This post is written for everyone who has a vulva — whatever your pronouns, whatever you call yourself.
Peeing, pooping and periods outside. Yes, it means diving into the dazzling subject of body fluids. No, it's not as scary as it sounds.
With a few easy techniques and some groundbreaking gear — we apologize for the pun — these completely normal bodily functions are very manageable in the backcountry.
Peeing
use a Kula ClothSquat to pee like normal — or use a pee funnel, if that's your thing. Then use the soft absorbent side of your Kula Cloth to absorb any residual moisture.
Do
- Pat dry gently
- Keep the Kula in the pee zone only
- Snap it back to your pack when you're done
Don't
- Wipe — patting is the whole technique
- Use it anywhere but the front
That's it. Enjoy not feeling disgusting from drip drying, and not hauling toilet paper in and back out again.
While we're on the topic — our friend Mandy at Purple Rain Adventure Skirts makes hiking skirts. Beyond making it easier to relieve yourself in the woods, a lot of hikers find the airflow keeps them noticeably more comfortable on hot days than shorts or leggings do.
Pooping
follow Leave No Trace
What to carry
An ultralight dry bag containing: an appropriate amount of toilet paper, an empty Ziploc, and — optionally — a tiny bag with a few wet wipes. We like Action Wipes.
The method
- Get at least 200 feet from water sources and trails
- Dig a cathole 6–8 inches deep
- Do your business, then bury it thoroughly
- Pack out all toilet paper and wipes in your Ziploc
Ultralight trowels are widely available now, but if the ground is soft enough where you're headed, a tent stake or a rock will do the job and save you the weight.
You can dig the hole after you poop and use a branch or a rock to scoot the goodies in, then bury it. Sometimes the squat comes on faster than the digging.
Some places allow burying it. We'd rather pack everything out — that's what the empty Ziploc is for.
Never bury a wet wipe. Those always come out with you, no exceptions.
If you feel wobbly
Hold one shortened trekking pole for balance so you don't topple over and have a genuine disaster. Sitting on a log or rock with your cheeks hanging off the edge works well too.
The backcountry bidet
On an extended trip, this is a real quality-of-life upgrade. Add a squirt top to a flexible water bottle like a Platypus, or look for a purpose-built bidet top such as the Culo Clean. Pair it with a tiny dropper bottle of Kula Clean or any camp soap.
Squirt liberally with water, lather, rinse thoroughly. As always — at least 200 feet from any water source.
Periods
menstrual cups are your friend
Menstrual cups
We highly recommend a cup like the DivaCup or the Intimina Lily Cup. They're straightforward to use, and they mean zero traditional period products to pack in and out.
How often you empty it depends on your flow and on the cup — most manufacturers give a maximum wear time, so follow theirs rather than a rule of thumb. Plenty of people find that a morning and evening rhythm works for them on trail.
Do not let the first time you ever use a menstrual cup be day three of a backpacking trip. Give yourself a few cycles at home where a sink and a mirror exist.
Handle menstrual blood the same way you handle poop — bury it in a small cathole, 6–8 inches deep, at least 200 feet from water. Carry a small dropper bottle of soap so you can rinse the cup and wash your hands.
Pads and tampons
Completely valid. Applicator-free tampons reduce weight and bulk. Carry an extra trash bag to pack everything out.
Because the smell can attract critters, store used products in your bear canister or hang them with your food. Ideally inside an odor-proof reusable bag like an OPSAK.
Period underwear
Worth considering. Brands like Thinx make thin, lightweight underwear designed to absorb a meaningful amount on their own — check the capacity the manufacturer states for the style you're looking at. We'd particularly recommend them for lighter days, or as backup against leaks.
On a longer trip you can rinse them out. Keep soap away from water sources, and allow extra drying time.
We know people who use birth control or an IUD to skip their period outdoors, and others who plan trips around their cycle. We don't personally take those approaches, and either way it's a conversation for you and your doctor — not a blog post. We do recognise how much feeling comfortable and confident matters out there.
More reading
from people we trust
- Ultimate Guide to Female Hygiene Outdoors The Walking Mermaid
- An Outdoor Woman's Guide to Handling Your Period Wilderness Scotland
- 5 Easy Ways to Deal With Your Period in the Backcountry Backpacker Magazine
None of this is as awkward as it sounds once you've done it a few times. And the less you have to think about it, the more of the trip you actually get to be present for.
Anastasia
Anastasia Allison · Founder, Kula Cloth®
139 comments
Who knew outdoor hygiene could be this smart and simple?! 😄 These tips are a lifesaver for long treks like the Annapurna Circuit —especially the Kula Cloth and backcountry bidet ideas. Hiking just got a whole lot comfier!
If you use oral contraceptives you can just skip that last week of pills , which are placebos and included in the package only because some male scientist thought women would miss having a period, and just go straight into the next month’s package.
I am very satisfied with the Kula Cloth. I am often doing field work up in the mountains. We often stay outside from early morning till late evening. Then the Kula Cloth is very useful. However, sometimes it is necessary to do #2. Then there we have a challenge because there is no bushes and the ground is hard and it is often impossible to dig a hole. We teach our students this procedure: 1) Walk well away from the working area, if possible down a slope or behind a boulder. 2) Do it on a flat stony surface. 3) Use a stone to smear it into a thin layer, then the sun, wind and rain will decompose it. 4) Burn the paper.
In magazinul nostru gasesti articole vestimentare si incaltaminte cu personalitate, care pot construi tinutele must-have perfecte, conform preferintelor tale.
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