Why Campers are Choosing THIS Toilet Over Smelly Buckets!

[@holywarz]

$475 for a bucket. We’ve lost our minds.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

😂 It's crazy right! I've been blown away how many I see on the road, especially with those with vans.

[@davesanders9203]

I got MY bucket for FREE! And I know how to use properly.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

@davesanders9203 ❤️

[@CeeBreeze-e3n]

And that's cheap for composting toilets

[@CJ30123]

And not a single youtuber mentions the gigantic drawbacks of separator toilets.....women with periods and shits after eating something thats not ideal for you. Try cleaning either situation a couple time and tell me you will continue to use those products.

[@DavidHancock]

When I was a kid I visited an Amish farm a number of times. In all, I think I spent three weeks there. They required that all guests toss a scoop of saw dust from a barrel next to the outhouse down the hole after solids use. I think the saw dust came from the saw mill on the farm. Anyway, they were very proud that every year when the state inspected their outhouse the inspector indicated they had the cleanest and most-odor-free outhouse in Ohio. Their outhouse smelled like pine trees.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

My wife just said, we have a lot of sawdust that I need to bag up. It's true, a lot of house projects around here lately. Love the story you shared.

[@OKFrax-ys2op]

😂😂😂crappy cover up!💥💩🥾

[@lareekline8232]

Holmes County OH? That's where my Amish relatives live! I remember the outhouses. 😊

[@themonkeyz]

I lived for about two years in a shack in the woods with no septic installation. My toilet was a five gallon bucket, on which I just put a toilet seat with no lid. After each use, I added a big scoop of cedar sawdust. I've never sat on another toilet that smelled so good. Didn't even need a bag. I just emptied it in a pile in the woods and washed it with soap and water every time I emptied it.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

@themonkeyz I can see cedar being a nice option.

[@tewster2]

Don't know why they are called composting toilets....composting takes months....call them separating/mixing toilets.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

I think for most use cases they're separating toilets. But I've kept these in the garage and seen the process of composting start to take place. So I guess it just depends on how you'll be using them.

[@richlaue]

I've wondered about that, however their is no reason we could not compost. We compost animal manure

[@linebrunelle1004]

I live for extended periods in my van. I have a metal folding chair with a "potty" a lid. I put a bag in the potty and add hemp chips made right here in Alberta. I'm sure other pellets and wood chips work too. Hemp is absorbent, eliminates odours, fairly inexpensive, renewable resource.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

I think this is the first use of hemp I've seen in the comments. Thank you for sharing.

[@BSerrell4]

I agree with the need to have a toilet that packs down small, like the Blika stainless steel folding camping toilet seat. The ‘diverter’ is a 5” funnel held in place at the front with the tab handle wedged under the front latch and held at the back by a piece of elastic mounted on two screws. The funnel inserts into the neck of a leftover 1 gallon vinegar bottle. The #2 section is made of a Potette bag insert (for a portable little kids’ potty chair) that comes with an absorbent pad in the bottom. We replace the #2 bag after each use, and stow the wrapped up bag in a ‘poo tube’ like used by rock climbers on El Capitan. That tube really seals the odor since it is made with fittings like in an RV black tank drain. I wish I could post photos for you.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

I always wish there was a way to share photos in the comment section. Thank you for sharing this. I'll have to Google it.

[@CamperMan727]

I wouldn’t want to clean either of these. I just put a bag around the seat of a fold out toilet chair. Fill the bag with pine shavings. Tie up the bag and toss it in a PVC bucket with gamma lid every time you go. Then dump the bags out of the bucket into a dumpster on the way back to town.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

That was pretty much our style 2 years ago. It definitely works! It was only just recently that we've been using the diverter.

[@annmariewhale4501]

Same here. I use cedar kitty litter which really helps with order control.

[@BetterDays_Now]

Yes. THIS. 🎯

[@Armenian]

Pine Pellets 40lb bag $6.50 at Tractor Supply. I used 20lbs in a month straight of dispersed camping and shitting in a home depot bucket. This and a small shovel nearby to scrape in pine needles or dirt or whatever is on the forest floor near you. I spent a week in one campsite like this in one bag and it was perfect.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

Thank you so much for sharing the pine pellets and your method. 1 week, one bag, that's what I like to hear!

[@troyfowler5177]

Pelletized horse bedding is my fav too.

[@MannyWC]

I do something similar and have the Separett (1k bucket😂). I will toss in baking soda, coffee grounds and ground debris( leaves sand dirt, etc). No smell after a few minutes like with ANY toilet in a bathroom. If dispersed, I will dig a good size cat hole and bury after about a week of use. No TP is put in le shitter. 😂

[@PlayingwithSticks]

@troyfowler5177 so far it looks like pellets are in the lead.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

@MannyWC so for those who separate the TP, are you just putting that in a bag? I assume bag unless you're dispersed camping and that goes into a hole?

[@nancybraml]

Horse stall pine pellets

[@PlayingwithSticks]

You are awesome, thank you!! I was hoping to get comments like this

[@suzannecranford6819]

I use horse bedding pellets. A 40 lb bag is approximately $6.50. The separating composting toilet I'm going to try next is the Boxio. It has a storage pedestal it can sit on to raise the height, and I'm going to place all on a 3" tall plant stand to make the height really comfortable. Right now, I'm using a bucket toilet that I've made into a separating composting toilet by adding 2 dollar store waste baskets to the interior. It works well, it's just a little lighter than I'd like. I have it placed on the plant stand and the height is now 18", very comfortable. I hope all this makes sense.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

@suzannecranford6819 You're very good with words, I could picture exactly what you were saying. Thank you for sharing this. And those horse pellets, I love the price! I'm really interested to see what most people are using. Thank you again for taking the time to share this Suzanne.

[@ireallyloverats]

Yes .. when I did van life after covid for a couple years .. these pellets were the best, and it only cost under $8 for a 40 lb bag Tractor Supply Pelletized Bedding for Horses and Small Animals, 40 lb.

[@dianac7002]

When I was remodeling my one and only bathroom last year, I bought a Vingli portable toilet, which is a glorified bucket system with a wider base for stability. I first lined the pot with a Doodie Bag, just in case the regular 4 gallon size waste bin bag that I placed inside the Doodie Bag leaked (which it never did). I then threw in pine pellet car litter (Arm and Hammer Feline Pine Platinum Non-clumping Cat litter) into the 4 gal garbage bag. After using the toilet, I just covered it with a large handful of pine cat litter. I could use it 3 to 4 times before removing the full inner 4 gal waste bin bag. I double-bagged it before disposing in my outside garbage bin. Since my inner waste bin bags didn't leak into the Doodie Bag, I was able to use the same protective Doodie bag over and over (they're pricey). I didn’t separate the urine from the feces, and there was no smell. I used it for 2 months indoors, and thankfully, it worked flawlessly. I learned about this method from a few different KZbin channels. Thank you for all of the excellent info you share!

[@PlayingwithSticks]

Wow, I love this little experiment you did. We also did a renovation in our house and I used the trelino last year. And that was a stinky situation. After hearing all these comments about the poets, it sounds like that's the route I should have went with. I was really surprised to hear how many people are even mixing urine and feces with the pellets and it works great. Looks like I have a new drying material this spring to be testing out. Thank you again for sharing this.

