Testing 15 Pee Funnels: A Wild Ride

When people learn about this site, I get a lot of questions about testing the devices. While the results of my research are documented all over the site, the actual process itself doesn’t get much description. Based on questions people have asked me, here’s what it was like to test 15 pee funnels. Special thanks to my sister-in-law, who helped me compile the questions!

What was the set-up?

I tested all 15 devices in my backyard in the California summer, and later at my toilet. When I first started using pee funnels, I practiced naked, out by the woodpile. I have a very private backyard. As I got more confident, I tested the devices in different kinds of clothing. (See Clothing.)

I drank SO MUCH GATORADE. It was the summer of deep hydration. I also drank tea, coffee, Diet Coke, and of course water. It was often frustrating having to wait until I needed to pee! If something went wrong, I couldn’t re-test right away. I had to pound more Gatorade and bide my time.

How much did it cost?

It cost $227 for all 15 devices. That does not include the cases I bought for those that did not come with a case. It ALSO does not include the aforementioned Gatorade!

How many times did you pee on yourself?

So many times. I lost count. Pibella, SheWee, GoGirl: looking at you.

I really tried to make each one work, and I succeeded at least once with each device. But the thing about a pee funnel is that you have to be 100% confident it will work every time. I’m not carrying around a device that has even a 10% chance of getting pee all over me.

Do you have any unique challenges?

My hands are not steady. They shake a little. I was very curious to see if this made using a pee funnel difficult or impossible, but it didn’t!

I’m also hopelessly uncoordinated. I was afraid there would be some awkward balancing act or that I’d have difficulty maneuvering. But it was pleasantly straightforward!

I’m making myself sound like a hot mess, which is not inaccurate. Honestly if I can do it, anyone can!

What was the funniest thing that happened while you were practicing?

My neighbor across the back fence was training her dog at the same time as I was learning to use a pee funnel. Often I’d pee in my backyard and hear her yelling, “No! NO!” That was disconcerting. Especially because I couldn’t hear the dog. I assume it was a dog! That could be have been an iguana for all I know.

One time recently I peed in my backyard and I heard her say sweetly, “Good girl for going potty.” That was even more unsettling!

It did occur to me that if the neighbors heard me, they would think it was my husband. He said he’d rat me out if they complained. Chivalry is dead.

What was the biggest disappointment?

Women’s clothing and its lack of zippers! I am a dress-wearer, and when I hike I wear leggings with front-to-back zippers, so I was unprepared for how annoying it was to test stand-to-pee devices in regular leggings. Pants with zippers, like jeans or cargo pants, that’s fine, it’s just another thing to learn how to do. But leggings are a pain.

It’s my sincere hope that women’s outdoors clothing manufacturers come to accommodate pee funnels. Right now, a lot of women’s outdoor brands sell clothing that means women (or trans men) would have to partially undress to pee. This includes cold weather clothing. Why?

What surprised you?

How much I would care about appearance. I had heard that for trans men, it can be really frustrating to have a bright pink stand-to-pee device. I had the opposite effect. I wanted mine to look pretty, not just utilitarian. I wanted cool colors, and a cool matching case!

What was it like to use a pee funnel on your period?

Very cool. You just see a straight stream of blood at first! It’s so metal!

You mention your husband. What did he think of all this?

I asked him that. He said he thought to himself, “Well, that’s Maz and her obsessive projects. Sometimes it’s artwork. Sometimes it’s pissing outside.” He was profoundly disinterested, but not unsupportive.

Ever have a pissing contest?

Hahaha no, I would lose. You don’t get the same projection from a pee funnel as someone with a penis would have.

However, I kind of had a pissing contest with myself when I tested projection. I was in the back yard, and I marked how far I could pee with twigs. That was fun!

What did you learn from telling people about this project?

People either IMMEDIATELY see the point or they don’t. I have now said out loud, multiple times, the sentence, “I’m testing stand-to-pee devices and I’m making a website with my results.” And you either get, “Wow, what a cool project!” or a polite, uncomfortable smile, sometimes accompanied by a “Why?”

There’s also a sizable group of cis women who like the idea of peeing standing up in the abstract, like “Oh, that would be handy,” but who either have no immediate reason to learn or who are afraid of the learning process. If you don’t need to use a pee funnel, then I get not learning, but if it would help and you’re nervous to try—that’s why I made this website. To normalize.

Do you prefer to pee standing up now?

Honestly, only outdoors. I don’t like peeing in toilets much. It’s loud and there’s sometimes a little backsplash.

But outside? Oh my goodness yes. It’s so fun.

Can you do it one-handed?

I can in a little dress. Not if I need to hold fabric out of the way, like in a long dress or jeans! I do know some people can do it one-handed in jeans though.

Do you ever name the devices?

You know, I did at first. My husband teased me for that. He says that men make fun of other men who name their dicks. I said this was totally different! I had a pStyle called “Lady Emma Hamilton,” after Lord Nelson’s mistress. I called my first Sunany “Pink Peter.” But then I got so many it was easier just to say “the SheWee” or “the Freshette” or what have you.

Come clean. Which one do you actually use?

I am wary of endorsing any one particular kind of pee funnel because it’s such a highly personal choice. But what do I, Maz, use? I use a pStyle or a Freshette. Both models have a lot in their favor, and at the end of the day, they are easy and reliable.

When I give new people a stand-to-pee device, I always give them a pStyle. It’s cheap, they can have fun choosing the color, and it is the easiest to use. It’s what I wish my first experience was.

When you started testing pee funnels, did you know you’d be as invested as you are?

No! In the beginning, I figured I’d make a funny write-up for my friends and maybe I’d find one that worked okay. But in my heart, I believed that it would be a messy hassle that only worked so-so. It was a lark.

But then it clicked. It worked. And when I realized women could pee standing up so easily, I was like, I’m gonna tell everybody! Not only women use pee funnels, but I do think women specifically are told that it’s a huge difficult thing to pee without a toilet.

I now know that it doesn’t have to be hard, and that’s why I’m spreading the word. But I do think it’s a little concerning how entrenched this belief is, the belief that some people are just TIED to bathrooms, when there are good options available. Women, trans people, nonbinary people, people with disabilities, and some cis men—all of us deserve a way to pee easily and with dignity.

Thank you to everyone helping me get the word out there!

Share your story at gostandingup@gmail.com, or see Share Your Story for more details.

Rescuer, Nurse, Sailor, Firefighter, Backpacker: Two Unstoppable Women!

Rebecca left nursing full time to live on a sailboat! She continued nursing as a contract nurse until 2021, when she sailed on an adventure to the Bahamas. On her return, she opened a canvas shop, Off Season Canvas. She is a cave-rescuer as well as a sailor.

Mel has been a firefighter and an educator for fire services. She also does cave rescue. She has worked with many manufacturers for equipment and goods, as well as making them herself. Using her artistic background and sense of humor, Mel runs a small gear business with a playful vibe, Melgarita. Her portions are in italics.

Both are devoted pStyle users, and they shared their experiences with me!

How did you guys start using the pStyle? Have you tried other devices?

Rebecca:

I started doing recreational caving and outdoor activities in college. I got involved with cave rescue with Mel shortly after graduating. I’ve been involved in the rescue world and I’ve worked in very austere environments for a long time.

I never wanted to try a device because I was gonna squat in the woods and pee like a girl! I have no issue with being a girl, and that was just part of it, and I was gonna embrace that… until I had a friend, named Saj, who wrote a three page article about pee funnels for the National Speleological Society. And if she could write a three page article in a magazine that gets shipped internationally, I could try it. So I tried the one she recommended, a pStyle, and have since tried a few others—and she was right. The pStyle, the hard, trough design, is definitely the way to go.

Mel:

I knew to be cognizant of the environment. Using the bathroom in a cave is not smart. [Note: human waste can disrupt the ecosystem of caves.] For a lot of trips, I had the luck to be near an entrance where I could go outside, but when I started to do 24-hour long underground trips that wasn’t a possibility anymore.

