In most places that sell backpacking/camping supplies you can buy an orange plastic trowel for $2-3.

If $2-3 is not low budget enough for you, Fiskars makes a transplanting trowel that is black with an orange tip on the handle. To me it seems to be just a little stronger with a bit more comfortable handle than the typical orange plastic backpacker trowel. I have been using one in my pack for the past few years. You can usually find them in the garden section of your local whateverMart type store. Price is about $1. I just picked up a spare at the local drug store as end of season clearance for 50 cents. (Wife cannot complain much about a new peice of gear that costs less than $1.)

I have used one for a few years in the garden for it's intended purpose. Works well for that too.

They are 11 inches long and weigh 2.9 oz on my postal scales. The orange backpacker plastic trowels are 11 inches and around 2 oz.

Anyway, it is a great low-budget piece of gear. If you just have to have a new bit of gear and only have pocket change, check out the garden supplies. Lots of that stuff is going on sale this time of the year.

I have several of the Fiskars trowels. The handle is hollow. If you pull off the orange plug, you have a small cylindrical compartment. It is just the right size for a small roll of toilet paper! I don't think that it is waterproof. I haven't taken the time to test it, however. BTW, I made a small hole in the part of the plug that is inside the handle. I tied a piece of carpet thread to the plug & the toilet paper so it (the toilet paper) can be pulled out when you remove the plug.

You can laugh if you want..... <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Were you aware that you can re-roll TP onto a plastic drinking straw? Dab a bit of glue (cheap glue sticks are okay) onto the straw, then start rolling to the size you want.

Next time, I'm sticking the straw onto a drill bit and doing it faster...

Sue

Yes, BUT (no pun intended) the plug extends into the handle about 5/8". If you are not careful, the roll could get stuck in the handle, in 5/8" from the end, requiring needle-nose pliers ( or very thin fingers) for removal. I wrap the thread around the tp, & it slides out when the plug is removed.