Reviews > Personal Hygiene > Bathroom Sundries > Tinkle Belle > Test Report by Marina Batzke

TINKLE BELLE FEMALE URINARY DEVICE
TEST SERIES BY MARINA BATZKE
LONG-TERM REPORT
October 22, 2018

CLICK HERE TO SKIP TO THE FIELD REPORT
CLICK HERE TO SKIP TO THE LONG-TERM REPORT

TESTER INFORMATION

I converted from day hiking and car camping to backpacking in 2013. My backpacking trips are one or two weekend excursions per month in Southern California. The locations range from Joshua Tree National Park desert areas in the cooler months to mountainous elevations in the summer months. I always hike with a group and like the gear talk in camp. While I am looking for ways to lighten my pack, I am not an ultra-lighter: I like sleeping in a tent with a sleeping bag on a comfortable pad. In January 2017, I added snowshoeing to my winter activities.

INITIAL REPORT

PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS

Manufacturer: The Tinkle Belle
Year of Manufacture: 2018
Made in the USA
Manufacturer's Website: http://thetinklebelle.com
MSRP: US$25.00
Listed Weight of Tinkle Belle: 1.8 oz (50 g)
Measured Weight: 1.9 oz (54 g)
Listed Weight of carry case: 0.8 oz (25 g)
Measured Weight: 0.7 oz (20 g)

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS

The Tinkle Belle is a female accessory, designed to enable women to stand and pee without having to squat or moon other people when having 'to go' outdoors. The set arrived inside a clear plastic bag with a zipper-locking top. Packed alongside the Tinkle Belle were a folded flyer and a fabric carry case.

flyer - fabric case - unit

carry case laminated on inside

size comparison with 20 fl oz 591 mL bottle

The carry case is 7 x 4 in (17.8 x 10.2 cm) in size. The fabric pouch has an aquamarine color with a white curly-stripe pattern. On the outside, I can feel the structure of the fabric. On the case inside, the fabric is laminated and I can feel its smooth inside surface. Once I have stored the folded-in-half Tinkle Belle inside, I close the carry case with its white zipper. At the top end, the carry case has a grey 0.75 in (1.9 cm) fabric hang loop with a handy metal carabiner attached, plus a white fabric tag with the Tinkle Belle name and logo on it.

The Tinkle Belle has an aquamarine hard plastic body and a dark-grey rubbery spout. I use the term 'rubbery' as I see no reference to the actual kind of material this flexible spout is made from. Fully extended - ready to use - the Tinkle Belle is 9.25 in (23.5 cm) long. This long total length shall help avoid splashing myself. The durable hard shell is designed to direct more liquid volume. When the grey spout is folded back under the green hard shell for storage inside the fabric carry case, the Tinkle Belle is only 5.5 in (14 cm) long.

The manufacturer describes the components as antimicrobial: protected from stain and odor causing bacteria by the addition of antimicrobial additives. The Tinkle Belle is also hydrophobic: it repels liquid. It is UV stabilized and therefore ideal for outdoor use.

The Tinkle Belle is anatomically shaped to fit the female form and designed to work consistently and easily without leaking or collapsing. Along the top of its green hard plastic body, the Tinkle Belle has a dark-grey soft, flexible, rounded lip for extreme wiping comfort, which the manufacturersays makes toilet paper unnecessary. There are two thumb rests (see 2nd photo) for proper placement and ease of use.

The manufacturer says it is possible to use the Tinkle Belle while fully clothed designed for minimal exposure when I have to go. It is reusable and easy to clean.

READING THE INSTRUCTIONS

While out and about, I may simply rinse the Tinkle Belle with bottled water, wipe it with a disinfecting wipe/ tissue or just shake and store it in its carry case until hot water and soap are available for a more thorough cleaning. The Tinkle Belle is top-rack dishwasher safe.

The carry case is machine washable on warm and may be air-dried or machine dried on low heat.

When I fold the dark-grey flexible spout of the Tinkle Belle under the green hard plastic section for storage in the carry case, the soft spout may create 'memory' when stored in this folded position. I shall then move the rubbery spout back and forth from side to side to correct the spout shape again.

WARRANTY:
The Tinkle Belle is protected against manufacturer's defect. If a user notices a possible defect, she shall send a photo of the defective item with a description of the concern but the manufacturer does not accept returns, as this is a personally used item.

TRYING IT OUT

I did a practice run at home in the bathroom and yes, it worked!