My first attempt to pee in a large-mouth bottle was a catastrophe! So I was like, okay, which pee funnel are y’all using? Because I knew Saj and Rebecca and others in the circle were using them—I knew them as female urinary devices. FUDs. I asked, which one are you using? And they were all like, pStyle! Hands down. [For more on terminology: What is a Pee Funnel?]

But I feel like I started to use it so much more when I started doing a lot of backpacking. I have been doing section hikes on the Colorado Trail. And I have MS, so I always have my trekking poles, and often when I would squat to pee, it would be difficult to stand back up. Especially on sloped surfaces. So I started using the pStyle for multiple days of backpacking! And it was fantastic.

Here in Colorado, we have a lot of sections of the trail that are above tree line, so you have noooo privacy. And if you go and wander off trail on a fourteener, people will follow you! And you’re like, “I’m just looking for a place to pee!” There’s no place to hide. So I started carrying it for that reason. You can just turn your back!  

Rebecca:

And that was another benefit and a place where I didn’t know I would really enjoy having it.

It’s also a safety thing. Sailing, especially overnight passage to the Bahamas—you’re crossing very big waters. And falling off the boat is a risk, as is walking below from the cockpit, where the helm station is, down into the boat, to the head [restroom]. You risk falling, and if it’s dark and there’s a rough sea, it can be a very nauseating experience. Being able to go in the cockpit is fantastic.

So it’s a safety issue, it’s a convenience issue. And privacy! If it’s not dark, and there are a bunch of other boats around you… and sometimes, waste-management-wise, it’s just easier.  

What was it like the first time you used it?

Mel:

The first time I used it, I got great advice: strip everything down and get in the shower. You’re gonna take a shower; if you misfire, it’s okay! And I was pleasantly surprised! I was like, “Oh! This is not gonna be hard at all.”

The hardest part of it was actually relaxing enough to pee while standing up. Right? As someone who has all my life peed while on a toilet or squatting, it ain’t natural to relax enough when you’re in that standing position. I’d say the first time I used it, I stood there forever! And I was like, “I know I gotta go! I gotta go. Why can’t I? It’s okay! Relax!” You’re just kind of playing that mental game. And finally it was like, “Woo-hoo! Fire!”

Rebecca:

I will say that the first time I used it in the toilet as practice, my husband walked around the corner, and I had not closed the door, and he was like “Oh God!!!” Apparently he was not expecting to see me standing up to pee. You should warn your spouse.

I’m not good at peeing in toilets, standing up. I don’t know what it is. I feel like I get splash-back every time, and my husband is like, “You gotta angle it!” And I’m like [scared sound].

Rebecca:

You gotta go for the bounce shot.

Mel:

I’ve used mine in a lot of places, but never to pee in a toilet!

Rebecca:

It’s a different experience, and worth practicing if that’s something you anticipate doing, for sure! When you’re in a NASTY bathroom, and you need to go, and you don’t want to touch the doorknob much less anything once you get inside the bathroom, it’s really nice not to have to touch anything but your own pants.

I would much rather use my pStyle in a gross restroom than try the hover! No. Cover the seat in toilet paper? Nah. Just wipe it off and sit? No! The pStyle every time! I keep one in both my vehicles.

So I understand that you two have done some education about stand-to-pee devices! What is it like talking to other people about pee funnels?

Rebecca:

I’ve been a nurse for a very long time, and I worked in rope access, and the rope rescue world, so I very easily talk about all sorts of uncomfortable things with all sorts of people! And as a pretty under-represented gender in many of the avenues that both Mel and I are in, the girls are pretty tight. It makes it pretty easy to talk!

And in those environments, bathroom humor and discussion about body functions comes up more than you would imagine. Also with sailors. It’s pretty easy to converse about.

Mel:

We just did a seminar in Texas, where we had an evening that was an open discussion—typically rescue-based topics, but there were all kinds, focused toward folks that were doing cave-rescue training. And Rebecca and I did a talk, just a five to ten minute gab on how to pee standing up. It was a big co-ed group, and it was very fun! It was very educational, and people loved it. They said we ended up doing a stand-up comedy act! In mixed company right! We weren’t gonna get too serious on stuff, but we were very specific on things too.

I remember Rebecca said, that’s gonna be our gab, who here’s interested to hear more? Tons of hands went up. And she said, how many people have questions so far? And five hands went up and they were all guys. They were asking serious questions. We did have some gals come up to us later to ask some more specific details. It was a very fun and very entertaining session. It was awesome to talk about pee funnels, and be advocates!

Rebecca:

And if you approach it with a little bit of humor and humility, it breaks down those barriers. And the more you talk about it, the easier it IS to talk about.

Was there ever a time when you were like, “Oh God, I’m so glad I have my pStyle?” When are you most grateful for it?

Rebecca:

When I was caught in Atlanta traffic for three and half hours. I was pretty much parked. There were people throwing a football back and forth on the interstate. And I thought, “This is HORRIBLE. I’m not gonna make it.” And then I thought, “Ah! My cave gear is in the back!” I got out of my vehicle, went to the back, opened my cave gear, got my pStyle, got my blanket out of the backseat, and went back to the front of the vehicle.

 And you know how nursing mothers will sort of cover up their top end and nurse their baby? I covered up my bottom end and peed in a bottle, right there, kneeling on my floorboard. It was that or pee in my seat. Pee was gonna happen. And I was glad I got to choose where it went.

Mel:

The first time I was there, giggling maniacally as I was using my pStyle, was in a tent at night and it was pouring down rain. Just a downpour where no one wants to have to get up and go in that. So I was like,” I have two vestibules, this one’s downhill, I’m going!” So I unzipped and I just got on my knees. I used my pStyle and I stayed dry and cozy and warm the whole time. And I was like “hehehehe,” laughing enough that my stepdaughter was like, “Mel, what are you laughing at over there?” So that was like: SUCCESS.

Rebecca:

[Leans forward] I understand what the men were so excited about. It’s very liberating. And it helps level the playing field.

Mel:

For me, squatting down and staying there for a while, and then getting back up, in ANY sort of graceful manner, is not the best. And boy! Not having that moment where you gotta unclip everything, get it all off, get down to your skivvies in order to pee—it’s been great! I literally made a holster that’s on the side of my waist-belt, so I can just pull the pStyle out, unclip my belt without taking off my pack, and do my business, and keep walking. It literally saves time, like more than just a few minutes, when you’re hiking throughout the day. It can make a difference of a half mile or a mile by the end of the day.

Rebecca:

Mel’s holster is so awesome that she sells them in her shop. Because all of us want one! [Available here.] She just whips it out like one of the boys. [Laughs]

What would you say to someone who was afraid to try a pee funnel?

Rebecca:

It hasn’t bitten anyone that I know of.

But understanding why they’re anxious to try it is the bigger question to me. “What about it makes you anxious?” I think it’s really individual how you’d come back after someone answers that question.

It’s not an expensive device. [The pStyle is $11.99.] If you try it in the shower, like I started and like Mel started, and many, many people have tried on our recommendation, you don’t really have a lot to lose. If people still have reservations, I’d ask why.

Mel:

Yeah, I think “why” would be my question too. If they’re concerned about it being messy, we can talk about ways to mitigate that; if they’re a first-time user, the shower is a great thing; if they’re concerned about what someone may see if they’re in a public bathroom, we can have discussions about all of that. I feel like if YOU don’t get too anxious about it, it can be a great conversation to ease someone’s real concern.

Rebecca:

I have had one little girl in a public restroom say, “Mom, someone there’s standing up to pee!” And I chuckled and thought, “Well, that’s a fun explanation for Mom to come up with.” [Laughs] I have no idea what she said.

What do you think would help get pee funnels normalized?