[@jgrant4520]

Thanks Drew! I have a Joolca Gotta Go toilet and really like that you can switch from chemical to composting toilet very easily. The vinegar/water definitely creates a smell problem but it would be interesting to see about adding a pleasant scent to the vinegar/water spray bottle that might help for the short term. One thing I wish the Joolca Gotta Go had is a handle on the front to make it easier to pull out from under a bed, table or shelf.

[@jgrant4520]

Maybe use Pine-sol instead of water/vinegar in the spray bottle?

[@PlayingwithSticks]

Brad, you are awesome! I've been drinking the cheapest coffee lately, so this isn't even going to coffee. I'll have to think what to spend this on. I promise I'll spend it wisely. Great idea on the handle. I never thought about that, but you're right. This would be hard to pull out from under something. It's very slick and wide And has no hard edges

[@PlayingwithSticks]

@jgrant4520 I used to clean public bathrooms as part of my job for 3 years. I always had the Pine-Sol on hand. Horrible story, but I find myself telling it often... One time I went into the bathroom and on the wall was the word hello in flies. You can probably imagine what was causing that.

[@jgrant4520]

@@PlayingwithSticks 💩

[@jgrant4520]

@@PlayingwithSticks 💩

[@jolttsp]

Convinced this video was designed to keep me from leaving my house ever 😅

[@PlayingwithSticks]

😆

[@justmona9647]

😂

[@LarryDickman1]

Or camp behind a Walmart.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

Speaking of that, we're seeing more and more Walmarts with signs, not allowing camping. Not cool. That's always been my backup when things go wrong.

[@jolttsp]

@@PlayingwithSticks I've noticed that too. I'd imagine many of them would still let you if you check in with a manager and respect the property. But not being able to default to it is a kick in the back for sure

[@100Diamonds10]

5 gallon bucket with 2 gallon on top. Garbage bag with Pellets, pee explodes Pellets to cover the #2. Garbage bags put into a dumpster. Just need to keep up with the Pellets to keep the liquid (pee) absorbed. Works great!

[@PlayingwithSticks]

Sorry, I'm having trouble picturing this. Can you explain where the 5 gallon and 2 gallon sit? I'm also a little confused on the pee exploding pellets. Sorry I can be a little dense at times.

[@lareekline8232]

@@100Diamonds10 what kind of pellets?

[@PlayingwithSticks]

@lareekline8232 I'm hearing from most people pine pellets.

[@BetterDays_Now]

Please explain the two buckets

[@lauraperkins1548]

@@PlayingwithSticks Pellets that are burned in stoves like wood burning stoves might be what is addressed here. I've used them in place of cat litter, so I've wondered about their use for camping. When the cat pees on it the pellets puff up and fall apart into saw dust. (My cats didn't like it, but I did. When it comes to the litter box, you know who won out.)

[@NeverTooOldToHike]

I see other comments similar to what I do - I have a collapsible 'box' with a lid / seat that goes on top. I put in a plastic bag. I use horse bedding pellets from Tractor Supply. I put them in...and make sure there is enough to collect the liquid...turns it to sawdust like material. Never ever have a smell when it is closed or open. My friends are now all using the same method. I got this great tip from Dee - LadyBug trailer lady's channel.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

I have a feeling this will be our method going forward! So many comments on here saying the same thing. Thank you so much.

[@brandonmorrison-q3b]

I mounted a shovel on the side of my square drop trailer. I dig a hole about 1’ and setup my roam shower around it . We have a bucket with a toilet lid and the bottom cut out. When we leave I fill the hole. You can’t do this in designated camping areas that’s why we venture out away from people. When we pick a new spot to camp I always make sure I’ll be able to dig and dump. I don’t use this system. I do it old school out in the woods. It’s for my wife. Great video!

[@PlayingwithSticks]

I really like the cutout bucket idea. We do a lot of cat holes as well, we don't talk about it much on the channel. We got called out for it maybe 5-6 years ago. And I understand like you mentioned, it doesn't work in every scenario in some regions. People are really on top of each other so the cat holes lead to issues. But for where we camp, they are a way to get the job done.

[@patrickmckowen2999]

I didn't smell anything during the watching of this video 👍

[@PlayingwithSticks]

😂 I thought I clicked the smell-a-vision setting in KZbin studio.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

Good seeing you Patrick!

[@kennethkilpatrick3758]

I've come to the conclusion the best course is a built in cassette toilet. If boondocking carry an extra cassette.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

That's an interesting take, I've never heard that before. That makes sense. Just change out the bottom cassette toilet and then take them both out at the same time during the end of the trip. Thanks for sharing this

[@jmpattillo]

I don’t want to be in the campground bathroom when someone empties one of those.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

@jmpattillo 😂 That's funny. It has me thinking in all my years. I don't think I've ever been in there during someone's walk of shame. I've seen many people at rest stops hauling them in, but fortunately I haven't been sitting next to one of them 😂

[@jmpattillo]

@ on the canal system in the UK, they have special outdoor flushing sinks for dealing with them. Apparently you don’t want to be downwind.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

@jmpattillo 😂 I'm with you there on that downwind part

[@slporter]

I'm set with what is probably the last new C-Head (the company went belly up when the company founder died and the family couldn't keep it going), but I'm always looking for a more compact version. I appreciate the review. I just wish companies would attend to reality overall and pick parts that can be repaired or replaced locally. For instance, the selling point for me and the C-Head was the replaceable one gallon milk/water jug for the urine collection. Use it, clean it, etc but when it reaches replacement phases, toss it. It also has a couple more parts that are replaceable with items from the hardware store.

[@annhopkin5079]

I just bought. A new old stock c-head Completely packaged in it's original box. I wish it was the shorty but No better toilet has ever been made. I also own the cuddy it's fine, you know ok but I have to prop the chamber open with a cork for condensation that said I would never buy a toilet without manual osilation I am not using a stick ever. I have also owned the sun mar But nothing even comes close to the functionality And odor free, beautifully oscillating c-head!!! Alcohol and water way better than vinegar.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

@annhopkin5079 Thanks for the alcohol and water tip. Much appreciated. And I'm feeling bad for not mentioning fans. Thank you for bringing up the oscillating, and I get you on the stick.

[@slporter]

@@annhopkin5079 Honestly, someone should buy the patent from the family and start the company back up. It's a great design for RVs and Vans, less so for tent traveling, etc. It has parts and weight, but it's also aesthetically pleasing in the bathroom (with a normal toilet seat!)

[@conchscooter]

I use a porta potty, old fashioned style in my van. I put toilet paper in a small trash can in the toilet compartment. I use baking soda for the smell. No chemicals and no paper means I can empty it anywhere. In campgrounds and public flushing toilets I dump in the night very late or very early to not annoy others. In vault toilets the smell isn’t an issue. We’ve been in Latin America the past year and this works along the PanAmerican as it does at home in the US. Cheers from Ushuaia ( we made it at last). I like your review of the Joolca and I will look into it when we get home.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

This comment is so inspiring. Thank you for taking the time to share your lifestyle and what's working for you.

[@2-old-Forthischet]

I have the cheapest folding camping toilet available. Being a male and doing mostly solo camping, it's not a problem. Number one is a large plastic juice bottle with the biggest screw on cap I could find. Number two is a biodegradable bag with peat moss in the folding camping toilet. No odors. My shovel takes care of the rest.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

I like your style! Where do you pick up that peat moss?

