One of the most important things to have on hand when camping or emergency prepping is a toilet. This one item is so important, yet it is one of the major items we tend to forget about. Trust me, access to the best portable toilet can be one of the most important investments you can make.
When camping with the family a portable toilet can make all the difference in the world towards comfort and cleanliness. For off-grid living or toilets better suited for more permanent situations check out our guide to composting toilets.
When prepping for potential emergencies a portable toilet may seem like an after thought, but it shouldn’t be. What do you think will happen if the city water supply is shut down or your well pump doesn’t work anymore?
In either scenario, having access to a hygienic method of human waste disposal is vital to avoiding illness and disease.
Best portable toilet reviews
When deciding on the best portable toilet for your situation and needs, you will want to consider things like durability, comfort, and ease of use to help you make an informed decision.
Our list of the best portable toilets has taken each of these factors into consideration.
Thetford 92820 Porta potti 365
Pros
- Rotating pour spout for easy waste disposal
- Piston pump for flushing
cons
- On the higher end of the price spectrum
Thetford is a leading manufacturer of RV and camping products. This is the highest quality portable toilet on our list.
The waste tank has an egonomic handle and a rotating pour spout to assist in emptying which we found to be really useful. The fresh water tank holds roughly 4 gallons and the waste tank 5.5 gallons.
One of the best aspects of this model is the lack of odor even after several days of use. And let’s be honest, that is a big deal. We also like the use of a piston type pump instead of a bellows which are prone to breaking or requiring a large amount of force to operate. The combination of durable design, ease of use, and portability make this the best portable toilet choice.
leopard outdoor travel toilet
Pros
- Extremely portable
- Durable Construction
cons
- Uncomfortable to use by larger adult users
The Leopard outdoor travel toilet is a bit of a newcomer to the market, but earns our next pick based on portability, durability, and ease of use.
The only real downside is that it is not the most comfortable portable toilet on this list. Most average sized adults won’t have an issue with it, but larger people may find it pretty uncomfortable.
Weighing in at just over 11 pounds empty this model is highly portable. It features a 5 gallon waste tank and three-way flush for full bowl coverage.
This is not the fanciest model you can find out there, but it is less than half the price of the name brands and better value all around.
Serenelife outdoor portable toilet
Pros
- Waste water level indicator
- Travel bag carrying case
cons
- Not the easiest waste tank to clean
This outdoor portable toilet by Serenelife is a best seller on Amazon and there is no wonder why. This toilet is durably constructed, features a 5.3 gallon waste tank, carrying bag, and is comfortable to use.
Another great feature of this toilet is the wastewater indicator. This allows you to visually check the tank level to know when it is time to empty. The unit is equipped with a splash-resistant rotating rinse spout to completely flush all waste into the tank.
The only downside to this portable toilet is that it can be a bit difficult to clean the waste tanks. There are a couple of handholds molded into the waste tank that help with carrying it. The problem is that waste can be difficult to remove from these areas. Overall this is a great choice based on overall quality at the price point.
camco 41535 premium portable toilet
Pros
- Very comfortable to use
- Larger seat and bowl than most models
cons
- Large size makes it less portable than some other models
Camco is one of the most well known names in equipment for camping and RV. They make quality equipment and this portable toilet is no different.
One of the best features of this portable toilet is the height of the seat. At 16″ high this model is the most like a home toilet than many other portable toilet models. The seat on this model is larger than most others on this list as well which adds to the comfort of use.
Some users have noted leaks around one of the seals, but it is a pretty rare occurrence and not typical. The problem arises from some of the seals that are not seated properly during manufacture. This problem is easily avoided by testing the unit before first use with clean water and tightening all of the seals.
Palm Springs Outdoor Portable Toilet
Pros
- Full size seat for comfort
- One piece tank design prevents leakage
cons
- Water pump needs a lot of downward pressure to operate
The Palm Springs outdoor portable toilet is a full size portable unit. It has a slightly lower weight than most other full size models at just over 9 pounds empty. This makes it highly portable.
One of the best features of this model is the use of one piece construction of the waste tank. The one piece design eliminates the chance of leakage.
The full size toilet seat makes this model very comfortable to use. The biggest drawback is the design of the bellows water pump for flushing. Some users have noted that it can take a lot of pressure to make the pump work.
Thetford 565E Porta Potti
Pros
- Sleek and modern look
- Odorless and leak proof
cons
- Battery powered flush is one item that can fail easily
The Thetford Porta Potti is a sleek looking portable toilet that gets a lot of things right, but unfortunately, a couple things wrong. Overall it is aesthetically pleasing, if that is a concern to you.
This model is the heaviest portable toilet on our list at over 13 pounds which makes it slightly less desirable to move around. It also is a bit top heavy which makes it a little unstable side-to-side, but not enough to be a major concern in a stationary application.
The main issue of contention with this model is the fact that it uses a battery operated pump to flush the waste. In a SHTF scenario you don’t want to store a ton of batteries to use the toilet. Additionally, any electrical mechanism is bound to break eventually. With no way to manually flush if the pump breaks this is not the ideal choice for preppers.
However, if you are looking for a nice looking and excellent functioning portable toilet for camping, or boat use, this model is a top contender.
Why use a portable toilet?
So what would you want a portable toilet for anyway? There are several reasons actually. The call of nature is inevitable and having access to the best portable toilet can make your life so much easier.
Most people purchase portable toilets for use in situations where a toilet is necessary to have but not usually readily accessible. Portable toilets are great for boating, long road trips, camping, fishing, van dwelling, etc.
Being that this is a site dedicated to emergency preparedness, they are great for that as well. If the SHTF having some way to properly dispose of human waste is absolutely vital to health and safety.
how does a portable toilet work?
Portable toilets are actually very simple in design. There is a fresh water tank that you use to flush the waste down into the waste tank where the waste is held.
Most portable toilets have one of three different pump designs to flush the water. There is a piston type pump, bellows pump, or battery operated pump. The best of these three is the piston type.
The bellows type can be really difficult to operate and wear out quickly. The battery operated type can fail easily as well and is not worth the extra cost and hassle.
additional products for portable toilets
To keep your portable toilet running smoothly and properly maintained you need to use the right products with it.
Chemicals
It is important to maintain your waste holding tank and to keep it deoderized as much as possible. You will want to add in a portable toilet chemical to aide in breaking down the waste and keeping odors manageable. I suggest simple to use Walex Porta-Paks for this use. Simply drop it into the waste tank and add a little water before using. This will prevent waste from sticking and hardening on the tank walls.
If you are looking for a more natural product Walex also makes a Bio-Pak that is a natural version of their best selling portable toilet chemical.
portable toilet paper
The last thing that you want to do is use regular toilet paper in a portable toilet. Regular toilet paper will not break down easily and can cause clogs when you go to empty the tank. Toilet paper that is specifically designed for use in RV or portable toilets is a must.
conclusion
Whether you are a family that enjoys camping or you are planning for potential emergencies, having access to the best portable toilet will make a world of difference.
If you are camping it can be a much better experience if you have your own toilet right in your camp site. Being able to avoid the dark walk to the bathroom in the middle of the night is really convenient.
For preppers a toilet is a necessity as part of your supply stockpile. Having access to a clean and efficient way to handle the disposal of human waste can improve quality of life and decrease the chances of illness and disease.
