YourYuckies was born from a rain-soaked, trail-tested moment of frustration when founders Becca and Dani Titterton — a Killington, Vermont based, mother-daughter duo — were section hiking the Appalachian Trail and found themselves in a miserable situation.
“As we were trudging along the trail, it started pouring,” recounts Becca, “and as luck would have it—I had my period. Nature called, and what should have been a quick bio break turned into a frantic, rain-soaked mess—searching for my tampon while everything in my pack got drenched.”
That moment sparked an idea: there had to be a better way to manage hygiene on the trail.
“During the rest of that rainy hike, we started brainstorming,” says Becca, “and by the time we reached the end, we weren’t just hiking partners anymore—we were business partners—determined to create something better than a plastic bag covered in duct tape.”
A Simple Solution to a Messy Problem
Launched in 2023, YourYuckies is a biodegradable, plant-based hygiene bag — made primarily of corn — designed with two pockets to keep clean and dirty supplies separate. Originally inspired by the challenge of handling period care in the outdoors, YourYuckies quickly proved to be more than just a solution for menstruators.
“Baby wipes, dude wipes, TP, granola bar wrappers, that random piece of trash someone else left behind—there are endless possibilities,” says Becca. “YourYuckies is a way for everyone to make Leave No Trace easy.”
But these ultralight, handy and discreet little baggies aren’t just a way to make life on the trail more convenient and keep the places we love clean—they are also a vehicle for education, information, and inclusivity in the great outdoors.
“Sick of the stigma around hygiene care and how these challenges keep people—especially women—from fully enjoying the outdoors, Dani and I decided to do something about it,” says Becca. “There are enough barriers keeping people from enjoying the outdoors, managing hygiene should NOT be one of them.”
And before you get offended that Dani and Becca are labelling your bodily excretions or the way you manage them “yucky” – you have to hear them out.
“Your “Yuckies”—personal hygiene and the products you use—aren’t yuckie, but leaving them on the trail is yuckie,” says Becca. “Dani and I went through plenty of name ideas before choosing YourYuckies as a way to challenge the stigma around hygiene in a lighthearted, approachable way.”
Challenges, Wins, and Community Support
Like any new business, launching YourYuckies has come with challenges, especially since neither Becca or Dani had any experience in product design, development, or distribution prior to starting up.
“Some days, Dani and I just look at each other and think, ‘Okay… so what’s the plan?’” Becca laughs. “We’re definitely figuring things out as we go—it’s been fun, but sometimes we hit roadblocks.”
“Whenever we feel stuck, we remind ourselves why we started,” says Becca. “Our mission keeps us motivated, and we’re determined to get YourYuckies the visibility it deserves and to make a lasting impact.”
One of the biggest rewards of starting up for Dani and Becca has been seeing YourYuckies embraced by the outdoor community.
“We’ve met so many amazing and supportive people, and every connection seems to open another door,” says Becca. “Hearing everyone’s experiences has taught us so much—and sometimes, it’s just nice to be reminded that starting a company isn’t supposed to be easy.”
Feedback from different user groups has also reinforced the mother-daughter duo that they are on the right track, like last summer when they partnered with a girls’ summer camp and one of the counselors told them at the end of the season that the campers literally cheered when she handed out the bags.
“That moment made us realize—we’re onto something.”
Collaborating with groups like a girls’ summer camp wasn’t something the founders originally anticipated when they launched, but Becca says it has turned out to be an amazing opportunity to not only provide support but also educate on Leave No Trace practices and managing hygiene in the outdoors.
“Things like washing your menstrual cup in nature or the myth about periods and bears—it's been a great way to tie those lessons into what we do.”
What’s Next?
With unpredictable National Park funding on the horizon, YourYuckies is doubling down on education and Leave No Trace awareness, ensuring that everyone has the knowledge and tools to take care of business responsibly, no matter where their adventures take them.
In the next three years, Becca and Dani hope to see YourYuckies become the go-to Carry In/Carry Out hygiene solution for all outdoor lovers, breaking down stigma and making the wilderness more accessible for everyone.
“We want to normalize conversations about hygiene in the outdoors and remove barriers that keep people from feeling comfortable outside all while helping keep our trails clean through practice and education,” explains Becca.
YourYuckies isn’t just another outdoor gear product—it’s a movement with a mission to make outdoor hygiene effortless and eco-friendly and Becca and Dani are happy to be at the helm, redefining how we care for ourselves and the wild places we love.
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.
