GoGirl Female Urinary Device
Owner Review by Jennifer
Koles November 11, 2009 |
Personal Information
Name: Jennifer
Koles
Age: 34
Gender: Female
Height: 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Weight: 140 lb (64 kg)
Email address: jennksnowy at yahoo dot
com
City, State, and Country: Orange
County, California, United States
Backpacking
Background
After getting
into the outdoors scene camping while 4-wheeling and day-hiking,
I switched to backpacking in the early 2000's. I have backpacked
extensively in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho along with California,
Pennsylvania and Nevada. I have slowly been cutting my
base weight to be able to go longer in duration and distance.
I have done so mainly by using better gear and dumping
heavy luxuries. I backpack year round in all weather, and
usually take a free standing tent and a gas stove on all
my trips. I love trying out new gear.
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The author in the Narrows at Zion National
Park, Utah.
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Product
Information
Manufacturer: GoGirl (FemMed,
Inc.)
Web Site: www.go-girl.com
Product: GoGirl Female Urinary Device
Year Manufactured: 2009
MSRP: $6.99 US
Available Colors: Pink Tube with Lavender
GoGirl and Camouflage Tube with Lavender GoGirl
Reviewed Color: Pink Tube with Lavender
GoGirl
Weight Listed: none
listed on website
Actual Weight: 1.50 oz (43 g) packaged
tube; 1.05 oz (30 g) GoGirl alone
Measurements of Tube: Height-
3.75 in (9.53 cm); Diameter- 1.38 in (3.5 cm)
Measurements of Device: Approximate Length- 6.5
in (16.51 cm); Width- 2 in (5.08 cm)
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Product Description
The GoGirl is a feminine hygiene product or known as a Female
Urinary Device (FUD) that is designed for women to urinate while
standing up. It is indicated by the manufacturer to be used in
unsanitary bathrooms, traveling, camping, boating, concerts, sports,
or just to avoid germs. The device is made of a durable germ resistant
medical-grade silicone and it can be disposed of or reused. At
$6.99 each I decided to wash and reuse my device, since I can not
afford to buy a new one each time I use it.
The GoGirl comes packed inside of a plastic tube with a removable
cap on one side. The outer tube wrapping has pictures indicating
ideas of where to use the device. There is also information on
the contents of the tube (one GoGirl, tissue and baggie). Printed
on the wrapping is information for disposal (do not flush, and
use biodegradable baggie for storage or disposal).
Inside the GoGirl tube is the GoGirl with a small folded piece
of tissue and a white biodegradable baggie. I found the tube to
be small enough to carry in my purse and my smallest cycling pack.
The baggie has the GoGirl logo and name printed in pink on one
side and instructions (in English and another language) for use
on the reverse. There is a sticker on the baggie that can be removed
to seal the baggie closed.
The GoGirl (FUD) is made of a flexible silicone material that
I can easy bend or roll up. It also retains its original shape
after it is stored. It reminds me of a funnel. It has a large opening
on one end and tapers to a point with a small opening at the bottom.
It has some embossing on it to indicate which way the device should
be positioned up, "GOGIRL", symbol and the letters "DO NOT FLUSH",
the text "patent pending". There are also two dashed lines at the
top of the funnel opening on the ends. I think these dashed lines
are for an extra grip for finger placement when using the
device. The funnel opening that is placed close to my body is designed
to obtain a close seal and to prevent splashing. This is achieved
by the silicon having an area that can be pressed against by body
and not just a straight edge.
Using the GoGirl
(First Time)
After opening the packaging for the first time I knew I would
never be able to remember or be able to package it in its original
state. I found that I can roll it up in the baggie or a plastic
small zip closure bag and still get it in the tube. I just cram
it in there and there is some room to spare for a tissue. It works
for me!
OK so my first time using the GoGirl I was scared that I would
make a mess. Plus I did not want to embarrass myself using it in
the wilderness for the first time. So I used it over a toilet.
