To say we have experience pooping outdoors is an understatement. Between Jay having Crohn’s disease and me preferring to poop outside rather than in the van, we’ve pooped outdoors thousands of times.
When pooping outdoors, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. And shoot, there’s even a step-by-step process for pooping outdoors. No fret though. We’re here to share with you everything you need to know about pooping outdoors!
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Preparing for Pooping Outdoors
Obviously, pooping outdoors isn’t as easy as flipping a lid on a toilet and sitting down. You have to prepare for the bathroom. When heading outside, whether on a run, hike, or wild camping in the great outdoors, you should have a grab bag of goodies for pooping outside.
These are things you must have to poop outdoors… We recommend keeping the following in a belt like this that stores all your pooping outside necessities.
A trowel is the best option for digging a hole (more on the actual hole below), but we’ll be the first to say, having a trowel with you isn’t always the case. Oftentimes, when on a run or short hike, we don’t have a trowel with us, and instead we’ll simply use nature when nature calls. Fallen branches and rocks work for digging a hole when you’re in a total pinch!
Make sure to follow the digging a hole steps below to ensure proper outdoor pooping technique!
How to Poop Outdoors in 10 Easy Steps
Pooping Outdoors Step One | find a private place
When going to the bathroom in nature, you’ll want to find a place that’s private, away from trails and roads, and also 200 feet from water sources. Not only do you want the place to be private, but you’ll also want easy ground to dig in. We like to poop outdoors behind trees for that extra added protection.
Step Two | dig a poop hole
In the ideal world, you have a trowel like this with you to use for digging a hole. However, we know that pooping outdoors, especially with Crohn’s, doesn’t always happen in an ideal world. Nonetheless, dig a hole with a stick, rock, or trowel at least 6 inches deep.
The six inches will allow your poop to not be dug up by people’s dogs or other animals, while also helping it decompose faster.
Again, we know that sometimes pooping outdoors is a sudden urge. In those cases, if you can’t dig a hole prior to pooping, dig one after. Then bury your poop and the debris you pooped on in your six inch hole.
Step Three | deep squat over the hole
I’m laughing writing those words. Yes, I did just say to deep squat, and I may just add aim into the hole. Did you know a deep squat actually makes pooping less stressful on your body?! Get into that deep squat, make sure your wiping goodies are nearby, and enjoy a stress-free poop right into the hole you just dug!
Step Four | clean your bum + set aside TP
If you’re on the trail, or in nature for multiple days, we recommend wiping with a wet wipe. Using a wet wipe keeps your backside a bit cleaner than just using toilet paper, especially on a camping trip. Just make sure they’re unscented wet wipes, so you don’t have to have them in a bear-proof storage container.
Now, you won’t always have a wet wipe, so you can use just regular toilet paper here too. Or better yet, use nature as toilet paper. In fact, this plant is literally called nature’s toilet paper, and is fantastic for wiping. Smooth, clean, and easy on the tush!
You can also use any other rock, leaves, or grass you find. Just be sure it’s not poison oak.. that would be terrible!
If you use nature’s toilet paper (the plant), leaves, grass, or rocks, you can bury that with your poop. Otherwise, PACK OUT YOUR TOILET PAPER!
Again, pack out your toilet paper when pooping outdoors. More on that in the next step!
Step Five | bury your poop
The only thing you should be burying is your poop. And I suppose leaves or rocks you used for wiping when you don’t have toilet paper. Do not leave your toilet paper behind. It does not decompose quickly and nobody wants to see poop-streaked toilet paper flying in the wind or stuck in a tree when they’re hiking.
Use the dirt you dug out for your poop hole to cover and bury your poop.
Step Six | stack an, “I pooped here tower”
While this isn’t completely necessary, we like to add a little rock fortress marking our territory after pooping outdoors. This not only helps prevent animals from digging up our poop, it also tells other outdoor poopers that spot is taken! Or at least we like to think stacking a few rocks and or twigs alerts others to not uncover our poop!
