Here's a topic---DIY pee funnel?

[desdemona]

Here's a topic!! But here's the deal--I think it might be even worse peeing sitting down in the desert than on the AT. (At least you have a chance of not sitting in something really painful. ) But at least you would get it that I have never liked the whole idea of squatting to pee. For one thign it is messy. I read the archive and came up with the idea that one can stand up, but this takes some practice and control.

My hikes are by no means backpacks, but are getting longer.
I am planning to go out half day again next weekend. Eventually I'm sure I'll work up to all day. It means its getting inevitable.

I have seen these things you can buy that are basically, well, funnels. But the concept seems simple enough. Prices range from $12-26 with shipping. I don't know why it can't be diy.

I tried my own version today, uh er, practicing standing. I think there are flaws in it. Anyone see one online? Or have a good idea here? I tried doing a websearch and you get, uh,er, interesting sites.

BTW, my idea consisted of a piece of heavy cardstock shaped as a triangle and rounded up towards the top. The cardstock isn't too environmentally
friendly, but I have an idea if I get a working concept. It splashed
on feet but I'm not sure you can avoid this in the shower.











--des

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

SaniFresh Freshette
Lady J
Unisex Travel John

[quasarr]

you don't have to sit on anything, just squat. pull your pants down to your knees so you don't pee on them!

I can see the advantage of a funnel for nighttime though, so you don't get so cold

[Blissful]

I took a freshette on a hike and prompty lost the funnel part in the fog on the first night (it fell off). Never used it again.

[AlwaysHiking]

I tried the freshette once, and honestly I found it way more awkward than squatting. The best 'seat in the house' is three trees in a triangle. Back against one, and one foot each on the other two trees. It keeps everything up and outta the way of the 'splash'.

The only benefit to a freshette type contraption I can see is if it's really really cold out, but I didn't really like the idea of packing it around for sanitary reasons. Are there any environmentally friendly disposable versions of this out there?

[quasarr]

just realized I missed the part where desdemona said that squatting can be messy. how so? I have never splashed myself yet!

[Boudin]

Interesting thread. After 30 days on trail, my wife decided to learn how to do it standing up. Within just a few days had had the hang of it. Leave one foot on ground slightly outside of shoulder line while standing approximately 3 feet from a tree. Place the other foot about 2 and a half feet up the trunk of the tree.

The first couple of times you will need to rinse your socks, but you'll be neat after just a few more times. No funnel necessary.

For those of you starting a thru hike and learning this skill as you go, be careful...your trail name could be Yellow Socks!!!

Good Luck

[desdemona]

Interesting thread. After 30 days on trail, my wife decided to learn how to do it standing up. Within just a few days had had the hang of it. Leave one foot on ground slightly outside of shoulder line while standing approximately 3 feet from a tree. Place the other foot about 2 and a half feet up the trunk of the tree.

The first couple of times you will need to rinse your socks, but you'll be neat after just a few more times. No funnel necessary.

For those of you starting a thru hike and learning this skill as you go, be careful...your trail name could be Yellow Socks!!!

Good Luck

Yellow socks!!
I just liked this one so well, I am quoting it. But actually... I have seen a lot of devices. Yes, some of them are not so small and carrying them is an issue. (Sanitary and otherwise, esp. on a long hike.) I also feel that the concept is so simple that I shouldn't have to pay $10-20 for it. It's just a triangular type thing. Some have little hoses on them, to point where you want.

As for learning how to do this, without, perhaps I have not given myself the time to get the hang of it. NO WAY would I try to learn this outside the shower!!

OTOH, young man, your wife seems a brave woman to learn this on the trail or else didn't mind washing out socks!! However, you gave forth a useful description of this "skill".

I also think the type of outfit might matter. Winter hiking I wear elastic band everything including long johns.

As for squatting. Nothing much I want my butt to get that close to. As I said the trails I go on are perhaps full of more cacti and so forth than yours are. But I have heard of people getting a butt full of goat heads. (sharp prickly little devils.) NASTY!!


