I'm planning on going to the quetico this summer and I was looking at trowels, apparently these aren't glamorous enough to talk about so there is little info out there.
Which ones do you like? I want something that isn't going to break day one but it would be nice if it weighed less than the canoe!

I had an orange plastic one.....and yes.....they break. I think I just bought a light weight metal one from the gardening section......fraction of the price of some of the name brand "latrine trowels" you get from an outdoor store. Shop around til you find small and sturdy.

Deuce of Spades if you want aluminum; about .5oz (point 5) and $20.

I like the orange plastic ones. Never broke for me, though lent it one and they broke it. They bought a metal one to replace. I so missed the orange plastic I bought another and use it still. They are not prybars, but work fine.

Dig-it - camping trowel
Here is what we use. it fold and has a nice case.

I bring a Sea To Summit Alloy Pocket Trowel.
It has served me very well and is light weight. Of course there are titanium trowels out there as well........

quote Grandma L: " Dig-it - camping trowel
Here is what we use. it fold and has a nice case. "

+1. It replaced my broken plastic one.

u-dig-it

quote Grandma L: " Dig-it - camping trowel
Here is what we use. it fold and has a nice case. "

Yep

+3 on the U-Dig-It

Have a Dit-it folding trowel. I bought a small, lightweight black plastic trowel at Lowe's (china) for a fraction of the price for use in the garden beds. Surprisingly, it's lasted and digs untilled ground well.
There was the time, midway on a portage, I had to step off in the woods but Dig-it was in a pack at the landing -- so I utilized a stout stick in the woods. Worked just fine. :-)

quote Nozzelnut: "Deuce of Spades if you want aluminum; about .5oz (point 5) and $20."

Another one here that uses a Deuce of Spades. Works well and is very light weight. I had the "Dig-It trowel"for quite a while and was looking on where I could lose some pack weight while backpacking. Plus you can get them in lots of colors. Easier to see when you lay it down some place.

Sounds like lots of votes for the dig it. There's unbranded ones on Amazon for $5

quote Mocha: "+3 on the U-Dig-It"

+4! Cheep sturdy and plastic will break on you at the worst possible time... (been there, done that)!

I use a snow stake, sharpened a bit (not too much), and then I wrap duct tape around the dull end for a handle. The duct tape is then your repair tape.

If you read the reviews, at least half the people seem to buy these snow stakes to use as a potty trowel.

I bought a standard garden trowel up in Red Lake before going into WCPP. I was with a group and it was my part of the equipment list that I had inadvertently left at home! Oops. I still have the trowel and use it on every trip. I weights close to 8 ounces and is a sturdy all-aluminum variety. I'm sure that there are lighter ones out there but this one is perfect and only about 8" in length. Cuts through the thick duff on the Canadian Shield lakes just fine.

I think ours is a Fiskars ?? It's black and orange plastic, anyway... Strong, but wasn't expensive, so maybe a knock-off brand?...

quote NotLight: "
I use a snow stake, sharpened a bit (not too much), and then I wrap duct tape around the dull end for a handle. The duct tape is then your repair tape.


If you read the reviews, at least half the people seem to buy these snow stakes to use as a potty trowel.
"

Awesome idea, I'm guessing it's lightweight, I think I'll get one. Thanks.

quote Grandma L: " Dig-it - camping trowel
Here is what we use. it fold and has a nice case. "

+1 My canoe dog carries it in her pack since it is used more for her deuces than mine. I don't trust plastic trowels.

Crappy Subject

quote SunCatcher: "Crappy Subject"

I was gonna dig worms with it, everyone else started with the crap!

Wow, lots of talk about a super duper pooper scooper.

If you're only planning to use it for digging cat holes you can skip packing in the trowel and just use a stick. Works fine and they're plentiful.

Alan

Make sure you call gopher 1 before you dig. :) I've had this old plastic one forever. But the stick works good. Most important in my book no matter what or how, it's move a good distance from camp and off the beaten path.

Make sure you call gopher 1 before you dig. :) I've had this old plastic one forever. But the stick works good. Most important in my book no matter what or how, it's move a good distance from camp and off the beaten path.

quote Alan Gage: "If you're only planning to use it for digging cat holes you can skip packing in the trowel and just use a stick. Works fine and they're plentiful.


Alan"

I think that all depends on how long you've been eating freeze dried food! LOL

+1 on the stick
Has worked for 40 yrs

Agree with Grandma and others Dig it!

T

A stick may works in some soil types but not in others. I have had a tough time with some soils even when using a metal trowel.