In a world where dirty butts roam free, one man dared to dream of a cleaner, more chafe-free future. Enter Paul Bogush, the mastermind (and sole employee) behind Holey Hiker Bidets, headquartered in Bethany, Connecticut – just a few miles down the road from the family-run factory where his ultralight shower heads for your butt (and body) are built.
Paul, who was once a “TP using Barbarian” like many of us – became a born-again bideter after realizing how much time, money and earth resources had gone to waste trying to get his crack clean while hiking in the great outdoors after Mother Nature called.
“I spent my life rubbing paper between big ol’ squishy butt cheeks thinking that was how you got clean,” says Paul, “I thought rubbing paper in my crack was the only way – until I read an article and someone mentioned a portable bidet for hiking.”
Although he was a bit hesitant to give it a try, he decided to order a bidet and give that butt hose a chance. “Using that little bidet the first time was terrifying,” recounts Paul, “What if it didn’t work?” Butt it did – and he was blown away.
“The water blasting away the poop. The shower-fresh feeling. The freedom my butt felt from chaffing and stink. That child-like joy that comes from having a clean butt crack on a backpacking trip – had been missing from my life and was filling my soul the way that water filled my butt crack,” exclaimed Paul, “I was hooked, and my life was changed forever.”
From Social Studies to Butt Showers
Butt Paul wasn’t satisfied with the portable bidet options that were available on the market, and after trying a few different options – he realized what he could improve on and how he might do it. Luckily, he had access to a 3D printer and CAD software through his day-job as a Capstone teacher.
“As part of the 8th grade course we do a very simple introductory unit on 3D printing using Tinkercad, and every year I do a project along with the kids,” explained Paul, “I was going to make a bidet for my project until COVID hit and closed schools.”
So, Paul found himself at home with extra time, and while the rest of the world baked sourdough bread, he was busy perfecting the portable butt shower. What started as a tinkering project evolved into an obsessive quest for the perfect spray pattern, lighter design, and durability that could survive even the wildest Appalachian Trail adventures.
The Quest for the Perfect Portable Bidet
“My journey began with traditional FDM (filament) 3D printing,” says Paul, “After developing what I thought was the perfect design, I began producing hundreds – one at a time. But it was important to me that the bidets didn’t get tested just once or even 30 times.”
In that first year, Paul sent prototypes out of people all over. “I had about 100 testers and about 25 hardcore superstar testers who gave incredible feedback,” says Paul, “They wanted it smaller and smaller, lighter and lighter. Each successive prototype reflected that.”
He also had people who hiked in desert environments that wanted less water to be needed, and wanted a bottle pressurized quickly when turned upside down so as little water as possible drains out before using. He incorporated all of the feedback and made his adjustments.
Wanting to know how the bidets would hold up after multiple thru hikes, Paul held off selling them and waited for product testers to report in after a year. “This cautious approach saved me,” explains Paul, “Because despite appearing watertight, the 3D printed units being tested were slowly letting water in between the layers of plastic leading to widespread failures after about a year of use.”
So, he switched his process to resin 3D printing, allowing him to make ten of his tush tools at a time. Initially, the resin bidets seemed promising and he began selling them, until a 1.5% failure rate emerged – a percentage that was unacceptable for Paul’s high manufacturing standards.
“After nearly two years [of making bidets], I temporarily halted operations to transition to injection molding,” says Paul, a manufacturing upgrade that he knew would deliver significant improvements – if only he could find a factory willing to help him out on his butt-cleaning quest.
“When I made the decision to move to plastic mold injection I knew I wanted to stay local,” explains Paul, “I went to about 6 manufacturers – half didn’t take me seriously. I had no idea what I was doing – no real industrial design or plastics background.”
Butt, he didn’t give up until he found a family-run factory near his home that seemed entertained by his request for an initial order of 500 bidets. “They patiently went back and forth with me – rejecting my design numerous times over 5 or so months,” recounts Paul, “They were willing to tell me what the problems were, and then I had to figure out how to fix them.”
They made him 15 different butt blasting prototypes and after thoroughly testing them on the tushes of thru-hikers – he placed his first order for 500, and then 1000, and then 5000 – at which point the factory folks realized that perhaps there was a market for ultralight, portable plastic bidets and that maybe – Paul wasn’t all that crazy after all.
The shift to injection molding proved fruitful, as the Holey Hiker bidets that you see today are now lighter and stronger and the new technology allowed for subtle but important design improvements, including refined water flow and better bottle compatibility.
According to the HH website, Smartwater bottles are your portable bidet's soulmate, but it'll cozy up to most plastic bottles out there. “We're not snobs, but we do have standards - so maybe skip the dollar store specials, sometimes they are a little loose.”
