Best Portable Bidets for Backpacking of 2023

JUMP TO: CULOCLEAN ULTRALIGHT PORTABLE BIDET | HAPPY BOTTOM PORTABLE BIDET | HOLEY HIKER BACKPACKING BIDET | BRONDELL GS-70 GOSPA TRAVEL BIDET | BUYING ADVICE  | COMMON QUESTIONS

Author: Steve Edgerton | Updated: Oct 10, 2023
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The Short Version

The Long Version

Including a portable bidet in your backpacking kit may seem odd to the uninitiated, but there is a reason the most experienced of backpackers assert that the bidet is the way. Ditching good old toilet paper for a portable bidet brings numerous benefits. They are less wasteful. They are more effective. And, perhaps best of all, no more packing out used TP. 

 

If you have a bidet, you’ll be able to hike with the confidence of knowing you’ll never run out of ways to wipe your ass.

 

From compact and ultralight options to models with extendable nozzles and purpose-built bottles, the market for portable bidets has grown significantly as backpackers and travelers begin to catch on to their benefits. In this article, we review our picks for the top portable bidets specifically for backpacking and thru-hiking.

If you love reading this review of the best portable bidets, then you'll likely love reading some of our other hiking and backpacking content:

 

Need To Know What To Look Out For?

Still not convinced about the portable bidet, or just unsure what option is right for you?  Our buying advice at the bottom of the article details how to include them in your backpacking kit, and what features you should look out for.

 

WEIGHT: 0.42 oz / 11.9 g

TYPE: Nozzle

PRICE: $

PROS: Ultralight, durable, compatible with almost every plastic water bottle

CONS: No bottle included (but can be purchased with one)

The CuloClean Ultralight Portable Bidet is a discreet, versatile, and effective ticket to the cleanest trail butt you’ve ever experienced. 

This thing is tiny and weighs a mere fraction of an ounce. It will screw onto any standard disposable plastic water bottle with ease and water pressure is simply manipulated by squeezing the bottle. There is no seal in the spout, which may potentially be a problem if you want to carry it secured onto a full water bottle. But we find that it does not leak unless noticeable pressure is applied to the bottle.

Unlike some portable bidets, the CuloClean is light on features and does not normally come with a dedicated bottle since it is easy enough to swap out your recyclable plastic water bottle whenever necessary. If you’d prefer a dedicated bottle though, it can be purchased with one.

The CuloClean is extremely light, durable, and reliable. This little portable bidet will perform well pretty much forever and is our top pick for managing your business in the backcountry.

Best Overall Runner-Up: HAPPY BOTTOM PORTABLE BIDET

WEIGHT: 2.8 oz / 79.4 g

TYPE: Nozzle and bottle

PRICE: $$

PROS: Extendable nozzle, water pressure easy to manipulate with included bottle

CONS: Heavy, long nozzle stem is bulky to pack

In contrast to the minimalist approach of the CuloClean, the Happy Bottom Portable Bidet is a full-featured package. It includes its own water bottle, a travel bag, and an extendable nozzle. 

We appreciate the all-in-one approach to the Happy Bottom bidet. There is no worrying about remembering an extra water bottle. Extra details, like the long, extendable nozzle stem and high-pressure sprayer head, make it easy to use and super effective. 

The primary downsides of the Happy Bottom are its weight and versatility. Including the bidet, bottle, and bag, it weighs 2.8 oz compared to an ounce or less for a CuloClean and disposable bottle combo. The added features and bottle are great performance-wise, but do ultimately introduce more failure points. 

So, although the CuloClean wins out for versatility and durability, the Happy Bottom is the best portable bidet if ease of use and effectiveness are top priorities.

WEIGHT: 0.24 oz / 7 g

TYPE: Nozzle

PRICE: $

PROS: Extremely light and packable

CONS: Less intuitive, removing from bottle can be difficult

The Holey Hiker Backpacking Bidet is surely the lightest portable bidet ever made. It is the brainchild of Paul Bogush, a thru-hiker who set out to perfect a light and functional bidet specifically for backpackers.

Available in various colors, all Holey Hiker bidets are 3D printed (at Paul’s home shop) from ABS plastic and weigh 0.24 oz—about the same as a single quarter. Like the CuloClean, it is intended to work with any disposable water bottle. But instead of working like a screw top, the Holey Hiker is more like a cork pushed into the top of a water bottle.

