The Beginner's Backpacking Bathroom Checklist
Quick Answer: What Do I Need for a Backpacking Bathroom Kit?
At a minimum, every backpacker should carry: a lightweight trowel for digging a cathole, toilet tissue or wipes designed for outdoor use, a sealable bag for packing out used paper, hand sanitizer, and knowledge of when to bury versus pack out. An all-in-one kit like the PACT Lite Bathroom Kit simplifies this by putting everything in one compact tool.
Why You Need a Backpacking Bathroom Checklist
You'll spend weeks researching the right backpack, debating sleep systems, and dialing in your cook kit. But when it comes to the one thing you'll absolutely, definitely have to do out there? Most people wing it.
That's how you end up miles from a trailhead, squatting behind a rock with no plan, no tools, and a growing sense of regret.
Here's the reality: 72% of outdoor enthusiasts have had a time in the backcountry when they needed to poop but weren't prepared to handle it properly. That stat comes from a survey of over 25,000 people that PACT conducted with our partner Moosejaw. You are not alone.
The good news is that being prepared is simple. A few lightweight items and a basic understanding of when to bury versus pack out your waste is all it takes. This checklist covers everything a beginner needs to feel confident handling bathroom breaks on any backpacking trip.
In this guide you'll learn:
- The essential gear for your backcountry bathroom kit
- How to decide between burying and packing out
- How to set up and use your kit step by step
- Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them
- How to choose the right PACT Kit for your trip
The Essential Backpacking Bathroom Checklist
Whether you build your own kit or grab an all-in-one solution, here's everything that should be in your pack before you hit the trail.
1. A Lightweight Trowel
A proper trowel is the single most important piece of bathroom gear you can carry. You need to dig a cat-hole 6 to 8 inches deep whenever you bury your waste, and trying to do that with a stick or your heel almost never works.
Look for something made of aluminum that's durable enough to break through roots and rocky soil without adding a bunch of weight. The PACT Lite Kit and Ultra Lite Kit both include purpose-built trowels, so you don't need to source one separately.
Skipping the trowel is the number one reason people end up leaving waste on the surface. Don't be that person.
2. Wipes or Toilet Tissue Designed for Outdoors
Standard toilet paper is bulky, gets wet and destroyed in your pack, and takes a surprisingly long time to decompose when buried. Conventional wet wipes are even worse. Most contain synthetic fibers and chemical additives that can persist in the environment for years.
PACT Bathroom Wipes are a solid alternative. They're dehydrated and compressed down to roughly the size of a bottle cap. Add a small squirt of water and they expand into a thick, 9-inch towel. They get you clean like a wet wipe but without the weight, bulk, or chemical baggage.
A few things that make them worth considering:
- Made entirely from plant-based fibers
- FSC-certified, meaning they're sourced from responsibly managed forests
- Free of over 1,000 chemicals commonly found in textiles (OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified)
- Third-party tested to decompose 100% in 95 days
Whatever you choose, make sure it's something you can pack out easily after use. Leave No Trace guidelines strongly recommend packing out all toilet tissue and wipes, regardless of what the packaging says about biodegradability.
For more information on toilet tissue in the backcountry check out:
👉 The Complete Guide To Wipes That Actually Break Down In The Backcountry
3. A Sealable Bag for Packing Out Used Paper
This one gets overlooked constantly, and it's one of the simplest things you can add to your kit. A small zip-lock bag or odor-resistant pouch dedicated to used wipes and toilet paper keeps everything contained and your pack clean.
A sprinkle of baking soda inside the bag helps with odor if that's a concern. Press the air out as you seal it to save space.
4. Hand Sanitizer & Biodegradable Soap
Germs from going to the bathroom are the number one cause of gastrointestinal illness in the backcountry. This isn't about being squeamish. It's about not getting sick (or getting your hiking partners sick) three days into a trip.
A small bottle of hand sanitizer tucked into an accessible pocket is all you need. Use it every single time.
Then when you get to camp and before prepping food, you can fully wash your hands using biodegradable soap.
5. PACT Mycelium Tabs (If Burying)
This one's optional but worth understanding. PACT Tabs are small wooden plugs inoculated with mycelium from a native species of fungi called Stropharia rugosoannulata. When you drop three into your cat-hole, they work with the soil to break down your poop faster and kill harmful pathogens like E. coli that can persist in the ground contaminating waterways and harming wildlife.
They come in all PACT Kits, or you can buy them separately to add to your own setup.
6. A Pack Out Kit (For Certain Environments)
If you're heading into alpine terrain, arid desert, narrow canyons, or any high-use area where burying doesn't work, you'll need a pack out kit. These are sometimes called WAG Bags. They include an inner bag you poop into, a powder that deodorizes and solidifies the waste, and a durable outer bag for carrying everything out safely.
PACT Pack Out Kits weigh about 2 ounces each. Even if you plan to bury, keeping one in your pack as a backup is a smart move. You never know when terrain or regulations will change mid-trip.
Bury or Pack Out? A Beginner's Decision Guide
This is the part that trips most beginners up, and understandably so. The rules aren't the same everywhere, and the answer depends on where you are, not just what feels easier.