Mel:

Well, I’m about to do a little convention show, and I’ve decided to make a really large papier-mache pStyle and have it hanging in my booth, and have some of the holsters available to sell! I know there’s gonna be all sorts of questions from all sorts of people, and I am no stranger to that. I have no problem telling whomever all about it.

Rebecca:

When people are hesitant to try a pee funnel, and then they try it—it’s hard to keep them quiet when they realize what a game changer it is! So we people who are pretty outspoken, I think we’re all doing our part within our different communities to spread the word.

I have friends who are living in communal environments, such as shelters, places where they don’t have as much privacy—I’ve given a couple away for that reason. People who are unhoused are looking for safe places to go and ways to maintain their dignity. I think the more we talk with shelters and places that serve those populations, the more we can get them into those communities. I really want to help people maintain their dignity. I think a pee funnel does a lot for that.

Is there anything you’d like to share that I haven’t asked you?

Rebecca:

On the side of nursing and public health, I’ve talked to a urologist or two, and they say that when women stand up to pee multiple times a day, for days at a time, it can actually weaken the pelvic floor and create urgency to pee. So it’s important to keep your pelvic health in mind and do good Kegel exercises. Don’t use a pee funnel just because you have it; use it because you’re not around a toilet. I know not only from talking to a urologist, but also from personal experience! [Laughs]

Mel:

What else? If you’re ever in a situation where there’s snow around, that is fun! Let me tell you. First time I came across snow, I was like, I’m going even though I don’t need to, because I need to see if I can write my name. And that was highly entertaining. [Want to write your name in the snow? See the Outdoors section.]

Rebecca:

I will say the two unhoused women I gifted pStyles to were very appreciative and grateful. I haven’t had a chance to talk to my local shelter yet, but I’m going to seminary soon and I’ll be talking about that there a lot. I think it is an avenue where we can reach out, build some bridges, and give people their dignity back.

Thanks Rebecca and Mel! You can learn more about the pStyle at thepstyle.com or see my take in Pee Funnel Reviews or What’s the Best Pee Funnel? Want to share your story? gostandingup@gmail.com or learn more at Share Your Story!

Looking and Not Looking: One Trans Guy on Safety in Public Bathrooms

George is a trans man whom I’ve known for over 20 years and he’s awesome! He is involved in trans discourse and is also a psychotherapist. George helped me keep the language on this site inclusive. The trans community is referenced multiple times on this site, usually in the context of gender affirmation, but the very real subject of safety is not deeply explored. I talked to George about what it’s like to be a trans guy using public restrooms and how safety concerns can impact that experience.

First question [laughs]. Do you use a stand-to-pee device? Why or why not?

I don’t stand to pee. It never actually occurred to me as something I wanted to do! [Laughs] If I can be sitting while doing something, that’s the option I’m going to choose!

Part of the reason I don’t stand to pee is that people expect that to be important to me. [Laughs] And I’m very contrarian. So I’m like, if you want me to do this thing, I’m not gonna do it. [Laughs] If this is what you expect of me, no.

What has your personal experience of using public bathrooms as a trans guy been like?

Our culture gives us contradictory messages about “looking” and “not looking.” Women’s spaces are to be protected, but cis men will joke about spying on women to bolster masculinity.

In the men’s restroom, there’s no privacy—as if it shouldn’t matter if men have privacy. But what privacy there is, is socially guarded very fiercely. It’s just not materially protected.

I want privacy, and I want to respect others’ privacy, but these contradictions make it difficult to navigate these spaces.

In men’s bathrooms, if there’s a line, you don’t communicate, even to coordinate. And times when I’ve been looking for a stall and trying to figure out if a stall is empty, it’s pretty nerve-wracking. Because in a way, I’m looking in. I’m looking under to see if I see feet, and I can feel cis men’s eyes on me, like—what are you doing?

 There have been times when I’ve been waiting in line for a stall, and there’s been an empty stall and it just hasn’t been acknowledged! And eventually I figure it out and I’m like, Goddammit. [Laughs] I’ve been waiting in line, but because we can’t communicate with each other here, I didn’t know there’s an empty stall.

And, you know, I pass now, but I still have a lot of anxiety. It can be anxiety-provoking when I’m waiting for a stall or when I’m peeing in a stall. I wait for someone to make a lot of noise sometimes, if it doesn’t feel like a safe place to be.

Have you ever been made to feel out of place?

I was once in a place where there were a lot of trans people around, but also a lot of fairly conservative people around. I was stepping into the men’s bathroom, and this man looked at me, looked at the men’s bathroom sign, looked at me again, and smirked, and kept looking at me and the sign back and forth. It was more like a mocking than a threat.

Or another time, I was in a gay bar that didn’t have a women’s restroom, and didn’t have toilets, it simply had a bathtub where you were going to pee. So I just had to hold it and I remember saying to someone, “What happens if someone needs to poop?” And he looked at me totally aghast, like “Why would you do that? Why would you do that in this space?”

 So. Some gay cis men can be very exclusionary, and that was one of those spaces, and I didn’t realize it before I tried to go to the bathroom! [Laughs] I mean, I did realize it was exclusionary—but I didn’t realize how much the bathroom would be used to exclude… both people with vulvas and people with IBS [laughs].

We’re talking a lot about gender. How do you think about gender?

I’m coming from a perspective that gender is something that we create moment by moment—I’m speaking to gender performativity here. It’s not a masquerade, but it is a dance. A lot of people really want to pin down the right steps they need to do or else they’re not doing the right dance and they’re not who they say they are.

And I think that’s all really bogus and people need to learn to express themselves based on what feels good in their body. And when what feels good in their body comes up against social expectations, to allow themselves to be critical of those social expectations.

There’s a lot of things we say about gender as a matter of course. Like we say men don’t sit to pee. Men can sit to pee. And there’s a lot there around virility, ability, power—being able to direct your flow. Rather than a sense of it goes where it goes. I think a lot of men, trans and cis, feel this external and internal pressure to be in power. And that’s just f*cking exhausting.

In a general sense, how do trans men have their masculinity policed or threatened?

There’s an idea that cis women must be protected from trans women by cis men—this bolsters the hegemonic masculinity and femininity and the separation of the two. Because of this, trans women frequently experience overt violence in the bathroom.

I think a lot of cis men would say they don’t need to be protected from trans men, because that would be to deny their masculinity. But in fact I think they do feel really threatened by trans men. Because if someone they perceive as a woman can be a man, then anybody could be a man! And all the hard work they have to do to shore up their masculinity would be for nothing.

If a cis man clocks a trans man—meaning identifies him as trans—the attitude is going to be less like protector, and more like a kind of delight. A delight in what they perceive as an opportunity to emasculate. I think a lot of cis men shore up their masculinity by degrading the masculinity of other men.

I think there can be anger towards trans men, for stepping out of line, for stepping out of our “place,” and there’s a desire to put us back in our place. And that looks like, “Oh you’re a man? You think you’re a man? Well this is what men do.” And then violence. “Take it like a man, if that’s what you think you are.”

And trans men have astronomical rates of sexual violence perpetrated against them. [According to the US Transgender Survey in 2015, 51% of trans men have been sexually assaulted at some point in their life. See more here.] I think a lot of that is “corrective” violence. Violence meant to put us back in our place.

In bathrooms specifically, what risks do trans men face?

I don’t hear a ton about trans men experiencing violence in the men’s restroom. What I hear more is trans men experiencing violence in the women’s restroom. If a trans man is forced to go to the women’s restroom, because of laws, or maybe they’re at school, they might experience a type of violence similar to what trans women experience. “Protecting” girls.

If you have a vulva but you are gender nonconforming and you’re in the women’s restroom there can be this violence—like Nex Benedict. There’s also been instances of trans men being arrested for using the “wrong” restroom. This is something that happens. You get forced into the women’s restroom, then you get harassed by security, harassed in general.

