How to Pack Out Your Poop While Camping or Backpacking: A Leave No Trace Guide
Packing out human waste while camping or backpacking is an essential skill for any outdoor enthusiast, especially in delicate or high-use areas where the Leave No Trace (LNT) principles encourage us to minimize our impact.
Whether you’re in alpine zones, desert environments, river corridors, or even certain crowded trails, knowing how to pack out your poop is a crucial part of preserving natural spaces for everyone to enjoy. This guide explains when packing out is necessary, the supplies you’ll need, and step-by-step instructions on how to pack out human waste while backpacking, camping and hiking.
Why Pack Out Human Waste?
Packing out human waste may seem unpleasant, but it’s essential for protecting ecosystems and maintaining an enjoyable experience for everyone. In some environments, waste decomposes slowly (or not at all), and contamination from human waste can negatively impact soil, water sources, wildlife and ultimately be a public health issue.
In addition, mis-handled human waste, such as waste that has not been buried or packed out is leading to increasing regulations on public lands that limit access. For example, land managers are reducing backcountry permits, converting dispersed camping to fee-based, instituting timed entry systems– all, in part, due to issues with human waste.
Following the Leave No Trace principle of “Dispose of Waste Properly,” packing out your poop ensures that future campers, hikers, and wildlife encounter clean, undisturbed environments.
Where and When Do You Need to Pack Out Poop?
Certain environments require more stringent waste management. Here’s a breakdown of the types of locations where packing out human waste is highly recommended or required:
High-Elevation Alpine Zones: Decomposition slows dramatically at higher elevations where temperatures are colder. Soils in these areas are often thin and fragile, making it challenging for human waste to decompose naturally.
Desert Environments: Arid, sandy soils in desert areas lack the necessary moisture for waste to break down effectively. With minimal organic material to facilitate decomposition, waste remains in the ecosystem for years if not properly disposed of.
River Corridors: Many rivers require waste to be packed out to prevent contamination and maintain water quality. In these areas, waste from campers can quickly pollute water sources, endangering both humans and wildlife.
Crowded Trails and Popular Campsites: In heavily used areas, burying waste or using primitive methods like cat holes may not be enough to protect the environment, especially with many people visiting the same areas.
Areas with No Soil Depth: Some landscapes, like rocky or frozen ground, lack sufficient soil for a cat hole, making packing out your waste the only option.
Before any trip, check with land management agencies about specific waste disposal rules in your area. In some National Parks or Wilderness Areas, packing out waste may even be legally required.
Step-By-Step Guide: How to Pack Out Human Waste
Here’s a simple guide for packing out your poop effectively and hygienically.
1. Gather Your Supplies
To pack out your waste, you’ll need a few basic items:
Pack Out Kit or “WAG Bag”: These are specially designed waste disposal kits that include chemical gelling agents to neutralize odor and start the breakdown process. They’re lightweight, puncture-resistant, and commonly used on backcountry trips. They are generally used once and disposed of in the trash.
Pack Out Kits usually include: an inner bag for pooping in, toilet paper, an antiseptic hand wipe, “poop powder” for deodorizing and dehydrating the waste and a puncture-resistant outer bag for carrying everything out.
These products can be found at REI, Amazon and as well as through our website.
2. Choose a Private Spot and Set Up
When you need to ‘go’, find a private, flat area away from trails and water sources. Prepare the waste bag by opening it and laying out all of the contents within reach.
3. ‘Go’ in the Bag
Open the Bag: Most WAG Bags or similar products come with clear instructions on how to use them. Generally, you’ll unfold the inner bag and squat while holding it behind you.
Do Your Business: This is exactly what it sounds like. Go directly into the bag as instructed, making sure it catches everything.
Wipe and Sanitize: Once finished, wipe yourself with the provided toilet tissue, (our pack out kit comes with compressed Wipes to get you feeling cleaner), disinfect your hands with the antiseptic hand wipe. Dispose of these items in the inner bag after use.
Add the “Poop Powder”: Open the packet of poop powder and dump it into the inner bag. Then, seal the inner bag and all of its content carefully and tie an overhead knot. Then place the sealed bag inside the secondary outer bagfor extra protection against leaks and odors.
