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Reliance Products Hassock Portable Lightweight Self-Contained Toilet Review
If all you need is a basic porta-potty to help you manage your bodily functions, this review might help you out. With so many options to choose from, you can really go all out and opt for a unit that flushes and does everything your toilet at home can do. You can also go a step beyond digging your own toilet and get a bucket toilet like the Reliance Products Hassock Portable Lightweight Self-Contained Toilet.
A lot of people actually like to rough it and commune with Mother Nature. Living off the grid, even if it’s just for a few days, is exhilarating and learning experience and a lot who are brave enough to take on the challenge don’t want to “cheat” the adventure by bringing something that is only offered by advanced technologies like a sophisticated portable camping toilet.
However, if you’re also eco-conscious, you’ll know that fresh excrement can be harmful to the environment. The different kinds of gas they release can instantly kill plants in its vicinity and a lot of microorganisms in them may even be fatal to humans when ingested. While you can process different kinds of manure to turn it into compost, you can’t expect that fresh fecal matter is the same.
This makes using a portable camping toilet a more responsible option for some. As these products won’t directly expose other living creatures to toxic waste, they can be great additional equipment for camping and other outdoor activities.
Reliance has come out with several simple and affordable toilet products, if you want the easiest bucket toilet for off-grid solutions, they sell this clever Portable Snap-on Toilet Seat that snaps directly onto any standard 5-gallon plastic bucket.
Here’s a short unboxing video if you want to see a close-up of the Reliance Portable Toilet:
What is the Reliance Products Hassock Portable Lightweight Self-Contained Toilet?
Offering a quick solution for when you need instant access to a commode wherever you are, the Reliance Products Hassock Portable Lightweight Self-Contained Toilet is a bucket toilet that you can take with you anywhere. It’s called a self-contained toilet because it comes with an outer shell for the bucket where you do your business, providing an additional barrier between you and the toxic waste.
Comprising a lid, toilet seat, an additional lid that also doubles as a toilet paper holder, a pail with handle, and an outer bucket, this Reliance Products item is a step up from most basic and DIY bucket toilets; it has a more sophisticated design that makes sure it has everything you need for a portable camping toilet.
With its large size, it’s certainly an easy pick for those who don’t want to squat low to the ground. The risk of losing your balance on top of something really dirty isn’t exactly a part of the thrill you’ll look forward to when camping, so this product’s size is an attractive point to many.
It’s also more comfortable than other portable toilets. With its higher clearance, you don’t have to be too low on the ground which can strain your legs. It also has a nice toilet seat so you don’t have to sit on a pail rim that can dig into your skin.
The biggest setback of bucket toilets, however, is the fact that they don’t necessarily stash the waste away. If you don’t empty your bucket right away, it will definitely smell. This is why the Hassock toilet has two lids so it can effectively seal off the smell in case you can’t discard its content right away.
You can also easily use waste bags for easier cleanup. Reliance also has its own range of waste bags, so there are choices that you can use with the Hassock toilet. Most of these are already pre-treated so you don’t have to worry about how sanitary your waste storage can be.
You can also use gelling substances that can eliminate odor and sanitize the waste to some degree. Be careful which additive you get, especially if you want to save your human waste for composting.
Toilet Features
Contoured seat
To make your trips to your portable bathroom a lot more comfortable and similar to your porcelain throne at home, the Hassock Toilet comes with a contoured seat where you can comfortably park your bottom.
Removable inner bucket with handle
For easier and more hygienic cleanups, this product also comes with an inner bucket with a handle. This is where you place your waste bag so the refuse won’t have to touch the pail and make cleanups harder. You can lug it around with the help of the handle and avoid coming in contact with the waste. It’s also made of very durable plastic, guaranteeing that it will hold up under the users’ weight and their waste.
Toilet paper holder inner splash cover
Adding more protection against splashes and spills is the inner cover. It also doubles as the toilet paper holder for your camping toilet paper, making sure you always have somewhere to conveniently put your cleanup tool.
Secure, easy to remove the outer lid
As the waste isn’t exactly always stashed away in a separate compartment, it’s important that you don’t have to struggle in opening the toilet’s lid so there won’t be any chance of spills or splashes. With the Hassock toilet’s easy-to-remove outer lid, you won’t have to worry about such accidents.
Sturdy outer bucket
Completing the list is the sturdy and durable outer bucket that provides the stability this product needs to handle the user’s weight and provide comfort. This item can actually carry up to 275 lbs., making it a great choice for a lot of outdoor enthusiasts.
Pros
- 275 lbs. max weight capacity
- Very affordable
- Fuss-free
- Comfortable to use
- Higher seat height
- Very easy to use
- Lightweight
- Great as an emergency toilet
Cons
- Can have odor problems
- Can attract insects
Conclusion
While people have mixed opinions about using refined bucket toilets, Reliance Products’ Hassock Toilet is certainly one of the better options if you want a quick and simple way to relieve yourself when indoor plumbing is unavailable. It’s sturdy, affordable, and gets the job done. Cleanup difficulty depends on how you intend to use your unit, though, so you can either rough it out or use a few extras to make your adventure more hygienic.
It offers full control of how you want to go about this aspect of your outdoor trips, so it will always be a great choice for those who love to commune with Mother Nature. If you still are not sure and want to continue researching check out all our top picks for best portable camping toilets here.