Staying clean and going to the toilet in remote areas isn’t always easy! At Paddy Pallin, we stock an extensive range of toiletries and bathroom products to help make your outdoor adventures more comfortable and environmentally friendly. From portable showers to biodegradable soaps, lightweight toiletry bags to toilet trowels, Paddy Pallin has you covered.

FAQs

How do I keep clean while camping but protect the environment?

You don’t need lots of water to stay clean when remote camping. A damp cloth removes most grime from a day's hiking. Use quick-drying microfibre towels that are easy to rinse clean. You can also use wet wipes, but carry out any waste with you. Even biodegradable wet wipes take months to break down. Use a folding wash bucket. Smaller ones are great for washing yourself, dishes and small items of clothing. You can also use a portable camping shower. Options include hanging bags with shower nozzles through to pump-pressure showers. Use a concentrated biodegradable soap and shampoo in either liquid or leaf form. With a soap concentrate, a little goes a long way! To use soap leaves, make sure your hands are completely dry before removing them from the package. Mix a little water in your hands to create a liquid soap, then it’s good to use. Empty dirty water onto the ground or into a small pit at least 100 m from water sources. Biodegradable soaps and washes can harm fish and water life, so keep these out of streams and lakes. Also, when brushing your teeth, treat it the same as poop - spit into a cathole and cover it up. Paddy Pallin stocks a wide range of products for your camping bathroom, including environmentally friendly soaps, quick-drying towels, portable camping showers and folding wash buckets.

How do I wash my clothing while remote camping?

Use a dry bag or folding wash bucket for your laundry. Choose something that has enough space to slosh your clothing around and get it properly clean. Biodegradable soaps and washes can harm fish and water life, so never wash your clothing in a stream or lake. Roll your wet clothing inside a microfibre towel and twist to squeeze out excess water. This works better than hand wringing and is less damaging to your clothing. Empty dirty water onto the ground or into a small pit at least 100 m from water sources. You can find environmentally friendly soaps and folding wash buckets at Paddy Pallin.

Which brands of camping showers and folding wash buckets does Paddy Pallin sell? 

We carry portable camping showers, shower adaptors and folding wash buckets for all your outdoor activities from brands such as Nemo, Katadyn and Sea To Summit.

Can I turn my water bladder into a shower?

Yes, you can! If you have a Katadyn Camp series water storage bladder, you can buy a shower adaptor from Paddy Pallin that will convert it into a lightweight, portable camping shower.

How do I safely carry shampoo and conditioner for hiking and travel?

You can buy packaged mini shampoos and conditioners, or even combination products. You can also find soap leaves for a compact and lightweight wash. Sea To Summit makes great biodegradable soaps and washes. Otherwise, pack your favourite products into handy, durable containers from brands like Human Gear, Nalgene and Coghlans. Make sure you read any instructions about what products can and can’t be used in them. Visit Paddy Pallin to find storage containers for shampoo, conditioner and other toiletry essentials.

Does Paddy Pallin stock environmentally friendly soaps and washes? 

We sure do! We carry Sea To Summit’s range of biodegradable soaps and washes for bathing, washing and cleaning.

What is the best way to carry my toiletries?

Toiletries get wet and sometimes they’re spiky. You want to carry them in a lightweight but strong bag that protects what’s inside from each other and everything in your travel bag. A dry bag is a great option. But if you want to find things more easily or separate them, use a lightweight toiletry bag instead. Look for leak proof ways to store liquids, such as shampoo and sunscreen, and only carry what you need for your trip. Some liquid products work best inside squeezy tubes and containers, while others pour easily out of tough storage bottles. Use caps on toothbrushes and spiky items for protection. Paddy Pallin supplies a range of options for storing and carrying your toiletry items for your next adventure.

Does Paddy Pallin stock lightweight toiletry bags?

Yes, we do! At Paddy Pallin you can find lightweight toiletry bags and rolls from brands such as Sea To Summit.

How do I go to the toilet in remote areas but still protect the environment?

Always pee or poop at least 100 metres from any water sources. Use a trowel, stick or heel of your boot to dig a poop cathole at least 15 cm deep and wide. Cover the hole with plenty of soil to help break down waste and toilet paper. A little water helps the process if you can spare it. At night-time or where the environment is fragile, you can also use a pee bottle. Clean your hands afterwards with water or hand sanitiser. Leave as little waste in the bush as possible. Use as little toilet paper as you can. We don’t recommend burning used toilet paper as there is a high risk of starting a bushfire. Wet wipes are a convenient alternative to toilet paper, but they aren’t environmentally friendly. Never bury wet wipes as they don’t decompose. Even biodegradable wet wipes take months to break down. Follow Leave No Trace principles and pack out used toilet paper and wet wipes with you. And if you’re going to the toilet in a remote national park, pack out your poop as well. Check out brands like Metolius, Sea To Summit, Helinox and Coghlan's at Paddy Pallin for remote camping toilet and backcountry waste disposal products. For more information on how to pee and poop in the bush, check out this detailed guide from Trailspace. 

What products help women and people who can’t squat to pee in the bush?

Sometimes you need to pee while standing, maybe at a festival or in the snow or it’s not private enough to drop your trousers. Try using a female urination device (FUD) or pee funnel. These are designed to slip into the fly of your trousers so you can pee while standing. They are made of plastic or silicon, so are hygienic and easy to shake dry, wipe off or rinse after use. It takes time to get used to using a pee funnel, so practice at home before peeing at a festival or in the bush. It’s not always practical to carry lots of toilet paper on a long hike. Wet wipes are convenient but not environmentally friendly. Packing out waste costs space and weight in your backpack. Drip-drying or shaking after peeing isn’t a practical or hygienic option. A pee rag or pee cloth is a great alternative to toilet paper that is environmentally friendly, easy to use and lightweight. This is a reusable cloth that helps you stay fresh and dry. You can use a scrap of fabric, but manufactured options have antimicrobial treatments, absorbent materials, waterproof backing fabrics and hanging loops. After use, hang your pee rag to dry on your backpack, where sunlight helps kill bacteria. To wash, use clean water or add a little biodegradable soap. Check out this guide to using a pee rag from Leave No Trace. Check out brands like Kula Cloth, GoGirl and Whiz at Paddy Pallin for camping toilets and on-the-go pee products. For more information on how to pee and manage feminine hygiene in the bush, read this guide from Trailspace. 

How do I protect myself from ticks and mosquitoes?

DEET is considered the best chemical insect repellent against a wide range of biting insects, ticks, fleas and leeches. Brands such as Bushman and RID use DEET as an insect repellent. The percentage concentration of DEET in a product relates to how long it will last, not how effective it is. Some insect repellents, like RID, also help keep flies away. Chemical insect repellents work best when applied directly to clothing. You can buy clothing treated with an insect repellent at Paddy Pallin, such as our Sea To Summit and Equip head nets and Royal Robbins clothing. You can also apply a wash-in permethrin insect repellent treatment for your clothing. You can buy insect repellents, wash-in insect repellent treatments and insect-repellent treated clothing at Paddy Pallin. We also stock mosquito nets for your bed with and without permethrin insect repellent treatment.