A review of SEVEN Female Urination Devices and advice on how to make your own device on the fly!

Welcome to 'Standing Up' Part II of  Not Everyone Wants To Adventure Pee In The Woods, Female Urination Device Edition, (FUD)

A lot of people are happy to lug along those portable toilets we discussed in the last article, Not Everyone Wants To Adventure Pee In TheWoods.  It is entirely appropriate to have a portable toilet station in certain camping situations.  There are other times when we just need to pee on the go.   

If you're anything like me, or most women, you dread seeing those rows of port a johns at festivals or events, and you cringe at the thought of weeds touching your butt when you are out camping.

The endless problem for us is the need to remove our pants to squat and pee.  For a while now, companies have been working on products to make it completely easy for women to stand and pee just like the guys!    

I’m going to discuss some of those extremely helpful products here today and at the end, we are going to do a little Adventure Pee Project!  Woo hoo!

The Freshette

The first female urination device on the list is The Freshette.  The Freshette is the best of both worlds in so many ways.  It is rigid, which allows easy placement under layers of clothes, it does not take up much room and it has a longer reach than most compact devices because of the 5” telescoping tube.  Receives great reviews everywhere it is sold.  Includes: funnel, 5” tube and plastic zippered travel pouch. Reusable.

$23.95

Shewee Extreme

Next we have the Shewee Extreme Kit.  The Shewee is another rigid plastic device that fits easily under clothes and is not difficult to manage.

This kit includes the funnel device, extension tube, and carry case.  Reusable.

$21.98

Go Girl

Next up is the Go Girl.  The Go Girl is made from a flexible medical grade silicone and it rolls up into a very small, convenient tube when it is no longer needed.  It is, by far, the smallest and easiest to carry.  The flexible nature of the Go Girl made it difficult for me to use.  It is a bit too flexible, so tight or layered clothes help contribute to accidents.  You may have better luck than I did.

With pink travel tube.  Available in pink or camouflage. Reusable.

$12.99

The pStyle came highly recommended from a friend.  Because it is made of rigid plastic, the pStyle is easily maneuvered through clothing.  The unique funnel shape directs flow away from the body.  The rounded back edge can be used to wipe, so there are no drips!  It is easy to clean by shaking vigorously or rinsing. 

Available in fashion colors.  Reusable.

$12

The P-Mate.  This was my very first attempt at trying out Female Urinary Devices.  It comes in a pack of five.  Like origami that you pee through, they are flat inside the pack.  Take one out, pull it apart and it snaps into shape.  Use it and discard.  The concept is amazing and sometimes they work great.  The seam that holds The P Mate together is on the backside.  I once had a batch with a bad glue job and I didn’t keep buying packs to see if that problem was resolved.

Set of five individual cardboard pop up devices.  Disposable.

$5.95

FloTool Funnel.  I really like that it is actually called the FloTool Funnel, because it works great for so many types of fluids.  The cut away section in the funnel creates a perfect unzip to fit device.  I have used this exact funnel on many occasions and never with an accident.  Best thing about the FloTool Funnel:  It costs anywhere from .75 cents to $3.  It is washable and reusable.

FloTool Gas Tank Funnel.  Still loving the name... FloTool.  I found this little stubby one day at the auto parts store.  This measures maybe 6 or 7 inches at the most.  It is a bit harder to find the spot, but it is a lot easier to carry around due to the reduced size.  I have had very successful ventures with it.  Reusable.

$2

A Hobo Funnel is the Adventure Pee Project!  Yeah, that's what I said.  You will use this funnel in times of desperation when there is no FloTool or pStyle at hand.  It starts as a plastic water bottle or soda bottle before it transforms into this magical thing.  Cut the back off at an angle with scissors, a razor or a knife.  In a pinch, you can even use your keys.  It is a little scratchy, but it works great!  You also get the satisfaction of doing a little Adventure Pee repurposing project, so it costs nothing but your time.  You never know when this idea might come in handy!  Just don't forget to remove the cap!

Things like this are a process of trial and error to find what works best for you.  In this case, always practice first in the shower before you take it camping, boating or to festivals.  If you're in a jam, you can also aim the spout into resealable gallon jugs if you are inside a tent at night, a passenger in an automobile, or some other inconvenient place where bathrooms are not accessible.  

Let me know if you tried one of these ideas and how it worked for you!  Do you have any stories about female urination devices, or is there a topic you want to hear about?  Tell us about it here!

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Not Everyone Wants To Adventure Pee In The Woods

You know who you are.  You're the one that stops at gas stations, fast food restaurants and you will even pee in an overused Porta John if times are tough.  What if you're out in the woods camping?  Best case, there is a bathhouse around with a flushing toilet.  Rare.  Most likely, there is a familiar Porta John.  My personal favorite is at a National Forest campground where a toilet body is mounted to a slab inside a little enclosed shelter.  The toilet does not flush, it is mounted atop a deep gaping hole that smells terribly. 

There are times when none of those options are available so you must then hope that you came prepared with a portable toilet of some kind, or the desire to Adventure Pee off in the shadows somewhere, where you tell yourself those are just blades of grass tickling your butt. 

