Which Camping Toilet Fits Your Trip? Flush vs Bucket vs Bag
The Thetford Porta Potti 565E Curve ranks best overall, pairing a full height seat and electric flush with a 21 litre waste tank and rotating pour spout. The Camco Portable Travel Toilet 5.3 Gallon offers similar cassette function for less, and the Reliance Products Luggable Loo suits occasional trips at minimal cost.
Regular campers and van owners tend to prefer the Thetford Porta Potti 565E Curve, while the Camco Portable Travel Toilet 5.3 Gallon covers most of the same ground for less and the Reliance Products Luggable Loo handles occasional trips at minimal outlay.
Camping toilets are hard to compare on paper because the factor that matters most, how unpleasant emptying feels, rarely shows up in a listing. We compared waste tank capacity, flush type, seat height, sealing design and emptying method, then weighed what owners report about odour after a few days of warm weather use.
What matters most
What type of camping toilet should I choose? Flush cassette toilets store liquid waste in a sealed tank and need access to a dump point, which suits campsites, vans and static pitches. Bucket and bag systems seal solid waste in disposable bags, better suited to dispersed camping or short trips without facilities nearby. Backcountry and river trips generally call for a pack out design like a folding frame system. Match the system to where waste can actually be disposed of before comparing models on comfort or price.
How big a waste tank do I actually need? Roughly three to four litres of waste tank capacity gets used per person per day, so a 21 litre tank can support a couple for the better part of a week. A 10 litre tank suits one or two people for two or three days before it needs emptying. Multiply capacity needs by group size and by distance to the nearest disposal point. Carrying a full tank a long way is often what discourages people from bringing a camping toilet at all.
Does seat height matter for a camping toilet? Standard camping toilets often sit lower than a household toilet, which some campers barely notice and others, particularly those with knee or hip issues, find genuinely difficult. Checking the stated seat height matters more than assuming comfort based on price or brand. Anyone in the group needing a full height seat should treat that requirement as more important than tank size. Among the seven compared here, the Thetford Porta Potti 565E Curve is the only model built to standard bathroom height.
How do you stop a camping toilet from smelling? Sealed valves keep odour contained inside the tank, but the valve and bowl still need regular rinsing to stay that way. Enzyme based treatments break waste down and tend to be gentler on disposal systems than older formaldehyde formulas. Owners report that leftover residue in the bowl or valve causes more smell complaints than the tank contents themselves. Confirming what a disposal point accepts before buying chemical treatment avoids a wasted purchase.
The best picks, ranked
Thetford Porta Potti 565E Curve
Battery power drives the flush on this unit, so no manual pumping is needed. A rotating pour spout cuts spillage risk when emptying the 21 litre waste tank. Bulk and weight rule out backpacking, but a van or static pitch suits it well.
Pros
- Seat sits at standard bathroom height
- Pour spout reduces spillage during emptying
- Built in level indicator flags a full tank early
Cons
- Bulky footprint suits vehicles more than backpacks
- Electric flush depends on battery charge
Camco Portable Travel Toilet 5.3 Gallon
Manual bellows replace batteries, pumping water through a sealed valve with each flush. The waste section detaches for a walk to the disposal point rather than carrying the whole unit. Seat height sits below the Thetford, which taller campers notice quickly.
Pros
- Full cassette function without battery dependence
- Detachable tank simplifies trips to a dump point
- Mid range outlay for flush toilet functionality
Cons
- Seat height lower than the Thetford 565E
- Slide valve needs routine cleaning to seal properly
Reliance Products Luggable Loo
A snap on seat turns a standard five gallon bucket into a toilet, paired with waste bags and gelling powder. Nothing mechanical sits inside it to break or jam. Emptying means lifting out a sealed bag rather than pouring liquid waste.
Pros
- Lowest outlay of the seven toilets compared
- No mechanical parts to fail or replace
- Bag removal avoids handling liquid waste
Cons
- Bags and gel add an ongoing running cost
- Seat sits low with minimal built in odour seal
Dometic 972 Portable Toilet
A piston pump drives the flush in a smaller footprint than the Thetford. The rotating emptying spout, usually found on larger units, is included despite the compact size. A 9.8 litre tank means more frequent emptying with more than one user.
Pros
- Compact footprint suits tight van or tent space
- Rotating spout normally reserved for larger toilets
- Solid build for the size class
Cons
- Smaller tank requires more frequent emptying
- Seat height sits low for taller campers
Cleanwaste GO Anywhere Portable Toilet
An aluminium frame folds down to roughly briefcase size for transport. Waste goes into sealed bags treated with gelling and deodorising powder, built for packing out rather than tank disposal. Setup takes seconds, though the frame suits short use rather than long sessions.
