How to Go to the Toilet When on the Trail – Your Hiking Toilet Kit.

I get asked “How do you go to the toilet when hiking?” so often. And depending on whether or not I'm at the dinner table, I'm happy to elaborate.

If back country camping, toileting is part of the experience – just like cooking your food or stashing your food away from bears or possums, or striking camp. It becomes second nature and, if I might add, quite enjoyable. As long as you feel safe and comfortable, then watching the scenery and listening to the birds sing is rather nice when doing your business.

However, for many embarking on a multi-day walk or hike — even if it is hut-to-hut or room-to-room — the need to go to the toilet on the trail can cause anxiety and stress. Especially if there are no stops along the way and many of the long distance hikes in Europe fall into this category. And if you're like me, the need to go isn't like clockwork. It can happen after your body starts moving – say 2km in.

So this guide is for you. We will cover the options when urinating, how to use a Female Urination Device, how to “do Number Twos” (aka – take a dump, poop etc), how to avoid stomach upsets or diarrhoea and options for if you have your period – especially if internal menstrual products are not suitable.

If English is not your first language, I hope this post translates well. I will be talking frankly and openly – more so than many posts on this topic. And if you know someone who may benefit from this guide, please do share.

Ok, without further ado – Let's check this all out.

Quick Links

• Toilet Paper Alternatives
• Female Urination Devices (FUDs)
• How to do a Poop and Leave no Trace
• Hiking with Your Period

A full list of inclusions can be found in the Table of Contents

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Before we get into the finer points of trail toileting, we need to talk about the real problem child—Toilet Paper.

Toilet Paper Truth Bombs

💩 No, toilet paper does not biodegrade quickly.
🦝 Yes, animals will dig it up.
🌿 No, hiding it under leaves doesn’t count.
🤢 Yes, it’s disgusting; for the environment and for everyone else.

So What Do I Do With Toilet Paper?

The old practice of burying toilet paper has been replaced with “pack-it out”. Toilet paper takes a very long time to biodegrade and especially in arid climates (such as Southern Europe, the USA Sierras, or Patagonia in South America), it may never biodegrade.  Regular toilet paper is also full of chemicals and bleach, another reason to not leave it in or on the ground.

What does Pack it Out Mean?

To “Pack it Out” means taking everything you bring into the wild back out with you—this includes your rubbish, leftover food, and may even mean your human waste, depending on local guidelines. It's the 3rd principle of Leave No Trace – Dispose of Waste Properly.

The best way to handle toilet paper is to carry a small plastic bag and put your soiled toilet paper in as you go.  When you get to a toilet or bin, you can then empty or dispose of the bag. 

Some back-country toilets can handle compostable doggie poop bags. These are also great to carry your used toilet paper. Check with the local park ranger or authority to see if this is the case with the toilets on your trail.

Toilet Paper Options:

Due to the environmental issues with toilet paper — and with hikers around the world trying to carry less by streamlining the weight and bulk of their packs — several alternatives have emerged in recent years. Starting with my favourite: the Kula Cloth.

Kula Cloth (or pee-cloth)

A Kula Cloth (pee-cloth) is for wiping after urinating and designed specifically for front-end cleanliness. It is not untended to wipe your backend after pooping due to the absorbent properties of the fabric.

A Kula Cloth or pee-cloth is a reusable, antimicrobial cloth with a waterproof layer and an absorbent side. The specialised antimicrobial fabric is treated to harness UV rays, which sanitise the cloth by breaking down microbes' DNA, drying the fabric, and preventing pathogen growth. You will often see hikers with a Kula Cloth swinging from the back of their pack — as they allow the sun to sanitise the cloth.

To use, hold onto the waterproof side and wipe yourself with the absorbent side.

The Kula Cloth or any Pee-Cloth typically weighs only 14 g (0.5 oz) and has a small strap toattach to your backpack. It also folds in half, should the absorbent side become soiled. Rinse nightly to clean. Quick drying.

There are number of Pee-Cloths on the market, and while most have an absorbent side, not all are antimicrobial.

Portable Bidet (aka Backcountry Bidet)

There are many portable (aka backcountry) bidets on the market now, and essentially they all work the same way. Portable bidets squirt a steady stream of water over your genitals, cleansing after toileting or to freshen up to prevent chafing. Some backcountry bidets are small caps which screw onto a small plastic water bottle, while some brands include the water bottle as part of the design.

I prefer the small cap variety and my favourite brand is Culo Clean. Weighing just 11g (0.42oz), It's compatible with most plastic bottles and fits in the two most common diameters. You can easily regulate water intensity by exerting more or less pressure to the bottle.

It’s important to ensure that you squirt from front to back, not the other way around, as contaminants in the water may enter your urethra and potentially cause a UTI.

