Utilizing a Go away No Hint trowel is likely one of the most accountable issues you are able to do to protect the backcountry for others to get pleasure from. Whereas there’s nothing fairly as satisfying as having an excellent bowel motion open air within the crisp morning air, surrounded by white-capped mountains and wild flowers, it’s vital to depart no hint of your “passage.” In an effort to protect that wilderness feeling for others, you need to bury your poo, so it might biodegrade correctly and never turn into an eyesore.
However many Go away No Hint trowels bought at the moment are too flimsy to be used in backcountry terrain. That’s why this checklist of trowels contains many metallic ones that are sturdy and might dig by way of robust floor stuffed with rocks and roots.
BEST LEAVE NO TRACE TROWELS
1. The TentLab Dirtsaw Deuce #2 Trowel
FEATURES: Featherweight aluminum is sturdy and long-lasting. Out there in a number of brilliant colours so that you received’t lose it. The Lanyard gap allows you to clip it into your backpack. Sharp and difficult sufficient to chop by way of roots and lever out stones.
BEST FOR: Ultralight Backpacking
Made utilizing DAC aluminum, the Dirtsaw Duece #2 (intelligent title) has large and easy tooth designed to agitate and reduce filth like a serrated knife, however they received’t snag on roots or threaten to chop your hand. Its tooth are protected to allow them to keep sharp and are far sufficient away from the entrance edge that they don’t threaten your hand when utilizing the trowel the wrong way up. This cleverly designed 6.8″ software could be held at both finish, relying on whether or not it’s worthwhile to dig with the slim finish or scoop with the large finish.
2. Vargo Titanium Dig Dig Trowel
FEATURES: Serrated finish for chopping by way of roots with a cushty, rolled-edge deal with. Can serve double responsibility as a sand, snow, or tent stake. Has a lanyard gap so you’ll be able to clip it to your backpack.
BEST FOR: Backpackers who it’s worthwhile to dig by way of thick roots or rocky floor and wish a sturdy trowel with a serrated innovative.
The Vargo Titanium Dig Dig Instrument is a multi-purpose titanium trowel designed by Brian Vargo, a backpacker and titanium manufacturing specialist who’s in all probability designed extra titanium backpacking gear than anybody else on the planet. Whereas heavier than the opposite titanium trowels listed above, the Dig Dig is by far the simplest to make use of as a tent stake or snow anchor, a dual-use profit that’s seldom realized by different Go away No Hint trowels.
3. Bogler Ultralight Trowel
FEATURES: Excessive-grade aluminum trowel with a thin serrated edge that cuts cleanly by way of turf and small roots.
BEST FOR: Backpackers who desire a very light-weight trowel.
The Bogler Firm Ultralight Trowel
4. QiWiz Huge Dig Trowel
FEATURES: Brightly coloured so you’ll be able to’t lose it with a pointy finish that’s able to chopping by way of roots, chopping by way of packed mud, and levering out stones. A full 7.25″ lengthy, you’ll be able to simply dig a cathole that’s the requisite 6″ deep and confirm its depth utilizing the trowel. An added lanyard gap makes it straightforward to clip to your backpack. The painted deal with isn’t sharp and simple to carry.
BEST FOR: UL Backpackers who desire a hand-fabricated titanium trowel made by a one-person cottage gear firm within the USA.
The QiWiz Huge Dig (pronounced “chee-wiz”) is a home made titanium trowel made by Go away No Hint Grasp Educator, Rob Kelly. Thought of the “Yoda of trowels”, Rob, who’s path title is QiWiz, is captivated with instructing individuals easy methods to reduce their affect when backpacking and tenting. A power tinkerer, Rob made a titanium trowel for himself out of scrap metallic for his private use. When different hikers noticed it on the path, they provided to purchase one from him and now he’s bought a whole bunch to backpackers and thru-hikers. Tremendous exhausting and sturdy, however ultralight, the titanium Huge Dig will final a lifetime and might serve double responsibility as a tent-stake.
MORE: QiWiz sells two different handmade titanium trowels. The “Unique” weighs lower than 0.4 oz and is 6″ lengthy and the MEGA DIG which weighs slightly below 1 oz and is 8.25″ lengthy.
5. GSI OutDoors Cathole Sanitation Trowel
FEATURES: Serrated edge helps reduce by way of vegetation. Measurements on blade assist measure cathole depth. Lanyard on deal with allows you to clip it to your backpack.
BEST FOR: Funds oriented backpacker that digs catholes in much less difficult soil situations.
The GSI Open air Cathole Sanitation Trowel is likely one of the hottest and least costly backpacking trowels bought at the moment and infrequently utilized by Go away No Hint educators when instructing LNT consciousness classes. It’s comprised of recycled plastic, making it sturdy sufficient for the much less demanding soil situations discovered in lots of designated campgrounds and recreation areas. A full 10.3″ lengthy, it’s simpler to dig with than shorter trowels, particularly for youngsters.
SELECTION CRITERIA
PRICE – Go away No Hint Trowels are usually not that costly, however I present a full vary of choices under if you wish to get monetary savings and nonetheless get an excellent product.
WEIGHT – Proudly owning a light-weight trowel will increase the likelihood that you just’ll deliver it with you in your journeys. Heavy trowels are a “ache within the ass.” Pun supposed!
COLOR – Trowels must be brightly coloured so that you don’t lose them in wilderness settings. It’s straightforward to place down a trowel and lose it in opposition to a background of inexperienced or brown, however much less so if it has a garish shade that’s not usually present in nature.
MATERIAL – The fabric {that a} trowel is comprised of issues. If preserving the wilderness is your purpose, it doesn’t make a lot sense to purchase a product comprised of petrochemicals that received’t decompose if you happen to throw it in a landfill.
DIGGING EDGE – A great Go away No Hint trowel wants to have the ability to dig by way of a wide range of completely different soil sorts from ones with dense root networks to hard-packed soil and dust. Having a sturdy edge, able to busting by way of robust soil situations and levering out rocks is a should.
LENGTH – The beneficial depth of a Go away No Hint cathole is 6-8″ deep. To dig that deep, you want a trowel that has an extended sufficient deal with and blade.
DURABILITY – A trowel is a important piece of backcountry gear that ought to stand up to years of harsh use, UV harm, and while you by accident drive over it along with your automotive.
MADE IN USA – Let’s face it: The US is on the way in which to turning into a third-world nation as a result of we’ve off-shored our manufacturing base. If remaining essentially the most highly effective nation on earth is vital to you, you’ll purchase merchandise made within the USA.
BUYING ONLINE – Verify the vendor’s return coverage before you purchase, however you’ll be able to nearly all the time return an unused trowel inside a sure timeframe after buying. I like to recommend shopping for your best choice, testing it at dwelling, and returning/exchanging it if it doesn’t really feel fairly proper.
LEAVE NO TRACE – Be taught extra about go away no hint and wilderness ethics.
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Disclosure: I’ve obtained a few of the merchandise listed above from producers whereas buying others with my very own cash. I’m a Go away No Hint Grasp Educator and train Go away No Hint consciousness courses.
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