Shower and toilet enclosure thread

[Scott Brady]

There have been a few discussion about shower and potty tents in various threads, so I thought it would be a good idea to pull it all together here:

VikingVince:
"Re the PahaQue privy shelter...it's nice but also check out the P.E.T.T. shelter. The Pett shelter goes up ALOT faster because the rods (shock cords) are built right in on hinges and the shelter just folds open and closes down quickly....although I think the PahaQue has a few more bells and whistles. I have a large PahaQue ScreenRoom and love it but it is time intensive to put up. (not a fair comparison to the privy I know) Cabelas also has a very nice privy shelter for $99 but it looks time intensive also. I've been in one and they're really roomy (4.5 sq ft base) and nice but haven't seen them set up or taken down. At this point you may think that a few more minutes to put up and take down is no big deal...but the more you're out there, the less hassle and more EASE of setting up and taking down anything becomes more desirable...especially on one-night stops."

Expeditionswest:
"Vince is absolutely correct about the shower enclosures. After a few days, Steph and I got pretty quick with the Tepee, but it is definitely a two person job. Maybe 3-4 minutes. The greatest advantage of the Tepee is the design when deployed. Thick rods support the tent, and can even support you if you need to hold on while putting on socks or whatever. There are two internal gear storage netting units. One for shower items like soap and shampoo, and another that hangs high in the top, which you can store your clean, dry clothes in. There are also zippered access points on the sides, which allow you to bring in shower heads, access towels, etc.

One of the other cool things is the horizontal poles on the outside, which allows you to hang towels and dry clothes you have washed"

Pahaque Tepee


The PETT System


Vince had this cool shower deck in Baja. I need to get one . I was using my spearfishing fins to stand on.


This is the big daddy Vince talked about from Cabelas:

It does weigh 23 pounds though

I also considered this Outback unit: no set-up


This should make for a good start

[DaktariEd]

Thanks, Scott,
This is good info. Thanks for pulling it together here.
Which brings up a question on the Diablo trip re: toilets etc.
Are there rules/regs about waste disposal on the trip? For certain areas only?
What do you recommend?

Ed

[Scott Brady]

Good question Ed,

Del Diablo is not a pack it out area (like the Rubicon), so use the following guidelines.

Leave No Trace, Center for Outdoor Ethics:

Dispose of Waste Properly Minimize Human Impacts
Human Waste: Proper disposal of human waste is important to avoid pollution of water sources, avoid the negative implications of someone else finding it, minimize the possibility of spreading disease, and maximize the rate of decomposition.

In most locations, burying human feces in the correct manner is the most effective method to meet these criteria. Solid human waste must be packed out from some places, such as narrow river canyons. Land management agencies can advise you of specific rules for the area you plan to visit.

Contrary to popular opinion, research indicates that burial of feces actually slows decomposition (at least in the Rocky Mountains). Pathogens have been discovered to survive for a year or more when buried. However, in light of the other problems associated with feces, it is still generally best to bury it. The slow decomposition rate causes the need to choose the correct location, far from water, campsites, and other frequently used places.

Catholes: Catholes are the most widely accepted method of waste disposal. Locate catholes at least 200 feet (about 70 adult steps) from water, trails and camp. Select an inconspicuous site where other people will be unlikely to walk or camp. With a small garden trowel, dig a hole 6-8 inches deep and 4-6 inches in diameter. The cathole should be covered and disguised with natural materials when finished. If camping in the area for more than one night, or if camping with a large group, cathole sites should be widely dispersed.

Perhaps the most widely accepted method of backcountry human waste disposal is the cathole. The advantages are:

they are easy to dig in most areas.
they are easy to disguise after use.
they are private.
they disperse the waste rather than concentrate it (which enhances decomposition).
it is usually easy to select an out of the way location where you can be certain no one is going to casually encounter the cathole.
Selecting a Cathole Site:

Select a cathole site far from water sources, 200 feet (approximately 70 adult paces) is the recommended range.
Select an inconspicuous site untraveled by people. Examples of cathole sites include thick undergrowth, near downed timber, or on gentle hillsides.
If camping with a group or if camping in the same place for more than one night, disperse the catholes over a wide area; don t go to the same place twice.
Try to find a site with deep organic soil. This organic ma al contains organisms which will help de pose the feces. (Organic soil is usually dark and rich in color.) Refer to the jars used to demonstrate decomposition. The desert does not have as much organic soil as a forested area. (See number 2 under Digging a Cathole below.)
If possible, locate your cathole where it will receive maximum sunlight. The heat from the sun will aid decomposition.
Choose an elevated site where water would not normally during runoff or rain storms. The idea here is to keep the feces out of water. Over time, the decomposing feces will percolate into the soil before reaching water sources.
Digging a Cathole:

A small garden trowel is the perfect tool for digging a cathole.
Dig the hole 6-8 inches deep (about the length of the trowel blade) and 4-6 inches in diameter. In a hot desert, human waste does not biodegrade easily because there is little organic soil to help break it down. In the desert, the cathole should be only 4-6 inches deep. This will allow the heat and sun to hasten the decay process.
When finished, the cathole should be filled with the original dirt and disguised with native materials.
Catholes in Arid Lands: A cathole is the most widely accepted means of waste disposal in arid lands. Locate catholes at least 200 feet (about 70 adult steps) from water, trails, and camp. Avoid areas where water visibly flows, such as sandy washes, even if they are dry at the moment. Select a site that will maximize exposure to the sun in order to aid decomposition. Because the sun s heat will penetrate desert soils several inches, it can eventually kill pathogens if the feces are buried properly. South-facing slopes and ridge tops will have more exposure to sun and heat than other areas.