I pressed the anatomically shaped Tinkle Belle in place, generated a firm seal against my body and used the thumb-rests as hold and for proper aim. Seemed rather odd at first and will take some getting used to. I feel I need a lot more practice runs at home to dare venture into the wilderness and try the Tinkle Belle out in nature where a 'small accident' would not be welcome.

SUMMARY

The Tinkle Belle is a female urinary device, designed to give women the freedom to stand and pee.

PROS:
can get discreetly stored in its carry pouch
antimicrobial: protected from stain and odor causing bacteria
lightweight, yet feels sturdy enough to not collapse while in use

CONS:
I am nervous about an 'accident'

Looking forward to trying out the Tinkle Belle in the wilderness.

LONG-TERM REPORT

LONG-TERM TEST LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS

Yosemite National Park, California, USA
5 days/ 4 nights backpacking: 17 mi/ 27 km
Temperature: 75 - 44 F/ 24 - 7 C

Cerro Noroeste/Mt. Pinos, Southern California, USA
Dayhike: 11 mi/ 18 km
Temperature: 71 F/ 22 C

Mt. Pinos, Sawmill, Grouse, Southern California, USA
2 days/ 1 night backpacking: 11 mi/ 18 km
Temperature: 78 - 59 F/ 26 - 15 C

Bicycle Trip from Schaerding to Vienna, Austria
6 days of average 37 mi (60 km) bike riding
Temperature: 80 - 60 F/ 27 - 16 C

Mt. Pinos, Southern California, USA
Navigation Dayhike: 4 mi/ 6 km
Temperature: 75 - 58 F/ 24 - 14 C

Beartrap Bluff, Southern California, USA
2 days/ 1 night backpacking: 12 mi/ 19 km
Temperature: 79 - 42 F/ 26 - 6 C

Cedar Springs, San Jacinto area, USA
2 days/ 1 night backpacking: 7 mi/ 11 km
Temperature: 73 - 35 F/ 23 - 2 C

PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD

For all my overnight outings and day hikes, I have stored the Tinkle Belle case and contents in the side pouch of my backpack, right next to a bottle of hand sanitizer and a plastic bag holding a small trowel, toilet paper & mini trash bag.

stored in pack side pocket for quick access

After a bunch of practice runs at home, I felt ready for the field use. But I was quickly reminded that my hiking pants are without a front zipper. I have these modern pants that are more like a pull-up with elastic top which is usually great because my backpack hip-belt does not pressure onto a pant belt or pant front button. Yet for the Tinkle Belle use, these no-front-opening hiking pants mean: I have to pull down my pants rather low, losing quite a bit of the discreetness benefit. The same problem occurred during the one-week bike trip: my elastic bike pants have no zipper; no front opening. Secondly, women's underwear does not have a fly front: another reason that I have to pull my clothing down quite a way to get to use the Tinkle Belle.

I have had my successful and occasionally not so successful uses of the Tinkle Belle. I have had some side-splashing onto my hiking boots. I do not want to call it major, since my boots also might get sprinkled when I filter water along a creek and such a bit of liquid dries quickly. Once back home, I frequently brush off my boots to remove any dirt or dust and to maintain the boots' nice color and material surface. On one occasion when I went dayhiking with a female friend, I had a few drops go astray into my underwear. Embarrassing. That made me realize that one major recommendation is to go more frequently and not wait too long to go.

At night, I always have the Tinkle Belle handy to grab when I go out for a quick nighttime bathroom break.

Tinkle Belle right at my doorstep for nighttime use

One feature I do love is that the Tinkle Belle is hydrophobic: it repels liquid extremely well. Once done, I just have to shake it a little bit and remnant liquid runs off very easily. Once I get home, I wash off the Tinkle Belle while I am in the shower and afterwards let it air dry. I wipe dry the coated inside of the fabric case. Once both components are thoroughly dry, I stash them away for the next outing.

The folding has not damaged the Tinkle Belle. I typically fold the front up and inside. If it is a bit deformed (off center), I bend it the other direction and can make it pretty straight.

SUMMARY

I think the Tinkle Belle is a really interesting and innovative item. I recommend to practice at home from time to time to always maintain the knowledge and confidence on how to best use this female urination device, as one major accident could spell embarrassment. I will continue to use the Tinkle Belle, always preceded by practice runs at home.

Pros:
carrying case looks good and is practical
Tinkle Belle is hydrophobic: it repels liquid
easy to clean

Cons:
if it goes wrong, it is embarrassing

Thank you to Tinkle Belle and BackpackGearTest.org for the opportunity to test this stand-to-pee item.

Reviews > Personal Hygiene > Bathroom Sundries > Tinkle Belle > Test Report by Marina Batzke