6 Best Camp Shovels For Toilet Needs That Won’t Break in Tough Ground

You’re an hour into a beautiful hike, miles from the trailhead, when nature calls. You step 200 feet off the trail, pull out your trusty plastic trowel, and press it into the ground. With a sad snap, it breaks against a web of roots and rocky soil, leaving you with a useless piece of plastic and a pressing problem. A reliable camp shovel isn’t a luxury; it’s a fundamental piece of gear for practicing Leave No Trace ethics and ensuring your comfort in the backcountry.

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Why a Durable Trowel is Essential LNT Gear

Following Leave No Trace (LNT) principles isn’t just about packing out your trash; it’s about actively minimizing your impact in every way. The seventh principle, "Dispose of Waste Properly," is one of the most critical for protecting water sources and preserving the wild experience for others. This means digging a cathole 6 to 8 inches deep to bury human waste, allowing it to decompose effectively away from animals and waterways.

A flimsy, ten-gram plastic trowel might seem like a great ultralight choice until you encounter the hard-packed clay of the desert, the root-choked earth of an eastern forest, or the rocky alpine tundra. In these common scenarios, a weak tool is no tool at all. It will bend, break, or simply fail to penetrate the ground, forcing you to either leave a shallow, inadequate hole or, worse, surface waste.

Investing in a durable trowel is an investment in responsible recreation. It ensures you can always do the right thing, regardless of the conditions. It’s the difference between upholding your LNT commitment and leaving an unsanitary and unpleasant mess for the next person to find. A tool that works is always lighter than a tool that doesn’t.

TheTentLab Deuce: Ultralight Power for Tough Soil

When every gram counts, but failure isn’t an option, TheTentLab Deuce is the go-to for ounce-counting thru-hikers and minimalist backpackers. Machined from aerospace-grade aluminum, it’s astonishingly light yet surprisingly strong. Its genius lies in its unconventional design.

The thin, leading edge is designed to be used "upside down" in its stronger orientation to break up hard soil, pry out small rocks, and sever roots. Once you’ve loosened the dirt, you flip it over to the wider scoop side to efficiently clear out the hole. It takes a little practice, but it’s a remarkably effective system that provides serious digging power in a featherweight package.

This isn’t the most comfortable tool to use for extended periods, as the thin handle can dig into your palm. But for the ultralight backpacker, that’s a worthy trade-off. It’s a specialized tool that performs its single, crucial job exceptionally well without adding meaningful weight to your pack.

SOG Entrenching Tool: A True Shovel for Rocky Ground

Forget trowels. When you’re car camping in the Rockies or setting up a basecamp in the desert, you need to move some serious earth. The SOG Entrenching Tool is a compact, folding shovel that brings heavy-duty capability to the outdoors. Made of high-carbon steel, this is the tool you bring when you expect the ground to fight back.

Its tri-fold design packs down surprisingly small, but unfolds into a sturdy spade that can be locked into multiple positions. Use it as a traditional shovel to dig a fire pit (where permitted) or a deep latrine for a group. Lock the blade at 90 degrees, and it becomes a powerful hoe for hacking through hardpan soil. The serrated edge adds another layer of utility, easily sawing through stubborn roots.

The trade-off is obvious and significant: weight. At over two pounds, this is not a backpacking tool for most people. But for overlanders, canoe campers, and anyone whose campsite is never far from their vehicle, its raw power and versatility are unmatched. It provides peace of mind that no ground condition will stand in your way.

Vargo Dig Dig Tool: Titanium for Ultimate Strength

For the serious backpacker who wants uncompromising strength without a significant weight penalty, titanium is the answer. The Vargo Dig Dig Tool leverages this wonder material to create a trowel that is both incredibly light and virtually indestructible. It hits the sweet spot between the minimalist Deuce and heavier steel options.

The design is smart and ergonomic. Serrated edges slice through roots with ease, while the U-shaped, rolled handle is far more comfortable in the hand than other ultralight designs. It feels less like a piece of gear and more like a proper tool, inspiring confidence when you’re faced with challenging soil.

The primary consideration here is cost. Titanium is an expensive material, and the Dig Dig Tool reflects that in its price tag. However, for a long-distance hiker or a dedicated weekend warrior who sees their gear as a long-term investment, it’s a purchase you make once. It’s a bombproof, reliable, and comfortable tool that will likely outlast the rest of your kit.

