Why Do You Need a Trowel for Backpacking?

By Robert Palmer

A trowel is an essential item of equipment for any backpacking trip. It is a small, handheld tool used for digging, filling in trenches, and other tasks. While most people think of trowels as gardening tools, they have many uses for the outdoors enthusiast.

Digging Trenches: A trowel can be used to dig small trenches to help with draining off excess water from camp sites or to help create pathways for vehicles and hikers. The trowel can quickly and easily dig out small trenches without having to lug around bulky shovels or other heavy digging tools.

Creating Fire Pits: A trowel is also useful when creating a fire pit while backpacking. The trowel can be used to dig out a shallow pit which can then be filled with rocks and logs to create a fire safe area. This is especially useful if you are camping in an area that doesn’t have standard fire pits already set up.

Making Shelters: Many backpacking trips involve building emergency shelters if the weather turns bad or if you find yourself needing some additional protection from the elements. A trowel can be used to scoop out dirt and rocks which can then be used to build walls, floors, and other components of your shelter.

Digging Latrines: Latrines are an important part of any backpacking adventure as they provide a safe place for people to go for bathroom needs without having to worry about contaminating the environment around them. The trowel can be used to dig out a shallow hole into which human waste can be safely deposited away from rivers and streams.

Conclusion: A trowel is an essential tool for any backpacking trip as it is lightweight, versatile, and easy-to-use. It has many uses such as digging trenches, creating fire pits, making shelters, and digging latrines which all make it invaluable when exploring the great outdoors!