[@YvonneRaphaelWriter]

You need to moisten the dry mix you add. That makes it stick to the poo, instead of just laying around it, so that it more effectively dries the poo out as it dries. And you can’t leave any bit of it uncovered. The whole surface of the poop had to be covered by the mix to contain its smell. And pine shavings works extra nicely for some reason. But any dry shaved matter will work. And you need constant ventilation, otherwise the moment you open anything up to do the next business you’ll be hit with stench.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

This is the comment I was hoping to get! I knew there was something more I needed to do. I have been in many campers that are odor free and I couldn't figure out what I was missing. That makes a lot of sense.

[@karenneiman856]

We use a Luggable Loo camo pail with seat, mostly just for poop, after which the bag gets changed. Initially we trialed pet bedding with cedar shavings, which worked great for odor contol if it had pee in it. Then tried a frangranced kitty litter which was much more expensive and the fragance made me gag (and I am a nurse and Grandma). Blech. We have settled on a few inches of wood shavings from my husband's woodworking projects (ask a woodworker nicely to collect free shavings for you) for a very budget and olfactory friendly solution. Thanks for this conversation and research, Drew. Much appreciated. Merry Christmas to you and your sweet family from Alberta, 🇨🇦!

[@PlayingwithSticks]

We have plenty of wood shavings around here. Sounds like I need to put them to good use. And on top of that I probably could collect all the chain saw shavings as well. You got me thinking! As you have probably heard me say on the channel, Alberta and BC has a special place in my heart. Your very fortunate to live in such a beautiful place. Merry Christmas to your family as well.

[@lesliehunter1823]

UNSCENTED lightweight kitty litter works great and costs between 10/20 $ a year.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

@lesliehunter1823 now that is affordable

[@DaphneLowe]

Good review, I appreciate your honesty. Both of those are essentially bucket toilets. I'd rather just use an ordinary 5 gallon bucket. It's cheap, there's nothing to clean up, don't have to worry about separating poop and pee, medium is optional (maybe a tablespoon of urine absorbent). A plastic bag can be used for multiple deposits, when it smells, tie it up and leave it in the bottom of the bucket until it can be disposed of properly. If necessary, a gamma lid can be used, which will definitely prevent odor from escaping. If space is at a premium, a 3 gallon bucket and luggable loo toilet seat can be used. If space isn't an issue, go for luxury and build an ottoman type enclosure with a household toilet seat.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

I will piggyback on this great comment . Another option I see on Amazon are collapsible toilets or buckets. Same principles that you're talking about, but a way to even have more space savings.

[@shelbyandmargaret]

We use two indoor composting toilets and neither one smells. Our toilets are for #2 only. There's a urinal for the males and females have a separate bathroom with separate buckets for #1 and #2. We use peat moss as our covering and it's the best in the world. The peat moss is fresh, covers and seals odors. We've tried everything on the market and peat moss is the best, hands down and it last forever. 50 pounds for 40 dollars last the four of us 2 to 3 months. The men naturally separate 1 from 2 and the women do it so not to fill their bucket for solids so quickly but even when both 1 and 2 are together there is still no odor. Peat moss, solar electricity and the cellphone are the game changers to living off grid.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

Wow, how cool is this. And I think you are the first person to mention peat moss. THANK YOU!

[@MannyWC]

@@shelbyandmargaret don’t forget Starlink! Game changer for me camping off grid wherever! Fully solar powered also!

[@CJ30123]

imagine a life where you cant pee while you poop. my goodness

[@JoshuaTrinityWolf-dc4up]

Camping since I was 3 in 1963.My wife and I use a porta porty but I have improved the cheap porty. You put in a diverter and add a hose to drain the urine. This saves the septic bottom tank for only fecal matter. It saves on chemical and having to fill it with water. Many people mix stable pine smellling bedding stuff and kitty litter.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

I really like the hose idea! Out of curiosity, how long is that hose? Are you running it to like a bush or is that running to another container? I have so much to learn.

[@danhunneyman2973]

I have the Joolca with the wet tank option. I prefer it over my Thetford 365. Each are about the same size, but separating the pee and poo means each tank is smaller and lighter, which makes them easier to dump than the bigger Thetford dump tank. TMI warning (stop reading if you're squeamish), a small portable bidet rinse bottle pairs nicely with the Joolca and cuts down on the amount of toilet paper you need.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

That's a good suggestion about the portable bidet. If anyone has made it past the squeamish comment and are reading this... There's a great video about portable bidets on Cosmo Weems channel.

[@wanderful_luna]

I live in Australia and have the Ogo Nomad (very similar to the smallest Trelino). It fits in my small camper wardrobe and is very comfortable to use although I do have to be careful with my aim with #1 & #2s... I have only used it a few times but so far it's been great and most importantly no smells! I keep the urine diverter opening covered when not in use to prevent odours. A small sink plug or piece of rubber would do the job. I use peat/coir as my composting substrate. Also a good idea to dispose of used toilet paper in a separate bin - common practice in many parts of the world.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

Thank you so much for taking the time to share all this with us. I like the idea of the cover and placing the toilet paper in a separate bin.

[@ramonapuckett3059]

Great job, Drew! We usually camp in state campgrounds and forest campgrounds. At night we use the good ol’ bucket with a toilet seat and kitty litter! Can’t wait to see what you’ve invented 😊

[@PlayingwithSticks]

Bucket seat with toilet and kitty litter. I like it! As usual, good seeing you Ramona!

[@ramonapuckett3059]

@@PlayingwithSticks Thanks, you too 🩷

[@monaholt4066]

Ramona that's what we do Nice name by the way😊 same as mine

[@ramonapuckett3059]

@ that’s cool! Our name isn’t widely known so I get excited when I hear someone else has my name ☺️

[@PlayingwithSticks]

And as I've told Ramona before, that's my mom's middle name so it has a special place in my heart.

[@adventuresonwheels5272]

I was traveling when I saw Drew’s notification in the previous conversation about this topic - I just couldn’t wait to get home to sit and watch it! Thanks a lot Drew, I knew this was going to be a great topic and I can notice from the conversations with great suggestions and experiences shared. Just impressive! So, let me see if I get this straight: You are working on your own project to bring another option to your audience? If so… then it means that we should wait to see something that Drew is cooking (or digesting) to be aired down by spring!

[@TheOffroadCamper]

I’ve tried at least five different traditional camp toilets. The best one is the Camco with the cassette, but they all leak. The two top rated in that category are the Camco and the Thetford and both of them leak from the freshwater container for the flush system. I’m looking long and hard at the Joolca. I’m totally happy with my hot tap system from them, and as soon as I make some content money, I do plan to replace my Camco with the Joolca. I will add that my Camco has a flush valve much like the Joolca and I don’t have any problem with smell unless I open the valve to flush the toilet. Thanks for the review I will take your comments into consideration.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

I will say just from playing with this toilet for so long. It's definitely well built. I would say much better built than their shower enclosure, which is my favorite item from them. Like you, we also had the hot tap at one point as well. A little too big for our lifestyle, but definitely got the job done.

