Author Topic: Question for women campers  (Read 10564 times)

PawPrint3520

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Question for women campers
« on: August 19, 2015, 10:48:14 PM »
My DH and I would like to go camping more now that he's retired, well, sort of retired. My issue with camping is that I have to go to the bathroom at least once, sometimes twice, during the night. It's really a pain to put on my shoes, get a flashlight, put on a jacket and walk to the outhouse if we're around other campers or even just outside the tent if it's only us. Short of lugging some kind of portable toilet around, is there anything I can do so I can relieve myself in a sanitary manner in the privacy of our tent? Squatting over a coffee can just doesn't do it for me for a variety of reasons.

Exflyboy

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Re: Question for women campers
« Reply #1 on: August 20, 2015, 03:39:14 AM »
squat outside the tent.. I know it sounds horrifying but seriously its pitch black dark outside of most tents and no one can see you, hence nobody cares.

My Wife was mortified at the idea at first.. now its no big deal... Just a mind thing really.

BlueHouse

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Re: Question for women campers
« Reply #2 on: August 20, 2015, 03:55:11 AM »
I have this problem too. The worst time was when I was on a small island in the Okavango delta. I drank a lot of water before bedtime and had to go no less than 4 times. The first time I went to the designated drop hole which was about 150 feet from campsite in a small wooded area. As I had pictures of my half-clothed body being found mauled by a lion or trampled by a hippo, I decided that it was idiotic to do that alone and at night without the armed guide. The next three times, I just went outside the tent. Nothing like fear and panic to tame the humiliation

MayDay

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Re: Question for women campers
« Reply #3 on: August 20, 2015, 05:33:34 AM »
I squat outside the tent usually, but apparently this can attract wildlife.

If your tent is big enough you can get a portable commode.

This reason is why my mom wants the tiniest camper that has a potty. She has to poop sometimes so she needs a real toilet.

Le Poisson

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Re: Question for women campers
« Reply #4 on: August 20, 2015, 05:39:25 AM »
Look up the "Go Girl" female urinating device. It may help. You can find it on Amazon.

sheepstache

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Re: Question for women campers
« Reply #5 on: August 20, 2015, 05:41:24 AM »
Well there's always the shenis, the go-girl, the sani-fem... lot of appliance options that would make it easier to go in the tent...

Also of course managing your liquids to reduce the need, which you're probably already working on.

neophyte

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Re: Question for women campers
« Reply #6 on: August 20, 2015, 06:27:28 AM »
I usually get up to pee at night too, but when I'm camping I purposely try not to be as hydrated as usual in the evening and to pee at least twice before bed, even if I don't feel like I need to. That usually does the trick. 

GuitarStv

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Re: Question for women campers
« Reply #7 on: August 20, 2015, 06:58:21 AM »
It's annoying for men to get up and leave a cosy sleepingbag too. :p

Fortunately you don't need to.  Zip the bag down to crotch level, scoot to the front of the tent, zip the tent flap up to crotch level and fire!

Le Poisson

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Re: Question for women campers
« Reply #8 on: August 20, 2015, 07:05:27 AM »
It's annoying for men to get up and leave a cosy sleepingbag too. :p

Fortunately you don't need to.  Zip the bag down to crotch level, scoot to the front of the tent, zip the tent flap up to crotch level and fire!

Buy one of the red plastic 1.5 litre fuel bottles, make sure the seal is tight. Don't even leave your sleeping bag.

GuitarStv

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Re: Question for women campers
« Reply #9 on: August 20, 2015, 07:10:08 AM »
It's annoying for men to get up and leave a cosy sleepingbag too. :p

Fortunately you don't need to.  Zip the bag down to crotch level, scoot to the front of the tent, zip the tent flap up to crotch level and fire!

Buy one of the red plastic 1.5 litre fuel bottles, make sure the seal is tight. Don't even leave your sleeping bag.

Now I'm trying to imagine a scenario with a raised platform or something so that you wouldn't even need to sit up to relieve yourself.

Le Poisson

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Re: Question for women campers
« Reply #10 on: August 20, 2015, 07:36:35 AM »
... but we're supposed to be thinking of solutions for the ladies.

Zaga

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Re: Question for women campers
« Reply #11 on: August 20, 2015, 07:48:58 AM »
Have you tried controlling your caffeine intake, particularly after lunch time?  I find that I pee much more frequently when I have had caffeine in the past several hours.

But honestly, when I'm camping I just make sure I have things on hand to make the bathroom runs as easy as possible.  For me that's a cloak and slip on sandals by the door of our camper (no toilet inside, we removed it cause it was all sorts of gross).

Kris

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Re: Question for women campers
« Reply #12 on: August 20, 2015, 07:51:55 AM »
Little John and Little Jane:

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/little-john---little-john-portable-urinal--P011_334_007_500

They were designed for peeing on a boat.  The Little John is for the menfolk, and the Little Jane adapter for the ladyfolk.

Never used one camping, but have often used one in the cabin of a 22 foot sailboat.