--des

[River Runner]

Here is a new product on the market that is supposed to be anti-bacterial and hydrophobic so that santitation isn't an issue:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-...z_freedom.html

Haven't tried it myself, and I'm not sure I will since I don't normally have a splash problem.

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

Thank you for posting the new product, River Runner. It appears to be made of silicon and that would be Ideal for sanitation and ease of use (Hard, cold plastic on the lady place is no fun.....) It would also be unbreakable, have no parts that could be lost and fold up or compress. I like the look of this product.

Before any says 'just squat' - I have a bum leg and am physically unable to squat without assistance. When I must squat (over a cathole), I find a large, slanting tree and hold on to it above with one arm. Being able to avoid that procedure to pee would be very liberating for me. YMMV

[tazie]

Here is a new product on the market that is supposed to be anti-bacterial and hydrophobic so that santitation isn't an issue:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-...z_freedom.html

Haven't tried it myself, and I'm not sure I will since I don't normally have a splash problem.

I like it! As a frequent squatter(looks around and hope no one's watching) this would be very handy. thanks for the link.

[AlwaysHiking]

Whiz Freedom, now there's a product I'd consider. Thanks River Runner for that link.

Dino, as to the squatting thing, have you ever tried sitting far back on a rock or log? You just have to be back far enough so the appropriate area is free and clear of whatever object you're sitting on. It's way more comfortable than relying on knees or any other part of the legs to support you. The other technique is to sit/lean against a large bolder and let the stream flow down the face of it. No splash that way and if the bolder is large enough, you're practically standing upright so no strain on the legs.

I've got ligament problems and my knees are known to just go out on me and I've had to take the time to find inventive ways to do what I gotta do cuz that would be a very bad time for my knees to go out!

[wakapak]

Wow...wish I knew about some of these products before my first thru!! I eventually learned how to pee without squatting much and still able to have my pack on (yes, i got lazy in a sort of way while out hiking everyday!). Some days I could pee standing up,and other days it, um, it didn't work so well!! Although, I do think squatting helped build my thigh muscles!! I can see though, if one has a problem with knees or leg that squatting is out of the question!!!
Thanks for all the info everyone! Now I know what to look into before i go on an extended hike again!!

[tazie]

Thank you for posting the new product, River Runner. It appears to be made of silicon and that would be Ideal for sanitation and ease of use (Hard, cold plastic on the lady place is no fun.....) It would also be unbreakable, have no parts that could be lost and fold up or compress. I like the look of this product.

FD, can I tell my joke about why men pee standing up and women don't? It's clean, but oh-so-funny...Still, I'll ask permission from you so I don't get my toes bit..

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

Tazie, go for it if it's clean....

[dixicritter]

Here is a new product on the market that is supposed to be anti-bacterial and hydrophobic so that santitation isn't an issue:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-...z_freedom.html

Haven't tried it myself, and I'm not sure I will since I don't normally have a splash problem.

Yep count me in the group that's been looking for a product like this. With my RA, squatting is becoming more and more out of the question. Have tried FD's approach of holding onto a tree... let's just say that doesn't go very well. LOL.

Hanging my rear off a log works alright until time to try and haul myself back up. So I think this product would be a good thing to try out for me.

Thanks for the link!!

[Boose]

All right, I know you'll wonder how I came across this site... but I swear I was innocently searching for "pee funnels"!
http://www.ftmguide.org/bathroom.html#stp has directions for making funnels from coffee can lids or plastic medicine dosage spoons. I haven't tried any of these, so use at your own risk!

[AlwaysHiking]

All right, I know you'll wonder how I came across this site... but I swear I was innocently searching for "pee funnels"!
http://www.ftmguide.org/bathroom.html#stp has directions for making funnels from coffee can lids or plastic medicine dosage spoons. I haven't tried any of these, so use at your own risk!

I had no idea there were so many options out there... wow.

[AlwaysHiking]

hey desdemona, maybe you can use this product to get some DIY ideas: http://pee-zees.tripod.com/index.html

[Obsidian]

the whole idea of carrying something I peed in just doesn't seem kosher to me. Just practice learning to pee standing up it's an amazing skill to have