]
Alf Offline
member

Registered: 04/15/18
Posts: 53
Loc: London, UK.
Originally Posted By aimless
That should work just fine. For those like me who are less handy and want a cheap, effective, multi-use potty trowel, I'd recommend this:

https://www.rei.com/product/845328/rei-snow-stake

It was $2 until recently. Now it is $2.50. Still pretty darn cheap and very sturdy. Can also be used as a tent stake.


But at 1 oz it's pretty heavy for a tent stake and not really wide enough to use as a proper trowel. I wanted a very lightweight but strong trowel, so I bought the middle one of these ultralight Titanium cat hole trowels by quiwiz: http://www.qiwiz.net/trowels.html It only weighs 0.6 oz (17g) and it's so thin it easily slices straight through tree roots like a knife through butter.

Top
#201092 - 06/04/18 04:13 PM Re: Homemade Potty Trowel [Re: 4evrplan]
troutstalker Offline
member

Registered: 06/02/18
Posts: 38
Loc: CO
Please don't take this the wrong way, as it is only meant to be information to use. I have never used a trowel and just use my heel, a stick, a rock or anything nearby to dig with. It saves the added weight of a trowel in my opinion.

Top
#201103 - 06/04/18 05:46 PM Re: Homemade Potty Trowel [Re: troutstalker]
Alf Offline
member

Registered: 04/15/18
Posts: 53
Loc: London, UK.
Originally Posted By troutstalker
Please don't take this the wrong way, as it is only meant to be information to use. I have never used a trowel and just use my heel, a stick, a rock or anything nearby to dig with. It saves the added weight of a trowel in my opinion.


A quiwiz ultralight Ti trowel, weighing just 17g, would be a lot faster and lot easier!

Top
#201108 - 06/04/18 10:08 PM Re: Homemade Potty Trowel [Re: troutstalker]
OregonMouse Offline
member

Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6799
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
It's kinda hard to dig a 6-inch deep hole (the rule most places) without a tool, especially if in a hurry. Any shallower, the waste will not be sufficiently buried.

I also have the QWiz titanium trowel. As Alf says, it's a lot easier and faster digging than boot heel, trekking pole point, or tent stake. It's lighter than the tent stake. And it can double as a spare tent stake in an emergency.


Edited by OregonMouse (06/04/18 10:10 PM)
_________________________
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey

Top
#201142 - 06/08/18 02:38 PM Re: Homemade Potty Trowel [Re: troutstalker]
4evrplan Offline
member

Registered: 01/16/13
Posts: 913
Loc: Nacogdoches, TX, USA
Originally Posted By troutstalker
Please don't take this the wrong way, as it is only meant to be information to use. I have never used a trowel and just use my heel, a stick, a rock or anything nearby to dig with. It saves the added weight of a trowel in my opinion.
I've seen a lot of people write the same or similar, but my experience has been the opposite. With all the rocks(AR & OK) and roots (E TX, AR, & OK) in the places I've hiked, I struggle to get a sufficient hole even with a proper digging tool.
_________________________
The journey is more important than the destination.

Top
#201148 - 06/08/18 07:03 PM Re: Homemade Potty Trowel [Re: 4evrplan]
Glenn Roberts Offline
Moderator

Registered: 12/23/08
Posts: 2207
Loc: Southwest Ohio
Regarding OM’s’ “especially in a hurry” comment: I recently had one of those Homer Simpson “D-oh” moments. I think I was talking with another hiker (but it may have been a post I saw here), and I mentioned that there were instances where three inches was all I could get while dancing on one foot and clinching. The response: “You don’t have to dig the hole first.”

D-oh! (Forehead slap)

The method:

Step 1: “Bombs Away!”
Step 2: Dig a regulation hole beside the drop zone.
Step 3: Use a stick or flat rock to relocate everything into the hole.
Step 4: Cover the whole and carefully discard stick or flat rock.

The guy is brilliant!

Top
#201150 - 06/09/18 01:25 AM Re: Homemade Potty Trowel [Re: Glenn Roberts]
OregonMouse Offline
member

Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6799
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
Had this happen several times with grandkids when they were younger.

While the QWiz titanium trowel slices through roots, nothing will slice through rocks! If the rocks are too large to be pried out, the hole will need to be dug elsewhere.
_________________________
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey

Top
#201154 - 06/09/18 04:00 PM Re: Homemade Potty Trowel [Re: Glenn Roberts]
CamperMom Offline
member

Registered: 01/04/02
Posts: 1228
Loc: Eastern MA, USA
Yup. Another time to rethink the order is when the outhouse is occupied by bees. Not a good scene. "Go" onto some large leaves, then drop the whole mess into the latrine and clear out before the bees come after you...

Top

Shout Box

Highest Quality Lightweight Down Sleeping Bags
 
Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bags
 
Lite Gear Talk - Featured Topics
MSR Recall
by balzaccom
02/24/24 11:13 AM
Backcountry Discussion - Featured Topics
Yosemite Winter Rangers
by balzaccom
12/21/23 09:35 AM
Make Your Own Gear - Featured Topics
Featured Photos
Spiderco Chaparral Pocketknife
David & Goliath
Also Testing
Trip Report with Photos
Seven Devils, Idaho
Oat Hill Mine Trail 2012
Dark Canyon - Utah
Who's Online
0 registered (), 29 Guests and 0 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Noodles, McCrary, DanyBacky, Rashy Willia, WanderBison
13240 Registered Users
Forum Links
Disclaimer
Policies
Site Links
Backpacking.net
Lightweight Gear Store
Backpacking Book Store
Lightweight Zone
Hiking Essentials

Our long-time Sponsor, BackcountryGear.com - The leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear:

Backcountry Forum
 

Affiliate Disclaimer: This forum is an affiliate of BackcountryGear.com, Amazon.com, R.E.I. and others. The product links herein are linked to their sites. If you follow these links to make a purchase, we may get a small commission. This is our only source of support for these forums. Thanks.!
 
 

Since 1996 - the Original Backcountry Forum
Copyright © The Lightweight Backpacker & BackcountryForum