OR-TheTentLab Deuce of Spaces-Frances Penn

Dear Monitors:
 At long last, I finally had a snipet of time to write about this interesting little potty trowel from a manufacturer that is not represented on BGT.  I believe this qualifies for the monthly call for ORs.  Thanks in advance for your edits.  
 

 

 http://tinyurl.com/odnd4tk
TENTLAB DEUCE OF SPADES
BY FRANCES PENN
OR
June 05, 2015
 
TESTER INFORMATION
 
NAME: Frances Penn
EMAIL: oldhikergirl AT yahoo DOT com
AGE: 58
LOCATION: Santa Ana, California USA
GENDER: F
HEIGHT: 5' 9" (1.75 m)
WEIGHT: 130 lb (59.00 kg)
 
I have been backpacking for eight years mostly on long weekends in Southern California with two or more 5-day trips per year in the Sierras. My total daypack weight, including food and water, is usually 15 lb (7 kg) and my total backpack weight, including food and water, is usually 22-26 lb (10-12 kg) depending on the need for a bear canister.  I have converted to a tarp and bivy sleep system instead of a tent to keep my pack weight down. I have experienced all night rain, hail, heavy winds, camping in snow once, but mostly fair weather.
 
PRODUCT INFORMATION
 
Manufacturer:  TheTentLab
Year of Manufacture:  2014
Manufacturer's Website: <<HYPERLINK GOES HERE - "http://www.thetentlab.com" LINK TEXT = "www.thetentlab.com">>
MSRP: US $20 each plus $2.75 postage
Listed Weight: .6 oz (17 g)
Measured Weight: .6 oz (17 g)
Colors Available:  Black, Purple, Orange, Marigold, Blue, Green, Red
Color Tested:  Black
 <<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "IMAGE 1"  IMAGE CAPTION = "my trowel up close">>
 In my constant quest to lighten my pack, I found this ultra lightweight potty trowel and had to have one.  It is made of aerospace grade 7075-T6 aluminum and can be held by either end depending on how hard the ground is.  There is a hole at the end of the handle which can be used to fashion a rope handle, or to hang it or tie it to your pack as desired.  Honestly, I haven't found a use for the hole and it doesn't affect the function of the trowel.
 <<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "IMAGE 2"  IMAGE CAPTION = "dimensions">>
 The trowel is 6.8 inches (17 cm) long and 2.6 inches (6 cm) wide at its widest end and has six bends in it to create the shovel shape.  It is constructed in Colorado by Mike Cecot-Scherer who is a product designer in the outdoor industry for 30 years.  He didn't want to carry that ugly orange plastic trowel so he went to work to create this cool item that can double as a shoe horn by holding the larger end and using the smaller end in the shoe.
 <<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "IMAGE 3"  IMAGE CAPTION = "all colors available from TheTentLab website">>
 When I purchased my trowel last year, the only color choices were black, yellow, red, blue and green. It's nice to see that some other colors are available now.  The trowel can only be purchased on the website at the moment but will hit retailers shelves later this year.
 
FIELD USE
 
I purchased the trowel in October 2014 and have used it on every trip into the backcountry since then.  I estimate it has been used on at least 10 backpack trips of two nights or more and too many day hikes to count.  The trowel has performed well in all ground conditions.
 <<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "IMAGE 4"  IMAGE CAPTION = "digging from both ends from TheTentLab website">>
 In Joshua Tree, the ground conditions are sandy desert with rocks.  In Big Bear, the ground conditions are forest dirt of varying density with some rocks.  In the Sierras, the ground conditions are forest dirt of varying hardness with rocks.  I have mostly used the trowel holding the small end and using the large side to dig in the dirt.  I used the smaller end to dig in some hard dirt on a few of the trips.  Both ends of the trowel work effectively to create the desired cathole.  My trowel has some minor scratches but there are no rough spots along the edges and it still functions well.
 <<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "IMAGE 5"  IMAGE CAPTION = "the underside of my trowel">>
 I really like that it fits snug against a roll of toilet paper so when I go exploring and am surprised by my needs when I locate my place in the woods, I have it with me in my bathroom bag and can take care of business in one trip.  When I was using the orange plastic trowel previously, I would sometimes forget it or figure I didn't need it and then had to make a trip back to my pack to retrieve it to complete the process.
 
 
SUMMARY
 
This is a very useful trowel and I plan to carry it until I can no longer walk, hike or backpack in the woods.  I am expecting it will last that long considering how sturdy it is.  Well worth the $20 investment and a fun conversation starter with friends.  I can't wait to see what other cool items Mike designs for backcountry use.
 
 
 
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