4. Seal and Store Properly
Once you’ve packed everything into the waste bags:
Place the sealed bag inside an outer zip-lock bag or trash bag (if it isn’t already double-layered).
Store the waste bag in a designated part of your pack. Some people use a separate compartment or carry it on the outside of their backpack to minimize smells and avoid contamination with other gear. An old dry sack or trash bag is a great thing to bring to store your used bags inside for added insurance.`
5. Dispose of Waste Properly After Your Trip
Upon returning from your trip, find an appropriate trash disposal site. Never dispose of your waste bag in nature. Always dispose of it in a trash receptacle.
Tips for Using and Transporting Waste Bags
Packing out waste might seem awkward at first, but with a little practice, it becomes manageable and routine:
Practice at Home: Try out your waste bag system before going into the wilderness. This helps you get comfortable with the setup and ensures you know how to use it properly.
Label Your Waste Bag Compartment: Dedicate a specific area in your backpack for storing the waste bag to avoid mixing it with other gear.
Use Odor Control: Some products have added odor-neutralizing agents. If not, consider sprinkling baking soda in the outer zip-lock bag as an extra measure.
The PACT Outdoors Pack Out Kit: What’s Included
At PACT Outdoors, our goal is to make doing your business in the outdoors easier and more sustainable. So, we designed an all-in-one waste pack out kit designed around exactly that. Here’s a few of the features that make it especially useful.
Clear Instructions: Easy-to-follow instructions make this more straightforward for folks who are new to packing out their poop. Doing it correctly, in turn, makes it more likely that people will return to this practice when required in the future.
PACT Wipes: A lot of other pack out kits come with a small amount of toilet paper that isn’t necessarily sufficient for getting you clean. Our kit includes PACT Wipes. They’re dehydrated and compressed. You add a squirt of water and they unfold into a thick 9” towel. They get you clean like a wet wipe, but without all the extra weight. They also sourced from responsibly managed forests and free of over 1,000 chemicals commonly found in textiles.
Durable Outer Bag: Our outer bag is extremely durable, puncture resistant and locks in any remaining odors. The goal is to give users confidence while carrying out their poop.
Humor: The back side of the outer bag has some humorous bathroom reading. Including a Poop Bingo game. Who says pooping outdoors can’t be fun!?
Lightweight: each of our Pack Out Kits weighs 2.1 ounces which is 0.5-1.0 ounces lighter than other leading brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Should I Do if I Run Out of Waste Bags?
If you run out of waste bags on the trail, use the cat hole method as a backup. Dig a hole 6-8 inches deep, at least 200 feet (or 70 adult paces) from water sources or trails, and thoroughly bury and cover your waste. Pack out your TP if you have an extra ziploc bag. If you do not, bury it completely in the same hole.
Do I Need to Pack Out Urine as Well?
In most cases, urine does not need to be packed out. Do not urinate inside your pack out bag as it is only designed to hold poop. Avoid urinating near water sources, popular trails, or campsites. In certain environments (like deserts), it’s a good practice to urinate on rocks or durable surfaces to prevent wildlife from digging up the ground.
What if I Don’t Have Access to WAG Bags?
Heavy-duty, double-layered zip-lock bags can be used as an alternative, although specialized waste bags with odor-control and gelling agents are preferred.
How Long Does It Take for Human Waste to Decompose?
In many environments, human waste can take years to decompose fully. The breakdown rate depends on factors like soil moisture, temperature, and oxygen levels. That’s why packing out your poop is essential in areas where decomposition is slow or non-existent.
Additional Resources
For more information on Leave No Trace practices and waste disposal guidelines, check out these resources:
Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics: Learn more about the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace and get additional tips on waste disposal.
National Park Service’s Guide to Waste Disposal: A helpful guide on park-specific guidelines for human waste disposal.
Backpacking Light’s Guide to Waste Management: Offers an in-depth look at packing out waste in various environments and product reviews.
We've also got a great blog post called How To Poop In the Woods: A Complete Guide that covers how to bury your waste as well as where and when to utilize that strategy. Check it out to learn even more.