That’s terrifying. I imagine stories like that loom large for you when thinking about safety.

I initially experienced a lot of difficulty and anxiety in bathrooms because I don’t reliably pass. I think it’s particularly difficult, because, you know, I had top surgery and I take testosterone, so I’m very hairy—it terms of body, I pass. But if I speak, I get clocked. My mannerisms, the way I walk, is very feminine, and I like that about myself.  But when cis men notice this, they can get angry? And I’ve been trying to piece together why this is.

I think it’s very dangerous, in general, anywhere, to be someone in a masculine body who is feminine in some way. For example, dressing femininely. I wear men’s and women’s clothing. Or the way you behave, the way you talk. There’s this eagerness to be violent towards someone who is in a masculinized body but behaves in a feminine way.

This isn’t just a bathroom only thing. This is life in general. I’m on the street and people have threatened me. Put their hands on me. And I think the bathroom is scary because it’s this place with one door and no windows, and you’re trapped.

Obviously these are huge social problems. What can cis women and cis men do on an individual level to create safety?

This gets to something I wanted to talk about when you asked to interview me. And that’s that a lot of what’s going on socially has to do with how people feel about their own gender.

As a trans person, I get a lot of people telling me things about my gender, and it’s a really diverse array of things. And what that implies to me is that they’re projecting. When people talk to me about MY gender, they’re talking about THEIR gender.

I would like a world where people don’t have to protect their genders so much. That they can perform their gender, but if it goes a little bit off course, according to whatever the norm is, that’s okay.

And just logistically? The best bathrooms are ones where everyone shares the sinks and there are stalls with floor to ceiling doors. Where everyone has true privacy. Men’s bathrooms often have only one stall and sometimes no stalls at all. It’s ridiculous!

You’re a therapist with some background in psychoanalytic thought. Any perspective from that lens?

From a psychoanalytic perspective, I think there’s these exhibitionistic and voyeuristic strains that we don’t as a culture know what to do with, while maintaining everyone’s safety and dignity. People deny those things, then act them out on vulnerable people like trans people.

I would like to see a place where people can have their privacy respected, and where people can also acknowledge their desire to be seen and their desire to see, without invading anybody’s boundaries. I think that’s a really hard line to walk. And it’s a struggle that we’re acting out through bathrooms. There’s something unconscious playing out here.

What tips would you give a trans guy to stay safe and feel comfortable in the bathroom?

[Laughs] It brings to mind advice that a young thief might get. Act like you belong there. Don’t act like you shouldn’t be there or that you shouldn’t be doing what you’re doing. Any anxiety you have about who you are—try to make your peace with that. Just go in like you belong and do your thing.

Most people don’t want trouble. Most people are also afraid. Sometimes that can be safe, and sometimes, when people are frightened, that can be dangerous. Be aware that you’re not the only one who’s afraid, and kind of figure out in the moment how to respond to other people’s fear. Have fun and be yourself.

Thanks George! Check out the Resources page for links to trans-friendly supplies and articles. In need of support or in crisis? Trans Lifeline is peer-run. The number is USA 877-565-8860. Are you a little less contrarian than George, and still want to pee standing up? Here’s the link. Want to share your story too? The email is gostandingup@gmail.com and further details are here.

The Kula Cloth Interview

Anastasia Allison is the founder and owner of Kula Cloth. I was lucky enough to be able to chat with her, and she shared all about the Kula Cloth, her experiences, art, and the great outdoors.

What is a Kula Cloth, and who is it for?

So, a Kula Cloth is an antimicrobial pee cloth for anyone who squats when they pee! I have one right here. [Laughs and holds up a Kula Cloth] It is a Leave No Trace toilet paper option. Pee only. Basically, any time you find yourself in a situation where you don’t have toilet paper, or maybe you want to bring less toilet paper out into the back country, but still maintain good hygiene, that’s when a pee cloth could be really helpful. It’s unbelievably helpful for travelling, particularly in countries where often toilet paper is nonexistent in public bathrooms.

The printed side of the product is made of a waterproof fabric, and when you pat dry with the antimicrobial absorbent side, you’re essentially just removing any residual moisture from your body.

The best way that I can describe it is that if you don’t wipe or pull away that moisture, then your underwear becomes a de facto pee cloth. And no matter how hard you shake, unless you have thirty minutes to stand out there and air dry, there’s gonna be some leftover droplets. And that sits in your underwear. It marinates there. I would say this is uncomfortable for a day—but when you start talking about traveling or backpacking or hiking or biking for days at a time, and you imagine that you’re keeping your nether region damp and basically not clean, it’s really setting folks up for some type of an infection, chafing, or discomfort.

The Kula gives people the ability to stay comfortable and clean and Leave No Trace at the same time.

I’ve definitely heard of people who use pee funnels also using a Kula Cloth, either as an extra personal wipe or to clean the device. Are those common uses?

We actually sell some of the stand-to-pee devices on our website, because I think they’re a great option for so many reasons! I’ve used them as well, mostly while mountaineering and I’m wearing a harness. What I’ve discovered is that even when using the stand-to-pee device to wipe, the plastic funnel isn’t absorbent, and invariably there will be a couple little drops of moisture that remain. So we have a lot of folks who use the Kula in conjunction. They will use the stand-to-pee device, then use the Kula immediately afterwards just to pat dry.

We also created a bag using our Kula material, called the Kula Pocket, that is specifically designed to hold a stand-to-pee device. It’s an antimicrobial, absorbent, waterproof bag for your pee funnel, so it doesn’t drip everywhere or get pee on your other hygiene products. I feel like stand-to-pee devices and toothbrushes don’t mix! [Laughs]

What’s your story, and how did your experience of the outdoors lead to Kula Cloth?

My very first backpacking trip was in 2006. It was being led by an older gentleman, who was super nice, but as I was preparing for this trip and trying to figure out what to bring, I didn’t feel comfortable asking this older guy, “How do I poop and pee outside?” And he never brought up the subject of “Hey does everyone have a hygiene plan?” I had no idea.

And I went on this trip and I brought NO toilet paper with me, for a two-and-a-half day trip! [Laughs] I think I just thought there was gonna be, I don’t know, a port-o-potty up there? [Laughs] And it didn’t go well for me. I ended up stealing toilet paper from my tent-mate—which to this day, she still doesn’t know I did. But you can only steal so much toilet paper out of a little Ziploc bag before someone starts to wonder where all their toilet paper is going!

It is SHOCKING what an impact that knowing how to handle your hygiene has on your entire experience. That was all I thought about, that whole trip: how I was going to handle going to the bathroom. I realize now, having done Kula for eight years, that it’s such a gift to be able to give people the knowledge they need to head out on their very first trip ever, so they can have the experience I didn’t get to have on my first trip.

How did you come to found Kula Cloth?

I had been a park ranger. I got laid off from that job and I was teaching backpacking. I was on a backpacking trip with my husband in 2015, and we were in the Wind River Range, in the Wind River high route. We were on the second-to-last night of our trip, and it had just been this amazing experience. And I had set my pee cloth up on my trekking pole as a joke, and I was gonna take a photo of it to make a greeting card to give to a friend. And it’s this beautiful sunset, and I’m taking this photo of my pee cloth, and this idea just instantaneously popped into my mind. Like, why isn’t a pee cloth a real piece of gear? It was as if I downloaded the whole idea for Kula Cloth in that moment. And I got really excited about it.

But I got home, and all those little negative voices came in. I did a little research, but I was like, “No one’s gonna buy this, it’s dumb.” And I quit.

A year later, I was driving home from a snow-shoeing trip with my mom and my husband. We were coming home from Stevens Pass on a really amazingly cold day. I was driving. Our truck hit a patch of black ice. We spun across the highway, into the path of an oncoming semi-truck.

