The best camping toilet depends on your specific needs. Every camping toilet serves the same purpose, but some are a bit more “luxury” than others…

It’s safe to say that using the toilet is one of the main things that separates us from the wildlife and unless you want to be doing your business in the bushes near your campsite, then a camping toilet is essential. What you do in the toilet is a seamless necessity and it can easily be overlooked when you are packing your car up for a camping, fishing, or hunting trip.

So how can you bring the luxury and privacy of the bathroom you have at home with you when you head out into the wilderness? – A camping toilet is the answer to that need that every human has and a privacy tent to put it in gives you all the privacy you could want in the backcountry.

What you do in the bathroom is, of course, a private matter, and most of us do not want to talk about it, but in this article, we are going to have to (minus some of the details of course!) Today we will be looking at the features of a good camping toilet and reviewing three of the best, so you don’t have to ask any embarrassing questions at your local camping store… Enjoy!

What Should You Look for in a Camping Toilet?

You certainly do not want to look in your camping toilet, but there are a few things you should look for in its design! There are a few different types of camping toilets out there and each design varies greatly, however, some designs will suit some people better than others. So how do these camping toilets differ, and what makes them perfect for each type of outdoor enthusiast?

1. Chemical Camping Toilets

Chemical camping toilets are one of the most hygienic and smell-free ways to do your business outdoors and they are great for some users but not for others. This type of camping toilet is ideal for the family or couple that wants to escape out into nature without sacrificing the hygiene that your typical home bathroom brings. Coupling one of these up with a portable sink and a pop-up outhouse-style tent is the closest you can get to being at home in the middle of nowhere.

These toilets are great and are the best of the best when it comes to bringing modern hygiene standards to outdoor life however they are quite bulky, a bit heavy, and you will have to worry about where to dispose of the chemical waste responsibly. If you are the hunter, fisherman, or wild camper then chances are you will be camping light.

Setting up basecamp with a bulky chemical toilet, sink, and outhouse tent probably is not an option for you and it is likely that you won’t mind about hygiene as much as the typical modern family. For those of you that fit into this category, a bottle of good old-fashioned hand sanitizer and the camping toilet that is next on our list should be more than enough luxury for your next excursion.

2. Lightweight Foldable Camping Toilets

Ah, the lightweight foldable camping toilet. A luxury that most do not get to experience. Well, perhaps not, but these toilets can bring a comfortable way to do a number two in the wilderness without having to squat in the bushes! This is the crudest and simplest form of camping toilet and they do not leave too much to the imagination. The basic foldable camping toilet consists of a frame, toilet seat, and a way to clip your waste bag below to catch, well, your waste.

The folding camping toilet is light and compact enough to carry to your base camp if you are out hunting or fishing for extended periods of time. It is ideal for the outdoorsman that desires a little bit of luxury on their camping excursion while out in the wild hunting, fishing, and stalking.

The only drawback with this design is the fact that you will have to dispose of the bags of human waste in a responsible manner. That means you may have to transport them in your truck or car once you are done at your camping location.

3. Bucket Camping Toilets

Bucket camping toilets are similar to the folding toilet however they offer more odor elimination and they are not as compact. They come in the form of a bucket with a toilet seat on top. The lid of the toilet seat will either lock down to create an airtight seal to prevent odor leakage and any flies getting inside. Some bucket toilets have a detachable lid that screws on to create the same type of seal, each design serves the same purpose but a fixed lid is much more user friendly and easy to remove, especially in the middle of the night when nature calls.

This type of camping toilet is ideal for casual camping where toilet facilities are inaccessible. They are okay for the hunter, fisherman, and wild campers as long as they don’t have to trek far from the vehicle to base camp. They are quite bulky (being a bucket) but they are fairly lightweight, and easily transportable. A good bucket toilet sits the same height off of the ground as your toilet at home so it feels natural when you have to do your business, but their narrow base can make them slightly unstable on uneven ground so sit with caution!

How Can You Keep Your Privacy?

Keeping your privacy is important when camping outdoors especially when nature calls and you have to use the toilet. If you are hunting, fishing, or wild camping it is unlikely that there will be too many people around to disturb you, so placing your toilet in the foliage usually gives you more than enough privacy, however, if you are camping at a popular spot or with a large family or group of friends you will probably need something a little more private.

A portable outhouse is the answer to this need. They come in the form of a pop-up tent that is quite tall but narrow. These tents are designed for camping showers and toilets, so they give you just enough room to sit on the toilet and stand up to shower. If you are looking for ultimate privacy in the wilderness then one of these tents is your best option. They are lightweight, can be set up easily, and they offer a bit more comfort than just sitting in the bushes.

Best Chemical Camping Toilet

The Jaxpety Portable Chemical Toilet 

Overview

The Zimmer Portable Chemical camping toilet is perfect for those who want the maximum amount of comfort and luxury in a device that is as close to your toilet at home as you can get. It is fairly compact and can be neatly stowed away in your car or truck for transport however you will need to bring extra fresh water and toilet chemicals with you to keep this running. This toilet comes with a 3-gallon freshwater holding tank and a 5-gallon wastewater holding tank. The chemical is used to eliminate odor and break down waste for a more pleasant experience during and after use when you need to empty its contents.