Sea to Summit Pocket Trowel: Compact and Effective

Sea to Summit has a reputation for clever, practical designs, and their Pocket Trowel is a perfect example. Made from a robust, reinforced nylon 66 alloy, it offers a fantastic balance of durability, weight, and packability. It’s the dependable workhorse for the everyday adventurer.

What makes this trowel stand out is its thoughtful design. The handle is hollow, providing a perfect, weatherproof spot to store a small roll of toilet paper or a bottle of hand sanitizer. This not only saves space in your pack but ensures your hygiene essentials are always right where you need them. The trowel itself is tough enough for most three-season conditions, easily handling typical forest soil and moderately rocky ground.

This is an excellent choice for a huge range of users, from Scouts on their first overnight to experienced backpackers who want a reliable, no-fuss tool. While it may not have the brute force of a steel e-tool or the featherlight weight of a titanium model, it is arguably the best all-around performer for the price.

GSI Outdoors Trowel: Serrated Edge Cuts Through Roots

If you primarily hike in dense forests like those found in the Pacific Northwest or along the Appalachian Trail, you know the real enemy isn’t rock—it’s roots. The GSI Outdoors Trowel is a budget-friendly and lightweight option specifically designed to win this battle. Its aggressive serrated edges act like a small saw, cutting through the dense underground network that can stop other trowels cold.

Made of a durable, recycled polycarbonate, this trowel is a major step up from the cheap, brittle plastics found in big-box stores. It won’t bend under pressure and provides enough rigidity to pry up compacted soil. It’s a simple, effective design that focuses on solving one of the most common digging challenges.

While it may struggle in extremely rocky or frozen ground, its performance in root-filled soil is exceptional for its weight and cost. This makes it a fantastic choice for beginners, budget-conscious hikers, or anyone who needs a reliable tool for forested environments without breaking the bank.

Gerber E-Tool: A Rugged, Packable Folding Spade

Much like the SOG, the Gerber E-Tool is a military-grade folding spade built for hard use. With a powder-coated steel blade and a glass-filled nylon handle, this tool prioritizes absolute durability above all else. When you need to dig a trench in frozen ground or clear a snowy tent platform, this is the kind of tool you want.

The locking mechanism is notoriously robust, ensuring the spade won’t collapse on your hand under heavy load. Its serrated edge adds cutting power for roots and tough sod. The triangular handle provides a secure grip, allowing you to put your full body weight into a difficult dig. It’s a tool designed for worst-case scenarios.

Again, this is a heavy piece of equipment best suited for vehicle-based adventures or specific backcountry missions where its capabilities are essential. For the average backpacker, it’s overkill. But for those who need a shovel that can also function as a pry bar or a chopper, the Gerber E-Tool is an icon of rugged reliability.

Proper Cathole Technique for Minimal Impact Camping

Owning the best shovel in the world is useless if you don’t know how to use it properly. The tool is just one part of the equation; technique is what truly protects the environment. Following proper cathole etiquette is a non-negotiable skill for every backcountry user.

First, location is everything. Walk at least 200 feet—about 70 adult paces—from any water source (lakes, rivers, streams), your campsite, and the trail itself. Look for a discreet spot with deep, organic soil and, if possible, good sun exposure, which aids decomposition. Avoid sandy washes or areas where water might flow during a storm.

Use your trowel to dig a hole 6 to 8 inches deep and about 4 to 6 inches in diameter. After you’ve done your business, fill the hole completely with the original dirt you dug out and tamp it down. Disguise the area with leaves, pine needles, or other natural ground cover to make it look as undisturbed as possible. Finally, and this is crucial: always pack out your used toilet paper and wipes. Carry a dedicated, opaque Ziploc bag for this purpose. It’s the single best thing you can do to leave the wilderness clean for the next visitor.

In the end, the perfect shovel is the one that lets you consistently and easily do the right thing in the places you love to explore. Don’t let gear paralysis keep you indoors. Pick a reliable tool that fits your trip style, learn how to use it, and get outside. A clean trail and a clear conscience are the best souvenirs you can bring back from any adventure.