Blonde Lawyer

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Re: Question for women campers
« Reply #13 on: August 20, 2015, 07:53:53 AM »
I've heard of people using a "wagbag" camping and hiking for true carry in - carry out situations.  I haven't looked into one but that could be an option.

When I was hiking above tree line, my friend sliced a big smart water bottle with his knife.  Any soda bottle would work so the bottom was a wide open base.  I just held it up against myself (could do it under a skirt) and went.  Then I dumped the thing out and strapped it back to the outside of my bag for next time.  Basically pee in the thing in the tent and then dump it outside the tent.

I'm a red panda

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Re: Question for women campers
« Reply #14 on: August 20, 2015, 08:18:20 AM »
At night I just walk about 3 feet behind the tent.

Unless we are winter camping where it would be dangerous to not wear a jacket, I just deal with being cold for a few minutes and go out in water I was sleeping in.

Meggslynn

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Re: Question for women campers
« Reply #15 on: August 20, 2015, 08:42:21 AM »
I have this issue too. I started just squatting behind the tent but then someone told me it attracts wildlife?

I'm a red panda

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Re: Question for women campers
« Reply #16 on: August 20, 2015, 08:50:51 AM »
I have this issue too. I started just squatting behind the tent but then someone told me it attracts wildlife?

Part of this depends on where you camp.  We don't have bears or mountain lions around us.  The racoons are already there; so wildlife isn't a huge issue for me.



There are some campsites that ONLY allow using a facility, in which case we choose our site based on proximity. 
I'm not paying a massive fine when a ranger catches me peeing at 2 am.

FrugalShrew

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Re: Question for women campers
« Reply #17 on: August 20, 2015, 01:54:25 PM »
Look up the "Go Girl" female urinating device. It may help. You can find it on Amazon.

I've used something similar to this while on an extended hiking trip. It's quite an ingenious device. During the daylight, I think squatting & peeing is fine for women, but squatting at night makes me nervous. I got mine at REI.

Exflyboy

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Re: Question for women campers
« Reply #18 on: August 20, 2015, 02:40:40 PM »
Little John and Little Jane:

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/little-john---little-john-portable-urinal--P011_334_007_500

They were designed for peeing on a boat.  The Little John is for the menfolk, and the Little Jane adapter for the ladyfolk.

Never used one camping, but have often used one in the cabin of a 22 foot sailboat.

And thre was me thinking those things had been invented purely for airplane use... We always had the conversation in our airplane on a long (like 1200 miles) trip...

Wife:.. "I KNEW I shouldn't have had that coffee before we took off"
Me... "We have just climbed to 18,000 feet at a cost of 5 gallons of fuel.. You ARE kidding me right?"
Wife.. "Guess I'll have to hold it"


Trifle

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Re: Question for women campers
« Reply #19 on: August 20, 2015, 03:22:25 PM »
I have used a wide mouth Nalgene bottle with a good cap.  You don't need to squat exactly, and it seals up nicely afterward.  Really critical for camping in the winter, when there is no way in hell you want to be getting out of the tent/lean-to.  Then you empty the bottle out in the morning.  If you want more 'direction' and fewer drips, you can use a Lady J-type device with it (sold at Campmor and similar places). 

zoltani

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Re: Question for women campers
« Reply #20 on: August 20, 2015, 03:27:21 PM »
Yeah, put me down for pee bottle. Yeah, I am a man, but my wife will do it too, but only in the snow. Otherwise she just gets up and pees in the night. Who says you need shoes? Or jacket? I just get cold for the few minutes it takes, makes the warm sleeping bag feel that much better.


mozar

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Re: Question for women campers
« Reply #21 on: August 20, 2015, 04:06:42 PM »
My understanding is that pee repels animals because they use pee to mark their territories. Not raccoons though. Theyll go anywhere. Crafty little bastards.

Retire-Canada

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Re: Question for women campers
« Reply #22 on: August 20, 2015, 04:15:25 PM »
I have this issue too. I started just squatting behind the tent but then someone told me it attracts wildlife?

I camp in grizzly, cougar and wolf country. Frequently solo. I pee as close to my tent as possible as I am too lazy to go any further than necessary. It does not attract animals.

Better Change

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Re: Question for women campers
« Reply #23 on: August 21, 2015, 06:03:41 AM »
I think #1 near the tent is okay.  It's #2 that attracts the bears.  Take that farther away!

On a recent backpacking trip, my husband was musing about the "Bearmuda Triangle" that his co-worker told him about: you form a triangle with long sides (> 50 yds) and three points marked by where you eat/cook, wash, and shit, and your camp should be set far outside said triangle.  We tried our best to follow it, but I think exhaustion made us a little sloppy.

oldladystache

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Re: Question for women campers
« Reply #24 on: August 21, 2015, 06:47:48 AM »
Diapers

JJNL

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Re: Question for women campers
« Reply #25 on: August 21, 2015, 07:12:31 AM »
+1 on the wide-necked bottle, or a cooking pot, or a small bucket or something like that. Bottle is easiest as you can screw the lid on to prevent spillage and toss it out at the facilities on your camp site the next day.