Burying is generally appropriate when:
- You're in a forested area with deep, organic, moist soil
- You can get at least 200 feet (about 70 big steps) from water, trails, and campsites
- The area isn't heavily trafficked
- Temperatures are warm enough to support microbial activity for most of the year
Packing out is the better choice when:
- You're above treeline (alpine environments)
- You're in an arid desert landscape
- You can't get the required 200 feet from water (canyons, river corridors)
- The ground is frozen or snow-covered
- Local regulations require it
When in doubt, pack it out. That's the golden rule. If you're not sure whether burial will work in the terrain you're in, the safer choice is always to carry it out.
For a deeper breakdown of when each method applies, check out our full guide:
👉 How to Poop in the Backcountry (2026 Update with New Practices)
How to Use Your Kit: Step by Step
Once you have your gear together, the actual process is straightforward. A couple of repetitions and it starts to feel like second nature.
If You're Burying
- Find a private spot at least 200 feet from water, trails, and campsites. Look for dark, organic soil in a shaded area.
- Use your trowel to dig a cathole 6 to 8 inches deep and about 4 to 6 inches wide.
- Do your business in the hole. You got this. Consider it a little extra quad work :)
- Clean up with a PACT Wipe or your preferred toilet tissue.
- Put all used paper into your sealable bag to pack out.
- If you have PACT Tabs, drop three into the hole.
- Fill the hole completely with dirt and disguise the spot with natural debris like rocks or leaves.
- Sanitize your hands before touching anything else.
If You're Packing Out
- Find a private spot away from trails and other people.
- Open your Pack Out Kit and set up the inner bag.
- Hydrate your wipes with a squirt of water so they're ready.
- Poop into the inner bag.
- Clean up, and place all used wipes and trash into the inner bag.
- Add the poop powder to deodorize and solidify everything.
- Seal the inner bag, then seal it inside the outer bag.
- Stash it in your pack until you reach a trash receptacle.
- Sanitize your hands.
Neither method is complicated once you've done it a couple times. The key is having everything organized and accessible before you need it.
Common Beginner Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
Not carrying a trowel. This is the big one. Without a trowel, you can't dig a proper cat-hole, and scratching at the surface with a rock doesn't count. Unburied or poorly buried waste is the leading cause of bathroom-related access restrictions on public lands.
Burying toilet paper and walking away. Even "biodegradable" toilet paper can take months or years to break down depending on conditions. Animals dig it up. Rain exposes it. Always pack out your paper.
Going too close to water. 200 feet sounds like a lot until you actually pace it out. Most people significantly underestimate the distance. Count 70 big steps from any water source, trail, or campsite. The further the better.
Skipping hand sanitizer. It takes about three seconds and prevents the most common source of backcountry illness. No excuses on this one.
Assuming burying works everywhere. A beautiful alpine meadow above the treeline might look like a fine place to dig a hole, but the thin, rocky soil and cold temperatures mean decomposition could take years. Know the environment you're in and adjust accordingly.
Not talking about it with your group. This is a big one that nobody mentions. If you're heading out with friends or family, have a quick conversation about the plan. Where are the bathrooms? What's everyone carrying? It feels awkward for about 10 seconds and then everyone's grateful someone brought it up.
Choosing the Right PACT Kit for Your Trip
We designed our kits around different trip lengths, activities, and weight/space constraints. Here's a simple breakdown to help you pick.
PACT Lite Bathroom Kit
The most versatile option in the lineup. Holds about a week's worth of PACT Wipes and Mycelium Tabs inside an ergonomic aluminum trowel. Compact enough for a backpack but roomy enough that you're not constantly restocking.
Ideal for: Backpacking, Hiking, Camping, Fishing, and Hunting.
PACT Ultra Lite Bathroom Kit
Our lightest and most compact kit. The shovel handle stores roughly three days of supplies and the whole thing weighs about 2.5 ounces when fully stocked. This is the kit for people who count every gram.
Ideal for: Trail Running, Bikepacking, Mountain Biking, and Day Hikes.
PACT Bathroom Wipes
If you already have a trowel and just need a better wipe, these are available in 100-packs. Dehydrated and compressed, they save significant weight and space compared to a roll of toilet paper or a pack of conventional wet wipes. They're also a great way to restock your PACT Kit between trips.
Ideal for: Restocking your kit, adding to any DIY bathroom setup, or keeping a stash in your vehicle.
Your Pre-Trip Bathroom Prep Routine
Before every trip, run through this quick mental checklist:
✔ Do I have a trowel for digging a cat-hole?
✔ Do I have wipes or toilet tissue that's designed for outdoor use?
✔ Do I have a sealable bag for packing out used paper?
✔ Do I have hand sanitizer in an accessible pocket?
✔ Have I checked whether the area requires packing out waste?
✔ Do I have a Pack Out Kit as a backup, just in case?
✔ Have I talked to my group about the bathroom plan?
It takes about two minutes and saves you from an uncomfortable, potentially impactful situation on the trail.
Final Thoughts
Nobody's first backpacking trip includes a confident bathroom plan. That's normal. But the difference between a stressful, messy situation and a quick, responsible bathroom break almost always comes down to preparation.
The gear is simple. The techniques are straightforward. And once you've done it a couple of times, you'll wonder why it ever felt intimidating.
Being prepared to poop responsibly is one of the easiest and most meaningful ways to take care of the places you love. It protects water quality, keeps trails clean for the next person, and helps prevent the kind of access restrictions that are increasingly showing up on public lands across the country.
Pack your kit. Know the basics. And then of course - get out there and have fun!
Psst - for a deeper dive into backcountry bathroom practices, check out these guides:
👉 How to Poop in the Backcountry: Complete Guide