Again in 2014, I spent 22 days mountaineering the John Muir Path. Previous to that, the longest backpacking journey I had been on was 5 days, so there was lots I didn’t know.
A type of issues was realizing how you can take care of peeing and wiping on the path. Utilizing bathroom paper and packing it out was not possibility since I’d have to hold a ridiculous quantity of TP for 22 days. So it appeared the one sensible factor to do was to drip dry.
Now let me be actual. Drip drying for 22 days and not using a correct bathe left me feeling completely disgusting down there. What was I considering?!?
A number of years later I used to be backpacking in Alaska and my backpacking information taught me the trick of utilizing a small quick-dry washcloth or bandana to wipe after peeing. It was a sport changer in comparison with drip drying or coping with packing out bathroom paper, however this methodology nonetheless had some limitations. I didn’t like touching that washcloth with my arms, and after one use the rag felt fairly soiled.
Shortly after that have, I found the Kula Fabric, which solved each single one in every of my backcountry peeing woes. The Kula Fabric is a reusable pee material with a clear and soiled aspect that attaches to the surface of your backpack. It’s manufactured from an ultra-absorbant, anti-microbial materials, and you’ll rinse it off within the backcountry or throw it within the washer while you get dwelling.
It’s turn into one in every of my most beloved items of substances for sustaining my hygiene on the path, and even on day hikes, I all the time be certain that to throw one in my pack. So on this submit I’ll share what it’s, how you can use it and why I adore it a lot.
And for these of you women who’re satisfied, I’m thrilled to share that I’ve collaborated with Kula to create a customized Bearfoot Concept x Kula Fabric. It contains a cosmic mountain scene with a bear (after all) chilling by the water, and I really like the way it turned out!
This submit might comprise affiliate hyperlinks.
What’s a Kula Fabric?
Key Options
The place to purchase
A Kula Fabric is a reusable, antimicrobial pee material designed for girls who pee exterior. It has a entrance (clear) aspect with a wide range of cute designs and a again (soiled) aspect that you simply use to wipe.
The again aspect could be very absorbent and manufactured from an antimicrobial material that dries in a short time. The black material can be tender and dimpled with a reflective thread sewn into it, so you’ll be able to simply discover it at evening with a headlamp.
While you’re achieved peeing, you merely use the black aspect of the Kula Fabric to dab your self clear. Afterward, you need to use the snaps to fold the Kula Fabric in half with the soiled aspect in, after which the entire thing snaps to the surface of your pack.
For day hikes, you need to use it a number of instances all through the day with out having to fret about rinsing it off. For a multi-day journey, you’ll be able to collect water from a stream to rinse it off, after which while you get dwelling, the Kula Fabric could be totally washed with cleaning soap and water within the sink or in a washer.
I’ve been obsessive about Kula Fabric for years, and now if I overlook mine at dwelling, I dread having to drip dry. I can’t imagine I did that for thus a few years and can by no means return to not utilizing a Kula Fabric.
For that cause, it’s one in every of my day mountaineering necessities that by no means leaves my pack apart from when it’s within the washer.
You should use the Kula Fabric in any wilderness setting for mountaineering, tenting, and backpacking, however you may as well use it at dwelling, in porta-potties, and even at music festivals when the bathroom paper runs out.
Utilizing a pee rag can be a solution to comply with Depart No Hint tips. It’s a simple bathroom paper substitute and may scale back the quantity of bathroom paper that’s left behind within the wild (accidently or not). It additionally eliminates the necessity for a Ziploc bag in my backpack to pack out used bathroom paper.
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Kula Fabric Professionals and Cons
The Kula Fabric has a lot of execs and actually just one con I can consider. Listed below are among the issues I like and dislike about utilizing this pee rag on my hikes.
Kula Fabric Professionals
Kula Fabric Cons
Why Use a Kula Fabric vs. a Bandana?
Bandanas don’t comprise the identical anti-microbial and anti-odor properties because the Kula Fabric. After the pee dries in your bandana, it’s going to stink, whereas the Kula Fabric will cover all of the smells.
The Kula Fabric can be far more absorbant than a banada.
Easy methods to Use a Kula Fabric
A Kula Fabric is extraordinarily simple to make use of on the path. These step-by-step instructions stroll you thru how you can use one within the wilderness.
Easy methods to Clear a Kula Fabric
If you happen to’re utilizing a Kula Fabric for a day hike or a fast in a single day journey, you don’t want to scrub it in between makes use of (until you’d prefer to). I like to recommend washing the pee rag if it has been over 24 hours. There are a few other ways you’ll be able to clear it.
Wash by hand
The gentlest solution to wash a Kula Fabric is to take a small quantity of cleaning soap to wash it after which rinse it within the sink. Once I get dwelling from my hikes, I really take my Kula Fabric with me into the bathe and wash it in there.
For longer backpacking journeys, you’ll be able to rinse it with water or you’ll be able to scrub it with a small quantity of biodegradable cleaning soap away from pure water sources.
You then simply cling the pee rag to dry. Once I’m out mountaineering and backpacking, I’ll both cling it from a tree or the surface of my pack. It air dries actually shortly, however you may as well use it when it’s moist if you’ll want to pee earlier than it’s fully dry.