Female Urination Devices (FUDs)

A Female Urination Device (FUD) is an innovative product for individuals who traditionally sit or squat to urinate, enabling them to do so while standing up. An FUD is also very useful when travelling, or facing unsanitary public restrooms. In fact, my travelling buddy took one along on our recent trip to Nepal.

FUDs are typically made from silicone, plastic, or hydrophobic materials. They fit snugly against the body to create a seal, preventing leaks and spills. Depending on your anatomy, I recommend placing the FUD inside your outer labia (Labia majora). Personally, I have found this creates a better seal than placing the FUD on top of your outer labia.

The FUD design includes a spout that directs urine away from the feet, so you can stand up when using public toilets or when urinating outdoors.

Pro-Tip: Practice using your Female Urination Device in the shower. It does take a little practice, and with the water running, any mishaps just go down the drain.

To use an FUD, simply push your underwear to one side, place the device securely against your body, and urinate. There's no need to remove clothing, which is a great advantage in cold or constrained environments. After use, most devices can be easily rinsed with water or wiped clean.

Mastering the art of standing urination with an FUD does require practice, since anatomically it can be challenging to relax and ‘let go.' As well, on a personal level, I've struggled to fully empty my bladder this way, which can lead to complications like cystitis or a UTI. If you find you're not emptying completely while standing, it might be worth reconsidering if an FUD is the right choice for you.

There are a number of brands of FUDs on the market, some are harder plastic than others – however they all work the same way.

UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) or Cystitis

A urinary tract infection can be horrible when out of the trail. “Holding on,” not emptying your bladder due to squatting issues, or simply being dehydrated; can all lead to cystitis, the painful, burning inflammation of the urinary tract when trying to pee. Cystitis is often a precursor to a UTI.

A good thing to carry in your kit are Urals. Urals work by alkalising the urine, which reduces burning and discomfort. This may allow the body to flush the bladder more effectively, potentially halting progression. They come in small sachets, so they’re easy to carry in your first aid kit.

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The Art of Number Two's

OK! Now the hard stuff. And if it's not hard, then you might like to read the next section.

“Number Twos” (aka Poop, Feces or Faeces) is the brown solid waste you produce. And almost all walkers or hikers have needed to go when on the trail. So, how do you do this correctly?

You need to carry a small trowel with you. Many park and recreation area by-laws world wide require you to bury your waste. There are many trowels on the market especially for this use. They are usually made from titanium, are extremely strong and sharp and can cut through grass roots easily to dig a hole.

Use your trowel to dig a small hole, known as a cat hole, about 20 cm (8 inches) deep. It should be at least 60 metres (200 feet) away from any water sources. The reason being is that the soil acts as a natural filter over that distance, breaking down most harmful substances.

Your trowel is used to dig the hole and then cover the hole with dirt.  Your trowel should never come in contact with your faeces. You can either try and aim for the hole, or move your waste into the hole using a stick, or leaves that can also be buried.

After you are done, cover the hole and disguise it so it blends back in with its surroundings. Many hikers place a stick upright near the refilled hole to indicate to others not to dig in the same spot.

Toileting away from water sources is extremely important. Firstly, wildlife relies on these water sources for survival and habitat, and human waste can wreak havoc on their environments.

Secondly, these are often the same spots where hikers source their drinking water, and a contaminated water source can lead to cholera, a very serious disease.

When You Can't Bury Your Poop

There are times when it is not possible to bury your waste. It may be due to a fragile ecosystem or the aridity of the land.

In dry, arid conditions, the lack of moisture slows down the biodegradation of human waste. Microorganisms, essential for breaking down organic material, are less active and less abundant in such environments.

Often, these arid conditions also mean hard or rocky ground, which can make digging a cat hole extremely difficult.

National Parks are starting to require hikers, climbers and adventurers to Pack it Out. Denali National Park, Alaska requires all climbers and hikers to use items such as a Clean Mountain Can and the Guadalupe Mountains Wilderness in NM requires all permit holders camping overnight to use commercial portable human waste bags such as the Wag Bag or Restop.

If you are hiking back country and cannot obtain a commercial portable human waste bags, hikers have used items such as plastic peanut butter jars lined with doggie poop bags. One chap I read about went to the hardware store and purchased a short length of plumbing pipe with a screw cap. It's all about improvisation.

Sometimes it might just not be possible to bury your waste – you might be on the Camino or walking through private property on one of the many walks in Europe. If this is the case, a portable human waste bag such as a Restop of Wag Bag may just be the ticket.

How do Portable Human Waste Bags work? Quite clever actually! They use a NASA-developed gelling agent:are designed to transform the waste into a spill-proof, odourless, solid state. Each biodegradable kit includes a multi-use waste bag, zip-close puncture-resistant storage bag, toilet paper, and a hand sanitiser.

