What Is The Best Toilet For Camping?

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“Where do I go to the toilet?” Is a common question asked by nearly all people who are new to camping. The answer depends on many different factors. For example, if you’re staying on a campsite, most of them have toilets so this shouldn’t be a problem.

On the flip side, if you’re camping in the middle of nowhere, you may have to resort to other measures. Yes, this can include digging a hole, doing your business, and covering it up.

While there’s nothing wrong with this method, some people prefer to use the toilet in a more common way. That’s why we created this article which explains the most common ways to use the toilet while camping, and also goes over the best toilet for camping.

Different Types Of Toilets

Some of the most common types of toilets you can buy are bucket toilets, cassette toilets, composting toilets, and a simple funnel. Let’s take a look at them below.

Bucket Toilets

A bucket toilet is exactly what it sounds like, a bucket in the shape of a toilet. They feature a lid to reduce odor and can be used anywhere.

If you want to keep the smell to a minimum, we recommend separating solid and liquid waste and getting rid of the bag after each session. If the odor is still a problem, some bucket toilets come with rubber gaskets that seal the lid, further reducing the smell.

If purchasing a bucket toilet is out of your price range, you can also build one yourself using simple materials from any hardware store. First, you will need to purchase a 2-5 gallon bucket and a sheet of foam.

Begin by cutting the foam into a circle shape so it fits around the rim of the bucket. Once the foam is attached to the bucket, you can then insert a bin liner.

Congratulations, you have just built your own bucket toilet…

The issue with building one yourself is that it won’t contain a lid. To combat this, you could also place a sheet of wood over the top after each use.

Cassette Camping Toilets

Cassette toilets look like the toilet you have in your home, except they’re portable and don’t require any batteries or electricity to operate, making them common in the RV community.

While they are portable, they still need to be permanently installed inside an RV or camper van. Luckily, they are relatively compact and can fit in most small spaces.

If you decide to purchase a Cassette Toilet, the smell will not be an issue as the chemical reservoir breaks down feces and prevents odor thanks to the drain valve.

Once the feces have broken down, you can remove the holding tank and dump it in public restrooms, making it great when you’re on a campsite but would rather have your own toilet.

Cassette Toilets function the same as your private toilet at home, with the flush button installed on the wall above the toilet. It’s then connected to the RV’s central water tank allowing feces to be flushed into the holding tank.

If you’re unsure whether the holding tank is full, in most cases, your Cassette Toilet will include a red light next to the flush button allowing you to check.

Pee Bottle Funnel

The pee bottle funnel is not a toilet but more of a, you guessed it, a funnel. It’s used by females and makes peeing in a bottle easy. Also known as a “she-wee” or a “go girl”.

While a pee funnel is great for some situations, it won’t supplement a real toilet and only allows you to pee. What happens if you need to poop?

If you need to poop, the pee funnel is completely useless. That’s why we recommend only buying this as an optional extra.

Portable Composting Toilet

Another great alternative to the Cassette toilet is a portable composting toilet. These types of toilets are similar to Cassette toilets, however, they operate using electricity. They also require professional knowledge to set up.

While you may be concerned about wasting electricity, they do come with some great benefits such as being environmentally friendly, not using chemicals, and they can last longer before needing to be emptied.

By the time you need to empty your composting toilet, all feces will be broken down into compost and can easily be disposed of. To dispose of feces, simply place the compost in a bag and place it in the trash.

Similar to a Cassette Toilet, Composting Toilets are not suitable for campsites and should only be purchased if you’re going to be camping in an RV.

What Toilet Is Best For Me?

It depends on which type of camping you’re going to be doing. If your idea of camping is traveling around the country in an RV, then a Cassette or Composting toilet is perfect.

On the flip side, if you prefer a more traditional style of camping, and are going to be venturing out with a car and tent, then a bucket toilet would be your best bet.

5 Best Toilets For Camping

1. Camco Portable Bucket Toilet

2. Camco Portable Travel Toilet

3. Nature’s Head Self Contained Composting Toilet

4. Stansport Portable Camp Toilet

5. Go Anywhere Portable Camping Toilet

1. Camco Portable Bucket Toilet

If you require a bucket toilet for your camping trip, then the Camco Toilet Bucket is the one for you. It features a toilet seat for maximum comfort and is designed to hold up to 5 gallons.

Attached to the toilet seat is a lid which can be opened and closed, allowing you to reduce odor as much as possible.

Furthermore, it is lightweight, easy to clean, and even features a handle for easy transportation and storage.

The bucket is made of UV-resistant polypropylene, protecting it from any UV rays it may come into contact with.

Additionally, the Camco Toilet Bucket comes with three bucket liners. These may look similar to standard garbage bags, but they’re not. They have biodegradable powder on the inside, meaning all liquids will gel on contact allowing for easy transportation.

