Sea to Summit Pocket Trowel Collapsible Backcountry

The Sea to Summit Pocket Trowel is a collapsible cathole trowel made from glass-reinforced Nylon 66, designed for backpackers and paddle tourers who need a Leave No Trace-compliant digging tool that weighs 68 g and packs to 24.5 × 3.3 × 6.5 cm. The retractable handle collapses into the blade for carry, and the hollow grip doubles as storage for toilet paper, a lighter, or hand sanitizer.

Built to Dig Where It Counts

Glass-reinforced Nylon 66 gives the Pocket Trowel the rigidity to cut through compacted soil and small roots, terrain that would crack a low-grade plastic gardening trowel. For a backpacker who can't afford a gear failure miles from a trailhead, that material choice matters: the trowel does its job reliably without adding meaningful weight to a pack. The 22% weight reduction over the previous model means the Pocket Trowel is lighter than its predecessor without trading away that structural integrity.

Depth Markings for Leave No Trace Compliance

The blade carries depth gauge markings calibrated to Leave No Trace Seven Principles, which call for catholes dug to a specific depth to allow proper decomposition and minimize environmental impact. Having the measurement built into the tool removes guesswork in the field, a practical detail for anyone who takes low-impact travel seriously rather than treating it as a checkbox.

Hollow Handle Carries Hygiene Essentials

The Pocket Trowel's grip is hollow, providing a small internal compartment for toilet paper, a lighter, or sanitizer. Keeping those items inside the handle means one less stuff sack to locate in a pack and one less reason to leave hygiene supplies behind on a weight-conscious trip. The large push-button release extends and retracts the handle quickly, so the trowel deploys and stows without fiddling.

Features

• Glass-reinforced Nylon 66 blade: cuts through compacted soil and small roots
• Retractable handle: collapses into the blade to minimize packed size
• Hollow grip: stores toilet paper, a lighter, or sanitizer
• Depth gauge markings: calibrated to Leave No Trace Seven Principles cathole depth
• Large push-button release: extends and retracts the handle one-handed
• 22% lighter than previous model: without reduction in strength or function

Specifications

Who This Is For and Isn't

The Pocket Trowel suits backpackers and paddle tourers who prioritize light weight and Leave No Trace compliance and need a compact, self-contained cathole tool with built-in hygiene storage.

In very rocky areas or soil with extensive root systems, the nylon blade may not be sharp or rigid enough to dig effectively. A metal trowel is better suited to those conditions.

Common Questions

Is the Pocket Trowel easy to clean after use?

The Sea to Summit Pocket Trowel can be washed in very hot water. The melting point of the nylon construction is well above the boiling point of water, so hot-water cleaning does not damage the trowel.

Can the Pocket Trowel handle rocky ground or soil full of roots?

Only to a limited extent. In very rocky areas or soil with extensive root systems, the nylon blade of the Pocket Trowel may not be sharp or rigid enough to dig effectively. A metal trowel is a better choice for those conditions.

Why choose the Pocket Trowel over a metal trowel or a cheap plastic gardening trowel?

The Sea to Summit Pocket Trowel offers a hollow handle that stores toilet paper and a small lighter, which a metal trowel does not provide. Low-grade plastic gardening trowels frequently break under backcountry use, while the glass-reinforced Nylon 66 construction of the Pocket Trowel is purpose-built for trail conditions.