As with most camping gear, the choices and options for the portable loo seem endless.  This not so informative infographic begins with a luxurious portable design in toiletry, it also composts waste but lacks a bidet.  Never fear, a bidet add on CAN be purchased online and attached to most seats.  Probably one of those, One Size Fits All deals. This list works all the way down to a Home Depot bucket lined with a grocery bag held together with a pool noodle.  

Now that you've had time to look over that and appreciate the cool Hassock toilet that really looks like its namesake.  How about the cuteness of the My Carry Potty Bee?  These portable toilets serve different purposes.  The more expensive models usually have larger capacities, there are even portable composting toilets.  The larger units are best for group and family use and they cost a bit more to maintain properly.  They also  take up more space.  Small, weekender type pots are the best for smaller parties and work just as well.  Disposal is usually very easy and it goes right into your loo or a disposal at a campground.  At the end, we have  my personal favorite and  a familiar tactic I have used in the past.  These are brilliant and so easy to do yourself!  Especially if you are on a budget.

They do take the Adventure out of Adventure Pee a bit, but they can be quite handy whatever your expense level or level of creative repurposing.  On the other hand, you do have to clean them, and you will want to.  

 

Bulk CD Package is perfect for Toilet Paper

So we have learned that portable camping toilets come in all shapes and sizes, that they do all sorts of different things from composting waste into fertile soil, or holding gallons of waste water that is flushed away bit by bit with blue scented chemicals,  to getting hosed out with a garden hose once the bag is removed.  

If you're still thinking you might still pull a pop a squat Adventure Pee, then stay tuned for the next Adventure Pee In The Woods segment, coming soon, right here at Women Campers!

Thanks to my buddies Say and Nikki for coining the term Adventure Pee!

If you enjoyed this story, please share it with your friends or start a conversation below!  You can also join us at Facebook for more tales and trails.  Until next time, happy camping!

How To Prevent Insect Bites When Camping And Trying To Have Fun Outdoors

It's that time of year again, everyone starts to get camping fever.  Backyard enthusiasts are taking care of their flowers and plants, lovers of the outdoors are jogging and bike riding.  There's something out there with us as we enjoy our time under the sun; you see them in the air, you feel them on your skin.  Bugs.  I enjoy when all the critters start to wake up from their long Winter naps, but I do not enjoy the mosquito's and gnats!  Every year prompts the same question... what is the best thing to ward them off?

There are so many options these days.  You can still opt for electricity.  Plug in Bug Zappers and portable, battery operated tennis racquet swatters are one way.  There are a multitude of 'aerating' products put out by Off, everything from Citronella Candles to diffusers and electronic sonar devices.

But what should you spray onto your skin?  What can you throw in a bag and take out to the woods for the next camping trip or barbecue?  What is safe for your kids?  What is safe for your pets?

There are those who swear by DEET.  The percentage of DEET contained within a product can vary from a little (7%) to a lot, (30%.)  In recent years, there have been a number of successful product developments for insect repellents on the natural home front.  Many of these chemical-free products have been used medicinally since time out of mind; therefore our bodies tend to be more tolerant of these blends.

Those who have strong reactions to the presence of DEET on their skin will find this list most agreeable.

*Always follow manufacturer’s instructions and do not overuse or abuse any of these products.

1.)  Examples of products that contain DEET would be OFF, Deep Woods OFF, and Cutter, to name a few.

2.)  A Curious new natural repellent called BioUD tested as a bit more effective than DEET products.  Its natural active ingredient is isolated from a wild tomato plant.  Dig that.  Bite Blocker Organic Xtreme is manufactured by the same company, Homs.  

3.)  A product I have used as a fantastic general insect repellent is called Cedarcide.  It is formulated from natural cedar oils and is amazing at killing a wide number of nuisances, including at least two strains of mites that Orkin can’t eliminate.  For that, I love Cedarcide and advocate its use far and wide. I am the unofficial representative. 

You can spray it on yourself as a mosquito repellent, though you will need to reapply every two hours.  It smells a bit strong, but it is great.  Spray it on your kids, and spray it on your pets, in your house, in your kitchen and anywhere else you can think of.  They offer a wide variety of items to treat your entire home and property.  There is a link to their Amazon page in the right column.

4.)  Repel Lemon and Eucalyptus is a plant based insect repellent.  Smells and feels wonderful.  Not as long lasting as DEET, but more than effective when applied as needed.

5.)  What about Avon Skin So Soft?  Avon actually makes a version of Skin So Soft with an additional ‘bug guard,’ so even though the original did work, a little bit, this new formula bites back a bit more.

6.)  Cutter Skinsations is slagging in the DEET department, a mere 7%, so you will be required to apply additional coats once you have begun your evening in the great outdoors.

7.) Burt’s Bees All Natural Herbal does a great job but will also require additional coats after a time.

    You can also do these things to help lessen mosquito populations:

•      Remove standing water from your yard.
•      Kill larva where mosquitoes breed.
•   Spray outdoors in dark and covered places.
•     Keep grass cut short.

Have fun out there!  Comment with your thoughts, your stories and your great findings!  Please come join us at Women Campers on Facebook!

     ~Tracy