Bush Cloth
A Bush Cloth is essentially reusable toilet paper for drying off after peeing in the backcountry. The front is a soft suede cloth which is used to pat yourself dry. The back is a waterproof layer with a cool pattern to keep your hands dry and clean.
Why use one?
In the back country most of us carry toilet paper for use in long drops and try to shake it off, or drip dry when we stop to pee on the side of the trail. The “shake it off” method works great if you are only out for a day trip, but on longer tramps this becomes a hygiene issue. Using a Bush Cloth is a great way to keep yourself clean and cut back on toilet paper usage.
Kiwi Ultralight Bush Cloths come in multiple colours & patterns. You can choose for it to be shipped with a mini carabiner or retractable cable with mini carabiner for attaching it to your pack.
Weight: 15g with mini carabiner or 25g with retractable cable and mini carabiner.
Bush Cloth FAQ
How do I use a Bush Cloth?
Pee as per your usual method. Pat yourself dry using the soft suede cloth side of the Bush Cloth (hold onto the waterproof side to keep your hands clean). You do not want to wipe with a Bush Cloth in the traditional way - this cloth is for drying urine only! Then hang the Bush Cloth from your pack so that it can evaporate dry.
But isn’t that a bit gross?
It can seem a little weird at first, but after a couple of tries most people find that they feel much cleaner using a Bush Cloth than the traditional “shake it off” method. The cloth is made of quick dry, moisture wicking fabric and will dry out very quickly. In addition to this the sun’s UV rays will help sterilise the cloth. If you really don’t like the idea of having your Bush Cloth touch your pack then you can use the snaps to fold it in half and keep the suede side in - however this will not dry out as quickly.
How do I wash it?
On a multiday trip we recommend you rinse the cloth out every evening (just water is fine) and hang it out to dry. Once you get home you can throw it in the washing machine with the rest of your gear (cold wash, line dry).
What if it's raining?
If your Bush Cloth gets wet hanging from your pack on a rainy day - congratulations - you now have a wet wipe. You can still use it in the same way, it won’t have such a drying effect, but it will still keep you nice and clean. Once the sun comes back out, give it a good squeeze to get rid of excess rainwater, and it will dry out quickly.
Using a retractable cable
Some people like to pee with their pack on. If this is something you like to do, then I recommend you grab the retractable cable add-on for your cloth. Attach the Bush Cloth to your pack via the retractable cable. Then you can squat and pee, reach behind and grab the cloth, pull it to where you need it, dry yourself off and let it go. The cable will move the Bush Cloth back to its drying position on your pack. No need to take your pack off at all.
Can I use a Bush Cloth for anything else?
There are plenty of alternative uses for a clean cloth. Feel free to also use it as a washcloth, pot scrubber, sweat rag, handkerchief or anything else you can think of.
International Shipping
For shipping outside of New Zealand and Australia please contact us for a shipping estimate.