HH also offers a version that is “Cindarella-compatible” with the 28mm collapsible CNOC bottles and comes with two o-rings, which – in true Paul fashion – were selected only after scouring high and low for the perfect o-rings with the exact texture needed for precision fit and friction.
Teaming up with a manufacturing facility to make these tiny tush cleaners has freed Paul up to focus his efforts on assembly – he adds the all important O-ring to the final product at his home workshop – as well as handling all the packaging, and customer service, while still balancing his day-job.
The Challenges of Being a Bidet King
“Without a doubt, one of the biggest challenges of starting up Holey Hikers Bidets is having a full time job that is totally exhausting and never ending until summer comes,” admits Paul, “And don’t get me started on trying to keep up on social media. Does anyone want a social media internship in return for a share of the profits?!”
Butt of course – the hardships of being a solopreneur are offset by the joy brought about by the feedback of happy hikers worldwide. “I love reading comments from people on Reddit,” says Paul, “I just looked and the last one from a few hours ago was ‘I also have a Holey Hiker bidet for backpacking, nothing says happiness like a clean asshole in the woods.’”
“The most fulfilling aspect of making Holey Hiker Bidets is the simple truth that when people’s assholes are happy, I’m happy,” laughs Paul. “There’s nothing better than hearing how something so simple has made such a big difference for comfort and hygiene on the trail. It makes all the blisters I get from putting on the O-rings worth it.”
A Future That’s Bright (and Clean)
One of the driving factors for Paul’s butt-cleaning mission has been doing one better for the planet – something that’s reflected in their recycled book page packaging (because even your bidet should be well-read), employing local manufacturers, sourcing their plastics from Texas, shipping boxes from New Jersey, and buy o-rings that are procured in New Hampshire (although they are on the lookout for a US manufacturer)!
Beyond that, Paul understands the negative impact that toilet paper has on the planet, making the case for using a butt-shower being about more than just a squeaky clean crack and a stink-free sleep.
“Using a bidet significantly reduces paper waste, the water required for toilet paper production, tree harvesting, and the chemicals used for bleaching,” says Paul, “It also cuts down on packaging waste, transportation costs, and the chemicals from toilet paper that can leach into the soil, making it a more sustainable and eco-friendly choice.”
He also points out that toilet paper isn’t all that good for our personal backcountry (or frontcountry) either. “The skin around the anus is incredibly sensitive, and using traditional toilet paper can cause irritation or even small tears, especially if the paper is rough,” says Paul, “Wet wipes aren’t much better, as they often contain chemicals that can disrupt the delicate microbiome in that area, potentially leading to irritation or other issues.”
“A bidet offers a gentle, water-based cleaning method that’s far more hygienic and eco-friendly. It’s already a staple in many cultures, where toilet paper alone is considered insufficient,” says Paul, who thinks about the cleanliness aspect this way:
“If you stepped in dog poop, you wouldn’t just grab a paper towel and wipe your foot. You’d wash it properly. The same logic applies here.”
Thinking Beyond the Rears
Holey Hikers little tush ticklers aren’t just good for getting rid of poo particles – they also have plenty of other great applications. “Bidets are not just for butt cracks,” says Paul, “A lot of hikers use them only as a micro shower. After a summer hike you can rinse off with a small amount of water and get into your tent and sleeping bag without that slimy salty layer all over your skin. It makes the night so much more comfortable.”
And while these tiny plastic water blasters were originally designed with thru-hikers in mind, Paul quickly realized their powerful potential in many other markets after getting feedback from his creative product testers and the early adopters of his product.
“Some examples that come to mind include fishing crews in Alaska, home health aides, wildlife biologists, smokejumpers, physical therapists for their patients, individuals with Parkinson’s, postoperative patients, construction workers, van lifers, cyclists, and even a woman who uses one to clean her dog’s paws after muddy winter walks!”
Join the Movement
Paul has big dreams for his little bidets. After stopping dozens of people on the AT this year who didn’t even know that a backpacking bidet exists, his new mission is to retire from teaching and devote his time to spreading the gospel of portable bidets – transforming how hikers — and frankly, all humanity — keep their undercarriages fresh, happy, and environmentally friendly.
“There is a huge stinky butt market out there waiting to be cleaned,” laughs Paul, “and in three years, I want Holey Hiker Bidets to be synonymous with thru-hiking. Switching to a bidet isn’t just a luxury. It’s a thoughtful, health-conscious upgrade your body will appreciate. Don’t be a Barbarian. Your butt deserves better!
Ali Becker is a freelance writer and adventure storyteller who spends half the year backpacking and bikepacking and the other half sleeping in strangers' beds as a professional house sitter. She and her partner, Mathieu, share their ups and downs on their IG channel at @trip.longer and hope to inspire others to get outside, adventure in nature and find their own freedom. You can learn more about them here: triplonger.ca.