Obviously, there’s a very happy ending to that story because here I am! But it was this weird, surreal moment where everything did genuinely slow down, but I had no fear whatsoever. I got home from that experience, and in the few days after it, I couldn’t stop crying. It was like something had cracked open in me.

I had this kind of existential awakening: if I didn’t have fear in what should have been the most terrifying moment of my life, why was I so afraid to try all the stuff that I actually wanted to do?

So the idea for this pee cloth came back up during this time. But all the limiting beliefs were gone. And I decided: I’m gonna go for it! Because what’s the worst that could happen? Nothing compared to that moment spinning across the highway. So I had the epiphany, the idea for the Kula, in 2016, and then I launched our website officially in July of 2018. So it took me a couple of years, and it’s definitely been way harder than I imagined—way, way harder—[Laughs]—but also very, very rewarding and fun.

Have you experienced any resistance or hesitation when promoting this product?

I think within the first few months of launching the product, I got an email from a man named George—who of course has no idea what it’s like to be a person who squats when they pee outside—saying that if he saw one of these squares [Kula Cloths] clipped to somebody’s backpack, he would “laugh in their face,” and that it was the dumbest thing he’s ever seen. I still remember reading that message. I realized that nothing I said was going to convince this person of the importance of this product existing, and that it was okay for him to continue hating it. [Laughs]

There’s definitely been some eye rolls in the early days. People didn’t understand the product. They thought it was gross. And to this day, I find that there is a mix of people who find it disgusting, and people who find it life-changing, and I’ve learned to accept all of that. I teach hygiene classes now, and it’s never a “one-size-fits-all” thing, as if “you HAVE to use a Kula Cloth!” It’s always tailored towards “each person should find what works for them.” Maybe someone loves Kula, maybe someone hates it, but I know that it has made a difference in a lot of people’s lives. And that’s what continues to drive me forward, even when the haters show up.

Kula Cloths feature art by actual humans! Why make pee cloths so FABULOUS?

We have very strictly no AI art on our Kulas! All the prints we do are one-of-a-kind designs. We don’t just buy stock fabric patterns. We have a resident artist and she helps us design all the patterns we sell to retailers. They’re completely from scratch, featuring original watercolors. Over the years, we’ve done a huge focus on artists’ series. We work with artists to create one-of-a-kind designs, and then we put those on a Kula, and the artist receives a portion of the proceeds from each sale. We do them in limited batches, so there’s maybe only 250 of them in existence. To me that’s really special, because art connects people to nature, it connects people to another human, and having something beautiful on your backpack invites curiosity and conversation.

What I’ve discovered about working in the field of Leave No Trace is that shaming people for dropping toilet paper on the ground is NOT a tremendously effective tactic to getting their buy-in to Leave No Trace. Having a product that invites open conversation gives people the ability to get curious and take ownership and really encourages people’s participation in the Seven Principles a lot more. Working with artists is my favorite part of what we do.

Your website has a Peace Portal with guided meditations and thoughtful affirmations, as well as a vibrant and detailed substack, The Kula Diaries. The website rocks! What inspired you to be so creative?

Welcome to my brain! [Laughs] So the word “kula” means community! And I have always had—I’ll call it a creativity problem. [Laughs] I just get these ideas and little nuggets of inspiration, and I just have this deep desire to connect with people in a genuine way. And the online shopping experience is like the antithesis of that!

So as I was creating the website, I would ask myself, “What can I do to make this whole experience special?” There are “fake” products on our website that lead to poems, and there is one product that leads on a quest where you end up finding a Bigfoot and a unicorn at the end. The Peace Portal on our website that guides people through a short meditation, and we have a cookie recipe.

I’ve always wanted Kula to be more than just a piece of gear. We sometimes include hand-painted watercolors in people’s orders—done by me! You can order Love and Kind Words on our website, for free, so people will literally place an order for Love and Kind Words and we send them a letter. It’s been a really special experience to make an impact and delight people in that way. I think now more than ever that is important.

What would you say to a person who wasn’t sure about trying a Kula Cloth?

What I’d probably tell them to do is try it at home first, before they went out into the back country. And if somebody didn’t want to spend the money on a Kula right away, then what I might recommend is looking for a clean piece of microfiber towel, or a bandana—something that you might have in your own home that you could just test a couple times. But it’s not necessarily going to be as absorbent as a Kula, and won’t necessarily have waterproofing on one side, so keep that in mind!

And then from there, maybe going out on a short hike and bringing the Kula along with them, or putting it in a fanny pack or a purse and bringing it out while they’re traveling. I know a lot of people who just keep one in their purse because you never know when you’re going to end up in a port-o-potty with no toilet paper whatsoever. I’d say the 9.9 times out of 10, once people try it, and realize how much cleaner they feel, it’s one of those instantaneously life-changing pieces of gear.

Important question. How do you clean a Kula Cloth?

Well, when I am on a day-hike—or all day travelling—I will use the Kula all day long. It is antimicrobial; it is odor-resistant. Then when I get home, or to my hotel room, I’ll put a couple drops of soap on the Kula, rinse it in the sink, squeeze it out as hard as possible, and just hang it to dry overnight. You can also throw it in your standard washer/dryer. The important thing to mention is that I recommend closing the snap so it doesn’t get snagged in the washer/dryer.

If you are out on the trail, the best practice is to take your water bottle, Kula Cloth, and a tiny bit of soap, and go at least 200 feet or more from natural water sources. Do this over a durable surface, meaning not flowers in a meadow! [Laughs] Suds it up, rinse it off really good, and hang it to dry overnight. If you’re in a super wet climate, like the Pacific Northwest, it’s possible the Kula will take longer to dry. In that case, I recommend placing the slightly damp Kula against your thigh, between your leg and your long underwear, overnight. When you wake up, it will be completely dry. And if you wake up in the night to pee, you can still use the Kula, even if it’s slightly damp.

There are a ton of knockoff Kula’s on Amazon. What makes the original special?

On the one hand, that’s very flattering! I feel like people must know you’re onto something if they knock you off on Amazon! [Laughs] On the other hand, it’s frustrating. I don’t know where they are manufactured, but at the price that they sell them for, I know they are likely not being manufactured here in the US. The Kula’s that we make are all made in Pennsylvania and Colorado.

What I have heard from other customers is that when they have purchased the knockoff Kula’s, that they have fallen apart very quickly. It’s usually a kind of “you get what you pay for” type of situation. And the weakest point on those knockoff products is usually the strap. At Kula, we use a really strong woven label, and I have never heard of one of our straps fraying or breaking or giving way. In addition, I have recently designed and finished our own proprietary fabric that is super plush and antimicrobial, so any of the random Kula knockoffs that you get on Amazon will not have the actual Kula fabric.

Is there anything else you’d like to share that I haven’t asked?

I guess I just really hope that my own story of starting the company reminds people to listen to the little ideas that they have. Because I did it, and I’m no more special than any other person on this planet (believing that all of us are infinitely special in our unique ways). I would really just encourage people to follow their own inspiration and their heart.

I hope Kula can make people’s experience on trails more enjoyable and give them the ability to connect with themselves more deeply while they’re outside.

Thank you Anastasia! Visit the Kula Cloth website to learn more and get your own Kula. Looking for more cool products? Check out the Resources page. And email gostandingup@gmail.com to share your story!

The Freshette Interview

Vanessa Ivie, President and Owner of Freshette, was kind enough to give me some of her time to talk about the Freshette female urinary director (or as I would call it, a stand-to-pee device). We were able to discuss the company’s history, the device itself, and the impact it has had on its users’ lives.

What is your own personal story, and how did you come to be involved with Freshette?

It’s an interesting story! The Freshette has been a family business for decades. My husband started working for the company back when he was thirteen, alongside the original inventors, a  husband and wife team. Just a few years later, my father-in-law purchased the business. He was a military veteran who saw the great need for female service members, and worked diligently to form relationships with the military. Knowing that female service members have access to the Freshette to make their experience a bit easier is just incredible! During this time, I’d always been on the sidelines—involved, but in a more peripheral role.

