It would be tough for your family to enjoy an outdoor camping trip to the fullest if there aren’t any toilets around when needed. Whether you spend most of your time in a camping tent or a remote location, having a portable toilet is a simple answer.
The sheer variety of folding camping toilets is enormous enough to intimidate a person not familiar with these products. Choose a model per your camping needs and the distance of your destination. Knowing how to distinguish one model from another solely based on functionality, you’ll be able to purchase the best portable toilet for your use cases.
Top 7 Portable Toilets: Comparison Chart
| Picture | Brand Name | Item Weight | Class | Latest Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Reliance Control Corporation | 3.00lbs | Low End | Check Price |
 | Thetford – Porta Potti | 10 pounds | High End | Check Price |
 | Reliance – Self Contained | 5 pounds | Low End | Check Price |
 | Camco Portable | 10.8 pounds | Mid Range | Check Price |
 | Cleanwaste Portable | 8 pounds | Mid Range | Check Price |
 | Sanitation Equipment Ltd. | 11.6 pounds | High End | Check Price |
 | Stansport – Easy Go | 350 lbs | Low End | Check Price |
There are plenty of brands engaged in a tug-of-war, trying to defeat one another by introducing the most advanced cleaning technology and comfortable seating arrangements. All the products that have made my list are reasonably priced, have a heavy-duty structure and convenient cleaning options to make your journey satisfactory. During my research, I found several models to offer almost similar features.
Selecting a few from so many choices was an arduous process of comparing and contrasting the features and ergonomics of multiple products side by side. Hopefully, narrowing down the options would ease the job for you. Before you start reading, let me remind you that this is not the ultimate judgment. There are many other products that haven’t made it to the list but deserve a look.
Top 7 Best Portable Toilets: Reviews
1. Reliance Portable Luggable Loo Portable 5 Gallon Toilet
Reliance Portable Loo is a very familiar name to hikers, mini-campers, RV users who have purchased a camping toilet at some point. The Reliance Portable Loo is my top pick because of many strong reasons.
The first of them is the reasonable pricing. The bucket-style design combined with chemical cleaning action makes it a hassle-free portable loo for folks who live off the grid.
Additionally, it includes a hinged lid cover top in the construction for optimal sanitation. The package offers 12 double doodie bio bags containing BioGel, and it is a 5-gallon lightweight unit. The seating space, along with a high weight capacity is ideal for an average-sized adult.
Assembling the standard toilet doesn’t require any smattering knowledge of engineering. If you’re planning to go on a long weekend trip to the woods or fishing on a boat, Luggable Loo will probably give you the best value for money.
2. Thetford Porta Potti 550E Curve Portable Toilet
What are the must-have features you’re looking for while shopping for one for your personal needs? Budget, capacity, ease of use, and effortless maintenance? Well, the next candidate in my list has all of these qualities and much more rolled in it. Thetford 92360 is a relief for customers running on a tight budget.
Unlike the poorly structured cheap models sold at flea markets, Thetford doesn’t sacrifice the hygiene standard and user’s comfort. Porta’s design resembles a giant coffee machine, a slightly quirky design for a toilet, indeed!
The body of the toilet has a water tank attached to it for a smooth relocation. The key feature that sets this model far above the rest in the same category is the indicator on the container that alerts you when it is high time to empty the tank. The battery-operated flush controls are nearly as adequate as flushes on traditional flushing toilets.
The comfortable seat height is apt for people of every age, especially if you have an older person in your group. Last but not least, a toilet paper holder has been fitted to the toilet to give you the feeling of an actual toilet when you’ve none around you.
3. Reliance Products Hassock Portable Lightweight Self-Contained Toilet
It looks like Reliance is giving other big companies a tough run for their money. They brainstorm newer and useful ideas every time they launch a new product.
The Hassock is a one-stop answer to all your toilet needs.
You don’t have to care which place is it, all you require is a place to fix this up and get started. It features a detachable inner bucket for trouble-free cleaning and waste disposal. The compact dimension and minimal weight of the model make carrying the unit a breeze.
Wait. Does the apparent fragile appearance turn you off? If yes, then you’re too quick to judge this masterpiece. Irrespective of the simple look, Hassock is strong enough to accommodate a person weighing around 300 pounds without collapsing.
As a bonus, you will get an inner splash guard and a holder. Extra comfort comes from the contoured seat design that goes gentle on your skin. However, the top lid of the toilet is not very stable, and you need to be very careful to avoid creating a mess.
