My orange trowel, which held a prominent position in my toilet kit, broke as it dug into the root-infested soil on a fall canoe trip.

I’ve been looking for a replacement ever since and although the trowel is not intended for gardening (my paddling friends would jokingly disagree stating that we help to fertilize the soil), I thought I would search a gardening store for the ultimate trowel.

Trowels are the most important component of every toilet kit, however toilet paper comes in at a close second. Have you seen how people go nuts on long canoe trips when you start running low on toilet paper? I remember trading in two squares for a Snickers bar.

The trowel is also an important part of low-impact camping practices. I’ve seen far too many disgusting campsites littered with toilet paper flowers. Practicing low-impact camping is not only the right thing to do, but best for the health and safety of other canoeists who will visit that campsite. For more information how-to do a number-two dump in the woods, check out the latest issue of Canoeroots where Leave No Trace instructor Mike Allen gives us his expert tips in the article, “Up the Creek Without a Trowel”

So in my search for the ultimate toilet kit trowel, I found two contenders, both from Lee Valley Tools—the ergonomic garden trowel and the hand-forged Dutch transplant trowel, which I’m sure you’ll dig (pun intended).

The Ergonomic Garden Trowel

Some of us have to dig more than others. So if you don’t want sore wrists from too much digging, this tool is perfect for you. It’s cleverly designed to let your joints sit in a natural position and allows your strongest muscles do all the work. The blade is made out of super tough aluminum-magnesium alloy and comes with a lifetime warranty. $12.50. www.leevalley.com

The transplant trowel

Lee Valley calls this one the workhorse. It has well-sharpened edges for cutting into tough roots in the soil. This 6-inch trowel is hand-forged in the Netherlands by a small family that has been handcrafting tools for three generations. Each tool is forged from high quality stainless steel and has smooth ash or beech handles. $45. www.leevalley.com

Check out the latest issue of Canoeroots online in a digital edition. Canoeroots magazine is currently in the mail for subscribers and retailers.