[@jennstuart2031]

lots of really useful information, Drew! I was surprised that you didnt go with either of the 2 you showed. And i look forward to what you come up with as another option. Ive heard, never used, that a hand held paint container with a handel will fit on a bucket, under the seat, at the front, to separate out liquid and solids to the back. Makes sense but i havent used that. Aside from the bucket with bags and lid the one i have used the most is the briefcase shape with the 3 legs that fold in. Folding the legs up is the worst project but the whole thing fits in one of my underbed bins so i put up with it. I use nonclumping kitty litter and take it to a dumpster frequently as needed. Every camp location is different and facilities are never the same so having the max of what you might need and hope to use the minimum. For teardrop campers and tenters this is probably the topic most discussed with some frequency!

[@PlayingwithSticks]

I had that three-legged toilet for sometime as well. Minus the folding legs. I appreciated it. I broke off all the clips over time. I want to try that paint can trick! Worth a shot. Good seeing you Jenn!

[@joeclark3149]

We have a plastic tripod toilet from rei We put a tablespoon of LaSyL Super Absorbent Powder for the pee in a plastic bag It helps it from sloshing around. If I remember I also bring sawdust. A side entry tent for us works great but not ideal in heavy winds. I also like the clamshell as an alternate. The best I have done for dispersed camping is make a wide stance frame from 2x4s with a toilet seat. I place it over a three foot hole and then use shovelfuls of dirt to cover. A tarp surrounded the pit toilet. Most serene! Drew not sure if you knew but Aero teardrop in wilsonville Oregon went out of business.

[@MannyWC]

If you design one, place a silicon seal around the inside of the lid which can be removed, washed and replaced🎉 (like on a good water bottle)

[@PlayingwithSticks]

I like that suggestion, thank you!

[@andrewjones-productions]

Finally! A truthful review that either isn't sponsored or isn't hype infused nonsense. Well done Drew!

[@PlayingwithSticks]

Thank you, I appreciate that. This was a fun video to make. I got to scratch a lot of my curiosity itches with this one. And I am fortunate to be independent, it makes the content come out a lot easier. I did sponsored content for like 3 months about 5 years ago. It was really tough. I don't do very well when I'm put in a box. Edit: I take that back. I did do a few videos with squarespace that was unrelated to the content I was discussing. That was actually kind of fun. Not fun enough to keep doing it, but at the time it pushed me to learn some new things.

[@joshua.harazin]

I just stick with the flat-folding toilet, and switch out the bag and chemical powder daily. The bags and chem are dirt cheap on [insert Chinese dropshipping site here]. Maybe not the most environmentally friendly way to go, but I don't want to waste my camp time cleaning whatsit off a $400 German box. Joolca's inclusion of a poop knife (8:38) is intriguing though.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

That's what I should have called it, a poop knife 😂 as usual, good seeing you Joshua.b

[@questtowander]

Loving my Joolca, light, no water, sealed poop, and keeping the no1&2's is key to keeping smells down. And if I want to go back to chemical, I didn't have to buy a whole new toilet, just a different insert. Also means for long trips I can buy an extra pooping container to swap out if full and not able to empty.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

Love the logic here. I agree, great design. And expandable/interchangeable as you mentioned.

[@sierramantrvlnus]

Another great video! If there was a KZbin equivalent of the Academy Awards for acting in special effects, you would win it for sure! Haha! But in all seriousness. I actually don't want to clean toilets. I use a clumping kitty litter, and top that off with cedar shavings. It does not get rid of all of the smells but every day or every other day, I would rebagg. And those bags go into a giant Ziploc bag. And then are stored in my trasharoo on the back of the tire. It's amazing how expensive some of these toilets are. Can't wait to see what you come up with. For a guy it's pretty easy to keep the liquids separate from the solids but not with a family. As always much love to you and your family! Ps, I really do enjoy your videos. Not only for the information but also they are just well done.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

Acting is right. This is the first video I've ever shot where I wasn't able to just pick up the camera and follow my camp routine. I knew nobody was going to want to watch me going to the bathroom 😂 I looked around, saw the pine cones and thought that'd be a good substitute. It was a really tough video to shoot. May and I have been joking all week that this was the longest video not only in terms of shooting, but editing, and then testing toilets. It felt really good to hit the upload button. But I learned so much from it, it was totally worth it. And I spent way too much money on random drying materials trying to get the no smell toilet everybody talked about 😂 totally agree on the men versus women versus family. I took a family approach on this video. The dude video would be much simpler, I could wrap that one up in probably 4 minutes. Even from the comment section here, I'm already having some ideas of things to add to the new toilet. I think there's a lot of room for expandability in the design. Thank you for the kind words, I really appreciate it. I've always enjoyed making videos for my family. But putting these random videos out there for the world and seeing how people react to it has been really rewarding.

[@sierramantrvlnus]

@PlayingwithSticks I laughed when reading your reply. I was thinking there was a lot of cutaways a lot of this and that, it must have been a lot of editing. And a lot of laughing along the way. Wrap the dude video up in 4 minutes!🤣 Pushing down the mountain of poop with a stick? No no no no! 🤣 Well, again I say, I really like the video. You even slowed down during the takes and not rushing through putting the bag in with the cap on it etc etc. It made for more natural movements. Great job. hope you're still enjoying the new house as well. 😎 Have a very merry Christmas, and cheers to a wonderful next year.🥂🌲🍾

[@PlayingwithSticks]

The house has been such a blessing. I had no idea how much I missed it. Just chopping wood, gardening, Even all this drywall and trim as miserable as it is, brings me a lot of joy. It's also been fun because this is the first time since having the channel that we are weekend warriors. I see camping in a whole new light now that most of our trips are only 3 to 4 days long. It's been fun to see both sides of the coin. And nice to have a place to return after a camping trip. I have much better camping systems this season than I usually do. When you just keep going back into that cargo trailer night after night, you just live with it and don't get creative. Well, others probably would but I didn't. I just kept rolling with it. On these short trips each time I come back I go out with a new change to the system. Merry Christmas and happy New Year to you as well! Have you put out any videos recently?

[@sierramantrvlnus]

@PlayingwithSticks it's great to hear you're enjoying the house. I love tinkering and redoing things inside and outside as well. Being the weekend warrior and be able to modify the little things each trip is a lot of fun. It doesn't have to be a drastic change just something little to make things a little easier or more comfortable. To be honest with you I've made my videos originally for my family to watch what I like to do and so they can participate. My trips over the past 2 years have gone all over the United States, and it seems like I just don't have time to do all that filming it takes to make a KZbin video. Lots of driving not a lot of time sitting. But I will try and do another one here for a snow camping trip soon. My cousin's in Nebraska do enjoy to see the snow in the forest rather than the cornfields. Hahaha!

[@carlbrown8830]

Funny that of all the rv toilet videos on KZbin, I haven't seen any that utilize lime. I used to work in an underground silver mine that was as big as a skyscraper with as many levels. Each level had an outhouse that served over a dozen workers. The toilet was a 5 gallon bucket with a seat. Beside it was a 20 pound bag of powdered lime and a sugar scoop. You did your business and sprinkled a scoop of lime on it. On Friday, a lucky designate toted the bucket (hopefully with the snap on lid ) to the main shaft station where the highest paid hourly wage worker ( the "shit" nipper) would replace it with a nice clean bucket . Surprisingly, no odor.

