A camping and backpacking trowel is often overlooked, but it’s very handy gear for campers and backpackers. This tool can help you dig a hole or latrine for poop if you are hiking without proper restroom facilities. You don’t want to see other people waste, so others also expect the same from you. In addition, a best trowel is also helpful to dig holes for the firepit, pull the stakes, and be used as a tent stakes alternative.
For any Leave No Trace trip, it’s crucial to have a lightweight and durable trowel. It’s also handy for excavating tent sites and clearing away debris. Some trowels even come with a sheath to protect your other gear from wear and tear.
Related:
We have shortlisted the best backpacking and camping trowels on the market after extensive research and based on our personal experience. We also consulted with industry experts to get their insights. In addition, we considered various performance parameters such as weight, size, and edge for shortlisting only the best of the best.
What is a Trowel?
A trowel is a small, handheld tool for digging, planting, and transferring soil. It has a pointed blade for breaking ground and a scooping bowl for scooping up dirt and plants. Backpackers usually pack the trowels to dig the soil for poop. In addition, they also dig holes for the fire pit, for stakes and or even to pull our cars if they get stuck.
Best Overall Backpacking Trowel
1. TheTentLab Deuce Ultralight Trowel
The TentLab Deuce Trowel is an ultralight backpacking trowel made from aluminum. It is very light, weighing only 45oz(small one). The trowel is large enough to quickly remove dirt and dig a hole but also strong enough to break up hard dirt and pry out rocks.
This trowel is available in three different models, each with its weight and ultralight design. The bigger model is the most capable of handling truly challenging hole-digging situations.
The Deuce of Spades is the best trowel on the market for several reasons:
- Its smooth, rounded edges make it much more comfortable than angular shapes.
- It is incredibly lightweight and compact
- It’s easy to pack.
- It is very sturdy and durable.
- Its performance is excellent and does its job.
- It is very affordable.
- Ultralight design
All these factors make the TentLab Deuce Trowel the best backpacking trowel on the market.
Best With Serrated Edges
2. Vargo Dig Dig Tool
The Vargo Dig Dig Tool is a simple and durable trowel that can also be used as a tent stake. It is made from strong, lightweight titanium and has an excellent design for digging with ease and efficiency. The serrated edges are handy for cutting through the tough ground and roots, and the shape works well in all kinds of soils. The comfortable rolled handle won’t cause blisters on the hands.
Vargo’s Dig Dig Tool is an excellent tool for backpacking. It’s made of titanium, so it’s solid and durable, but it’s also very lightweight. The trowel is comfortable to use, and the saw edges can be helpful for cutting through roots or small branches.
However, the trowel doesn’t come with a sheath, so you’ll need to be careful not to damage your backpack when you’re carrying it. And because the saw edges are sharp, you could accidentally cut yourself if you’re not careful. Overall, the Vargo Dig Dig Tool is an excellent option for backpacking, but be sure to use it safely.
Best Budget Friendly Option
3. Coghlan’s Backpacker’s Trowel
The Coghlan’s Backpacker’s Trowel is a popular choice for ultralight hikers and backpackers. It is durable, affordable, and practical. The trowel is less than 4$ and weighs 2 ounces. It is small and lightweight, making it easy to carry in a backpack or pocket. This trowel is a good option if you are looking for an ultralight hiking option. Its small size and weight make it ideal for backpacking.
It is made of sturdy plastic and well-built to handle the rigors of outdoor life. Additionally, its size is perfect for digging small holes when needed. Its orange color makes it easy to find in the woods or grass in case you lose it. The trowel is also great for digging small holes and covering human waste when camping in areas without restroom facilities.
It’s lightweight yet sturdy, and it doesn’t cost a lot. The biggest downside is that it doesn’t work well in rocky soil. Also, if roots are present, it can be tough to get through them. But, overall, the Coghlan’s Backpacker’s Trowel is an excellent product that is well-made and essential for any camper or backpacker.
Best of The Rest
4. BoglerCo Backpacking Trowel
The BoglerCo Backpacking Trowel is a reliable tool for backcountry hikers and backpackers. It is ultralight, extremely tough, and reliable, made from aircraft-grade aluminium. Also, the edge easily pries through rocky and hard soil without bending or damaging the tip. Its handle is comfortable to hold and does not cut your hand while digging like some cheap models.
Made from lightweight aluminum, this is surprisingly sturdy, considering its price. This trowel works well even for clay and small roots and is very strong and durable. In addition, it has a serrated blade that can cut through tough and root soil. As a result, the BoglerCo Backpacking Trowel is a good addition to any potty pack.
