What to Put in a DIY Poop Kit (and When to Just Buy One)
Quick Answer
A solid DIY poop kit needs five things: a trowel, toilet tissue or wipes, a sealable trash bag, hand sanitizer, and pack out kits for environments where burying isn't appropriate. You can piece one together from items you already own, but most people find that an all-in-one kit like the PACT Lite Bathroom Kit saves time, weight, and the headache of assembling loose items that end up scattered across your pack.
Why People Build Their Own Poop Kits
For a long time, the backcountry bathroom kit was a home hack. A zip-lock bag, a half-used roll of toilet paper, that iconic orange plastic trowel. That was the standard because there weren't really any purpose-built options on the market.
And honestly, it worked. Kind of. You had something, which is more than a lot of people can say. But anyone who's dug a hole with an orange plastic trowel in rocky soil, or watched their toilet paper disintegrate inside a wet backpack, knows the DIY approach has limits.
We started PACT because we saw this exact pattern. People weren't unprepared because they didn't care. They were unprepared because the lack of purpose built tools made them less likely to be prepared. The outdoor industry has integrated systems for cooking, first aid, water filtration, and shelter. But for the one thing you'll absolutely have to do out there? Until recently, nothing.
So let's walk through how to build a good DIY kit, where the common gaps are, and how to decide whether assembling your own makes sense or whether an all-in-one system is worth the investment.
What Goes Into a DIY Poop Kit
Whether you build or buy, the core components are the same. Here's what you need and why each piece matters.
1. A Trowel
This is non-negotiable. You need to dig a cat-hole 6 to 8 inches deep, and you're not going to get there with a stick. A proper trowel cuts through roots, breaks up rocky soil, and gets you to the right depth quickly.
For a DIY kit, aluminum or titanium backpacking trowels from outdoor retailers work fine. Just make sure it's sturdy enough for real digging, and doesn’t have sharp edges that will cut into your hand when digging.
The most common DIY mistake is skipping the trowel entirely or grabbing something too flimsy. Without an adequate hole, you're leaving waste exposed to animals, rain, and the next person who comes along.
2. Toilet Tissue or Wipes
Standard toilet paper technically works but it's not ideal. It's bulky, gets destroyed if any moisture reaches it, and takes a surprisingly long time to decompose when buried. Conventional wet wipes are worse because most contain synthetic fibers and preservatives that can persist in the soil for years.
For a DIY kit, unscented, unbleached toilet paper is the bare minimum. Pack only what you need for the trip (not the whole roll) and store it in a waterproof bag.
A better option: compressed wipes like PACT Bathroom Wipes. They're the size of a bottle cap, expand into a thick 9-inch towel with a squirt of water, and they're made entirely from plant-based fibers. No fragrances, no synthetic additives, and they decompose 100% in 95 days. They solve the weight, bulk, and decomposition problems that toilet paper creates.
3. A Sealable Trash Bag
Leave No Trace guidelines strongly encourage packing out all used toilet tissue and wipes. A small zip-lock bag or odor-resistant pouch dedicated to this purpose keeps everything contained. Add a pinch of baking soda for odor control, press the air out, and seal.
This is the piece most DIY kits are missing. People plan for the poop but not for the paper.
4. Hand Sanitizer
Germs from going to the bathroom are the number one cause of gastrointestinal illness in the backcountry. A small bottle in an accessible pocket is all you need. Use it every time. When you get to camp, prior to handling food, make sure you're washing your hands with a biodegradable soap.
5. A Pack Out Kit (Backup)
Even if you plan to bury, different ecosystems require different approaches. Alpine soils, desert landscapes, frozen ground, narrow canyons and high use areas all necessitate that you pack out your poop. Keeping one or more Pack Out Kits (sometimes called a WAG Bag) in your pack as a backup is a pro-level move that weighs almost nothing.
The Common Problems With DIY Kits
Building your own kit can absolutely work. But over the years, we've heard the same frustrations from people who've tried the DIY approach. Here are the patterns.
Not always organized
Everything ends up loose in your pack. A trowel in one pocket. TP in a stuff sack. Sanitizer rolling around in the bottom. When you actually need everything in a hurry (and you will), reassembling the kit on the fly is not fun.
Poorly designed trowels
The trowel is never the right one. Backpacking trowels have sharp edges or are too flimsy to dig in compact dirt. You either overpay for a standalone trowel that's actually good or you compromise.
TP wasn’t made for the outdoors
Toilet paper gets wet or crushed. It always happens eventually. One rainstorm, one poorly sealed bag, and you're left with a soggy clump when you need it most.
Supporting faster break down of poop
There's no solution for supporting faster break down of poop. PACT Tabs are the one component you can't DIY. They use a native species of fungal mycelium (Stropharia rugosoannulata) to break down poop faster and kill harmful pathogens like E. coli. There's no home equivalent. If reducing your environmental impact beyond the basics is important to you, this is a gap that DIY can't fill.