That being said: I hate doing these. When I am on a campsite I either squat not far from my tent when I think I can get away with it and there's a place to do it without causing trouble (like a convenient bush), or tough it out and go to the facilities. When out in the wild I just pee at a couple of paces from the tent. I've also done this in bear and cougar country without any trouble. And yes, I also do this when I'm camping in 3 feet of snow, the trick there is to make a path to use for this purpose before you go to bed ;)

littlebird

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Re: Question for women campers
« Reply #26 on: August 21, 2015, 09:14:21 AM »
I use a freshette http://m.rei.com/product/407267/sani-fem-freshette-feminine-urinary-director and a pee bottle when it's cold or raining, and squat near the tent otherwise. The pee bottle took a little practice but has greatly improved my life and I recommend the freshette to everyone. I use it when we're hiking in crowded areas (don't have to look as hard for a bush to get behind) as well as in disgusting portapottie situations (can use the urinal and not touch anything!).

Sailor Sam

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Re: Question for women campers
« Reply #27 on: August 21, 2015, 09:34:30 AM »
I use a freshette http://m.rei.com/product/407267/sani-fem-freshette-feminine-urinary-director
Little John and Little Jane: http://www.westmarine.com/buy/little-john---little-john-portable-urinal--P011_334_007_500

If you want to go cheaper or smaller, you can get the same functionality with a medicine spoon. Just cut the end off at an angle, and use the spoon end to create a seal. Voila, directional peeing! You might want to sand the burrs off the sawed end, to avoid unexpected directions.

When you're done, you can use the spoon end for a (gentle!) scrape n' shake. No need for wiping.

skinnyindy

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Re: Question for women campers
« Reply #28 on: August 21, 2015, 11:33:45 AM »
We have driven cross country, back and forth, twice.  We did a lot of camping and koa cabins.  For times when there is no close bathroom we use Travel Johns.  They are bags with a powder that becomes a gel and absorbs liquid things like urine or vomit.  It's the stuff from diapers.  You pee in it and the opening is shaped to fit a women but males can use to (I have 3 boys and a girl).  You then throw in the trash.  You can get kid or adult size and if you need to use twice if you see only a little at a time.  I do use it for inside the tent.  Sometimes I'm not sure that walking alone in the dark, as a woman, is safe.  Depends on the camping area.  Buy these things on Amazon.  I keep one in my minivan in case of traffic or no bathroom in the city.  One last tip, before going to bed for good lay down with your legs elevated for a few minutes, maybe read a book.  The liquid that has pooled in your legs from hiking, etc. Will then drain out and get processed by your kidneys.  You should be able to pee most of that out before sleeping.

bognish

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Re: Question for women campers
« Reply #29 on: August 21, 2015, 02:44:33 PM »
A tent with a vestibule is nice. One with 2 doors and a vestibule on one door as a dedicated outside is plush! I think the attracting animals with pee happens when they are looking for salts & minerals to lick up. Things like deer will come and lick spots where someone urinated.

Bracken_Joy

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Re: Question for women campers
« Reply #30 on: August 21, 2015, 02:48:56 PM »
I usually get up to pee at night too, but when I'm camping I purposely try not to be as hydrated as usual in the evening and to pee at least twice before bed, even if I don't feel like I need to. That usually does the trick.

The double pee is actually a thing. Nursing trick here! So basically, women's bladders get grumpy as we age, particularly if we've had children. So our bladder isn't very good at totally emptying. Peeing completely, waiting 30 minutes, and then peeing again can empty your bladder more fully. (Even if you don't feel the urge to void, there can be urine left over).

Try the double void and see if it helps =)

zoltani

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Re: Question for women campers
« Reply #31 on: August 21, 2015, 02:53:39 PM »
Good point bognish, if you are in an area with mountain goats think twice about peeing next to your tent! Around here they can be very aggressive and have even killed people.

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Re: Question for women campers
« Reply #32 on: August 21, 2015, 04:12:31 PM »
+1 on not drinking and carrying a bottle

Other than that, maybe a small shovel if you want to dig a hole? Not sure that's less inconvenient than walking to the facilities, though.

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RosieTR

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Re: Question for women campers
« Reply #34 on: August 24, 2015, 08:35:48 AM »
Have tried both GoGirl and Freshette. Liked Freshette better because it's stiffer and thus you can press it against yourself firmly to prevent leakage. The GoGirl can sort of collapse which causes catastrophic failure, potentially.
So your two choices are leave the tent or use a funnel plus bottle/diaper/wag bag type thing. Peeing near the tent is only a concern for attracting rodents (porcupines, marmots etc) and deer/elk/goats. I have not heard of these being particularly dangerous except when people are being particularly stupid around them. But they will chew up things with salt from sweat or urine: boots, trekking poles handles, etc. and sometimes tires or ropes that have been handled. So don't pee on or right next to the tent, go a few feet away at least.