Ensure to unfold it as you’re drying it, as UV rays from the solar will assist sterilize the material.
Machine wash
Whereas hand washing is really helpful to extend the lifetime of the Kula Fabric, another choice for laundry your Kula is to throw it within the washer. Once I’m feeling lazy or I overlook to scrub it proper after I get dwelling, I simply throw it in with a load of laundry and have by no means skilled any issues.
Kula Fabric recommends closing the snap so it doesn’t get snagged on something (though I often overlook to do that and nothing has ever occurred). Additionally, don’t use material softener or bleach. Simply use your regular detergent.
Kula Fabric Efficiency
I’ve now been utilizing Kula Fabric solely for peeing within the backcountry since 2019. Earlier than I wrap up this Kula Fabric evaluation, I’ll point out some last ideas on efficiency and why I really like utilizing it.
Ease of Use
A Kula Fabric is extraordinarily simple to make use of. Once I must pee, I unsnap it from the surface of my backpack and use the black absorbent aspect to wipe. Then, I reattach it to my backpack and snap the absorbent aspect shut.
Cleanliness
Whilst you might really feel hesitant to attempt a pee rag and fear that it may be gross, I promise the Kula Fabric isn’t! In comparison with a bandana, having a clear aspect and and soiled aspect means that you can all the time wipe with one aspect and contact the opposite aspect together with your arms.
With common rinsing, my Kula Fabric has by no means smelled unhealthy. It actually lives as much as it’s promise of killing odors and being hygenic. I additionally really feel a lot cleaner down there with out having drops of pee in my underwear after drip drying.
Privateness
I by no means really feel self-conscious when utilizing my Kula Fabric as a result of the black absorbent aspect hides any mess very well. I also can use the double-snap characteristic to cover the a part of the pee material I used to wipe when it’s hooked up to my backpack.
This potential to be discreet is handy once I’m mountaineering with buddies on the path. It additionally feels much less awkward to hold a Kula Fabric again to your campsite than a wad of used bathroom paper!
Packability
The Kula Fabric is the right dimension for a day hike or in a single day backpacking journey. Because it snaps onto the surface of my backpack, I don’t have to fret about rummaging round in my pack to search for it.
Because it’s solely 5.75 x 5.5 in and weighs 0.6 oz, I convey it on each hike and backpacking journey. It additionally takes up la lot much less room than carrying a bunch of bathroom paper in a ziplock bag.
Consolation
The material of the Kula Fabric feels snug when dabbing myself dry. The material feels actually tender, and I’ve by no means skilled any irritation from utilizing it.
Design
I respect the sq. form of the material as a result of I can use a unique nook every time I must wipe. This intentional design makes the material handy to make use of a number of instances inside a day.
I additionally like the various shade and design choices on the waterproof, outer-facing aspect of the material, though I’m neutral to the Bearfoot Concept x Kula Collab design 🙂
Sturdiness
I’ve owned the identical Kula Fabric for years, and it has held up effectively. It nonetheless appears to be like nearly as good because the day that I purchased it!
I’ve washed it by hand and within the washer and dryer, and it reveals no indicators of damage or use. The seams and snaps are all intact, and the design has not light.
The place to Purchase a Kula Fabric
A Kula Fabric is small funding that can make a world of a distinction in the case of peeing exterior.
You possibly can seize the Bearfoot Concept x Kula Fabric collab proper from the Kula Fabric web site, and also you’ll get a enjoyable little shock within the bundle too!
If the Bearfoot Concept x Kula material isn’t your vibe, there are dozens of different designs to select from. I really like so a lot of them, it’s laborious to select!
Regularly Requested Questions
No. The antimicrobial Silvadur™ silver ion–infused absorbent materials doesn’t present stains. The Kula Fabric founder particularly selected black to cover urine. Interval blood that dries on it will likely be barely seen, however you need to use the snaps to maintain it folded in half so it’s not seen to others.
No. The Kula Fabric is hypoallergenic, unhazardous, nonsensitizing, and non-irritating to the pores and skin. I’ve by no means skilled any points after utilizing it.
I’m stunned how little the Kula Fabric smells after utilizing it once I’m not capable of rinse it immediately. The fabric is antimicrobial and odor-resistant. When you rinse it or wash it, there may be zero scent.
No. The entrance aspect of the material with the print is waterproof, so any liquid is not going to soak by way of onto your hand when utilizing a Kula Fabric.
Sure. Kula Fabric makes use of many natural, eco-friendly supplies manufactured and milled sustainably in the US – one more reason I really like them.
Though this methodology additionally eliminates the necessity for lavatory paper, it isn’t hygienic or snug and may result in smelly mountaineering underwear (I do know from expertise). It is usually dangerous when you’re liable to yeast infections or Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs).
Undoubtedly! For the reason that absorbent aspect is black, it hides menstrual blood. If you happen to by chance get blood on the entrance aspect, it is going to wash out with a small quantity of cleaning soap.
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Have you ever tried a Kula Fabric but? Let me know what questions you could have about this reusable pee rag within the feedback under!
