A reliable portable toilet is essential gear for any serious overlander or backcountry camper. We tested six of the best—ranging from ultracompact bag-based systems to full-featured composting toilets—so you can find the right throne for your rig, your trips, and your budget.
Buyer’s Guide: Six Portable Toilets to Handle Your Business Anywhere
When you’re on the trail, the call of nature doesn’t always wait for the perfect moment—or the perfect spot.
Whether you’re deep in the backcountry, parked at a remote trailhead, or miles from a usable restroom, a portable toilet can make a trip considerably more comfortable. It also gives you a way to manage waste where digging a cathole isn’t appropriate or permitted.
We gathered six portable toilets for camping and overlanding, from folding seats that take up little room in a vehicle to larger systems suited to extended travel.
The right choice depends less on how fancy the toilet looks than on what happens after you use it: where the waste goes, how you carry it, and how you empty or dispose of it.
What Matters in a Camp Toilet
Start with the way you travel. A folding seat and waste bags are easy to fit in a tightly packed rig and make sense for occasional use. The bags are consumables, though, and you’ll need a secure place to carry used ones until you reach an appropriate disposal point.
A toilet with separate liquid and solid containers takes more room but may be easier to live with on a longer trip, provided you have a plan for emptying and cleaning it.
Think about privacy, too. A seat that sets up in seconds is less helpful if you have nowhere discreet to use it. Check the packed dimensions against the space you actually have, and consider who will use the toilet, how steady it feels on uneven ground, and whether you can clean it without a major production. Local rules for human waste and disposal vary, so check them before heading out.
Six Portable Toilets for Camping and Overlanding
Cleanwaste GO Anywhere Portable Toilet
OVR’s 2¢: Cleanwaste’s GO Anywhere folds into a briefcase-sized package, making it easy to find room for in a packed rig. Its Original Wag Bag kit includes a collection bag with liquid-absorbing Poo Powder and a separate zip-close bag for carrying waste out. The legs swing open and snap into place, but the three-legged stance can feel unsteady on uneven ground, and the seat opening is small. Folding those legs away has been the bigger annoyance for us: we’ve sometimes needed a small pry bar. It’s a useful system if storage space matters and you’re willing to wrestle with it at pack-up.
Likes: Compact size, sturdiness, discreet look, the Wag Bag system is a true winner
Dislikes: Not easy to stow, tripod legs can be unstable, seat opening is small
MSRP: $90
URL: cleanwaste.com
InstaPrivy Portable Toilet Kit in a Backpack - OVR Editor’s Choice
OVR’s 2¢: The InstaPrivy kit has become our choice for weekend trips in the Land Cruiser. The chair, head-worn privacy shelter, and accessories fit into one backpack. We were skeptical of the shelter at first, but it’s handy when there’s nowhere else to get out of sight. The three-sided seat opening offers more room than the Cleanwaste seat, and the chair is quick to set up and put away. It comes with basic bags; we prefer using Cleanwaste’s Original Wag Bag kit for its waste treatment and second containment bag. The price is high for a folding toilet, but the shelter makes this a more complete camp setup.
Likes: Compactness, quick to set up and pack away, generous toilet seat size, included privacy shelter
Dislikes: Price seems a bit high, but it does come with many accessories
MSRP: $149
URL: instaprivy.com
MaxusCamp Camping Toilet
OVR’s 2¢: MaxusCamp’s accordion-style aluminum frame and separate folding seat pack down small and set up quickly. The opening is generous, although the amount of seat surface around it won’t suit everyone. This toilet collects waste in a bag and comes with a roll of basic bags. As with the InstaPrivy, we’d use a treated waste bag for a cleaner carry-out routine. It’s the least expensive toilet here, with the trade-off that you’re assembling and stowing two pieces each time you use it.
Likes: Affordable price, light in weight, space-saving design, large seat size (user preference)
Dislikes: Two-piece system, large seat size (user preference)
MSRP: $40
URL: amazon.com (The featured model looks like its out of production, a simlar model is linked here.)
Joolca GottaGo
OVR’s 2¢: The GottaGo gives you more choices for handling waste than a folding seat and bag. It can be configured for chemical, bag, or composting use, and it separates liquids from solids. That separation can help keep the solids container from filling prematurely, though both containers still need to be emptied and cleaned. The sealed design is intended to help contain odors in transit. Its bulk makes more sense in an RV or larger camper than in a vehicle where every inch of cargo space counts.