Higher costs
The total cost adds up. A decent standalone trowel runs $25 to $40. A pack of quality wipes is $15 to $20. Sanitizer, bags, and a pack out kit add more. By the time you've sourced good components, you've often spent more than an all-in-one kit costs and you still don't have integrated storage.
When DIY Makes Sense
There are situations where building your own kit is totally reasonable.
You already have most of the components. If you've got a trowel you trust and a system that's been working for you, there's no reason to replace it. You can upgrade individual pieces (like swapping TP for PACT Wipes) without buying a full kit.
You want maximum customization. Some people like to dial in every item. If you have strong preferences about specific brands or configurations, a DIY approach lets you pick and choose.
You're on a tight budget. If you genuinely can't swing the cost of an all-in-one kit right now, a zip-lock bag with some TP and a borrowed trowel is infinitely better than heading out with nothing. Being prepared with something beats being prepared with nothing.
When an All-in-One Kit Is the Smarter Move
For most people, especially those who are newer to backcountry trips or who value simplicity, an all-in-one kit makes the process of pooping in the woods easier.
Everything stays organized.
PACT Kits store wipes, mycelium tabs, and (in the case of the full kit) hand sanitizer and a trash bag inside or alongside the trowel. One item goes in one pocket and you're set.
The trowel is purpose-built.
Our trowels are designed specifically for digging catholes in backcountry soil. Ergonomic grip, serrated edge for cutting through roots, durable aluminum that won't bend. Plus, all of our trowels have a 6-inch depth marker so you know when you've dug deep enough.
The system works together.
PACT Wipes are designed to save weight and space, and get you clean like a conventional wet wipe with less chemical additives. PACT Tabs use fungal mycelium to support faster decomposition so you’re minimizing your impact. Both items have dedicated storage spaces inside the shovels or kits.
It's ready to hand to someone else.
This is one we hear from families and group trip organizers a lot. When you hand a PACT Kit to a friend, a kid, or a first-timer, it comes with everything they need and an info card that explains what to do. No assembly, no explanation, no awkward conversation, just backcountry bathroom bliss.
Comparing the Options
Here's how a typical DIY kit stacks up against PACT's two most popular all-in-one burial kits.
DIY Poop Kit
- Trowel: Sourced separately ($25-40)
- Tissue: Toilet paper or generic wipes
- Storage: Zip-lock bags, scattered in pack
- Mycelium: Not available
- Hand Sanitizer: Separate bottle
- Trash Bag: Separate zip-lock
- Approximate Cost: $40-60+ (quality components)
- Approximate Weight: Varies widely
PACT Lite Bathroom Kit ($40)
- Trowel: Ergonomic aluminum with depth marker
- Tissue: 20 PACT Wipes in resealable pouch
- Mycelium: 60 PACT Tabs in resealable pouch
- Storage: All supplies stored inside the trowel
- Hand Sanitizer: Not included (add your own)
- Trash Bag: Not included (add your own)
- Weight: Compact, lightweight - 4oz fully stocked
- Best For: Backpacking, Hiking, Camping, Fishing, Hunting
PACT Ultra Lite Bathroom Kit ($40)
- Trowel: Compact aluminum, shovel screws onto body
- Tissue: 20 PACT Wipes in resealable pouch
- Mycelium: 60 PACT Tabs in resealable pouch
- Storage: All supplies stored inside the trowel
- Hand Sanitizer: Not included
- Trash Bag: Not included
- Weight: Ultralight and compact - 2.3 oz fully stocked
- Best For: Trail Running, Bikepacking, Mountain Biking, Day Hiking
Our Recommendation
If you're putting together your first backcountry bathroom setup and want the simplest path to being properly prepared, the PACT Lite Bathroom Kit is hard to beat. It's $40, holds a week's worth of supplies, and eliminates the guesswork. It's our most reviewed product (143 reviews) for a reason.
If you're a gram-counter or primarily doing day trips and short overnight trips, the Ultra Lite Kit at 2.3 ounces is about as light as a bathroom kit can possibly get.
If you already have a trowel and a system you're happy with, grabbing a pack of PACT Wipes and a bag of PACT Tabs is a simple way to upgrade the components that matter most for your health and the environment.
Whatever route you take, the important thing is that you have something. Being prepared, even imperfectly, is always better than being caught with nothing.
Final Thoughts
The DIY poop kit has been the default for decades because there was no alternative. And for a lot of people, it still gets the job done. But it's worth asking whether "getting the job done" is the bar we want to set when it comes to taking care of the places we love.
Purpose-built tools exist now. They're lightweight, affordable, and designed to make the whole process easier on you and less impactful on the environment. That's not a sales pitch. It's just the reality of how the category has evolved.
Build your own or buy one. Either way, make sure you're heading out prepared. The trails, waterways, and everyone who comes after you will be better for it.
For more on backcountry bathroom practices, check out these guides:
👉 The Beginner's Backpacking Bathroom Checklist