[@thomaswelch5164]

Airhead has ducted forced air ventilation. I thought it was for odors, but I recently saw an expert say it was primarily for necessary drying.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

That would make sense, and then in turn all that drying would reduce or eliminate those odors as well.

[@thomaswelch5164]

@ Please see what this guy did. A short connected vent hose and fan can’t be that expensive to add. kzbin.info/www/bejne/f2K9oIlmjK1kbKcsi=0DPze4e6RO3ueCZ2

[@INGK-o9w]

I also use a composting toilet. I bought it in China. I think their toilet has a dry and wet separation function and can be used for a month after changing the base material. It is very convenient for me.🤣

[@PlayingwithSticks]

A month, that sounds great.

[@NoBlueSunday]

I Love my joolca. I have both chemical and bag cassettes, each seals very well.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

In the edit I accidentally cut that section out, but I was saying if your budget allows, I think it's great to carry one of each cassettes. I'm glad you filled in the gaps for me. Thank you!

[@mrsjohnson1743]

My Trelino doesn't stink. I've been using pine shavings but they are finer and fluffier than the Aspen shavings you showed. In the #2 section, I throw a couple handfuls at the bottom before initial use. With each use, I surround the waste with more shavings. Also, I put the used t.p. off to a side as it can interfere with the fluffy composting material covering the #2. “Surrounding” it with only shavings is the key. The Trelino doesn't really get “dirty” but is super easy to clean.

[@vairon7474]

You are wrong, it’s not popular and no one loves it. They sent this $500 square bucket to all the KZbinrs that wanted it so they could get all of that stupid free marketing, and that’s the bottom line they think they got something for nothing so they gave a glowing reviews and then sold it on eBay.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

They never sent me a free one. I had to pay for this bucket. And everybody tries to send me free everything. I guess I wasn't worthy of a free bucket.

[@ozmanfidaar6311]

There are really 2 ways to get rid of the smell for these types of dry toilets: 1. Use a carbon filter with a tiny 12v fan; 2. Use a 12v exhaust fan that bushes the smell to the exterior of your rig. I built the latter for less than $150 about 3 yrs ago with zero smell, in fact, it is superior to regular house toilets as the odor is pushed out during active use. The key is having an exhaust fan that constantly eliminates the odor.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

And I'm assuming this is like a computer fan. That's 12 volt and takes very little energy right? It makes a lot of sense. Little the build for $150 or less. Did you part it all together or was part of that build and actual fan system for compost toilets?

[@ozmanfidaar6311]

@@PlayingwithSticks Yes, the 12v of fan that uses little power. I built the entire toilet from parts sourced from Amazon and the local warehouse for less than $150. I even routed the #1 to the piss tank under the rig and attached a 12v seloid valve to discharge the #1 by the push of a button. So, I don't even worry about the usual issues related to overflowing urine jugs, etc.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

@ozmanfidaar6311 this is neat. I appreciate you coming back and clarifying here.

[@blcolon]

I pre-ordered this and was happy when I got it. We used the #1 part for a four day week and added vinegar. The only issue we had was we added a Velcro strip to the vinegar bottle and stick to have it stay in place under the lid. I think the only complaint I see and have is no carry case. I bought a crappy Amazon one for now. I think you hit everything else though. I would like to get the chemical cassette in the future to see if it works. Like always, thanks for the review.

[@blcolon]

Just to add to this. We had a toilet in the area and we used the #1 to avoid the long walks.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

Thanks for taking the time to share this. Great idea with the velcro. I thought it was just me struggling to find the proper nesting angle. Sometimes it goes right in for me And stays, other times it's rolling around.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

That makes a lot of sense. Great idea.

[@pelenaka]

2 compost toilets & 1 outhouse, all utilize 5 gal. buckets collection for solid waste. All 3 use urine diverters. Mainly yellow pine sawdust otherwise mixture of species from Amish Sawmill. Buckets dumped into outdoor covered compost bin. Eventually dimped into a very deep hole which in a few years will be home to Chestnut Tree.

[@jeffmatthews3798]

Poop in the bucket, pee in the woods. Loved the quick snack time in the middle of a septic demo. Hilarious.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

😂 And my wife said the same thing, why are you doing that? The guys got to eat.

[@kristenmclean2792]

Feline Pine litter from Arm & Hammer. We used it for 5 weeks for three people when we had to rebuild our septic. It costs about $20 for 40lbs, and it breaks down into sawdust as you add urine, absorbing it really well. I bag would get us through 3-4 days. The only downside is that it’s heavy & bulky to store. When we’re on extended camping trips, we go for coconut coir bricks. They work as well, just don’t have the nice cedar smell.

[@ginnyjagodzinski6727]

Garbage bags and pine pellets work great for us! And using separate bags for #2. We keep a bottle of Poo-Pourri in our kit too just in case!

[@PlayingwithSticks]

I think pine pellets are in the lead here! And that's one form of drying material I have never tried. Thank you for sharing. And we've heard a few people mention poo-pourri as well.

[@ryanm7865]

Thanks for the detailed honest review. You gave so much info for folks to make informed decisions.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

Thanks for the kind words Ryan, glad you enjoyed it.

[@garretlewis4103]

Thanks for the brief update on the custom camper build. I had wondered what happened. Especially when you got the Bean.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

We've been using that cargo trailer for years now. It's basically part of the family. My last build though was for my mother. She took a strong interest in the trailer and I see how it could be a great fit for her lifestyle. She is very active so she needs a way to haul and sleep in the same location.

[@youcanthide004]

Great Video. And you are correct, keeping the liquids and the solids separated is the game changer. Here's what I've found works very well, readily available, super cheap. Tractor Supply Pelletized Bedding for Horses and Small Animals, 40 lb. less than $7.

[@fiveacreadventure9121]

I found wood ash to work great. The wood ash has bits of charcoal in it that helps with smells and it dries solids very well.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

And you're just talking the ash that I'm removing from my wood stove?

[@fiveacreadventure9121]

@PlayingwithSticks you can't take the ash straight from the fire. You will have to move it to another space or metal container and let it cool for about at least 24 hours. If you try to use hot ash, it will melt your bag or plastic container. Saw dust is also great, especially if it's from pine trees as it has a good smell. I use wood ash because it's free from my fireplace from heating my home. Wood ash has many other uses like replacing the baking soda you put in the fridge for smells and many more that you can research on your own.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

@fiveacreadventure9121 oh sorry, I was referring to Ash from our home fireplace. Thank you for clarifying that.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

@fiveacreadventure9121 My wife and I just went down the bunny trail of researching Ash yesterday. So this is very timely

[@fiveacreadventure9121]

@PlayingwithSticks just some FYI. I made my own separating toilet out of an old cooler that I found without a lid and just cut a piece of plywood to fit an elongated toilet seat, and I find the height to be very comfortable and very sturdy.

[@rebekkahmartin9426]

We just use a Thetford, the 4 gallon black bags sold on Amazon as liners (1 time use only!) and empty pee jug daily. Boys pee outside, so that pee jug is only for momma during the night. Thoroughly clean the Thetford everytime the trip is over. Been camping this way for 4 years and no smells, no issues.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

Love it! That's exactly it, just find a way to separate. You did it the easy way.