Likes: Versatile waste management, built-in odor control, comfortable, user-friendly
Dislikes: Bulky size, regular cleaning required
MSRP: From $299
URL: joolca.com
CompoCloset Cuddy Composting Toilet
OVR’s 2¢: The Cuddy is aimed at travelers who need a toilet for regular use over longer trips. It diverts urine from the solids bin and uses a 12V fan for ventilation, so it needs both space and a power connection in the vehicle. The larger waste capacity may appeal to van and RV travelers who would otherwise go through bags quickly. At this price, we’d think carefully about where it will live and how we’ll empty and clean it; it’s a more involved commitment than bringing a folding seat along for the occasional stop.
Likes: Eco-friendly, good for extended trips, built-in fan for odor control, high capacity
Dislikes: Premium price, not sized for smaller vehicles, requires regular maintenance
MSRP: $850
URL: compocloset.com
CompoCloset Cuddy Lite
OVR’s 2¢: The Cuddy Lite keeps urine diversion and a 12V fan but omits the original Cuddy’s agitator. It can use a bag in the solids bin, which may be simpler for occasional trips and for people who prefer to remove waste that way. Its smaller footprint makes it easier to consider for a van or camper, although it still needs room for the unit and a plan for ventilation, cleaning, and disposal. The choice between the Cuddy and Cuddy Lite comes down to whether you want the agitator or the simpler bag-based routine.
Likes: Omits the agitator for simplified use, built-in fan for odor control, comfortable to use
Dislikes: Premium price, not sized for smaller vehicles
MSRP: $650
URL: compocloset.com
Choosing the Right Setup
For a weekend in our Land Cruiser, the InstaPrivy kit has been the easiest system to live with: the seat packs away quickly, and the included shelter solves the privacy problem.
If storage space or price is the priority, the Cleanwaste GO Anywhere and MaxusCamp are worth a look, with different trade-offs in stability, seat shape, and pack-down.
The Joolca GottaGo and both Compo Closet models ask for more space and a regular cleaning routine, but their waste-separation systems may suit longer trips and larger rigs such as vans, campers and RVs.
Whichever portable toilet you bring, plan for the entire process—from setting it up to handling and disposing of the waste—before you leave home.
Enhance Your Setup: Toilet Accessories for a More Comfortable Camp
Privacy Shelter
A privacy shelter provides more than just peace of mind—it offers essential seclusion and comfort when nature calls in the great outdoors. Free-standing shelters are easy to set up and can double as a changing room or shower space, making them a versatile addition to your load-out.
Vehicle-attached options save space and integrate seamlessly with overland setups, while wearable designs like InstaPrivy’s offer ultra-portability and convenience.
Whichever style you choose, a privacy shelter ensures you can handle your business discreetly, even in busy campsites or exposed locations.
Look for lightweight, durable materials and easy-to-pack designs to make setup and storage hassle-free. Adding this accessory to your kit elevates your camping experience while keeping you covered—literally.
Poo Powder Waste Treatment - OVR Editor’s Choice
Cleanwaste’s Poo Powder Waste Treatment helps bag-based toilet users deal with liquids and odors. The powder turns liquid waste into a gel, making a used bag easier to seal and carry out. It packs small, which is helpful when your toilet kit has to fit alongside the rest of your camping gear. Follow the bag manufacturer’s instructions and the local rules for disposing of used bags; treatment powder doesn’t make it acceptable to leave waste behind.
MSRP: From $28
URL:cleanwaste.com
Happy Bottom Portable Bidet
The Happy Bottom Portable Bidet is a game-changer for hygiene and comfort on the road. Compact and lightweight, this bidet is designed to be travel-friendly, fitting easily into your camping or overlanding kit. Its squeeze-bottle design ensures a steady stream of water for thorough cleaning, reducing the reliance on toilet paper and leaving you feeling fresh. This portable bidet adds a splash of style while prioritizing sustainability and convenience. It’s simple to use, easy to clean, and an excellent option for those who value cleanliness in the backcountry. Whether you’re tackling a weekend camping trip or an extended overland journey, the Happy Bottom Portable Bidet is an essential addition to your outdoor restroom setup.
MSRP: $20
URL:happybrandco.com
Airtight Bucket
If your business ends up in a bag, you’ll want to ensure nothing escapes—especially if you’re carrying it in the passenger compartment of your vehicle. SUV owners will understand the concern. Even with waste treatment powders and heavy-duty zipper bags, some odors can seep out, particularly after days of sitting under the hot sun. For added peace of mind and spill-proof security, we recommend using an airtight bucket. A food-grade bucket may be a bit pricey, but it’s a worthwhile investment for keeping odors and accidental spills fully contained. Whether you’re on a short weekend trip or a long overland journey, this simple addition ensures a cleaner, more worry-free experience on the road.
MSRP: $40 for 2 buckets
URL:amazon.com
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This article originally appeared in OVR Issue 13. For more informative articles like this, consider subscribing to OVR Magazine in print or digital versions here. You can also find the print edition of OVR at your local newsstand by using our Magazine Finder.
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