I’ve always had careers focused in community health, most recently with a local healthcare system. Working to improve community health through collaborations and grassroots mobilizing has always been such a passion of mine. However, during the pandemic, I was unfortunately laid off. The field of healthcare was hit very hard by the pandemic and community health is not an immediate revenue-generating branch of healthcare work.

But the silver lining was that I had the perfect opportunity to finally dive into the family business and help take it to the next level! And, believe it or not, to finally be the first woman to enter the picture and be at the helm. [Laughs] There’s a silver lining to everything right? It worked out perfectly.

It’s been really fun for the past six years to guide the business, forge the relationships, and to get to better know our customers—some decades-long Freshette loyal customers! One thing I found a little bit challenging, because I’m so used to community health, where you’re working with face-to-face partnerships, was transitioning to where I am more often interacting with people who are buying from us online—I don’t have as many face-to-face interactions. That was a big transition for me. So anytime I have a meaningful exchange with customers, it’s such a lift! I love it. When they tell me their stories, or I have conversations with them on the phone, it just means the world to me.

Who is Freshette for, and what populations do you serve?

There are so many different types of people that I hear stories from! But often it’s those who are doing outdoor activities: kayakers, ice climbers, ice fishers, backpackers, hikers, snowmobilers—I hear the most fascinating stories. And then there’s anyone traveling, if they feel the restrooms where they are traveling to might be unsanitary, or not as easily available if they’re doing long treks.

Most importantly, pee funnels are allowing women to stay hydrated. I’ve heard stories from people who would say, “Before I discovered a pee funnel, I would try to hold back on drinking water so I wouldn’t have to pee as often.” And they’re doing the type of activities where they are exerting themselves in oftentimes extreme ways, so if they’re not hydrating, there can be severe health impacts. It can be devastating.

And then the other thing I love hearing is when our product has helped people with health challenges and who struggle with being able to urinate in a safe and accessible way. That’s something you take for granted when you have your health! I have so many people wanting to order the accessories—like the long tube, if they’re in a wheelchair. And they have found this allows them to have freedom and mobility. Those stories sometimes bring me to tears. Just to know something so simple like our pee funnel can make that kind of difference to someone is very gratifying.

So on that topic, Freshette does offer a 36-inch and 48-inch tube. Most pee funnels do not have one. You’re also unique in offering collection bags. Can you talk about those products?

Those are legacy items we’ve had for decades and they’re great sellers. Our customers who utilize wheelchairs often love having the collection bags so they can easily use the longer tube with the collection bag, and then dispose of it later whenever it’s convenient. The bags are also useful for tent camping so you don’t have to get up in the middle of the night to use the funnel outside (brrrr!). The collector bag works great as a receptacle. And it ties off at the top, so you can tie it and dispose of it later, or empty it and reuse the bag.

And we wanted to have a step-by-step guide because we would get questions like “Can I use it sitting down?” It may not be the easiest thing to do, but it’s definitely possible, and those who use wheelchairs tell me, “Oh, I’ve got it mastered—it works!” So we do have the step-by-step guide on our site, including how to use it from a seated position.

We’ve also had people explain to us how they’re modifying for van life! They’ve come up with their own creative ways that make urinating easy. For example, a dedicated area in the van with the funnel, our long tube, and then a collecting receptacle. It becomes a permanent fixture, rather than something they have to store. Love the ingenuity!

I review 15 brands of stand-to-pee device on this website. What makes Freshette stand out?

The fact that Freshette is made of a more rigid plastic makes it stand out, because when you hold it up to yourself, you can hold it firmly and get a good, leakproof seal. There are quite a few others that are on the market that are made of a more flexible material. Everyone will find a pee funnel design that works best for them, but I think what really sets ours apart is that fact that it IS rigid, and it does hold a seal really well, which is of course what you want.

Another benefit is that the rigidity of the funnel allows you to gently swipe it forward when you’re done peeing to gather any residual drops.  Saving toilet paper, especially when in the outdoors, is a big plus! Reducing waste is really important to us; we try to always have a Leave No Trace mindset.

The new Freshette also has the tube that attaches securely right to the funnel. With the previous model, the loose tube would get lost so often – and it’s almost impossible to find if it’s dropped in the water or snow. So the model where the tube attaches was a really important improvement. The new tube is flexible silicone and is a bit longer at seven inches, so it can be folded back and clipped to the funnel for storage.

And the longevity! The Freshette was first patented and sold in 1977 so we’re proud to be the first one on the market. The very first. Which is so cool! Now there are so many out there but I think that just speaks to the need. We understand that everyone will find what works best for them, whether it’s functionality or price point, but I love that we have customers who say they still have the original pink version from 20+ years ago! So—we have great, loyal customers and a very long-lasting product.

How was Freshette designed and tested?

The most recent Freshette model – we call it our 3rd generation Freshette - was launched just a few years ago. When we were working on a new design patent, we carefully reviewed the feedback we’d received over the years—emails, phone calls, and even hand-written letters –regarding features women liked and what that they would want to see changed or enhanced. We also worked with a researcher who is affiliated with the military, so she was able to provide vital input from field-testing.

Overall, there was a loud-and-clear call for the funnel to be a tad bit wider. The change is ever so slight but we implemented that enhancement. And then addressing the tube situation, like I said, with the tube getting lost so easily. So we really just try to listen hard and respond very thoughtfully.

The design process involved quite a few trial runs. We worked with a CAD designer, and with every iteration, we studied 3D models to make sure we got it exactly right. We had the final prototype extensively field tested by a broad cross-section of women, including our military-affiliated researcher. We made sure we had people out there using it in differing environments. It was a really interesting process. We wanted it to be the best product it could be. The exciting culmination was being awarded our 3rd design patent for this 3rd generation Freshette.

What is a common misconception people have about your product?

Sometimes people say that they feel it’s hard to use, or that pee funnels leak, or overflow. If they’ve never tried using a pee funnel, I totally get that concern. I always encourage people to keep an open mind, give it a try, practice in the shower, and don’t take it out for the first time when they’re camping! For first time pee funnel users, it can also be a mind over matter practice – it can be hard to give yourself the mental “okay” to start peeing while standing up if you’ve never done it!  My advice always is to practice, practice, practice…until it becomes second nature, and the shower is the perfect place to do that. Eventually, to use a pee funnel is to love it! [Want detailed instructions? See How to Pee Standing Up or, if you’re having trouble, Help! It Won’t Work]

There’s one story that always makes me shake my head and laugh. I had been talking to a woman who was clearly not our target consumer. She asked what I do, and as I was explaining the Freshette (always a fun conversation to have with people who have no idea what a pee funnel is or why it even exists haha), she incredulously asked,  “What? So women use this to pee standing up, like a man? HOW is that empowering to women?”

I was speechless for just a second – I’d actually never encountered that perspective before.  Because we’re providing something that IS empowering, that gives freedom. For example,  being the reason someone in a wheelchair or with a chronic health condition tells you they can now leave the house confidently (because before the Freshette, they were anxious about how to handle it when they had to pee). And for women in the military, or anyone in the outdoors who need an easy, safe way to pee – the Freshette means they have a convenient option that allows a sense of normalcy with something so basic as being able to easily urinate where they aren’t completely exposed. There are just SO many endless examples of pee funnels being empowering and embraced passionately.

What challenges has Freshette faced as a company?

Well, we’re a small business, so we have all the typical challenges that come with that. I’d say that especially over the past couple of years, we’ve experienced increasing costs coming our way from all sides….vendors, shipping, materials and supply costs, etc. But we are committed to not raising our prices; we’ve made the decision not to pass that on. Instead, we’ve taken really hard looks at where we can cut our own operating expenses, instead of passing on increases to our customers.

What’s next for Freshette? Whom do you want to reach out to, and how do you want to expand?