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4. Camco Portable Toilet 5.3 Gallon
Camco portable toilets have been trendy among outdoorsmen, professional hikers, and RV owners since forever. Its lightweight profile doesn’t add excessive weight in your luggage.
The body of the toilet has high-quality plastic that effectively combats the test of time. The 5.3 gallons of storage capacity is more than enough to handle a group of 4 to 5 individuals every day. The tank is fully odor-proof with several locks and a brilliant sealing slide valve lock.
To litter the waste, you have to slide the valve lock to open the tank. When done, you can push the latch back to lock it up again. Camco’s flush system is a class apart and secure enough to be used by children. Ultra-lightweight and optimal sanitation maintenance ability is the two most sought after qualities in portable toilets.
Fortunately enough, Camco offers both. With such an outstanding mechanism, you don’t have to worry about the standard of cleanliness anymore. Nonetheless, this seemingly perfect toilet is also not free of demerits. The design is too small and thin to accommodate a large, chubby person.
5. Cleanwaste GO Anywhere Complete Toilet System
If you want a tougher, wider and more powerful folding loo, you might take a glance at Cleanwaste GO Anywhere Complete Toilet System.
It is indeed a complete toilet kit, geared with all that you need to feel like a home bathroom. Nature’s call is inevitable, but it is not possible to find clean toilets everywhere. Cleanwaste, the all-inclusive toilet package includes waste bags and a privacy shelter neatly tucked in a bag pack.
The Cleanwaste qualified as the strongest portable toilet in my list and has secured its position as one of the most widely used movable toilets by U.S mariners. If treated with caution, the product will serve you for a long time. You will be surprised to know that in spite of the rugged construction, Cleanwaste GO Anywhere weighs no more than 18 pounds.
6. Sanitation Equipment Visa Potty Model
Camping enthusiasts who wish to concentrate more on exploring the surroundings will find Sanitation Equipment Visa Potty Model a great bargain for the money.
This ultimate mobile camping toilet has a favorable design to suit anybody’s weight and height. It utilizes a flush mechanism to wash out the feces, offering 50 flushes emptying the holding tank. The unit holds deodorizers with 4 Oz. of liquid gold concentration to make throwing away the waste material easier.
On top of that, it comes with a heavy-duty lid that sticks to its place. This vital seal secures the top when you’re on the move.
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7. Stansport Portable Toilet
The thoughtfully crafted, compact, and lightweight Stansport toilet is ideal for rafting, camping, boat riding, and even RVs. The unit folds easily in your bag pack for painless storage. Its tough, molded plastic seat efficiently accommodates large persons.
The tubular legs add extra stability, knee support, and comfort, which is a rare thing to find in non-traditional toilets like this. The plastic bags are straightforward to install. When disposing of the waste, you have to detach the bags carefully from the body and dump them in a trash receptacle. Stansport’s limited period warranty backs the product.
Qualities of a Good Portable Toilet
Location of Use
These portable toilets come with multiple plastic bags or bio-bags that gather waste and make disposing of the waste in appropriate places a snap. Make sure you set these portable toilets on flat ground, or you’ll fall with a mess. Composting toilets are other types of portable toilets.
Composting toilets provide an all-round hygienic solution in areas where water is not readily available. Their self-contained designs will save you the chore of fetching water or any chemical replenishment to get rid of the odor. If your trip is long, bagged toilets will be more comfortable to take care of than the other two types.
Disposing of the Waste
The storage space of your portable toilet will need emptying after a couple of uses. To dispose of your waste responsibly, please consider the following. You have to find a secluded site, at a reasonably good distance from human inhabitancy. Many areas have restrictions on burying human feces into the ground.
Carrying biodegradable bags is the smartest solution for this task. You can throw away the bags wherever you find trash receptacles or bury them in the ground. If you do hide your bags of poo, then do it a minimum of 100 yards away from any body of water and at least 6 inches deep. These unique bags use a chemical power to convert urine into solid waste.
Ease of Use
Ease of use is another vital feature to consider while shopping for a reliable portable toilet within your budget. While RVs and boats have a select area for portable toilets, open locations require you to set up the toilet each time you use it. The mobile toilet components are assembled and disassembled in a couple of minutes.
Toilet Construction and Capacity
You will require a bigger toilet if you’re a group and traveling for an extended period. If it’s going to be used for a family get together or a bonfire with a small group of friends in the outskirts, a small portable toilet will suffice. Whatever the size is, having a durable construction is of paramount importance for any toilet.