Pros
- Folds to a compact, lightweight package
- Built for packing waste out of sensitive areas
- Sets up quickly with no assembly tools
Cons
- Bag costs add up faster than other systems here
- Frame comfort trails full seat height toilets
Reliance Products Hassock Portable Toilet
A stool shaped shell holds a removable six gallon bucket rather than exposing it directly. A vented lid manages odour without any flush mechanism. Its stable base and household look suit a tent porch or small cabin better than a bare bucket.
Pros
- More stable seating than an open bucket
- Vented lid manages odour without a flush
- Removable bucket simplifies cleaning between trips
Cons
- No sealed valve or flush mechanism
- Bulkier to pack than a plain bucket
SereneLife Outdoor Portable Toilet
Bellows power the flush on this entry level cassette toilet, paired with a sealed valve and a carry handle on the waste tank. Plastics run lighter than the Thetford or Dometic builds, which suits occasional weekends over heavy rotation. A level indicator flags tank capacity before it overflows.
Pros
- Lower outlay for a genuine flush toilet
- Level indicator included at this price point
- Light enough to carry comfortably when empty
Cons
- Lighter plastic construction than premium rivals
- Seals require care to stay leak free
Side by side
| # | Model | Waste tank | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thetford Porta Potti 565E Curve | 21 litres | Best overall | 9.4 | Check price |
| 2 | Camco Portable Travel Toilet 5.3 Gallon | 5.3 gallons | Best value | 9.2 | Check price |
| 3 | Reliance Products Luggable Loo | 5 gallon bucket | Best budget | 9.0 | Check price |
| 4 | Dometic 972 Portable Toilet | 9.8 litres | Best compact flush | 8.8 | Check price |
| 5 | Cleanwaste GO Anywhere Portable Toilet | Folding aluminium frame with seat | Best for leave no trace | 8.6 | Check price |
| 6 | Reliance Products Hassock Portable Toilet | 6 gallon inner bucket | Best simple seat | 8.3 | Check price |
| 7 | SereneLife Outdoor Portable Toilet | 5.3 gallons | Best for occasional trips | 8.0 | Check price |
Questions worth asking
How do you empty a camping toilet?
Cassette toilets detach from the base so you can carry just the waste tank to a dump point, using the built in spout to control flow. Bucket and bag systems are emptied by sealing the bag and placing it in general waste where local rules allow it. Rinse the tank or bucket right after emptying rather than letting residue dry.
Where can you legally empty a camping toilet?
Chemical disposal points at campsites, marinas and some service stations accept cassette tank waste. Storm drains, watercourses and open ground are never acceptable. Bagged waste treated with gelling powder is usually fine in general waste, though local regulations vary, so check before you travel.
Do camping toilets smell bad?
A well sealed cassette toilet contains odour effectively while the valve stays closed and the tank is treated. Most complaints trace back to residue in the bowl or valve rather than the tank itself. Emptying every two to three days in warm weather keeps smell from building up regardless of tank capacity.
What chemicals work best in a camping toilet?
Enzyme and biological treatments break waste down and are accepted at most disposal points. Older formaldehyde based chemicals are refused at some sites and by some treatment systems. Dose according to tank size and add treatment directly to the waste tank rather than the flush water unless the instructions say otherwise.
How big a toilet tank do I need for two people?
Budget roughly three to four litres of tank capacity per person per day. A 10 litre tank covers one or two people for two to three days. Tanks of 20 litres or more support a couple for close to a week, which matters most when disposal points are far away.
Can you use a camping toilet inside a tent?
Yes, many campers set one up in a tent porch or a separate toilet tent for privacy and airflow. A sealed valve model is worth the extra outlay indoors, and a stable, level base matters more than usual since a wobbly toilet inside a tent is unpleasant.
Is special toilet paper required for a camping toilet?
Rapid dissolving paper made for marine and camping use breaks down faster and lowers the risk of a blocked valve in cassette toilets. Standard toilet paper still works but takes longer to dissolve. Bag based systems handle either type without issue.
How do you clean a portable toilet after a trip?
Empty the tank fully, then rinse it several times with clean water. Clean the bowl and slide valve with a non abrasive cleaner, then leave the valve open while the unit dries before storage. Storing a toilet damp with the valve closed is the fastest way to trap a smell that lingers.
Which camping toilet is best for a family of four?
For a family of four, the Thetford Porta Potti 565E Curve holds the most capacity here at 21 litres, reducing how often the tank needs emptying. Its full height seat also suits a wider range of ages and mobility levels than the lower profile models.
Final word
Regular campers and van owners get the most from the Thetford Porta Potti 565E Curve, since its full height seat, 21 litre tank and rotating spout solve the three biggest complaints about portable toilets. Budget conscious buyers who can accept a lower seat should look at the Camco Portable Travel Toilet 5.3 Gallon for similar flush function at less outlay. Occasional or dispersed campers are better served by the Reliance Products Luggable Loo, which avoids carrying liquid waste altogether.
