If you’d rather avoid public restrooms, a stand-up urination device can help you “go” on the go. Here are our picks for the best pee funnels, from disposable options to ultra-portable devices you can stow away in your bag.
If you’d rather not venture into a public restroom right now, you’re not alone. What’s more, your fears are valid: Flushing toilets and airborne particles are genuine Covid-19 risk factors.
Still, we all gotta go, and stand-up urination devices — also known as pee funnels — are a useful way to increase the number of places people with vulvas can pee in relative peace and safety. (For No. 2 needs, please see our guide to portable toilets.)
The best stand-up urination devices are designed to be placed inside the fly of your pants, which means you won’t have to get nude from the waist down to pee. Then urine flows through the funnel and out the open end, either into a toilet or onto the ground. Some funnels even have a squeegee-esque larger end, which can be used to squeeze excess urine from the vulva and (hopefully) negate the need for toilet paper.
What makes a good pee funnel?
When looking for a stand-up urination device, it’s smart to prioritize fit, ease of use, and packability. You want your funnel to fit securely on the vulva, so that urine doesn’t leak from the opening onto your clothes. Beginners may also want a funnel with a wider opening, which makes situating the device a bit easier, or a hard plastic funnel, which is less likely to slip and cave in than a funnel made of silicone.
Ultra-packable or foldable funnels add extra convenience, particularly for hiking and camping. (All the options on this list should fit easily in a backpack or tote, though, even if they’re not ultra-compact.)
Won’t it leak?
Not if you use it correctly! We get that peeing into a tube seems like a recipe for disaster. But we’ve taken care to select devices that reviewers find secure.
Using a stand-up urination device does take some practice, though, which is why we recommend practicing in the privacy of your own bathroom before you take your funnel out into the world. This can be either in front of your own toilet — take care where you’re aiming! — or, more conveniently, in the shower. And no, practicing is not weird. Think of it as your dramatic training montage before the big event.
It seems like these things have a lot of names.
It’s true! Stand-up urination devices are also called urine funnels, pee funnels, feminine urinary aids, and female urination devices (which is often abbreviated to FUD). Google any of these terms and you’ll likely find content about the same set of products.
In this guide, we refer to the category using gender-inclusive terms (“stand-up urination device,” “pee funnel”) because people of all genders will find these products useful. However, please know that several companies who sell them fail to use inclusive language and imagery in their marketing.
Here are our picks for the best pee funnels.
1. pStyle Reusable Pee Funnel
The pStyle wins for its low price, ease of use, comfort, and resistance to leaks.-
Material:
Plastic (BPA-free polypropylene) -
Dishwasher safe:
Yes
Here’s a helpful excerpt from one glowing review on Amazon:
“Right out of the box I loved it!! I did a lot of research before deciding on which urinary directory to get. I wanted something that would be discreet, easy to use, easy to clean, and wouldn’t make a mess. The pStyle does it all! Its made of one solid piece of plastic, which makes cleaning it as easy as simply rinsing it in a stream or sink. It has a very well designed shape; I have’t had any problems with splashing or overfilling, the pee shoots out pretty far too. Very easy to use; you just unzip your fly, pull your underwear to the side, then lean forward with your hips, in order to direct the pee down, and FIRMLY press the back edge of the pStyle against the area between your vagina and anus.”
The company advises carrying the pStyle in a breathable, machine-washable case for hygiene reasons. Its own pCase, which is sold separately, is sold out on Amazon, but is available on the pStyle website, albeit in limited supply. (You can also just use another bag.)
Like the pStyle, the Freshette urinary aid is a funnel-style device, but it has a few key features that set it apart. For one thing, the Freshette’s tubing (that is, the funnel part) retracts, making it slightly easier to transport and store than the pStyle. Several reviewers also say it’s easier to aim than the pStyle — likely because its tubing is narrower and points downward at a slightly more severe angle. It also, helpfully, comes with a carrying case.
However, the Freshette also has a few issues the pStyle doesn’t have. Some reviewers say it’s difficult to position correctly, but this is a con easily remedied with practice. (Like we said, practice in the shower!) A few reviewers also said that because you have to tilt the device backward to remove it from your pants, you risk spillage from the back. Still, such a snafu can be avoided by giving the Freshette a few test runs before taking it on the road.
Reviewers appreciate how easy these are to use. “I went on a work trip that places me in field-type conditions,” writes one Amazon reviewer. “I install cell phone antennas and some of our sites are very remote, where there is no bathroom in sight, just a porta-john. I used the pee buddy the entire two weeks I was out in the field and loved the fact that all I had to do was use it, and toss it in the blue stuff. Definitely saved me from UTIs for sure.”
The PeeBuddy is remarkably easy to transport, largely because it arrives flat. (You’ll pop it open to use.) It’s also easy to get rid of, though if you’re going the recycling route, be sure to rinse the funnel off first. A few reviewers also said that when they used their PeeBuddys while camping, they tossed them right into the campfire. Very dramatic!
4. Pibella Travel
This little tube looks daunting, but reviewers say it’s actually quite precise and discreet.-
Material:
Plastic (polypropylene) -
Dishwasher safe:
Yes
“This truly is amazing. We hike several times a week. Just spent 7 days in Glacier National Park. It’s amazes me every time I use it! It’s quick, no mess and my behind is not out and exposed (no mosquito bites there either). Advice: Practice for a while first. I used it in the shower with no clothes and I’m glad I did. The second time was no problem so next I wore pants in shower (glad I did) so I practiced a few more times in shower dressed, then practice standing at toilet. (My husband was laughing and amazed too) It’s perfect once you get a feel for your own anatomy.”
Other perks: The Pibella Travel is fully recyclable and can be washed in the dishwasher or boiled in a pot.
5. Sunany Silicone Funnel
If you’re looking for something softer (and more packable), try a silicone funnel.-
Material:
Silicone -
Dishwasher safe:
No
A silicone pee funnel is softer than a hard plastic one, so it’ll probably be more comfortable to use. That said, it can be much more difficult for a silicone funnel to achieve a tight seal against the skin. This well-reviewed option seems to work well, though — very few reviewers reported leaks or spillage.
In particular, reviewers appreciate how easy it is to pack (it folds up very small) and how big the cup is. Very few people reported leaks or spillage. The funnel also comes with its own carrying case, which one reviewer said is large enough to also hold a small packet of wipes or a tiny bottle of hand sanitizer.
One small disadvantage: You can’t stick this funnel in the dishwasher like some of the other options on this list. It’s still pretty easy to clean, though. Hot water and a gentle soap should do the trick.
“As a woman BSA leader, mom and avid kayaker and camper the Tink[le] Belle works flawlessly while standing, squatting and even sitting,” writes one Amazon user. “The best part is I am able to slide [it] through my open zipper, align it up to my body and go.” She says she’s even been able to use the Tinkle Belle on a kayak, paired with a portable urinal.
All in all, the Tinkle Belle is quite similar to the pStyle, though it is a bit longer (and, conveniently, comes with its own carrying case). However, it lacks the gender-inclusive branding that helps make the pStyle our number one pick — a problem that several brands on this list could stand to work on.