Gear I Hold Dear: My Kula Cloth 

My husband and son are avid backpackers. Last August, they set out with their packs and trekked 30 miles inside Yosemite National Park. They saw deer, foxes, wildflowers, salamanders, streams and lakes along the way. But the most valuable part of the trip was the time they spent together. There were games of UNO, ghost stories, sing-alongs and even newly invented camp recipes. My son is 15, so these precious moments are few and far between—and, truth be told, I was jealous. I love the outdoors, and I love time with my family even more. There’s just one thing that keeps me from venturing out on those backpacking trips with them: the bathroom situation. 

While the men in my family are comfortable relieving themselves off-trail, I find it more difficult—and not just because of the mechanics required to get the job done. Keeping clean is just as important. (We have a bidet at home, and it happens to be the thing I miss most when I’m away.) It’s not just important to be clean. I want to feel clean. Comfort and good hygiene are essential for me when hiking and backpacking. I don’t do the drip-dry method and carrying around (and packing out) a bunch of toilet paper is cumbersome. All of this held me back from backcountry excursions and, more importantly, from spending quality time with my son outside. So, when I finally discovered the Kula Cloth shortly after the missed Yosemite trip, it was heaven-sent and worth the $20 price tag.

Related reading: How to Go the Bathroom in the Woods 

Kula Cloth is a reusable, antimicrobial pee cloth for anyone who, like me, squats to pee. An alternative to conventional toilet paper, this palm-sized cloth means less TP to have on your person—and pack out (or, if appropriate, bury in a cathole) later. If you spend much time outdoors, you know that Leave No Trace principles state to leave only footprints. My Kula Cloth makes that a whole lot easier. 

Related reading: Leave No Trace Seven Principles

After peeing, I simply use the Kula Cloth to wipe away any excess moisture. The cloth has two sides, which I like. You pat with the dimpled absorbent side, which is infused with antimicrobial silver ions to keep harmful bacteria at bay. (You may have seen similar technology in activewear, since a lot of companies use silver ions to keep working clothes from getting stinky.) The reverse side is waterproof, keeping your hands dry while you take care of business. When I’m not using my cloth, I secure it to the outside of my backpack by its attached loop, allowing it to air dry. If I want to be more discreet, I fold it in half and snap it shut before hanging it from my pack. And I don’t have to worry about stains, even on my period. The black absorbent fabric helps camouflage anything left behind.  

Related reading: Backpacking with Your Period 

My first Kula Cloth experience happened while my family and I hiked several miles to camp for an overnight. At about mile four, I needed to pee. I used my trekking pole to stabilize myself as I squatted behind a tree to do my business. Then, I used the Kula Cloth as I would a piece of toilet paper. On the trail, wet clothes and skin are your worst enemy. It causes chaffing and is just plain uncomfortable. The Kula Cloth left me feeling cleaner and dryer than trail toilet paper. And I welcomed the cloth’s softness—if you’ve ever used cheap, 1-ply paper on a trek you know how luxe a gentle cloth would feel. 

I also appreciate the reflective threads on the cloth, which makes answering nature’s call in the middle of the night with nothing but a flashlight or headlamp easy. Plus, these cloths come in multiple fun prints that look cute on your pack. 

I’ve also found other uses for the Kula Cloth off-trail. As an avid festivalgoer, I’ve found my pee cloth comes in handy when using Porta Potties. I also keep one in the car during road trips, for rest-stop bathrooms lacking toilet paper.  

You might be asking: Can I use the same pee cloth for multiple bathroom trips? The answer is yes. If you’re on an overnight trip, cleaning the Kula Cloth between uses is unnecessary. But if you are traveling for a few days, you should hand-wash it with a biodegradable soap (like Dr. Bronner’s) and let it air dry. You also might wonder, “Can’t I just use a bandana?” You could, but it wouldn’t have the antimicrobial, nonstaining properties of the Kula Cloth. Nor would it snap shut, have the same absorbent capabilities or be as straightforward to pack out. 

The freedom that my reusable pee cloth gave me allowed me to spend worry-free time with my family and be present for some incredible lifelong memories, like watching every sunset and sunrise, birding along rustic trails and eating over open fires. Sure, the Kula Cloth isn’t an essential piece of gear. Nor is it the flashiest, techiest item in my pack. But its presence has helped me find better footing outside. And the feeling of enjoying a worry-free weekend in nature with my son is priceless.