Pulled down my pants, placed the GoGirl and wee I went. I had some
hesitation before I could actually urinate, because it felt odd
to stand up and handle this task. However, it was a success. No
mess to clean up on myself or my surroundings. After the first
use I was hooked. Read on.
Product Use
The GoGirl has been used or carried in the
following locations during various sport and leisure activities
- Hiking: Red Rocks, Nevada; Whiting Ranch Park, California;
and Cleveland National Forest, California
- Backpacking: Yosemite National Park, California
(three day trip); San Jacinto State Park, California (overnight
trip)
- Biking: Whiting Ranch, California; Weir Canyon,
California; Peters Canyon, California; Fullerton, California;
El Moro Canyon, California; and Big Bear, California
- Rollerblading on the beach path near Huntington
Beach California
- Rock Climbing: Red Rocks, Nevada
- Day to day in my purse and in the car
- Public restrooms
The elevations ranged from sea level to over 10,000
ft (3,048 m). The temperatures ranged from 43 F (6 C) to 90 F (32
C).
Impressions and Performance
I must say that I am impressed with
the performance of the GoGirl. I can now urinate like the guys.
Well almost, I still need some extra help. At first I thought it
would be difficult to use. But, for me it has been easy to master
using the GoGirl. It is now natural for me to use it and I do not
freeze up when it is time to urinate in the device, as I did the
first time.
The instructions say to "adjust clothing"
as step one. I began to pull down my pants some to use it and now
I have mastered being able to use it successfully by not pulling
down my pants/shorts, just pulling them away from my body. For
my biking shorts and for pants/shorts with no zipper I just pull
some of the material away from my body, slide the GoGirl in place,
do my business carefully while pointing the tube end of the device,
shake it while still holding it when I am done, then position my
pants/shorts. With my pants or shorts that have a zipper I open
the zipper place the GoGirl inside, position it and then I poke
the end through the zipper opening.
This
took some time to develop this skill and at first I was reluctant
to try it. I urinated with my back turned in the wilderness
and my friend did not know what I was doing because my pants were
up in the back. I call this "stealth urination". Sometimes
when I am finished doing my business and I pull it away from my
body some drops of urine will roll towards the large opening of
the funnel. But the design of the funnel traps those drops and
they do not dribble out of the large opening.
After using the GoGirl wherever I
may be, I just rinse it with water and store it in the baggie or
my own zip closure baggie. The provided baggie got some holes in
it after about 6 uses. A zip closure bag works fine. When I get
home I rinse the GoGirl with soap and water. There has not been
a noticeable odor when I am on the go and just rinse it with water.
Now the color of the GoGirl is not
discrete. It is a light lavender color, but it is unnatural to
have a lavender colored item poking out from my pants or using
it to urinate. I would like to see the GoGirl available in more
natural colors like a light tan or a beige color.
This thing is great! There is no
splashing over the top of the device. And I can aim it exactly
where I want to. The GoGirl rolls up and can be stored inside the
tube or in a small pouch in my backpack (in a baggie of course).
The only issue I have with storing it inside the tube is that sometimes
the lid pops off because it does not tighten with threads or securely.
I would like to see some threading on the tube or a pop off type
of lid that has a tab to open it.
The silicone material appears to
be durable. It has not torn, stretched, and has not melted when
stored in the tube on the front seat of my car in direct sunlight.
My GoGirl looks as good as new.
I get quite a few comments on the
GoGirl when I debut it to my friends. Some of them think I am nuts
(my shy friends) and others think it is such a cool idea. Even
my guy friends think it is pretty nifty.
Things
That Rock
- I have mastered urinating while standing up
- I do not mess my shoes
- The storage tube is compact
- Easy to use
- No leakage
- Easy to clean
Things
That Are So-So
- The lid of the tube does not secure tightly
in place
- The color is not discrete
- Storage baggie is not durable
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Summary
I have loved using the GoGirl and I had to get
more. I now have a total of four GoGirls to store in my car,
at work, in my purse, in my backpacks, and in my cycling packs.
This is one of those things that I do not want to leave home
without.
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