For grey nomads who aren’t travelling in large rigs complete with ensuite facilities, it is becoming ever more important to travel with some sort of portable toilet.
While definitions of what actually constitutes a self-contained vehicle may be the subject of some debate, there is no dispute that a growing number of campsites are asking looless travellers to head elsewhere.
And, as the number of campers has increased, so too has the backlash against irresponsible bush toileting … and half-buried human waste and trails of used loo paper.
A long-established option has been the portable chemical toilet but, with dump points not always easy to find, Australian company, Joolca, has come up with a ‘triple-threat toilet’ that allows travellers to either use chemicals, or a bag, or to compost.
The GottaGo toilet has three disposal options. PIC: Cizza
Another clever feature of the Joolca GottaGo Toilet is that it has two ‘entry points’ which allows it to separate urine and solids, meaning easier and less frequent emptying, and less weight to carry.
The toilet – which weighs just 7.7kg when empty and is 43cm high, 38cm wide, and 42cm deep – is airtight and leakproof … and doesn’t smell!
There are actually two solids cassette options … the chemical cassette; or the Eco cassette which can be used for the bagging or composting methods.
For this review, we ‘road tested’ the Eco cassette. To put in the bag, it is simply a matter of removing the liner frame, inserting the bin liner, and then replacing the liner frame.
I found the toilet sturdy and stable to sit on, and I was able to remove the ‘used’ bag easily and without mess by using a twisting method.
The composting option basically involves putting some woodchips in the cassette and pooing on them. I’m guessing this could be useful for ‘weekend warriors’ but, for those who won’t be seeing their gardens for a while, bagging could be the way to go.
The 9.4 litre Eco cassette is good for approximately 23 toiletings, and the 4.6-litre urine container good for 12-15 wees.
The toilet also comes with a poo poker, and a sprayer bottle. As it is a non-flush loo, Joolca says all it takes is a spray of vinegar to keep the bowl clean.
The Joolca GottaGo, with either an Eco cassette or a chemical cassette, currently sells for $349.
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