Latrines: Though catholes are recommended for most situations, there are times when latrines may be more applicable, such as when camping with young children or if staying in one camp for longer than a few nights. Use similar criteria for selecting a latrine location as those used to locate a cathole. Since this higher concentration of feces will decompose very slowly, location is especially important. A good way to speed decomposition and diminish odors is to toss in a handful of soil after each use. Ask your land manager about latrine-building techniques.

Toilet Paper: Use toilet paper sparingly and use only plain, white, non-perfumed brands. Toilet paper must be disposed of properly! It should either be thoroughly buried in a cathole or placed in plastic bags and packed out. Natural toilet paper has been used by many campers for years. When done correctly, this method is as sanitary as regular toilet paper, but without the impact problems. Popular types of natural toilet paper include stones, vegetation and snow. Obviously, some experimentation is necessary to make this practice work for you, but it is worth a try! Burning toilet paper in a cathole is not generally recommended.

Toilet Paper in Arid Lands: Placing toilet paper in plastic bags and packing it out as trash is the best way to Leave No Trace in a desert environment. Toilet paper should not be burned. This practice can result in wild fires.

Tampons: Proper disposal of tampons requires that they be placed in plastic bags and packed out. Do not bury them because they don t decompose readily and animals may dig them up. It will take a very hot, intense fire to burn them completely.

Urine: Urine has little direct effect on vegetation or soil. In some instances urine may draw wildlife which are attracted to the salts. They can defoliate plants and dig up soil. Urinating on rocks, pine needles, and gravel is less likely to attract wildlife. Diluting urine with water from a water bottle can help minimize negative effects.

Special Considerations for River Canyons: River canyons often present unique Leave No Trace problems. The most common practice is to urinate directly in the river and pack out feces in sealed boxes for later disposal. Check with your land manager for details about specific areas.

[calamaridog]

I bought the PETT toilet and I love it.

I bought a tent similar (if not identical) to the PETT tent (but very inexpensive) on clearance. Same design. It is very difficult and time consuming to set up. (EDIT:I also noticed the tent they have is different than mine, although it looks the same, they advertise it as a fast set up design. Sorry for the confusion.)

I like the idea of the instant Outback tent which could be taken down quickly if the wind picks up.

[Brian McVickers]

I've got an awesome solution - The Insta Tent!
These are designed by Black Stump Trading Co from Australia.

The two jpg's attached are scans of the brochure. In the upper right hand corner of the first page you will see the Shower Tent.
These things pack up to about the size of a 3"x12" tube. All the poles have a line that runs through them and comes out to a common point at the top. At the top is one cord with a locking mechanism so all you do is lay the tent on the ground and pull the cord to lock then press the mechanism to unlock and fold up for storage. Setup probably takes less than 60 seconds!

So here is the problem - I met these guys from Australia last fall at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Show. They told me all about their tents and did a demonstration and I walked away with their brochure. Now thier website is not opperative and any google search I try comes up with nothing!

So somewhere out there is a really cool solution for a shower tent if anyone can find them!


Edit -- can't seem to upload the attachment, sorry!

[DaktariEd]

Thanks, Scott!

Excellent work!
I knew I knew I could count on you to be full of...errr...information!


Ed

[Antichrist]

Vince had this cool shower deck in Baja. I need to get one . I was using my spearfishing fins to stand on.

In case anyone is interested it's $10US cheaper here:
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=146577

All these store bought shower enclosures are nice, but, for the more frugal (Cough) Cheap Bastages out there , Like me,

I've been using a cheap bastard shower for quite a few years. A woodpile tarp, which is about 4'x 12' and wrap it around 4 tent poles. Adjusted to the right height, it hides all the naughty bits.

[Corey]

So far after looking here and Googling, I have it narrowed down to three shower tents.

This past week I was up at Mt. Rainier National Park for my vacation with the PETT system.
The tent alone is OK for the toilet, but it sucks for a shower.
There is no floor in it, and dirt was splashing up on me from the ground.
Plus the PETT tent half way blew over a few times due to a poor guyline rope system they use.
I touched on that in my gear review in this section.

So, here are the three I have been looking at that are actually big enough.
The PETT one is also cramped unless you are built like a bean stalk.

Columbia Shoshoni Falls Shower Tent



Cabela's Shower Shelter



Cabela's Fast Set Shower Shelter (HUGE)



Of the three, the smaller Cabela's looks pretty good.
I like the big one too, and it might be worth the trouble to set it up when camping on a vacation for three + days.

[FlyingWen]

We use the Pett Potty system now and I honestly can't imagine camping without it!

(Thanks to our model, Articulate)



While we do have the Pup tent that came with the potty, I do not recommend using it in windy areas. It does come with an anchor system, but figuring it out was somewhat complicated.

We use the Paha Que Privacy Tent, but as mentioned earlier, it is a 2 man job to set up. Once the tent is up however, it is solid and VERY stable!

Bottom line: if you have ladies camping with you or if you are trying to get the Mrs. to camp more often.. I recommend the Pett!

[bat]

I realize the burning of toilet paper needs to be done with caution not to start a fire. In mexico without burning the toilet paper the Coyotes dig that stuff up and poop paper is seen wondering the grounds.