I've had, from L > R in the images below, a
Reliance Luggable Loo (snap on lid for 5gal bucket) for over 8 years, a 3-legged
Reliance Fold-To-Go for more than 10 years, and some generic snap on lid for I don't know how long, though it's never been used. Purchased at different times when I didn't have one or the other with me but wanted a commode either for company or back country camping.
My own preference, by far, is the 5gal bucket. I've always got room and other uses for a bucket, and usually store other stuff in it en-route. So, it's not taking up extra space. More comfortable in height, too. I'm not a fan of having to buy special bags continuously for this or that toilet device or using special gels to solidify urine. Or retrieving and setting up a portable toilet when needed.
Different ways for different folks and different preferences/needs.
I've learned over the years the key to portable toilets, ease of disposal, and keeping odors at bay is to keep solids and liquids separate. The offensive odors one gets with mobile and portable toilets is from the mixture of urine and feces. Keep them separate and the odors all but disappear, and the ease of which one can dispose of the waste is greatly increased.
Solids deposited into peat moss and mixed (I just jiggle/shake the bucket sufficiently when done) create an earthy garden smell, not offensive in the least. Urinate somewhere else first, or attach a urine diverter that re-directs it into a separate container. There are some clever arrangements on you tube. Rather easy, really, to get in the habit, and
far easier to deal with the waste.
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Pro Tip: If you get a
Luggable Loo Seat Cover - Walmart, Amzn, Outdoor stores, etc, I suggest being sure you get the one with the ear on the lid like the one at left, not the one at far right. Along with the ear making it more convenient to open, the lid itself is a bit rounded and more rugged than the other one. The pics on amzn show both in the same offering, and it's not clear which they are really selling.
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For the snap-on lid and 5gal bucket on the left, I use typical
trash bags meant for 5 gal buckets, and when I can get them, thick bio-degradable
5 gal bags, to contain a quart of two of peat moss. I'll use another bag--usually a plastic grocery bag--snapped just under the removable seat part of the lid but
across the open bucket top when not in use so I can shake/jiggle the bucket to stir the contents, so solids are better mixed with the peat moss.
When choosing bags, be aware that bio-degradable does not always mean compostable.
The
Reliance Fold-To-Go on the right comes with it's own bags in a pouch under the lid, though I've never used them. Sometimes I'd dig a latrine trench and use the seat as a convenient perch for camp guests over the trench. Was up to the user, then, to sufficiently cover their part of the trench.
Over the years, the number of folks digging insufficient cat-holes, or no cat-holes at all, has caused a proliferation of visible human waste in even remote back country sites. Pack it in, pack it out, is by far the more recommended method. In a growing number of places it is demanded and you may be told "NO cat-holes; you must be prepared to pack out your own waste." I've not dug a cat-hole or latrine trench in years.
Room With A View
You will also find that in separating solids and liquids that the bucket can be used far longer, I mean by several weeks, before having to dispose of the contents; even with two people using it. That means a hell of a lot less human waste being transported about in a bag on your spare tire until you find an appropriate place for disposal. In popular places around spots like Moab, etc, human waste being regularly dumped in dumpsters and commercial establishment trash cans around town has become a problem for locals.
As for odor from long-term usage, I've had a 5gal bucket right in the van inside the side doors on extended adventures, and those riding with me never wrinkled their nose or even suspected I had an on-board toilet; it is that un-noticeable.
I'll be using the same set up this summer, though have had a
Nature's Head--a more evolved and easier to use version of keeping solids and liquids separate--sitting in a box for a few years for an off-grid cabin I had planned. I've never gotten around to installing it in the van. I may this year, though, as I redo my van interior to one with a more built-in floor plan.
They're great, too, and though portable in the sense you can easily move it to a shower tent or off-grid cabin and back because there is no plumbing to connect/disconnect, it certainly is not foldable. They come with a built-in urine diverter, separate urine container, and a 12v fan and vent hose. The fan and vent are more for helping the peat and solids to start composting than to vent odor.
For those interested in making their own 'composting' toilet with a urine diverter, you can get the Nature's Head
Liquids Container as a separate item. I keep a spare one--in the image below--for use with the Nature's Head.
Nature's Head
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cleanwaste.com