A toilet bucket such as this one is great for all types of campers. Although, it is most suited towards wild campers who don’t have access to a campsite.

Pros:

• 5 Gallons
• Maximum Comfort
• Includes Lid To Prevent Odor
• Handle For Transportation
• Includes 3 Bucket Liners

Cons:

• Bit To Small For Large People

2. Camco Portable Travel Toilet

Yet another great portable toilet by Camco. This one is designed for camping and you can choose between a 2.6 gallon or 5.3 gallon option. If you’re going to be camping as a couple, the 2.6 gallon option should be fine. On the flip side, if you’re a family, you may want to consider purchasing the 5.3 gallon alternative.

This toilet will need to be connected to a water supply meaning it’s only suitable for people who are camping with RV’s. If you’re camping with your car and tent, a bucket toilet is a more suitable option.

It’s split into two parts, a flush tank and a waste tank. The flush tank can hold up to 2.5 gallons of water. If it needs to be refilled, simply remove the cap on the top of the toilet and refill it with fresh water.

If you want to remove the waste tank, you can unclip it using the two side latches. After the waste tank has been removed, you can then dispose of the feces safety.

The waste tank contains a sliding gate valve that helps prevent odor from filling up your RV. It will open while in use and close after flushing.

Pros:

• Perfect For RV Camping
• Includes Flush And Waste Tank
• 2.5 Gallon Flush Tank
• Sliding Gate Valve To Prevent Odor
• Reputable Brand

Cons:

• Doesn’t Include User Manual

3. Nature’s Head Self Contained Composting Toilet

This self-contained composting toilet does exactly what it’s supposed to do without any maintenance. It’s easy to install and only needs emptying every 4-6 weeks (If being used by 2 people).

Furthermore, the holding tank is designed to leave no odor in your RV. It also has a low volume air circulation fan built into the head, helping keep your bathroom area smelling fresh.

Designed by marine experts, this toilet is able to withstand the harshest environments. If, however, it does malfunction, you will be covered by a 5 year limited warranty.

Additionally, it’s lightweight and can support people weighing up to 300 pounds.

Pros:

• Easy To Install
• Long Empty Times
• Absolutely No Odor
• Withstand Harsh Environments
• Lightweight

Cons:

• Should Be Cleaned Every Month

4. Stansport Portable Camp Toilet

Stansport is a reputable company that has been providing people with premium camping gear since 1949. This is one of their best selling bucket toilets thanks to the high-quality design and great customer reviews.

It’s portable meaning you can take it anywhere, making it perfect for camping. The seat is built for comfort and can support up to 350 lbs.

While some bucket toilet seats can be too small for larger people, this one is full size, similar to the one in your home.

It comes with one sanitary bag that can be easily disposed of. If you’re planning on using this toilet as soon as it arrives, it’s a good idea to purchase extra sanity bags – You can get these from Stansport’s website.

The downside of this toilet is the waste bucket is really small meaning it needs to be changed after every 2-3 uses. If this is going to be an issue, we recommend sticking with a different option on this list.

Pros:

• Reputable Company
• Portable
• Supports Up To 350lbs
• Full Size Seat
• Includes 1 Sanitary Bag

Cons:

• Small Waste Bucket

5. Go Anywhere Portable Camping Toilet

Designed for camping, this portable toilet weighs only 7 pounds making it easy to transport. It’s compact, has a lid to help prevent nasty odors, and can even be folded down to the size of a briefcase.

While most portable toilets can only support up to 350 lbs, this one can handle up to 500 lbs. Not sure why you would ever need that kind of weight for a toilet though?

Furthermore, it’s easy to set up and doesn’t require any chemical waste storage tanks. Simply add the waste bag, and do your business.

It includes poo power which turns all feces into a gel, allowing for easy transportation of the waste bag. You will also get toilet paper and a puncture-resistant zip close bag for easy disposal.

It’s eco-friendly and designed in the USA meaning it’s of the highest quality.

Pros:

• Weighs only 7 pounds
• Prevents nasty odors
• Supports up to 500lbs
• Includes poo powder
• Made in USA

Cons:

• Can be uncomfortable if you have arthritis

Conclusion

Public toilets at campsites are not the best. Buying your own portable toilet will give you the privacy of being able to do your business in a cleaner place.

Not all toilets are built equal, and some require the need for a water supply making them great for RV’s. Others are made from a bucket and don’t require an installation process, making them great if you’re camping with your car.

If you’re looking for a toilet that is compatible with all types of camping, then we recommend either the Camco Toilet or the Stansport Toilet. Both of these are eco-friendly and don’t require an installation process.

However, all the toilets on this list are hand-picked and are of amazing quality, so regardless of which one you choose, it will get the job done.