Obviously, don’t make a big huge rock tower, that wouldn’t really be practicing leave no trace principles, but do stack a few rocks or sticks, just for good measure.
Step Seven | put toilet paper in a resealable baggie
Do not leave toilet paper behind. Carry it out with a bag.
Remember the resealable baggie from the list of things you need for pooping outdoors? This is where it comes in handy. You certainly don’t want dirty toilet paper floating around in your backpack, van, or bag. Instead, grab use a resealable baggie, preferably one that’s not see-through, and carry your toilet paper out with you. You can also use regular a regular ziplock bag and put duct tape over them to create a non-see-through bag.
We’ve used old coffee bags to mask the smell of used toilet paper, and they seem to work well. Otherwise, you can wrap your human waste-smeared toilet paper with a square of clean toilet paper, so you don’t have to see used toilet paper each time you use the bathroom outdoors again.
Ladies, if you’re on your period.. pack out your pad and tampons. DO NOT LEAVE FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS IN NATURE.. It’s freaking gross and nobody wants to see that. Nor do they decompose at any relatively quick rate.
Step Eight | sanitize after pooping outdoors
Handy dandy hand sanitizer.. popular to those pooping outdoors long before the newest pandemic hit the world. Hand sanitizer is your trusted friend when going to the bathroom in nature. It really doesn’t have to be as dirty as it seems!
Step Nine | act like you weren’t just pooping outdoors
Get back on the trail. Walk back to your van. Carry on on your road trip. Head back to camp.. wherever you’re returning to, do so confidently. Your poop is properly buried. Your hands are sanitized. And, you’re unloaded and ready to take on the day ahead of you!
Everyone poops, and you just did so in the correct way, respecting both nature and those around you, so own it and be proud.
Step Ten | throw away used toilet paper
Upon returning to civilization, throw away your bag of used toilet paper. This is not something you want to forget about and find in your car or backpack later down the road! Be sure to throw it away in a proper trashcan… and you’re good to go!
Successfully Pooping Outdoors
There you have it. Ten easy steps to properly pooping outdoors. It’s not as bad as it sounds, right!? I’d argue that once you start pooping outdoors, you’ll actually prefer it!
You’ll use less water. You’ll have the freedom to go anywhere in nature you want. And you’re being responsible and respectful in the outdoors by following these ten steps.
Tips for Ladies Peeing Outdoors
Wide Squat
If you don’t have to poop and instead just need to pee outdoors, make sure you have a wide squat. Pee splatters pretty easily, and it’s the worst when it splatters up on your clothes or shoes…Not that we know from experience or anything 😉
Find Absorbent Ground
If you can, instead of peeing on rocks or other hard surfaces, pee on moss, pine needles, or even in sand. Also, try and control your pee to pee slower than normal. This minimizes the splatter effect, and helps your pee not trickle into a big puddle!
Tuck in Pants, Strings, and Shoe Laces
You don’t want anything getting in the way when peeing outdoors. Make sure all clothing and shoe bits are tucked in so you don’t splatter or your pee doesn’t trickle down onto your personal belongings.
Pro Tip: Pee Perpendicular to the Hill
Be mindful of even the smallest hill or uneven ground when peeing outside. Just like water, your pee will find the easiest path downhill and will create a stream right to your shoes or whatever else is downhill from where you squat.
Dig a Hole if Possible
No, we don’t always dig a hole when peeing in nature. However, if it’s in a popular, well-frequented spot, especially one that doesn’t get much rain, we try and dig a hole first.
Nobody wants to step in your pee and then track your pee into their car. And, likewise, nobody wants to smell your dried pee on a sunny day or put their blanket in your pee for a picnic.
If possible, dig a hole, and always pee 200 feet away from streams, small rivers, and freshwater sources.
More on Camping and The Great Outdoors
Rules to Follow for Camping for Free
Must Sleep Places Before You Die
Most Scenic Drives Around the World
Know Others Who Poop Outdoors? Share This Post Here!
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