The 3-gallon tank is attached to a bellows pump which provides pressure to flush the toilet before and after use similar to your toilet at home. The capacity of both of these tanks gives you around 50 to 70 flushes before water and chemicals need refilling, this should provide you with plenty of use for a week or two camping (depending on the size of the group).

Chemicals for toilet use can be purchased from your local outdoor outlet or RV store and are easily accessible and simple to find. The blue chemical is used in the wastewater tank and you have the option of purchasing a pink chemical to add to the freshwater tank (this additional chemical will provide a more pleasant smell after flushing). In addition to both of these chemicals, you can also purchase deodorizing tablets for even better smell proofing. These tablets come in handy if the toilet is being used in a small, confined space.

Pros

• Extremely hygienic and odor-free
• Compact and relatively portable
• Up to 70 flushes on one full tank

Cons

• You will have to carry chemicals and extra water to use this camping toilet
• Extra cost of chemicals when you head out camping

Bottom Line

Overall, the Zimmer Portable Chemical camping toilet is the most hygienic form of camping toilet for long stays, van builds, families, and groups that desire a bit more luxury when nature calls and you have to do your business. If you love camping but miss the luxury of your home toilet every time you go, then this is the best option for you.

Best Bucket Camping Toilet

The Camco Portable Camping Toilet 

Overview

The Camco Portable Camping toilet is a bucket toilet with a 5-gallon capacity. This is a relatively simple toilet that is lightweight and highly effective. It has a lid that snaps down securely to the toilet seat with an airtight seal to prevent odors escaping and flys, bugs, and rodents entering. It is easy to clean and their toilet bucket liners fit perfectly inside for mess free clean up and easy disposal. These toilet liner bags look like a standard garbage bag, but they are designed specifically for this toilet to fit perfectly. They have biodegradable powders inside them (similar to what you would find in a diaper) that gels liquid on contact. This helps fight nasty odors and makes transporting the full waste bag much easier and less disgusting!

The Camco Portable Camping toilet comes with three liners included to get you started and liners for future use can be purchased from Camco through Amazon. The bucket has a handle for easy transportation and can be used to transport your waste to a sensible disposal bin (just tie up the bag, close the lid, and carry it to the garbage bin). The bucket can be easily washed out and rinsed after use and is made from UV resistant hard plastics so you can be sure your bucket stays clean, fresh, and un-damaged for life.

Pros

• Odor-free
• Easily portable
• Simple waste disposal
• Easily cleanable

Cons

• A little unstable on the ground

Bottom Line

Overall, the Camco Portable Camping toilet is a simple effective bucket toilet that is made to fit intelligent liners for stress, smell, and hazard-free waste disposal. This is great for people that want to go a bit further afield to set up basecamp or families that do not want to deal with the stress of a chemical toilet.

Most Portable Lightweight Folding Camping Toilet

Folding Commode Camping Toilet Chair

Overview

The Folding Commode Camping toilet has the simplest design out of all of the toilets on our list. It consists of a simple, heavy-duty, folding frame and a basic easily cleanable plastic toilet seat. This camping toilet weighs only 19-pounds and can support a weight of up to 198-pounds, so it is safe to say that your average hunter, angler, or wild camper won’t break this while they are doing their business. It folds up small and is light enough to strap to the outside of a large backpack for transportation to a hunting camp, fishing spot, or into the wilderness for some wild camping.

The Folding Commode is not exactly a luxury item and it certainly does not flush your waste away or trap odors, however, it does allow you somewhere to comfortably do the doo without squatting in the bushes! If you are far out in the wilderness then a hole can be dug below the frame, or you can place a garbage bag underneath and wrap the rim around the seat. Whatever waste management system you decide on, just make sure to either fill the hole after or dispose of the waste bag appropriately.

Pros

• Super lightweight and compact
• Extremely hard-wearing
• Easily cleaned

Cons

• Is not odor-free or enclosed

Bottom Line

Overall, the Commode Camping toilet isn’t winning any prizes for luxury, but it does provide a lightweight, highly portable way to do your business in the wilderness.

Best Pop-Up Privacy Tent for Use with Your Camping Toilet

The ABCO-SPORT popup privacy tent

Overview

The Abco Sport popup privacy tent is a simple lightweight tent that acts as an outhouse for your toilet, camping shower, or simply as a means to get changed in private. It is made to put up and pack away quickly and easily with its popup design. This tent is tall enough to stand up straight in and wide enough to sit comfortably on the toilet. You won’t be sleeping in this tent and it isn’t fully waterproof, however, it will keep your toilet dry in the rain and private during the day. This is a great addition to your toilet set up if you are the family, couple, or group of friends that need some privacy when camping.

Pros

• Great privacy
• Easily set up and packed away
• Can be used for the toilet, shower, and changing clothes

Cons

• Does not hold up well in windy conditions

Bottom Line

Overall, this popup tent provides a private location to use the toilet, shower, and change your clothes. It is the perfect space to place a camping toilet if you are camping in busier areas or with family and friends.

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