Great idea for lightweight trowel

the gigantic 1 oz aluminum tent stake by REI works far better as a trowel and serves dual purpose as a spare tent stake.

http://www.rei.com/product/358111

Sticks and rocks don't weigh anything. That is unless you put them in your pack after using them to did a cat hole.

That's what I use. And my heel. Sometimes I have to hold it until I can find soft enough soil, but it's never been too big of an issue.

Roleigh has the multiple use idea at work here. That is what I use now. Mine is made in the UK from soft aluminium, so care needs to be taken not to bend it, but useful for the weight. ( lighter and smaller than the orange trowel it replaced…)
Franco

Good idea. Often time s the boot or pole just don't get through roots to get to the appropriate depth.

I find that sometimes in the backcountry the urge to go sneaks up on me. I usually lift a rock and edit the space if needed till it is the proper depth. But I still like to bring a trowel in case I can't find the right rock or soft ground. When in a rush it is easy to excuse the use of an inadequate hole, and that's why I like to be prepared.

The tent stake and shoe horn sound like great ideas. I will have to practice diggin holes in the backyard.

When the urge to go sneaks up, I've found that you can dig the hole after the fact.

I live in a perfectly good house, so its bad enough that on the coldest night of the year I sleep in my tarptent. If I go digging holes all over the yard with a shoehorn………….well do you know how much psychiatric fees cost! (neighbors don't talk to me anymore. They shake their heads and pull their kids inside)

Roleigh's "gigantic 1 oz aluminum tent stake by REI" is exactly what I use as well, for exactly the same reasons.

My "lightweight gigantic aluminum stake" bent after just a few uses (and after French Whipping it, too!) so I'm going to try the shoe horn. For multi-use purposes, maybe I'll also try it as… a shoe horn!

I like the idea of a shoehorn. I may have to try it. I know my orange trowel is needed up here just cause of the roots. Tried with the heel (of my boot even) and it just doesn't get the job done. Honestly, for the ease of putting a hole in the ground it's hard to argue with some sort of digging device. Interestingly enough the rangers up here were spot checking people a while back to see if they actually had trowels on them along with their camping permits.

-jim

"the rangers up here were spot checking people a while back to see if they actually had trowels"

I wonder what they would say if you told them you planned to use one of your tent pegs.

This is my lightweight trowel. 11.1 grams.

SUL Titanium Spoon-potty trowel-snow stake, multi-tool

You make that?

Wow Denis: and you can use it as a shoehorn, too! Do you sell those? I don't have the equipment to machine my own.

Shoehorn. Of course, I should have thought of that. Anybody got more uses for this handy tool?

Re making it: If I remember, I got the Ti from Thruhiker. That, a lot of pipe clamps, a piece of 1/2" PVC pipe, tin snips, and a file. Oh, and the blood sweat and tears. I use a Harbor Freight punch to put holes in most all my Ti.

Difficulty, on a scale of 1-5 = 3.5. I've got a pattern, if anybody wants to make one.

This was inspired by the inimitable Bill Fornshell a while back I believe. Looked good but I never got around to doing it myself (time, money, laziness). I’m still using my Montbell trowel. I would worry that the shoehorn might be too soft, if it’s aluminum. I wonder if anyone makes a titanium shoehorn for the lightweight businessman?

Here is the semi-original thread for those who missed it.

And Jason Klass’s write-up on his site.

Like Franco I use a snow stake as well. It's a rugged SMC brand stake that I had to hammer to get the tip a bit flatter for digging. Works well as a front guyline stake in soggy soil if rain or wind comes up.

Eric

I know my home made trowel is not the lightest but it does work well. It is made from 1.5" aluminum angle "iron" and weighs 1.8 oz

Since the photo was taken – and based on ideas from this site – I have drilled a hole in the handle so this shovel can be used as a stake (in soft ground).

Dig a hole? I need to save my energy for wall sit exercises.

bye bye

Hey Guys

An MYOG titanium trowel article is in the pipeline, coming soon to a website near you.

Cheers

I actually use ULA's "helix potty trowel', which can double as an ice axe in a pinch :-) for my trowel. I know, ridiculously expensive as a trowel. But very comfortable! 'Cause after I dig the hole, I invert it, put the handle on/in the ground and sit on the head. Heck, I could read a magazine comfortably while doing my business if I wanted to, or check email, or something! So it's a potty trowel/toilet seat! Dual use! And very light. And nothing goes through roots like that thing!

" I invert it, put the handle on/in the ground and sit on the head."
Thank you for clarifying how you sit, on it ,when you do, it
Franco