You wouldn’t want the toilet to collapse with you on it. Therefore, take careful note of the weight capacity of the model you’re planning to purchase. Don’t buy a model that sits too low to the ground. Folks with knee problems and senior citizens will not have a comfortable experience unless the seat height is at par with a standard chair height.
How Does a Portable Toilet Work?
Upscale camping toilets from premium brands don’t require the user to dig a hole in the ground. The models that come under the category of chemical toilets make use of a particular chemical to eliminate the odor in the container. A portable chemical toilet has a small vessel attached to it which should be emptied into a sanitary sewer or a similar suitable place.
This kind of toilet costs much more than regular bagged toilets. These chemical toilets are mostly used in caravans, small boats, and passenger train toilets, etc. The disinfectant deodorizer formula is a blend of quaternary ammonium compounds and glutaraldehyde.
Chemical toilets are large enough to take the load of an average adult person. Portable toilets that come with plastic containers are relatively simpler to use. The waste bags should be disposed of in an eco-friendly manner after use. Undoubtedly the best option to carry when you’re up for a thrilling trip to the unknown for an uncertain period.
There is another category of camping toilets that apply the composite method to turn human waste into a compost fertilizer with the help of moss or any such fibrous plants. Consider buying one if water shortage is a big concern for you.
How to Dispose of the Excreta
Unless you’re opting for a waterless compost toilet, you’ll have to settle for the models with disposable bags. You can’t just throw these bags anywhere you wish. Be very careful not to dispose or bury the bags near any bodies of water or a populated area.
The safest way is to wait until you’ve encountered a real bathroom, then flush it down. If the bags are biodegradable, perhaps you can bury it deep into the ground at a safe, deserted place. Bucket style toilets can be emptied straight into the toilet.
Tips for Cleaning a Portable Toilet
Keeping your RV or camping toilet at optimal condition is the only way to reap maximum benefit from it. Cleaning a portable model is not as complicated as cleaning a regular toilet because of the compact size of the former. But before you get started with it, do remember that most portable toilets come from chemical sensitive materials.
So, you have to replace your general harsh chemical-based cleaning agents with mild, non-abrasive ones and know the correct techniques. Avoid bleaches too, for it can cause terrible damage to the seals around the tank. Flush type portable toilets often come with a deodorizer or cleaning agent.
You have to change the plastic liner of the toilet at regular intervals to inhibit the build-up of odors. Plastic linens are cheap and readily available at any hardware store. You may even try fitting a smell-absorbing substance at the bottom of your toilet to prevent the stink from escaping.
Buy some kitty litter and pour it into the toilet basin. As far as the bag toilets are concerned, it is easier to dispose of if made from a biodegradable material. Find a suitable place, preferably no man’s land, dig a 6-inch deep hole into the ground, and bury them securely.
Are you someone who follows the quote “live fast, die young” by heart? Or maybe somebody who loves exploring faraway locations in his free time? For the people with insatiable wanderlust, it’s imperative to have the necessary equipment neatly packed in their rucksack to sustain themselves on the road.
Carrying a portable camping toilet at your campsites, RVs, small boats, or outdoor ventures will save you the hassle of walking miles away in search of toilet facilities.
Most Common Portable Toilet Problems
Portable toilets are a perfect go-to option for every traveler, campers, hikers, or folks who live in the woods. But there are a certain number of drawbacks of it you can’t completely ignore. The odor is the ghastliest and most prominent of these problems, especially with toilets using temporary storage. As soon as you open the lid, you have to combat against a terrible odor, but there’s a solution too.
Regular maintenance is likely to reduce the odor to a great extent. If you’re still not satisfied, try putting some chemical deodorizer in the toilet, replace the plastic liners frequently for better results. Many flush type portable toilets are well-engineered with robust tank seals, dual basins and a vent pipe that prevent the odor from dissipating in the air.
Unless your on-the-go toilet is a corrosion-proof material, you must level the surface properly before setting up the toilet over it. If you do not flatten the ground adequately, the adjustable stands will fail to maintain stability when you sit upon it. However, these issues are quickly resolved if you have the right equipment handy. Portable toilets are overall very reliable and deliver excellent service when you need it badly.
The Final Word
Portable toilets are not a new concept. Mariners have profusely used them for decades. Like almost everything else around us, the evolution of technology has left its mark on these lightweight, foldable toilets as well. The modern models are solidly built, stable toilets with a more appropriate excreta disposal facility than their ancestors.
Costlier products indeed offer more quality features than most low to medium budget models can’t. But judging the quality of an appliance based on its price tag wouldn’t be a wise idea. Researching the following subject extensively is the only way to assure an excellent investment.
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