I would love to see the Freshette in more gear stores. We are so incredibly grateful to have our product carried by REI, as well as an outdoor retailer in Iceland. But there are so many other retailers that are popular and important, including international stores. We receive many inquiries from those looking to purchase in Canada, the UK, and Norway, so we really hope to explore those opportunities.

And then our social media presence too is something I personally want to continue working on. For a small business that often does require a dedicated person – it’s a big role with huge potential for creativity and growth. We’ll get there!

Bonus Question: Why did the color change from pink to army green?

Some people LOVE pink, some people HATE pink – those who would share their opinions had really strong ones! So we felt that the army green was 1) more of a neutral choice for outdoor gear; 2) not a stereotypical feminine color that could be off putting; and 3) a good fit with use by the military. At some point down the road we may introduce a second color – definitely a possibility!

Is there anything I haven’t asked that you would like to share?

Just that any opportunity to normalize conversations around personal hygiene in the outdoors and the need for pee funnels is so important. Real, honest conversations without embarrassment. We’re getting there, and it’s resources like this site that you are creating that help moving that forward. Thank you.

The Freshette pee funnel is really a simple innovation that solves a very real, everyday challenge. This isn’t just a product—it’s a shift in convenience and independence. Pee funnels give people the ability to move through the world a little more freely, comfortably, and confidently. And once you try one and embrace it, it’s really hard to imagine going without it.

And, finally, I want to express the deep appreciation I have for our customers. That’s what any business is all about. We truly believe that our care for our customers comes through, and we thank each and every person who shares about the Freshette to family and friends. The power of word of mouth and grassroots support is truly incredible and means the world to us.

Thanks Vanessa! You can learn more and get your own Freshette at freshette.com. You can see how I evaluated the Freshette pee funnel on my page What’s the Best Pee Funnel? Want to hear from a loyal Freshette user? Check out my interview with Stefanie. And as always, if you want to share your story, hit me up at gostandingup@gmail.com.

Caves and Compression Tights: Sarah’s Stand-to-Pee Story

Sarah uses a pStyle pee funnel in no less than FIVE areas of her life! She’s a caver; she does field work for a conservation nonprofit; she does search-and-rescue; she takes road trips; and due to lipedema in her legs, she wears compression tights that are tricky to pull up and down. She shared some of her adventures and her thoughts on the pStyle with me.

What’s your story, and why the pStyle?

So, caving, especially in the west, the caves are a lot more sensitive and there’s not very much water in them. The ecosystem is delicate and you HAVE to remove your waste. You always have to have some way to pee into a bottle. Cavers have known about pee funnels for ages, we just hated them. People would carry kitchen funnels! But it’s a field that’s historically been dominated by people who can biologically stand to pee.

I did some dissertation research that was focused on caves, and I was going caving every weekend. I went through a whole bunch of different pee funnels at that time. I tried the GoGirl, because that was all the rage at the time, and the SheWee, and there was a third one I can’t remember. They were all the kinds that were enclosed with the tube instead of the open scoop style. They weren’t great. 

In 2012, I was scoping some sites for a potential post-doc, and I was in the jungle, and I didn’t want to leave my tent at night. I brought the GoGirl. And I will tell you what: I peed all over myself and my sleeping pad multiple times on that trip because I could not get it to work properly! It was around then that I started looking for additional pee funnels.

Then by 2013 I found the pStyle.

So it was mostly through caving that I started using a pStyle, but then I was like, “I don’t want to leave my tent in the jungle at night, so I’m gonna use it here!” And progressively I realized it had a lot of benefits in a lot of different contexts.

I moved back to Arizona, rejoined the search-and-rescue team that I’d been on before, and I was like, “This is great, I don’t have to take my pack off!” I started doing rope rescue, cave rescue, and I was like, “Fantastic! I don’t have to take my harness off.” And even some people with the biological equipment to pee standing up have to take off their harnesses to pee. So big benefit for me there. 

And I have to wear compression tights, full-length, waist-high compression tights for lipedema, a connective tissue disorder that causes swelling. If I’m at home it’s not a big deal, but pulling those tights up—if you have a hang nail, you can just rip the tights. If I’m at home I can use gloves. But if I’m out and about, a pee funnel is so much easier! You don’t have to pull them down and pull them all the way back up.

What was it like when you first learned to use the pStyle?

So I think I probably practiced first, because it’s always good to practice. But I think around 2013, for my mountain rescue team, we were recertifying snow and ice rescue. It was an all-day thing. I remember walking away from the group and being like, okay, let me think. I’m wearing long underwear, a fleece onesie, other fleece pants, and then my rain pants over that. So I’ve got four layers on and I really have to pee! And the fleece onesie was in the middle, it was custom made for me, it had a slot you could open. And if I wanted to take off that fleece suit, I would have to take off two layers on top, pull off the fleece suit--and I was like, I hope this pStyle works for this!

And it did! Because of the stiff plastic, it worked through all those layers of clothing. I went off, I peed, and I came right back. I didn’t get cold, and I didn’t have to open all my pants and shirts and everything. So that was one of my first pStyle-specific memories, where I was like, this thing is the best!

How did having a stand-to-pee device impact your life?

Privacy. That was the big thing. Being able to pee anywhere. Like a lot of time I do field work in caves, and you might be just around the corner from your caving group. And I live in the desert. There’s not a lot of cover! So I’m just able to turn my back and pee, instead of hiking over the hill and down into the next drainage so I’m private from people.

Was there ever a time when you were SUPER glad to have your pStyle?

I’m still mostly a sit-to-pee person at home, but if I’m having trouble with my compression tights—like they’re a tighter weave—I’ll just use a pStyle. But honestly I’m not very good at peeing into a toilet. I need to get some pointers. I try to pee off to the side so it splashes in the right direction, but I don’t know how dudes do it! [Laughs] I always feel like I get splashback!

In Southern Arizona, we do have a lot of people focused on rainwater capture and water recycling, so I have been thinking about an outdoor toilet that has a urine diverter. You can sit or stand, but there’s no water in the bowl, so standing is probably easier without that splashback. And then it diverts it out to the landscape. I’ve been wanting to install one, but I just haven’t gotten around to it yet. I would probably use a pee funnel there so I don’t have to worry about people walking by my yard in the alley.

Have people ever been surprised, or reacted strongly, when you used it? Have you told friends?

I always wonder about this when I pull over by the side of the road! [Laughs] I’m a very obviously curvy person, and if I’m peeing by the side of the road standing up, I’m always wondering about the cars driving by, what they’re thinking! 

But for the most part, people are actually really excited. They’re like, “Oh wow, that was a quick pee break! Did you not have to take off your harness?” I’m just like: “Let me tell you about the pStyle.” And now a bunch of people on my search-and-rescue team actually use the pStyle too.  

I’m kind of new to the disability community, and I see people post online, “Oh, I can’t take my compression tights off because I had surgery, how do I pee?” And I like to suggest, “Here’s the pStyle!” It may not work for everyone, but pulling down compression tights is hard! You pull them down halfway through the day and they don’t come all the way back up. And it’s a $13 device that can save you ripping a $100 pair of compression tights.

What would you say to people who are afraid to try the pStyle?

Just try it where there’s low consequences. Try it in the shower. 

Literally the first time a person is with me outdoors, and I just go down the trail with my backpack still on and pee, they’re just like, I’m sold! [Laughs] They’re over it, whatever the concern was.

Based on your experiences, what hurdles do you see to getting pee funnels to be more widely accepted?

The fact that it doesn’t collapse is the only drawback. I’m not really a purse carrier, or I just have a little purse with me. I would use it more, out and about, if I could fit it well in my little purse. So that’s maybe one barrier to more people adopting them.

Bonus Question: What is your favorite color for a pStyle?

