Choosing a portable dry closet

Many lovers of travel and outdoor recreation consider buying dry closets a waste of money. Traditional options for arranging a latrine seem to them much simpler and cheaper. However, tourists with experience have already appreciated all the advantages of hiking structures and use them with great comfort during their travels.

Portable dry closets have become widespread among tourists and outdoor enthusiasts. The principle of operation of such devices is based on the use of chemical and biological reagents for processing feces into a liquid state, neutralizing unpleasant odors and preventing waste pressing. For a long time, portable toilets were used exclusively on yachts and in trailers, as they had impressive dimensions.

Using a camping dry closet on hikes has certain advantages:

• the absence of the need for everyone to look for places hidden from prying eyes in the bushes or under a spreading tree - this is especially important if there are many people of different sexes in the company, there are children and adolescents;
• no need to waste energy digging a septic tank or a hole for a street bathroom, which look ugly and, moreover, emit unpleasant odors;
• all waste is easily and quickly disposed of;
• a large number of people can use the dry closet.

In stores there is a large selection of compact models weighing less than 20 kg. The price of such installations in stores starts from 5 thousand rubles. This is not very expensive at all, especially considering that the life of dry closets is practically unlimited.

A portable dry closet consists of a pair of tanks connected to each other. The faeces collector is located at the bottom, and a seat similar to the standard home version is located at the top. The most advanced products are additionally equipped with liquid level and fill level sensors. Flushing is carried out by means of a hand pump or a pump. To create obstacles to the spread of specific amber, the device has a flap that tightly covers the lower compartment.

To use a dry closet for its main purpose, you need to find a secluded place, install the lower module, pour some water and add a specialized reagent responsible for the rapid decomposition of waste.

The upper tank also needs to be filled with flush fluid, it is advisable to add a little fragrance to it. Both parts are fixed with latches - on this the installation process can be considered complete, the toilet is ready for use.

Once in the lower reservoir, feces come into contact with biochemical reagents and begin to decompose. The drug breaks down all waste products to a liquefied state, deodorizes them. Immediately after this, the gas evolution process stops and only the smell of fragrant aromas comes from the toilet. After filling the reservoir, it must be emptied. To do this, the upper block is disconnected, and the lower one is referred to the disposal site and poured through a small hole. After that, the tank must be rinsed with running water, reinstalled and refilled with filler.

Dry closets for travel differ from household devices in their small size - usually their height is within 40 cm, and their width is no more than 50 cm.

Depending on the disposal option and the type of filler, all models can be divided into three groups:

• peat;
• chemical - can have a liquid or powdery structure;
• no fillers.

Peat mixtures are used to process faecal components into compost mass. Usually, they contain sawdust and crushed tree bark, due to which they acquire a loose structure. The peat mixture absorbs moisture, promotes the rapid decomposition of solid waste, prevents their pressing and eliminates unpleasant odors. After emptying the storage tank, the compost is buried in the ground - this will be a good top dressing for horticultural crops.

Chemical fillers work in a similar way. Like bacteria, they decompose waste to a liquid state and then discard. Odor neutralization is carried out using aromas and fragrances. Such fillers are sold in powder and liquid form, the latter option being the most widespread. The principle of disposal of dry closet waste without filler is based on the use of bags that burn without the release of toxic substances or quickly decompose. These toilets are disposable or foldable.

Based on the criteria for the effectiveness and practicality of dry closets, the following popular designs can be distinguished.

Mister little mini - a small, lightweight and at the same time inexpensive Canadian dry closet

Options:

• storage tank volume - 18 l;
• drain tank - 15 l;
• water drain - hand pump;
• height / width / depth - 35/43/38 cm;
• weight - 5 kg;
• filler - chemical.

The cost of such products starts from 6 thousand rubles.

DTW-01 - Chinese travel option at an affordable price that meets all the main quality criteria.

Options:

• storage volume - 20 l;
• drain tank - 15 l;
• height / width / depth - 41/42/38 cm;
• weight - 4.4 kg;
• maximum load - 200 kg;
• fullness indication;
• filler - chemical.

The cost is 2.5 thousand rubles.

Campingaz Maronum - a convenient and practical French-made dry closet.

Options:

• storage tank - 13 l;
• drain tank - 13 l;
• drain - hand pump;
• height / width / depth - 38/37/32 cm;
• weight - 4.4 kg;
• maximum load - 250 kg;
• filler - chemical.

The cost in stores is about 5 thousand rubles.

Compact WC - dry closet of the Russian company Bionic.

Options:

• storage tank - 10 l;
• drain tank - 12 l;
• drain - manual pump;
• height / width / depth -31/42/37 cm;
• weight - 4.5 kg;
• maximum load - 120 kg;
• filler - chemical.

The cost of a dry closet is about 4.5 thousand rubles.

Duomatic kekkila - peat toilet, can be used with a large crowd of people. Made in Finland.

Options:

• storage tank - two containers of 80 liters each;
• drain tank - 30 l.;
• height / width / depth - 88/78/90 cm;
• filler - peat mixture.

The cost of such a dry closet is 45 thousand rubles.

Before purchasing a dry closet for camping, you should focus on the functional characteristics of the proposed models, such as:

• the size;
• the weight;
• filler type;
• storage tank volume;
• price.

As a travel option, the key criterion will be lightness and compactness. Usually, only the most necessary items are taken on the road, but still a lot of them are recruited. And if you are planning a multi-day hiking trip, then tourists have to carry clothes, dishes, as well as food and necessary equipment - each additional weight can cause significant inconvenience.

Another important point is filler. The chemical reagent is the best for processing faeces, it also eliminates and neutralizes the odor best of all. However, such fillers are expensive. That is why most users prefer woody formulations. They contain only environmentally friendly substances, they do not harm users and the environment. Moreover, in the process of processing faeces, they produce compost, which can be a nutritious fertilizer for plants.

An important criterion is the price, here everyone proceeds solely from their own financial capabilities. The range of prices in stores is great - from 5 to 60 thousand rubles. In stores, you can buy both domestic and imported models (Finnish, American, Swedish, Japanese, Chinese).

Going on a hike, you need to take care of additional accessories for portable toilets.

• If there are kids in the company, you need to buy a special seat for children, it is installed on top of the standard one.
• When using the toilet in a large group, it makes sense to think about personal hygiene. Disposable seat pads do this best.
• If you are traveling in winter or autumn, you can use a special thermal seat. It is made of foam material - sitting on it, you can feel warmth and comfort.
• Tent for road dry closet - lightweight and ergonomic barriers will be much more comfortable than the film fixed on sticks.
• Liquid filler will become an indispensable item in the hike, its quantity is determined by the number of tourists who will use the septic tank on a long hike.
• And of course, the composition for washing will come in handy. It quickly removes all impurities and neutralizes odors, and also disinfects the surface of the mobile dry closet.