This design effectively prevents leakage and facilitates decent water pressure, but it can sometimes be challenging to pop out of your bottle, which is a potential source of frustration. The spray head is not quite as effective or intuitive as more substantial bidets, but ultralighters will find little to complain about: this thing gets the job done while weighing next to nothing and is made in the US by a cool cottage brand.

WEIGHT: 3.2 oz / 90.7 g

TYPE: Nozzle and bottle

PRICE: $

PROS: Affordable, easy to use, versatile nozzle

CONS: Heavy

The Brondell GS-70 GoSpa Travel Bidet was not designed specifically for backpackers, but it nevertheless is a strong option for backcountry hygiene.

This affordable nozzle/bottle combination is effective and easy to use. The bottle includes a handy airlock to make it easy to manage water pressure, and the nozzle is also compatible with most plastic water bottles which adds some much-appreciated versatility.

The only real limitation of the Brondell is its weight. At 3.2 oz, it is heavier than the Happy Bottom, despite having a shorter and non-extendable nozzle stem. However, the Brondell mostly makes up for that with superior packability as the nozzle packs neatly into its own bottle. All said, the Brondell GS-70 GoSpa is the most packable and affordable nozzle/bottle portable bidet combo, and a great option for travel or backpacking.

BUYING ADVICE FOR PORTABLE BIDETS

As far as backpacking gear goes, portable bidets are relatively straightforward. Most models operate and perform similarly, but there are two different designs with some distinguishing characteristics.

Types of Portable Bidets

Portable bidets fall into one of two broad categories. There are nozzle-only bidets and nozzle and bottle bidets.

NOZZLE ONLY: Nozzle-only bidets, like those from CuloClean and Holey Hiker are the lightest and simplest option. Most weigh less than an ounce and secure onto a plastic water bottle. Nozzle-only bidets are simple, packable, and reliable, making them the preferred choice for many thru-hikers and ultralight backpackers.

NOZZLE AND BOTTLE: Nozzle/bottle portable bidets, like the Happy Bottom and Brondell GS-70 GoSpa, are heavier than nozzle-only bidets. Dedicated bottles and nozzle stems add weight, but have some additional benefits, too. The stem makes them easier to use and the included bottles tend to be more durable and provide better water pressure. If weight and packability are not top concerns, they can definitely be worth it.

 

Nozzle-only bidets, like the CuloClean Ultralight Portable Bidet are the lightest and simplest option.

 

Portable Bidets vs. Toilet Paper

Many folks from Western countries have never even seen a bidet, let alone used one themselves. Which is a shame. Because they beat out toilet paper by just about every metric, especially while backpacking. Bidets are more hygienic and less wasteful. And, unlike toilet paper, if you have a bidet, you’ll be able to hike with the confidence of knowing you’ll never run out of ways to wipe your ass. 

Portable bidets make it easier to practice Leave No Trace ethics: no more packing out used toilet paper! That alone should be enough of a selling point.

How to Use a Portable Bidet

Let’s all just begin by admitting that there is simply no dignified way to squat in the woods and spray down your butt crack with a blast of water. We suggest embracing the ridiculousness—and perhaps practicing your aim once or twice at home.

A portable bidet can replace toilet paper entirely. Or you can still carry a small roll to help dry up and finish the job. We like pairing the portable bidet with a Kula Reusable Pee Cloth for an entirely zero-waste setup.

 

Our top pick, the CuloClean Ultralight Portable Bidet, can be purchased with hygiene bags for your toilet kit and any used TP – so you have no excuse but to practice Leave No Trace ethics!

 

COMMON QUESTIONS

What are the benefits of using a portable bidet for backpacking? Using a portable bidet instead of toilet paper while backpacking brings several benefits. Bidets are less wasteful, more effective at cleaning, and eliminate the need to pack out used toilet paper.

What is the best portable bidet for backpacking? The CuloClean Ultralight Portable Bidet is the best choice for backpacking. It is ultralight, durable, and compatible with almost every plastic water bottle. While it doesn't come with a dedicated bottle, its simplicity and reliability make it the best option for backcountry use.

Are portable bidets easy to use? Portable bidets are usually extremely simple and intuitive, but getting the technique right may take you a couple of tries. Most models feature a nozzle that can be easily directed for effective cleaning and a bottle that can be squeezed to achieve varying levels of water pressure.

Are portable bidets more sustainable? Portable bidets are a low-impact, Leave No Trace alternative to toilet paper. By using water for cleaning, they help reduce the amount of waste you create and will need to pack out while hiking.

MORE INFORMATION

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