Is This Portable Car Camping Item Worth Buying? Seasoned Campers Share Their Thoughts

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Car camping is an amazing way to get outdoors and connect with nature while enjoying the comfort of your back seat. It's a great way for folks who aren't yet ready to completely "rough it," and instead offers a bit more shelter and warmth than you may find in a tent. Additionally, this means you have some more room to pack some niceties you wouldn't be able to bring if you just had a backpack. That's why some campers opt for a portable toilet when they set out on their car camping adventures.

One of the unexpected downsides to car camping is trying to find a consistent place to do your business, which is why portable toilets can be a great investment for frequent travelers. Depending on how good your setup is, it can make you feel like you have a glamorous bathroom on the road. One user on Reddit shared their car potty setup with the caption "When you can't get to a gym or public toilet, or when the public toilet is disgusting, a portable toilet will save your a**." Whether you're in the middle of the woods or camping in the Walmart parking lot, this clever car camping essential can come in handy when you need to go.

There are several types of portable toilets you can buy, ranging from an industrial bucket with a trash bag to a full-service composting toilet. Some campers swear by a pricey composting toilet, with one Reddit van lifer writing, "I bought a composting toilet (C-Head, about $600) worth.every.penny!!!" The composting toilet may be a great option for folks who travel for weeks or months at a time, or live in a mobile home or van like this Reddit user. This is because while having a fancy composting toilet sounds nice, some campers who started out fancy said they have since reverted to the disposable bag-in-the-bucket method.

One Reddit user explained why they switched to the simpler model, saying, "When I first started camping, I insisted on a fancy camper toilet with all the bells and whistles ... Well, cut to 10+ years later, and that's what we're using (a bucket camper toilet). It's so much easier to clean and dispose of, and you can use it on dispersed sites with no water." For casual campers or those going on short, scattered trips, a disposable bag setup may be the best way to go. You can also find reusable portable toilets that require being dumped and cleaned, but this can sometimes be a bit more of a hassle than it is worth. You'll need to make sure you are dumping in a toilet or designated waste dumping area, which can be hard to come by on camping trips.

Your setup will depend on how much you're willing to spend and what works best for you. If you frequently take long car camping trips or live in a mobile vehicle full-time, a composting toilet will be the best choice for you. They are compact and easy to store, you won't have to dispose of waste every time you go, and using a compostable covering like pine pellets, sawdust, or kitty litter will minimize the odor in your vehicle.

For folks committing to the occasional camping trip, a portable potty with a disposable bag underneath will do the trick. These potties are also great to use in the car with kids, as one Redditor explains, "I always have mine loaded during adventures in the Jeep, mainly for the kids to be able to go when nature calls and not a bathroom nearby." You can do a classic double bag method, or opt for more designated waste bags like these on Amazon. The waste bags have a gel agent that absorbs both number one and number two, and decreases the odor for disposal. Just be sure you are disposing your waste in a dumpster or trash can that accepts human waste, as ignoring this fundamental camping consideration is unsafe for you and the environment.