QiWiz Big Dig

The QiWiz Big Dig is a handmade titanium trowel made in the US, built for digging catholes in ground that beats up cheaper tools — hardpan, rocky soil, and root mats. At 17 g it's about as light as a functional digging tool gets, and the titanium blade holds an edge and won't crack the way plastic scoops do on rocks. Its 7.25-inch (18.4 cm) length roughly matches the 6-inch (15 cm) depth recommended for a proper cathole, so the tool's own length works as a rough depth reference instead of a separate measuring aid. A brightly coated handle makes it easy to spot if set down mid-dig — a small but useful detail for something easily lost in leaf litter or dirt. There's no folding mechanism or sheath, so it travels loose or in a small stuff sack. For a Leave No Trace-conscious thru-hiker who still wants a tool for tough terrain, the Big Dig trades a few grams over the lightest plastic scoops for real digging capability.