In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, I sit down with Paul Bogush, creator and owner of Holey Hiker Bidet. This might be the smallest product we’ve ever talked about on the podcast, but it also might be one of the most life-changing pieces of backpacking gear once people finally try it. Paul’s story starts around 2019 after he read an article about a national park no longer allowing people to bury toilet paper. At the very end of the article, it mentioned that some backpackers were turning to bidets. That sent Paul down the trail bidet rabbit hole. He ordered every portable option he could find, tested them in Vermont, and quickly realized that a backpacking bidet could completely change the trail bathroom experience. From there, the idea turned into a middle school 3D printing project. Paul teaches sixth, seventh, and eighth grade, and during COVID he suddenly had extra time at home. He started printing, testing, tweaking, and reprinting his own bidet design. Each early version took about 65 minutes to print, and he would test it, make changes, and print another one over and over again. We also dive into: • Why backpacking bidets are becoming more popular • Why packing out toilet paper pushed Paul toward bidets • How a tiny product can still have a ton of design challenges • Why the first versions were 3D printed • How COVID accidentally gave Paul the time to test and improve the design • Why he sent out around 200 tester bidets before selling them • How feedback from AT, PCT, CDT, and desert hikers shaped the final product • Why the early 3D printed versions started cracking • How Holey Hiker moved from 3D printing to injection molding • Why finding the right local injection molder took months • Why one tiny O-ring became one of the hardest parts of the whole product • How Paul built the business while still teaching middle school • What he learned from his first Outdoor Retailer trade show • How some retailers were already selling his product through distributors without him knowing • Why the trail bathroom conversation is awkward, funny, and actually really important If you’ve ever packed out toilet paper, dealt with chafing on trail, wondered why hikers talk about bidets so much, or secretly thought, “There has to be a better way,” this episode is for you. Connect with Holey Hiker Bidet Website: https://www.holeyhiker.com Garage Grown Gear: https://www.garagegrowngear.com/products/holey-hiker-bidet-by-holey-hiker
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