[@dogzbestfrnd1]

Waiting on delivery of our Joolca... we've been using a Luggable Loo, with horse pellets from Tractor Supply. Pine was the only odor we experienced, but thought we'd try the Joolca, as it looks a bit more comfortable than the Luggable. We'll keep using horse pellets though, since they're very effective at controlling odors.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

I think you'll really like that new Joolca. We've owned the luggable Loo in the past as well. It's a pretty nice upgrade from one to the other. They are both great toilets. But the joolca I find to be a bit more friendly when friends and guests are around.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

Thanks for sharing about the horse pellets as well!

[@dogzbestfrnd1]

@@PlayingwithSticks Thanks! Looking forward to the Joolca experience. 🙂

[@dogzbestfrnd1]

@@PlayingwithSticks 👍

[@johnbrooks5211]

Try wood pellets from tractor supply for horse stalls. Works for me.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

Sounds like it works for a lot of people on here. I will definitely be picking some up. Thank you.

[@shockingguy]

Well, I’ve been using a bucket for number two for a long time, and I’m gonna tell you as a guy, that unit that can be dumped into a toilet. Let’s just say it ain’t gonna work for some of my droppings. When I can buy a five dollar bucket a giant roll of really good bags from Sam’s Club or even really cheap 10 gallon can liners just use two of them. You guys are going about this all wrong.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

I think the guidelines here are more for the families, the couples and the squeamish. You and me we can go out alone and cut all this out. But I find with my family this is one of the areas they consider a drawback to camping. Anytime I can remove a drawback or barrier, I'm quick to find a solution. As comfortable as the least comfortable person in your party. At least that's my camping theory. Thanks for sharing your method here, I appreciate it.

[@garretlewis4103]

We use a basic bucket toilet. We have tried several different things and currently we are using cat litter that is made of wood pellets which kind of look like pellets for a wood stove. We tried used coffee grounds and they really didn’t work well on their own. They do help with the smell when mixed/used in moderation. The drier the used grounds the better. Are are thinking about getting rid of our bucket toilet and getting something that folds in order to take up less space when not in use.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

If you're anything like us, once you go folding you'll never go back. The bucket toilets have their place, But folding is great for this lifestyle. The wood pellets seem to be the dominating choice on here for folks. I'm excited to try them out

[@mrdave22]

this video wasn't as crap as i thought it was going to be, it was equally pissy. God bless and Merry Christmas

[@PlayingwithSticks]

Love it Mr. Dave! God's blessings to you as well. Merry Christmas my friend!

[@erich8258]

Any thoughts on dry flush as an option? It looks intriguing, though maybe it's too high tech to be practical in the backcountry.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

In terms of usability, I've tried them out. I think they're very practical. The issue with them is the cost and the waste. I think if you recreate infrequently, in a dry flesh is what it takes to get one of your family members out there. They're probably worth their weight in gold. But for the rest of us, I think other methods are more practical. Great question by the way!

[@erich8258]

@@PlayingwithSticks Thanks for your thorough response!

[@PlayingwithSticks]

Of course! I love seeing questions like yours to get the conversation started.

[@Zach1133]

Thanks Drew, looking forward to seeing your product! Any info on your cargo trailer build?

[@PlayingwithSticks]

The video has been shot, I just need to post it one of these days. It's one of my favorite new videos, so I've been holding off on it until camping season gets a little closer.

[@Zach1133]

Thanks, I've followed a few other cargo trailer builds but appreciate your thought process and keep it simple mindset. I also have 2 young kids, looking forward to it!

[@PlayingwithSticks]

@Zach1133 I have a feeling that video will be out in February. I think you'll really appreciate the simplicity, and the expandability of this build. I might have said this to you before, but this was supposed to be a temporary build. And we ended up choosing it as the final build. It's so easy to build. I actually stripped the whole thing down and built it again just for the video.

[@kimdagnillo8246]

My pine pellets work great, for both mixed, I’m traveling around not camping for weeks in a spot but a bucket with gamma lid works well too til I can find a McDonald’s trash can 😬…I’m in a minivan , I’d do the same thing in an RV, I don’t want to deal with a black rank tank 😊

[@PlayingwithSticks]

Most of us here in the community are right with you on that black tank comment. I'm really impressed to know how well these pellets are working for people. Thank you for sharing

[@atomicsmith]

Definitely saw dust it’s what you need. Shavings don’t cover fully. The pine pellets others have mentioned are compressed saw dust and they will work well, but sometimes need moisture to decompress. Read “the humanure handbook” it will give you the complete rundown in very little time. Composting toilets are the best, but they do require a little bit of skill and knowledge.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

Skill and knowledge in this area is what I lack. Thank you for pointing me in the right direction.

[@dandarling5990]

Tried many absorbant materials. I am down to using two types. First is dry sawdust mixed with wood ash. Second and favorite when I have it is, pelletized small animal bedding, it is not nessesary to separate urine. I have never seperated urine, it's absorbed along with moisture in solids. Having some Ag lime is handy to sprinkle with wood ashes also. For mobil camping nothing beats the small animal bedding pellets.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

Love this comment! I can tell you've went down searching path of better dry materials like us. I'm going to have to try what you're using. We have a lot of sawdust from projects here and Ash from the pinewood fires. Looks like it's time to put it to good use.

[@katherinekelly5380]

I use hardwood pellets intended to be burnt in a pellet stove. 20 kg bag for $7 When they get wet, pellets turn to sawdust and it smells like sawdust. It’s kind of like the cat litter ‘Feline Pine’ but much (much!) cheaper and no piney scent

[@ronnjerremy5796]

Truth the plastic definitely holds the smell we need a lightweight porcelain type of product maybe something already exists nice vid

[@PlayingwithSticks]

We had one person suggest ceramic and now porcelain. Love it, thank you. What I have found in my testing is open air seems to be the best. When you put these capture devices or bags inside a container, it doesn't really have room to breathe. When I just add a diverter in a bag to an open-legged toilet I don't have any issues with smells lingering around. However, it would be fun to test the porcelain idea. This way you kind of get the best of both worlds, a closed boxed environment and less lingering smell.

[@ronnjerremy5796]

@PlayingwithSticks i added an exhaust fan to my trelino 💯 improvement

[@roadtriplover.]

cedar shavings from Walmart pet stuffs area works for me. I also travel with my cats and I clean their litter box into to pooh part of my toilet. Mine is a homemade separation toilet.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

Love the resourcefulness here! Thanks for sharing!

[@kebeaux6546]

Hey Drew !!! I can’t say that I have been searching for a good poop chute…but kudos for working through this stuff. Now I’m curious about what you are working on.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

My wife laughs and says I have a bit of an obsession with Camp toilets. I tell her it's a bit of an obsession with Camp everything haha. Good seeing you my friend. Looking forward to showing you the new toilet soon.

[@kebeaux6546]

@@PlayingwithSticks Always good to see you & family. Have a great holiday my friend.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

@kebeaux6546 same goes to you and your family!

[@kebeaux6546]

@@PlayingwithSticks it’s getting colder down here. Especially with this slick-shaved head. 😳

[@PlayingwithSticks]

@kebeaux6546 😂

[@norkisserrano]

Pine saw dust works really good for me, it eliminates the odor.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

We're starting to get a few sawdust users. Thank you, I appreciate this!

