Reviewer's Information Back to contents

Name Jamie J. DeBenedetto
Age and Gender 47 year old female
Height 5' 11" (1.8 m)
Weight 175 lb (79 kg)
Email JamieD1005(at)gmail.com
Background/Experience I spent many hours of my youth fishing, rafting, creeking, and day-hiking in the wild places of Arizona. I caught the backpacking bug in high school but since having kids I've become mostly a day-hiker with the occasional overnight backpack or family camping trip mixed. I prefer hammocks over ground sleeping and I gravitate toward multifunctional gear that enhances my comfort level with minimal fuss and weight. My total pack weight is typically less than 25 lbs (11 kg). Location Phoenix, Arizona - The Grand Canyon State - USA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product Information Back to contents

Manufacture URL	TravelJohn Products - www.traveljohn.com
Year of Purchase	2018
Made in	China
MSRP	US $5.99 and up
(Listed Specifications - Taken from the packaging and/or website)
Listed Weight	1.5 oz / 42.5 g
Dimensions	5 x 2 x 2 in / 12.5 x 5 x 5 cm (Folded)
Max Capacity	28 oz / 800 cc
Materials	"Non-woven fabric" and "PE Plastic" with Liqsorb(R) gel
Care/Disposal Instructions	"Non-Toxic, non-hazardous TravelJohn™ products meet EPA and OSHA requirements for disposal in any trash container."
(Specifications as received and observed by this writer)
Weight (taken with a digital office scale)	1.2 oz / 35 g
Dimensions	4.25 x 1.75 x 2.25 in / 11 x 4.5 x 5.7 cm

Product Description Back to contents

The TravelJohn Disposable Urinal is a personal, go anywhere solution for liquid waste removal. Distinguishing it from similar options is the Liqsorb(R) gel located at the bottom of every pouch. This biodegradable substance soaks up the liquid waste and renders it "odorless, non-toxic and spill-proof" as long as you don't overfill the bag (max is 28 oz / 800 cc). The bag itself is made from what the manufacture calls "a non-woven fabric". I couldn't find any more info on what that fabric is but it feels very light and smooth, similar to a trash bag. At the opening there is a plastic "collar" or spout that helps the users hold on to the device and serves as a splash guard. I've seen the urinals sold in packs of 3, 5, 6, 10 and 18. I'm writing specifically with my experience using the unisex option but TravelJohn also makes a slightly wider urinal for women called the TravelJane and a 21 oz / 600 cc capacity TravelJohn Jr for kids. When they arrive each urinal is rolled up and wrapped in plastic in groups of three. If you buy the pack of 18 they also send a courtesy package of tissue paper and moist wipes.

Collective Use and Field Conditions Back to contents

I've been using the TravelJohn since March 2018. In that time I've used a few dozen of them.
Here's a sampling of locations:

3 days, 2 nights - Tonto National Forest, Arizona - Elevation 1,800 ft (550 m). This was a dry-camping trip along the Verde River for some hiking and kayaking. The area is a mix of desert and riparian vegetation. Weather conditions were sunny and mildly warm in the day and cool in the evening with super high winds one of the three days. Temperatures ranged between 80 and 47 F (27 and 8 C).

3 days, 2 nights - Coconino National Forest, AZ - Elevation 7,000ft (2,100 m). Dry-camping trip in the pines of the Coconino Nation Forest, Arizona. Temperatures ranged between 71 and 40 F (22 to 4 C). We had rain on two of the three days, mostly clear on the third.

3 days, 2 nights - Usery Mountain Regional Park, near Mesa, AZ - Elevation 2,000 ft (600 m). Family camping trip in the Sonoran Desert for hiking and exploration of the nearby Verde River. All three days were sunny, no precipitation with temperatures in the upper 60's F down to the low 50's F (17 to 10 C).

2 days, 1 night - Prescott National Forest, near Prescott, AZ - Elevation 5,800 ft (1,800 m). Overnighter to escape the summer heat. Clear weather with temperatures in the 80's F down to the 50's F (28 C to 11 C).

My Experience Back to contents

It's going to sound funny but in a way, finding the TravelJohn has positively changed my entire outdoor experience. Since my mid-20's I've struggled with knee issues which has made some outdoor activities like prolonged downhill hiking, jumping down off obstacles and squatting, more and more difficult over the years. As a woman, at least one of these is pretty much a necessity and more than likely going to be required every few hours on any given backcountry adventure. Due to my deficiencies I've tried a few female stand-up urinary aids in recent years and found them somewhat helpful but not in all situations. This is where the TravelJohn finds its ever so important niche in my gear.

In particular I have found it extremely helpful in group dispersed camping areas where there is a shortage of discrete bathroom location choices. This is very common in desert locales like the one I live in. I have also found it useful in campgrounds where the "facilities" are overused or just plain gross. Travel, as the product name suggests, is another perfect use for the TravelJohn. I like to keep a few in my vehicle for roadside emergencies. I thankfully have only had to do this once so far while trapped on the highway for several hours due to a large accident. Lastly, and this is my personal favorite use of the urinal, it's great as an "indoor" alternative to leaving my warm shelter on cold, wet days/nights. An option I've happily used on several occasions.

The bags are very portable. Out of the box they come rolled up and tucked into the plastic collar. (Shown in the picture below) Their size and weight allow me take one along almost anywhere I think I might need one. One easily fits in a jacket pocket, a purse, fanny pack, toiletry kit, etc.

They are also easy and convenient to use. It's as simple as unrolling the bag, placing the collar close to the skin and removing when finished. Holding it in place is intuitive and the Liqsorb(R) gel does all the work. The total volume is enough for at least two uses maybe three depending on how hydrated I am. I don't like to push the bags to its capacity, however. Although they are designed to hold up to 28oz / 800 cc of liquid that amount isn't very practical for transporting the TravelJohn anywhere other than directly to a receptacle. I have found with the max amount of liquid deposited the gel can't totally solidify it all perfectly. There is a risk of some spill if the bag were to be overturned or stuffed in a pack. But up to 95% full, it works like a charm.

As for the claims by the manufacture that the gel is "odorless", I'd give that a 95% success rate too. It's perfectly odorless until the liquid gets close to the full mark. As the gel becomes less effective near its max it also loses its ability to trap the smell.

On a few occasions, usually when trying to hurry or do things without light, I have not positioned the collar correctly resulting in some dribbles outside the bag. This is not at all a manufacture flaw. The collar fits well and as previously stated is easy to hold in place, it's more of a Jamie problem. Having said that, I find it less risky to use the women's specific model than the unisex model because of the slightly larger collar opening.

The only feature I've wished the TravelJohn had is a way to seal the bag. I think this would make them much more viable for backpacking. Even though the gel does a great job of holding the odors and liquid in place, having an open bag of semi-solid pee in my backpack isn't super appealing and as such I've never used them on any of my backpack trips. The good news is, apparently the makers of TravelJohn listened to their customer's requests because while writing this report I visited the website and found they now offer two different styles of resealable urinals and a paper version as well. Kudos to TravelJohn for making an already neat product even better!

To summarize, the TravelJohn makes going on the go or in a difficult place manageable. It provides a nice alternative to nasty Port-a-Potties or simply for those of us who find squatting problematic. The trademarked gel works well to keep odors and liquid contained when used as directed. It's small enough and light enough that it can discretely be used for many outdoor applications.

Pros and Cons Back to contents

Things I like...

Offered for purchase in several different quantities and sizes
Compact enough to take it where I might need it
Easy to use
Holds enough for more than one use
No problems with leaking bags or escaping odors

Things I don't like...

Haven't been able to find the women's version in 18 packs

JJD-2020

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