Trowel – which one?

I used to carry a really nice folding, stainless steal one that I bought at REI, but to save weight, I have been carrying a $2 Orange Plastic trowel to cut weight.

I read on the forums recently that some people are using an aluminum snow stake for their trowel and it has a duel usage as an extra stake.

I am going to try that out on my next trip.

Hope that this helps.

-Tony

I used to use the cheap, ubiquitous and effective orange plastic trowel but found it too bulky. I now use the MontBell trowel and highly recommend it for its strength, light weight, and compactness. Great sex appeal too (for a trowel).

I use one I made out of titanium that is modeled after the Montbell trowel. It weighs 10g.

in the event that a stick or rock wont work, I have used a V-shaped Ti tent peg with 20' of Zpacks cord wrapped around for a handle. The bonus is, you have emergency cordage on a very rigid trowel.
cost $5
weight .45

Ben,
I also have the MontBell trowel. It's tough, light and effective. I've not been able to confirm the sex appeal though. Where did you get this from? Bears? Racoons? Rough and rugged trail babes?

I'm with Mike and use a titanium nail stake. I've tried the orange plastic things and the montbell trowel. In the hard rocky sierras I find the nail stake does a better job of breaking up the ground.

Weight: 0.2 oz

Is there cottage maker of titanium trowels similar to the Mont-Bell?

–Joe
http://www.bozemanstoveworks.com

I like the montbell………. 1.4oz for stainless steel construction is very light.

Hi Eric

How'd you make it? Can I buy one from you? :)

Most of the places I hike the soil is a solid mass of small roots. I tried the orange trowel and a few others and none worked all that great. Its not that light at 8 oz, but I am now using a Japanese digging knife and it works great. The one I have is a stainless one from Garret Wade, but here is the generic description:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hori_hori

In addition to being my trowel, it can be used as a light duty saw and a large fixed blade knife.

I have had the Montbell Trowell now for a few seasons. It works great!!!!

I use an aluminum SMC snow stake and it works great.

Eric

I posted instructions on making my trowel with the experiences of others in the MYOG section. I don't have one to sell but I'm happy to answer any questions if you wish to make your own.

I made this one out of 1/16" x 1" angle aluminum. I weighs in at 1 oz. and is pretty solid. The material costs less than $5 at Home Depot. As you can see the quality and craftsmanship far surpasses that of your typical prison shank. All I really had to work with was a Dremil Tool. I still need to drill a hole in the top so I can use it as a back-up stake too.

Hey Mike!

Now that's an idea! A whole new cottage industry! Prison inmates selling UL Potty Trowel/Prison Shanks to the backpacking community. We can be a part of their "rehabilitation."

They could offer discounts on slightly used ones.

The Original “MYOG” Potty Trowel Thread – Take a look

Bill,
You could notch in some short fork tines and your ti potty trowel could double as a spork.

Hey, its Friday.

Remember, you should dig only about 6" deep, so the organic biota in the topsoil can break down the "human waste". (The computerized "bad word nanny" woulden't let me write f*c*s!)

As I said above, an SMC aluminum snow stake is the lightest, yet still-efective trowel I could find. It can also serve as a main front guyline stake for my Contrail tent in bad weather or loose soil.

Eric

Tried the lightening holes in the handle of the trowel I made before this… it didn't last long. Weakened the handle and it snapped right off.

Yeah Michael!

They could also turn a toothbrush into a knife/tent stake. Now that's multi-use right there!

Thom,
That trowel/spork combo you mention isn't far from another BPL'er comment. I wish I could recall who, but someone was talking about using the cookpot for a urine containment device instead of grabbing boots and a flashlight to take care of business in the middle of the night.
I'd say to search the forums, but that alone is worth laughing at.
Chris

Curious what you use when the ground is snow-covered and/or frozen solid?

> Curious what you use when the ground is snow-covered and/or frozen solid?

One Of Steve's carbon fibre /titanium ice axes!

cheers

I don't use or take a trowel.

I feel like I can dig a hole with a stick. So, I win the lightest rowel contest – it's zero!

> I feel like I can dig a hole with a stick.

I wouldn't think that would work too well in frozen soil even with a large, pointy stick, but I suppose you've managed to make it work.