[@gregparrott]

I've heard some use kitty litter. It will be one of the more expensive options, but likely worth it, as it is specifically designed for this use. Looking online, I see that some are hygroscopic, (i.e. a desiccant) This more actively absorbs moisture, drying out poop and suppressing odors. Two types of desiccants are used. The most effective uses silica crystals - not organic, but not environmentally harmful. The other uses clay - organic, hygroscopic, but a little less effective. For human use, there may be an optimum mix of kitty litter, along with one or more of the other ingredients you listed, starting at 2:27. After seeing $475 for a frickin' bucket, I'm having a s**t fit.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

😂 I get you on the price tag. And thank you for sharing this about the different options of drying. Much appreciated

[@gregparrott]

@@PlayingwithSticks You're welcome. And, thanks for reviewing these two units. At their price, what I jury-rig works just fine. But then, I mostly travel solo.

[@markthompson2079]

Oh, oh, oh , OH!! Got your attention yet?? Oh are you ever so far behind. Some history first though so you know a thing or two. I'm old enough to Fart Dust. Old people have, let's say a more pungent smell. Mine would kill a rose bush. But the history I was talking about. As a kid we camped on a bare spot of ground our family had camped on for generations. We didn't own the land but knew the owners for generations before the state built a lake in the area. We camped that stretch of the creek about three or four decades before our state was a state. A mighty long time. We even as a kid had to clear the area before we could set up or tents. Dad even started carrying a lawn mower to get it done faster. The second job was digging the camp outhouse and setting up the old heavy green army tarps around it for privacy. We used quick Lime to keep ordors down and start breaking down of waste. That was until the lake rangers told us we could not do that. So dad took a 32 gallon barrel, a heavy steel one, and custom made a seat for it. We still used the quick Lime in the barrel but added cedar chips to soak up any moisture. Mom made most of the moisture. But her bucket she normally used in their tent no longer worked because rinsing it and dumping it down the hole added way to much liquid to the barrel. So dad bought one of those bed side pots with the bags that came with the powder bag that absorbed the liquid. Then Mom found out where to buy the white powder that turned liquid to gel. Being a nurse helped as this was many a year before Amazon. Now days you can order those bags off Amazon and it's amazing at how many days you get out of one 50¢ nagy. Look up those and be surprised.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

I will definitely be googling that! And love the story by the way.

[@stevestogsdill5791]

Thanks for always putting out great, practical videos. It was a bit weird though watching you go back and forth between handling those toilets and eating with your bare hands.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

😂 My wife said the same thing. I do promise I washed my hands extremely well between what I touched and what I ate. Not to mention, I spent countless hours trying to get residual smells out of those toilets. Not for research purposes, but because once I knew the toilets weren't the right fit for me, I promised I would give them to my friends after the video was shot.

[@stevestogsdill5791]

@@PlayingwithSticks Lol! A new Christmas gift tradition for friends! Seriously though, that's very generous. We've used a Thetford Curve toilet in our vintage Airstream for several years because I took out the original black tank. Haven't been impressed. Considered a cassette arrangement to remove out the back of the trailer. Tired of hauling the portable tank through the camper and out the door. I've also considered the composting types. Thanks for the review. The Joolca could be a good choice for us.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

@stevestogsdill5791 someone in the comments mentioned one downfall of the joolca that I never thought about. Because it's so wide and curved, it would be a bit harder to pull it or slide it out from under a bed or an enclosed space. But for your situation, just tying a rope around it or a bungee or something like that would make it probably much easier. Or a slide-out tray would be pretty neat as well. I liked where which one you're going with your idea, makes a lot of sense.

[@TrinkaPolite]

Thank you 😊 hope you're doing well 🙏🏼

[@PlayingwithSticks]

You are most welcome! All is well here, hope the same for you.

[@katt9338]

Is it weird that I’m super excited to see what you design for a camping toilet? I have my shower setup pretty dialed in (Nemo Helio lx and Heliopolis tent) but all the composting toilets I’ve considered are too big, bulky, and expensive. Something compact and even folding/collapsible sounds ideal

[@PlayingwithSticks]

Your last sentence is pretty on track. I'm excited to show it to you.

[@galepayne3866]

my favorite camping channel , thank's

[@opinionatedartist]

We use a separating toilet with a fan and it never stinks, but you need the fan.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

I'm glad you mentioned the fan. That's an aspect I should have included in the video. Thank you for sharing this.

[@gingermcintosh6545]

Block of compressed cedar chips from Walmart pet bedding. It’s cheap and light. I just use a bucket, compostable bag, and cedar chips. I tie up the bag after use. No smell. Take it to a dumpster.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

Love it! Thank you so much for sharing this. I have so much to learn. I appreciate this tip

[@davidplotkin5173]

What are your thoughts on the dry flush system?

[@PlayingwithSticks]

In terms of usability, I think they're great. When it comes to cost per use of the toilet I think it's expensive. And then in terms of environmental impact, there's a lot of waste. So I recommend them to people who have someone in their party that's just a bit toilet squeamish. If that dry toilet is going to help keep them outdoors, then I think it's worth the high cost of every flush. And especially if you're only recreating a few times a year. But if you're staying out outside often throughout the camping season, I think there's more viable options for most of us.

[@streetwork5069]

Just used my good old bucket and toilet seat ring ..quick and easy..no smell during winter! Also.. go to Walmart and buy three urine jugs for 4.$ each.

[@M.Campbell]

Wood pellets. They turn into saw dust with moisture and smell like pine.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

I like the sound of that. This whole comment section is getting filled up with pellet comments. Sounds like that's the way to go

[@M.Campbell]

@@PlayingwithSticks Tractor Supply and Atwoods carry them. In my area 40 lbs is 4.99. Very economical. I also use them for cat litter. One product, two uses.

[@fernharmon4092]

I hope you do, your attention to detail and in the field tests should result in a fantastic system. Interested.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I'm looking forward to tackling this. I've already got a number of new ideas to add to the build just from this comment section today.

[@lisab1254]

I haven’t compared them. They both have aromatic compounds which help with odor to a certain degree.

[@mikesimons1544]

Would ceramic materials be a lot better than plastic ? Would be heavier, but not too much.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

I was wondering if there would be a material that wouldn't hold the smells as much. So far I found just any toilet where the bag is in open air. It just needs room to breathe. All my collapsible toilets once I take the bag out and let the toilet sit for a couple minutes when I throw it in the tow vehicle I don't smell the thing.

[@KM-te6wu]

Technically, those are dry toilets, rather than composting, since the process isn't actually happening!

[@PlayingwithSticks]

Technically I think they're composting if you use them for composting. When it's in my garage it's a compost toilet. When it's at the site it's a separating toilet.

[@emmas1082]

Excellent analysis!!!

[@PlayingwithSticks]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it

[@ginamyers8582]

What about poopourri?