The trowel also comes with a lifetime warranty. And it performs much better than some of its well-known competitors. Overall, the BoglerCo Backpacking Trowel is an excellent tool for anyone who needs to dig in the dirt.
5. Grizzly Peak
The Grizzly Peak Trowel is perfect for ultralight backpackers who need a tough, durable trowel that can handle soft, dry soils. The single-piece plastic construction is incredibly sturdy and durable. The blade is sharp enough to dig through normal to medium hard soils. Since it’s compact and lightweight, it fits easily into the pack. The bright color is always good to have, especially when you are out in the bushes and can spot it easily.
The Grizzly Peak Trowel is a great tool for soft soils. It’s very well built and lightweight, making it easy to use. The easy-to-grip handle makes it comfortable to hold, and the blade is sharp enough to make digging through softer soils easy. However, it doesn’t dig through rocks very well.
It is made of plastic, so it can’t rust. The trowel is also a good size and comes in vibrant colors. The trowel doesn’t cut through roots too great. However, the trowel is still lightweight for poop and soft digging. The Grizzly Peak Trowel is a budget-friendly and ultralight trowel for backpackers who want to minimize their pack weight with reasonable functionality.
How To Choose A Backpacking And Camping Trowel
When choosing a camping trowel, the material is an important consideration.
Material Type
- Plastic trowels are cheap, and the material is not that durable. The biggest advantage is that it’s ultralight for backpackers. It works mainly on soft soils. If you are looking to do the basic tasks on soft soil, this will do the job. However, it does not perform well on rocky or soil with roots.
- Aluminum trowels are generally more durable and of higher quality than plastic trowels. They’re also lightweight and a good choice for ultralight backpackers. However, they can be more expensive than plastic trowels. Plastic trowels are less durable than aluminum trowels, but they’re usually cheaper. On the other hand, aluminum trowels perform much better, even on hard soils. However, they are a little bit more expensive than plastic trowels. But, the Aluminum trowel is a better option if you are a regular backpacker or camper.
- Steel trowels are the heaviest of the three but are also the most durable and effective on all soil types. However, their weight can make them difficult to carry in a backpack. If you are car camping or RVing, though, the extra weight is not as much of a concern and steel trowels are a good option.
Size
The size of the trowel is essential when choosing for backpacking and camping. A compact and small trowel is easy to carry in your pack and can do the job most of the time. We have reviewed mainly trowels suitable for backpacking and of good quality.
However, a small trowel will not be able to dig a hole large enough quickly. And you might face a challenge on tough and rugged soils. The best trowels are lightweight materials such as aluminum or titanium and have a serrated edge for easy digging.
Edge
When considering what type of trowel to take backpacking or camping, the edge is important. Some trowels also come with serrated edges, which can help dig in solid soils and cut roots.
Plastic trowels are not as sharp as aluminum ones but are lighter and less likely to weigh you down. Therefore, a plastic trowel may be the better choice if weight is a consideration. However, an aluminum trowel is probably better if durability and sharpness are more important.
Handle
If you will be digging for a long time, choosing a trowel with a comfortable grip that will not hurt your hands is important. Many different types of handles are available; Some handles are made of plastic, while others are made of wood or metal.
Unfortunately, there are few which can cut the hands where sharp edges are near to the handle. Therefore, you need to make sure that handle is comfortable and easy to grip is important.
FAQs
Do You Need A Trowel For Backpacking?
When it comes to backpacking gear, there are a few essential items that every hiker should carry. We will not discuss the essential gear list you must carry here. However, the trowel is often overlooked for backpacking and camping. A trowel may not seem like an essential piece of gear. Still, it can be quite useful in a variety of situations.
For example, a trowel can come in handy if you need to dig a hole to purify water or build a fire. In addition, a trowel can be used to dig a latrine when nature calls. So, while you may not need a trowel on every hike, it’s worth carrying one in your backpack just in case.
Summary
A trowel is a small, handheld shovel used for digging, scooping, and leveling dirt, sand, or other materials. We suggest you consider the material type, weight, size, and edge of the trowel. After a lot of research and considering the performance parameters, we have shortlisted the top backpacking and camping trowels.
Having the best scoop with you on your outdoor adventure is very important. A lightweight trowel is suitable for backpacking, but heavy duty will weigh you down on the trail. Therefore, we suggest choosing the trowel based on your trip and trail type. Our shortlisted trowels are versatile, lightweight and will do the job effectively.
Read More