Restop 2 or Wag Bags are lightweight, compact, and easy to pack. Once used, the outer bag can be carried for several days until you reach a garbage bin, where it can be disposed of. On walks in Europe, you’ll typically only need to carry the (odourless) bag for 1 day.

So now we have discussed what's included in a basic hiking toilet kit. Keep your kit on the outside of your pack or somewhere where its easy access. If you're in a hurry, the last thing you want to be doing is searching through your pack.

To keep everything together and in easy reach, I use a HillTop Zippered Pouch. Extremely lightweight and waterproof, the pouch is bright yellow (with a cute poop emoji!!) and I can find it easily when or if in a hurry!

Hygiene on the Trail

When on the trail, hygiene is so important. The inability to wash your hands properly after toileting, can lead to bacteria being transmitted to your mouth when eating, or to others when shaking hands or sharing food.

Hand sanitiser acts as a stand-in for handwashing when water isn't readily available. It works by using alcohol—usually isopropanol or ethyl alcohol at a concentration of 60% or more—to disrupt the outer membranes of many bacteria and viruses, effectively deactivating them.

For hand sanitiser to do its job, you need to use enough to coat your hands and rub thoroughly for at least 20 seconds—or until they’re completely dry. The alcohol is only active while your hands are still wet, so don’t wipe it off or try to air-dry it quickly—rushing the process means it might not fully kill the germs

It's important to know that sanitisers may not eliminate all types of bacteria and viruses, such as certain spores and some parasites. So when you do get the opportunity to properly wash your hands, it's good practice.

When meeting other hikers or walkers, never shake hands – unlikely you will be offered a hand to shake anyway. Also never offer food in a bag for someone to dip their hand in. Encourage them to hold out their hand and then you pour your peanuts, candy, or whatever into their hand.

Squatting and Balancing

It's true that the loss of the ability to squat is a common problem for many hikers and walkers, particularly those from Western cultures where the squatting posture is not a regular part of daily life.

For hikers, squatting is more than just a technique, it's an important skill for many activities out on the trails. Given the lack of toilet access in the wilderness, squatting becomes the default position when toileting.

It's about staying balanced on your feet when the ground's all bumpy and keeping things clean without any fancy facilities. Therefore, perfecting the squat is essential for hikers—it ensures efficient, discreet toilet breaks in the absence of facilities, directly in nature.

Petra Fisher Movement has a free one-month course on her website remove your squatting barriers and increase your mobility. Petra is a great advocate for movement and an excellent teacher. It's a great free resource to learn a essential skill.

If you find it difficult to squat, find a tree and hold on for support. Often the ground will be soft for you to dig your cat-hole at the base of the tree due to all of the organic litter the tree provides.

Hiking with your Period

You have a few options when hiking with your period. Traditional methods like tampons or pads are commonly used, but remember, these must be carried out with you; not buried or left behind, to preserve the environment.

Menstrual Cups and Menstrual Disks

Menstrual cups and disks are sustainable period care options and perfect for hikers and walkers on multi-day hikes.

Generally made from medical-grade silicone, menstrual cups are designed to be inserted into the vagina during menstruation, collecting rather than absorbing blood. Cups come in various sizes for different anatomies and are a long-lasting, eco-friendly alternative to pads and tampons, and safe for up to 12 hours of use.

Menstrual cups are typically about the size and shape of an eggcup, and are folded before inserting. Once inside, they “pop” open and form a seal inside the vaginal canal.

Menstrual discs, on the other hand, are flat, flexible rings with a catch pouch. Discs are also inserted into the vagina, but instead of forming a suction seal, they tuck behind the pubic bone, sitting at the base of the cervix, in the vaginal fornix.

External Period Care

There are various personal and medical considerations that may lead someone to seek alternatives to menstrual cups or other internal menstrual products. For those who cannot or prefer not to use internal period products, external menstrual products such as reusable cloth pads or period underwear can be more suitable.

In the context of hiking, particularly long thru-hikes, managing reusable cloth pads or period underwear between resupply stops and laundry days can be done with careful planning. Use wet bags for storage between cleanings to help reduce odour, and wash the items whenever you can, making sure to follow Leave No Trace Principles. Just make sure the items are thoroughly dry before storing back as the absorbent fabric within these items – are just that. And they will retain moisture. It's all about finding a system that works for the individual while also respecting the environment.

So, Where Do You Go to the Toilet When Hiking?

Wrapping up, the question often arises: “Where do you go to the toilet when hiking?” The answer lies in being resourceful and respectful—using tools like trowels for digging cat-holes and employing Leave No Trace principles.

Whether it's managing menstrual hygiene with innovative products or simply handling nature's call, being well-prepared ensures that our wild spaces remain pristine. Every squat, product, and technique discussed here equips you to embrace the outdoors responsibly, leaving a clean trail for those who follow.