[@PlayingwithSticks]

I remember those commercials, I forgot about that. Thank you for sharing

[@bmiller2011vids01]

Excellent video Drew; good review. Both toilets seem to have their good and bad points, but for the money I’m going to keep using the rudimentary bucket and seat I’ve always used; like you I’m going to add a separator. On another subject, can someone explain why grown adults say 'pee' and 'poo / poop' or 'number one' and 'number two' when we have perfectly useful and clear names for these: urine and feces? It's ubiquitous in both this video, the comments, and out in the world, and whenever I hear it I always feel like someone’s talking to a toddler. Why not use your adult vocabulary and say what you mean? Is this somehow offensive? I really don’t get it. Not criticizing or trolling; seriously asking. I’ve always wondered why people do this, but have never before been in a comments section on the subject, so it seemed like a good time to ask what others think.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

Great question. Did you notice my approach to it? In this video I called it pee, poo, poop, #1, #2, feces, and urine. Haha. This isn't my first rodeo. No matter which term I choose someone has a problem with it. So for fun I sprinkled them all in together this time. Living on the edge. Edit: I even said potty tent, which is a term I have never used before.

[@vaughnsvideos]

Product names not even in description?

[@PlayingwithSticks]

I included them in the description. If you look in there, you're looking for trelino and joolca gotta go. There is links for them in there as well.

[@brighambaker3381]

Why not bentonite clay/kitty litter?

[@PlayingwithSticks]

We've gone about 8 to 10 kitty litter comments so far. So far the lead is pine pellets.

[@mbens9995]

Current set up is an IKEA kids plastic potty chair. We go pee in it and then dump in the grass. Wash it out with a bit of water, ready to go. I keep a bin for TP. For #2, we line the potty with a compostable bag, and collect them in a bucket with a lid. For a longer trip, we use a Home Depot bucket (a better height for adults) that I line with a bag and secure so it acts as a sling for the poo bag. Then same process, collect in a bucket with a lid. This works well for our family of 4, but I don’t think it’s suitable for guests to use. 😂

[@kdsailorgirl]

I bought the Trelino and like it a lot. The Joolca wasn’t available. I think it’s well constructed and has held up well. I bought the smallest version which is very short and small. The urine is small for me since I have to take diuretics. All this being said, now I’m interested in the Joolca but wonder if anyone would buy a used Trelino 😂

[@PlayingwithSticks]

😂 I told a friend I was going to give him one of my toilets. I had the same thought, is he going to want it after knowing I used it for a whole year. Even though smells I mentioned in the videos, they tend to kind of linger. I clean and clean these things and I can always smell a tiny bit of something.

[@kdsailorgirl]

Vinegar seems to work well for me. The urine container definitely holds the smell longer.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

@kdsailorgirl That's where I have been having my struggles. It's with the urine container. A friend of mine says I just need to dilute my vinegar down a little more.

[@ojocaptor]

no bucket but shovel.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

Great method!

[@SuzanneWho]

Coir. It’s lightweight and really works.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

I put that in my list on the screen and didn't even know what it was. Where do you pick yours up?

[@SuzanneWho]

@ I got some with my OGO potty and haven’t needed to order yet. I would just do a Google search and then the shopping tab. Lots of places sell it. It’s usually compacted and you just break it up into granules. I was using wood shavings but they don’t work nearly as well. It’s not cheap but worth it - and you don’t need much.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

@SuzanneWho this is great to hear. Thank you so much for taking the time to share this!

[@winnaheilman622]

How about carrying both your flat ones. Use one for #1 the other for #2. If I was camping out in the open, without neighbors. I would put #2 in a hole you dig and cover it with a handful of lime and then a small amount of dirt. Place a cover of some sort over the whole to help keep bugs off and smells down for the duration. Urine I just dump along the woods, preferably on a patch of poison ivy. Small children would be an issue with trying to keep them separate, I would presume. The norm when I am camping in an isolated area is to the woods for #1!

[@blindnessisaspectrum6237]

I'm looking for a toilet that will hold a big fat lady, over 300 lbs. without collapsing on the floor. This should tell you, I had to clean my carpet on occasion. It's just for times when the bathroom is occupied.

[@PICARDY610]

HEMP, HEMP, HEMP. OUR CHICKEN COOP NEVER SMELLS WITH HEMP EITHER

[@KnittedSchnauzer]

I love your channel and your insights. However, I feel this attempt to play with composting toilets is ridiculous. It is more suited for a fixed abode. I use the Thetford chemical toilet and never get any odor. It is so easy to dump and by mixing number 1 with number 2 I never have to worry about building a brown mountain.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

Sorry, maybe I didn't explain this well. I mentioned in there that most of us aren't really using this for composting. We're using it to separate the urine and feces. When urine and feces mix, you've created sewage, a liquid form of hazardous material. When you use a cassette toilet, you're dealing with chemicals, again, Sewage and now adding more toxins... chemicals to the mix. There's a reason why urine and feces are separated inside the human body, they're not really designed to mix. They both tend to do better on their own . So besides what I mentioned in the video about smells, transport, number of bags used etc. This is also a more hygienic way of dealing with our human waste. While I have nothing against chemical toilets, and I think there are many use cases where people would benefit from them. I think separating is a much more natural, and efficient method. With the use of a portable bidet, this means no trips to a dump station, a garbage facility, a rest stop. All this can be properly left in a cat hole. Yes, these work great in a fixed abode, but also great for the vagabond lifestyle. So I hope you see this is not an attempt at anything, More of an opportunity to share with people an alternative method that they may not have thought of. The more you study this and understand it, I think you'll realize it's not that ridiculous.

[@Ms.Frankenbuilder]

very good review

[@PlayingwithSticks]

Thank you, I appreciate the kind words.

[@the6cow6god6]

wood shavings AND charcoal ;)

[@PlayingwithSticks]

What kind of charcoal would that be? Are we talking like burned charcoal or Ash. Or is it similar to like diatomaceous earth?

[@danam.8709]

Looks like a project for a 3D printer and alfalfa pellets.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

My boys and I were just talking about a 3D printer for this yesterday.

[@LoreleiVaughn]

I used the five gallon Luggable Loo with bags. I got a camouflage bucket. One can store the supplies inside for travel. But in back of car, they tip--although I had a five pound weight in the bottom. It didn't fit in with other stuff very well. I got the square-ish shaped Stansport and removed the insert, and use bags in it. I'm usually near a dumpster. If i had to haul it home, eeewwwwww. Once I drove through an open campground that had dumpsters. I use cat litter. So, if you come up with something that will contain any smell, I'd be up for that. Seems to me something like a Joolca is ducky, but I don't want mess, and if it were full, too heavy and take space. Thing is, I'd rather it didn’t LOOK like a toilet. With the Stansport, I can throw something over it and make it look a bit like a table. National Forest campgrounds usually have dumpsters, so if smelly, change bag, so no problem. If no dumpster, it's a problem.

[@LoreleiVaughn]

Also, now I have the Joolca attached shower tent to hide the toilet. It has to hang down on the dog's side of the teardrop, but I don't think he will care if no smell. If you have the Cool Tears calendar for 2025, my trailer is November, but was before I got the shower tent.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

For me I find the toilet needs to be basically open air. The folding toilets with just open air around the legs, those are the toilets I'm referring to that don't retain smells. I can throw that bag out. Let the chair air out for 5 minutes. Throw it in the tow vehicle and there's absolutely no smell.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

I don't have that calendar, I need to get it! Thank you.

[@LoreleiVaughn]

@PlayingwithSticks I may get a folding one again if needing more space--I had a nice one once, but sold it when I didn't want it to look like a toilet.

[@PlayingwithSticks]

@LoreleiVaughn I didn't mention it in your last comment, but I like your idea of making a discreet toilet. I never even considered that.