Today, you can find useful amenities at most campsites, and on most hiking trails. But what happens when you want to get off the beaten track, and enjoy the areas of nature that are still untouched by most? That’s where the bushcraft toilet kit comes in handy.
What is a Bushcraft Toilet Kit?
A bushcraft toilet kit is a compact, and minimalistic collection of bathroom items that you can carry with you wherever you go. In essence, it’s the perfect solution to making sure you’re always equipped for when nature calls.
Some survivalists will say that nature provides you with all the resources you need. While that may be the case for some, it never hurts to be prepared. Especially when it comes to something as important as hygiene, which plays a big part in your overall health.
Staying Hygienic
When most people think of personal hygiene, they think of frequent showers, brushing their teeth multiple times a day, and washing their hands after using the restroom or eating. If you want to stay hygienic all those things are important, but there’s a lot we take for granted when we live in urban environments.
One personal hygiene habit that we often overlook is toilet hygiene, which becomes incredibly more difficult when outdoors. The truth is, all hygiene should be taken into consideration when in nature, but toilet hygiene may be the most important. Which is why a bushcraft toilet kit is a must.
Bathroom Items to Include
Just like the rest of your bushcraft gear, it’s a good idea to be thorough during the planning stages. That means being prepared for anything that comes your way. That’s why we recommend the following toiletries to include in your bushcraft toilet kit.
Compact Toilet Paper
Almost every store has giant rolls of toilet paper that you can buy and stock your home with. While you can certainly bring one of those giant rolls along with you, they do take up a lot of space. Mainly because of the cardboard roll that is located at the center.
You can simply remove the toilet paper roll to save some space, or you can opt for another option. Which is to buy compact toilet paper that is made for the outdoors. A big plus would be to make sure that the toilet paper you buy is biodegradable.
Wet Wipes
If you’re looking for the best in hygiene, you would be remiss to leave out wet wipes from your bushcraft toilet kit. Toilet paper is definitely the most common option when it comes to wiping, but science has shown that it doesn’t quite get the job done.
On the other hand, wet wipes do far more to clean your bottom. That includes killing bacteria, or rinsing it away all together. Wet wipes can also be used to wipe your hands, or clean your gear. Another reason that you should bring them along.
Hand Sanitizer
Washing your hands helps eliminate germs and bacteria, which helps prevent infections. When you’re spending time outdoors, you may not be thinking about personal hygiene as much as when you’re in your own home. The main reason being, you don’t have access to running water, and soap that’s readily available.
Personal hygiene really does start with your hands, since they are exposed to the most bacteria and germs throughout the day. Those germs can survive for hours on your hand. Which means everytime you touch your eye, nose, or mouth, you’re inviting unwanted germs into your system.
Even though you don’t have soap or running water to wash your hands, sanitizer serves as a great alternative. Although, make sure that the hand sanitizer you pack is at least sixty percent alcohol.
Sealable Plastic Bag
As natural as it may be, human waste has a significant impact on the environment. There are a few options you can use if you need to go, most commonly, digging a hole and burying your feces. However, some areas are particularly susceptible to human impact, and may require you to pack it out.
If that’s the case, you’ll want to have a safely sealable plastic back to properly dispose of your waste. As unpleasant as it may seem, it’s a great way to follow the Leave No Trace guidelines to minimize your impact on the environment.
Final Thoughts on Bushcraft Toilet Kits
The practice of bushcraft is all about getting in touch with our primitive roots, and using survival skills to live off the land. However, it never hurts to be prepared for when nature calls. Especially if you plan on spending more than a night or two in the backcountry.
Bringing a bushcraft toilet kit with you on your outdoor adventures just makes sense. Even if you don’t use it, you’ll have items that can be used in the event of an emergency. Plus, seeing as it’s extremely lightweight and compact, you’ll hardly even know it’s there.
