Review

Okay, it’s time to drop the bomb. The Deuce of Spades lightweight backpacking trowel is one of those items which while not always necessary, makes those backcountry bathroom moments so much easier.

Why Deuce of Spades?

I used to use a tent stake to dig cat holes when nature called, but a friend recommended the Deuce of Spades trowel to speed things up and I haven’t looked back. Using a tent stake would take a long time and as soon as I hit a root I’d either spend more time hacking away at it with the tent peg, or have to dig another hole elsewhere. The Deuce of Spades trowel features a thin, serrated edge for cutting through roots, a circular design for cutting perfectly round holes and it’s very lightweight at just 17g. At such a low weight to how useful it is, it was a great product to have with me on my weekend hikes as well as the Rota Vicentina and the Pacific Crest Trail.

How well does it work?

Compared to my tent stake, so much more effective and saves a lot of time. It is that added bit of weight though. There’s also no way the Deuce of Spades will make such short work than with the end of an ice axe either if you’re carrying one. But it’s a brilliant bit of kit for every other scenario.

Value for money

At around the £20 mark for us over the pond it’s not the cheapest solution to your cat hole digging needs, but it is one of the lightest and most effective. If you’re wanting a multi-purpose option and looking for a tent stake which also makes a very good trowel, go for a MSR Blizzard stake. This will double up as a very good tent stake and also a trowel.

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