Gear Review: The Prairie Dog Ultralight Backpacking Trowel

I sometimes wonder if the only reason some people haven’t ventured out on a backpacking trip is because they don’t know how or where to do a #2. 

I mean, I know some people really stress out about this kind of thing. Figuring out what to do with our bodily waste outdoors can be the most difficult thing for some people to fathom. And, those who don’t think about it commonly leave their waste in very inappropriate places — like in a trash bag on the ground when they leave, as if someone is just going to come by and clean it up, or right next to a water source. Don’t be this person. Every time we poo in a place where we shouldn’t, we put the natural environment around us at risk, and we put other people at risk too. You don’t want to be the hiker drinking from a creek, where someone upstream is doing a doodoo.

Thankfully, The Prairie Dog makes everything a little more simple.

First of all, their website has an article that helps you figure out where and how to do a #2. The article starts with questions and takes the reader on a journey of discovery. I’ll save you some time and give you the cliff notes. Basically, don’t poop in a hole if there’s a bathroom nearby, and if you have to poop in a hole, be responsible and follow Leave No Trace principles:

1. Your hole (called a cathole) needs to be 200 feet (or around 80 footsteps) away from ANY water source. 
2. It needs to be at least 6 inches deep. 
3. Pack out your TP!!!! (Don’t bury it or leave it behind in any way)

See? It’s pretty simple.

Now for the cathole itself… you don’t have to dig it with your hands like an animal, although I guess you could if that’s what you’re into... But why not use The Prarie Dog? It’s an ULTRA lightweight trowel made from aircraft-grade anodized aluminum. It only weighs 0.6 oz (17 grams), is super durable, and also corrosion resistant. Seems like a no-brainer, right?

I have an embarrassing confession from my early backpacking days. My pack weighed way too much, and I carried one of those folding camp shovels, like, the military green ones. Those weigh almost 3 lbs. I was such a noob.

So it’s safe to say, I’m pretty stoked on the Prairie Dog UL Shovel. It is not only lighter than that old military shovel (by A LOT), but honestly, it’s more efficient at its job too. You can use the main digging end (the wide one) to dig out your cathole. You can then use the narrower end to get through extra hard layers, or do some super specific detail work. You can then use the sides of the shovel to scrape on top and widen your cathole. When you’re done, you can marvel at the work of art that is going to house your human waste.

But that’s not all, the Prairie Dog goes a step further. It has holes that you can use to attach a stick or branch with zip ties, creating a makeshift handle. This is one of the most innovative things I’ve ever seen. You can literally create a working, durable, albeit small, long handled shovel out in the middle of the woods. Don’t be like me though, and try the design only using 2 zip ties. It’s not going to work out for you. Use all 4 sets of holes and get your zipties real tight, and this thing rocks. You could probably dig to the earth’s molten core if you had enough time on your hands.

The only note I have about using the trowel without a stick handle is about the way you hold it when you’re digging. Since it is a digging tool, it can kind of dig into your hand a little. So I just have to be super aware of the way I’m holding it. Sometimes I use a bandana when I have hard-packed ground to get through and that makes it easier. With that said, I don’t want the design changed at all, because the digging edge is FANTASTIC and so helpful.

I want to highlight the smooth edges of this trowel. I had another trowel that I ended up gifting to a friend after it ripped a hole in my pack mesh. The Prairie Dog, while sharp and great for digging, does zero damage to my bag or mesh. I think this is the one thing that sold me on its design. It is, yet again, another tool made by a person who knows what we need out on trail, because they’re one of us.

There is some backpacking gear I don’t bring on every single trip. Sometimes I leave my stove at home to opt for cold soaking my meals. I don’t always bring my headlamp because I love hiking when there’s a full moon.

But I always bring my Prairie Dog. It’s the one piece of gear I refuse to hike without. Even when I’m not hiking, I leave it in my car with my Kula Cloth, some extra TP and doggie poo bags. You know what they say, “When you gotta go, you gotta go”!

SPECS

Weight: 0.6oz (17g)

Material: 7075-T6 Aircraft Grade Aluminum

Dimensions: 7.5" Long X 2.5" Wide

Anodized for Durability and Visability

PROS

• Digs a cathole super well! 
• Ultralight weight!!!! At 0.6oz there’s no excuse not to pack this trowel! 
• Edges won't rip through your pack’s mesh because they’re not serrated
• Option to attach a stick handle is really helpful
• Made in the US
• Has a lifetime guarantee
• Doubles as a shoehorn, for real
• You can also use it to transfer hot coals!
• Company is dedicated to environmental stewardship

CONS

• The trowel is really sharp so you have to hold it properly

Bottom Line

The Prairie Dog makes backcountry bathroom stuff really simple. The smooth edges make it safe to pack in my mesh outer pocket — for easy access in an emergency bathroom situation. I love that I can use both the top and bottom as well as the side edges to create a great cathole. And to be completely frank, the fact that it’s named The Prairie Dog just tickles my inner child so much, and makes me feel like we’re still allowed to laugh about #2 stuff.  

The Prairie Dog UL Trowel

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