Between work and travel, I’ve found myself on several occasions in need of and testing female urination devices! I don’t know if I have a small bladder or if my sense of timing is just horrid…actually it’s probably both.

Either way, it’s not uncommon I find myself poppin’ a squat somewhere “in the wild” because a toilet isn’t available.  Thus the start of searching the interwebs for female urination devices!

Though I had my occasional inconveniences, the moment of searching really began in 2015 when the government shut down. I had a bit of free time and was in Washington state, so I decided to go for a road trip to visit a couple national parks and friends in Oregon.

In The Beginning…

Fun fact: when the government shuts down, the National Parks will lock their bathrooms. No one is there to man them, after all, or pump them or restock toilet paper.

I had no idea. But now you know, just in case there’s another shut down.

My first urination device was a Go Girl, courtesy of the shut down debacle. But with the road trip done, I hadn’t used it – I had forgotten it when I needed it, or didn’t need it when I actually had it.

Jump forward to 2022. I was working on commercial fishing boats out of Hawaii, and most of these boats don’t have toilets or bathrooms. While a bucket usually sufficed, a urination device would be a GAME CHANGER.

Thankfully, I had my GoGirl with me. But I found that it actually wasn’t a good fit for me (details below).

So then I bought both a Tinkle Belle and a PP-Aid. They’re two totally different products, but by golly I wanted something that would work!

Without further ado, here are my thoughts on these three products…

The GoGirl

GoGirl may be one of the more popular brands of female urination devices out there. It was the first brand I had come across when shopping for a device, partly because it was at REI and partly because I didn’t know there were options.

This device is a silicone funnel that folds up small into a portable tube. It also has a small baggie you can put it in once you’ve used it and it needs cleaned. It works by creating a seal between the device and your anatomy.

The bugger is, I rarely ever could get a proper seal. Perhaps this was user error, but I really tried! I was on a boat and getting super tired of putting on my rain boots, walking down a slick and narrow path by the rail, and using a bucket every single time I had to pee. Which is often. But try as I might, it was like a trust fall every time I had to pee…and most the time I leaked. I couldn’t figure out what I was doing differently between when it worked and when it didn’t, so I couldn’t trust that no leaks would occur.

This was the smallest funnel I used, and discreet in that sense. The plastic tube it came it is meant for storage. However, I had a hard time folding it up just so that the funnel fit well each time. And because the funnel bulged against the plastic, the tube became a bit warped over time. So you may consider getting another small pouch or something you can wash for transport once the tube gives out.

The Tinkle Belle

This is the device that ended up being my go-to!

The Tinkle Belle is definitely not as small and compact as the GoGirl. However, it does come in a cute case that’s very discreet and still small for transport. It’s a longer device, and you fold the flexible tip back in order to fit in the case. The website warns that long-term storage with it in the case may lead to a “memory” effect and you’ll have to work with the tip to make it proper again. So far, I haven’t had an issue with this.

The Tinkle Belle doesn’t rely on suction or a seal to work. It may take you a couple times to get comfortable with where the back edge should so your urethra is lined up with the device’s trough. After my failed attempts with the GoGirl, I was a bit gun-shy, so I practiced in the shower before boarding my next boat. (Hey, if I’m gonna leak, I want to be able to clean up right away!) Fortunately after one or two tries, I felt pretty good about it.

I noticed as long as I kept my legs together and leaned forward, I didn’t have trouble with leaking.

There’s a lip on the back of the trough, so you can basically use that to catch any drips and thus avoid using toilet paper if you want. (Especially handy if you’re in nature… or trying to balance on a boat and need one hand on the railing and one on your Tinkle Belle!)

Though considerably more expensive than the other two items I describe here (see chart below), this was the product I was most comfortable with by far.

The Tinkle Belle funnel and it’s reusable travel pouch. How cute is the pouch?!

PP-Aid

This product is more like a small pitcher than a discreet female urination device. I bought it at the same time as The Tinkle Belle, thinking I wanted something that was completely different in case Tinkle Belle also didn’t work out for me. (I was leaving for a boat soon and wouldn’t have time for another purchase.)

PP-Aid seems to be geared more towards those who are bed-ridden or want a nighttime option, like for those who are pregnant or have less mobility.

I wouldn’t recommend this product as much on a boat seeing as there’s plenty of room for sloshing. But seeing as most of you will be using this on a sturdy surface, you’ll be fine.

Its wide mouth means you don’t have to practice using the PP-Aid in the shower before you use it elsewhere. However, you may want to practice with it if you use it sitting down. They boast on their Amazon page that this female urination device can be used while sitting in traffic or on the edge of the bed. I actually keep it in my car in case just such a traffic incident should occur. But it’s larger size means it could be more cumbersome depending on your clothing.

It’s perfect for camping, though! I took this on my last camping trip as a sort of chamber pot. I could keep it outside my tent and do my business, then pour it in the bushes or deal with it in the morning. The bathrooms were a half-mile trek (or more) down the lane. Not ideal at 2am. And my PP-Aid meant I didn’t have to squat by the bushes or use my Tinkle Belle blindly in the dark.

The PP-Aid also has a lip so you don’t have to use toilet paper. But the couple times I used it, I didn’t find it quite as effective at getting the drips, and still preferred a square or two.

The PP Aid. Obviously it’s pretty bulky, but darn handy when camping!

Final Thoughts on these Female Urination Devices

Ultimately what female urination devices you prefer are whatever works best for you. Some swear by the GoGirl, whereas others prefer something more like the Tinkle Belle. And depending on your situation, maybe the PP-Aid is more your jam. As with most products, I highly recommend reading reviews if you’re concerned about the device being a good fit for you.

There are several other devices out on the market that I haven’t tried yet. If you have used them, I’d love to hear your opinions in the comments!

And for comparison purposes, here’s a chart with key features for the three devices:

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