For a long time I was mostly a clear person, because I was worried about dyes and anything extra down in my nethers. [pStyle no longer carries clear pStyles] But now I’m into the recycled ocean plastic one. That dark green one.  

Anything else you want to share?

I love the cases! What I do at the end of the trip is just chuck the case—with the pStyle in it—in the washing machine! That wears the case down a little faster though. But if I’m gone on a multiday trip, or in a place where I can’t flick the funnel to clean it (like a cave), I don’t even bother wiping the pStyle down. I just put it back in the case, and I make sure I’m not touching the pStyle to anything. It just touches me and then the bag. And then I wash it all!

It’s the flexibility not to have to worry or plan where you’re going to pee. Just pee wherever. It’s so integrated into my life now that I rarely pee without it. I have a special place for it in my caving gear and in my tent. I’m so grateful for it!

Thank you Sarah!  Here’s a link to information on caving (caves.org) and search-and-rescue (mra.org).  You can get a pStyle here. For my evaluation of the pStyle, check out What’s the Best Pee Funnel? Have a stand-to-pee story you want to share? gostandingup@gmail.com

Freedom and Safety: Gem’s Stand-to-Pee Story

Gem is a climber and adventurer from California who uses a pStyle. They shared their thoughts with me about stand-to-pee devices, the outdoors, and their experiences as a nonbinary person.

What’s your story, and why pStyle (Gem’s preferred brand)?

I’m a climber, and also I backpack, and do outdoors things. I actually discovered pStyle through a friend of mine who is also nonbinary. They said, “Hey, you can pee standing up, it’s much easier.” And I was like, “That sounds like a really useful thing.” I’ve been backpacking and hiking before and experienced the annoyance of squatting to pee.

What was it like when you first learned to use it?

I bought one, and I tried it in the shower, and it worked. Then I took it on my backpacking and hiking trips and it was immediately amazing! One use and I was completely sold.

It really only took one practice, because I found it very easy to use.

How did having a stand-to-pee device impact your life?

It is so much better. It’s so easy. It just improved my life substantially! So now I use it everywhere. I have three of them. I keep one in the car, I take it when I’m traveling, it’s useful for road trips: just hop on the side of the road! It’s super useful for climbing trips, for hiking trips—I just find it very useful!

And in the state of our country right now, going to the bathroom is very fraught, especially for a nonbinary person like me, who is not real comfortable using the men’s room. And if I use the women’s room, depending on the situation, people will look at me, or say, “This is the women’s restroom.”

I’d much rather pee on the side of the road in peace than use a public restroom most of the time. So I think it’s a lifesaver for that reason too!

Was there ever a time when you were SUPER glad to have your pStyle?

Well, I’m a huge fan every time I use it! But when I’m snow camping, I use it to pee inside of the tent, into a bottle. It’s very useful to not have to go outside in the cold and the snow, and put on your boots, and all of that stuff.

And I think the other time is when I’m on really popular backpacking trips. I just have to pee all the time! And with the pStyle, you don’t even have to go off trail very much. Even if people are seeing your back—we see cis gender men do that all the time. I also have a little bit of privilege, because most people assume I’m a cis gender man when they see me, so I can get away with peeing in the open, standing up.

But peeing on a crowded trail—especially, say, Yosemite---when there’s really nowhere off trail to go and people are coming from both directions—I remember, before the pStyle, it was just really stressful! Because you’re like, who’s gonna come, my pants are down! And with a pStyle, you’re like, oh whatever, this is fine! I have privacy, I feel so good.

Also, for me, as a nonbinary person, I feel good using the pStyle to pee standing up. I don’t use it at home. Sitting down, standing up, either way, it doesn’t give me dysphoria, but I do think it’s very freeing to be able to pee standing up.

Have people ever been surprised, or reacted strongly, when you used your pStyle?

I would say no. I would say people who are surprised are people who have never heard of the concept before. When I give them the schpiel, they’re like, “Oh that’s really cool!”

So it’s a surprise like “I didn’t know that existed,” but never a bad surprise. I think people have said, “Oh I tried one, it was hard to use, what about leakage?” They had questions. Maybe they didn’t have a good experience. I’m really glad my first one was a pStyle, because immediately it worked.

And also--I’ve actually had some trans men friends ask me about the pStyle because their packer-style stand-to-pee devices were leaking. And I have never had that problem with a pStyle. It doesn’t leak. So that’s interesting. And as a nonbinary person, I absolutely refuse to get something called “Shewee.” That’s just not gender-affirming to me.

What would you say to people who are afraid to try it?

I would say there’s very little to lose and so much to gain if it works for you! It can really unlock a lot of freedom and safety. And make your life a whole lot easier in the outdoors. It’s not too expensive. I’d say give it a try in the shower once or twice and see how it feels. There’s very little downside but the potential for major upsides! You should definitely try it.

Based on your experiences, what hurdles do you see to getting pee funnels to be more widely accepted?

I think a large percentage of people don’t know about them! I had certainly never heard of them ten years ago. And I started using it maybe five years ago. So I would definitely say if I had heard about the concept before, then it would have been in my brain and I would have tried it! So that’s definitely one hurdle.

And I do wonder with the rise of transphobia, and trans people in the news, I wonder whether gender roles, and the idea of standing up to pee like a man, is weird to cis gender women. I could see that being a thing. The same way cis men don’t want to sit to pee because it’s “feminine.” I could imagine for some set of people that’s gonna be a hurdle. 

Bonus Question: What are your favorite colors for pStyles?

The first one that I got was just black because I wanted it to be inconspicuous. Then I chose a skin tone one, because I wanted to explore whether that would be more gender affirming for me. But I think I’m fairly indifferent to the color.

I love bright colors generally, so usually I would pick something that’s bright-colored, but in this case I don’t want to draw attention to the particular object while I’m using it. Like if someone sees you with a bright orange thing, is that gonna attract attention, or violence, are they gonna ask if I’m trans? So I do think the skin tone ones are great and I appreciate the darker skin tones. Not all companies do that.

Anything else you want to share?

I’d just say I’m really thankful to the pStyle, and it’s my favorite piece of outdoor gear! Despite doing so many outdoor sports, like snowboarding, snow camping, backpacking, climbing, my favorite and most impactful piece of outdoor gear that I have ever got for myself has been the pStyle. It just eliminates a whole category of worries. 

You know, growing up, I was kind of jealous about boys and men having it so easy in the outdoors—it was like, “Oh it’s so easy for you, I have all these other considerations!” I thought it could only be one way, and I was just trapped in this way forever. And then to find out, oh, I could have that same ease that I’ve seen other people have—that part is amazing. It’s like a level of equality.

I really like stand-to-pees, and I really like your website! Because now people will have a resource. I want everyone to experience the happy revelation that I experienced.

Thank you Gem! You can get a pStyle and learn more at their website. Also check out my interview with pStyle’s founder, Krista Eickmann. Gem referred me to a queer climbing site with great resources: Queer Crush. Do you want to share your stand-to-pee experience? Hit me up at gostandingup@gmail.com

Stand-to-Pee Stories: Stefanie

Stefanie is an avid outdoorswoman who enjoys hiking, mountain biking, skiing, and stand-up paddle surfing, among other adventures! She uses the Freshette pee funnel and was kind enough to share some of her experiences with me.

What’s your story—why did you decide to use a stand-to-pee device, and what led you to Freshette?

I was out on a mountain bike ride with some friends and I was visiting Phoenix. I live in San Diego. And we just somehow got on the topic of pee funnels, and one of my friends said, “You know, I highly recommend the Freshette,” and then she told me why. She said, because it has the longer tube on it. The other ones, she says, you pee on yourself.

Fast forward a few days. I’m mountain biking, I get into an accident, I wind up fracturing my hip, get taken to the hospital… now I’m bedridden! And I’m in Phoenix. I’ve got to go home. It’s a six hour car ride. I’m thinking to myself: how am I going to pee? There’s no way that I’m going to be able to get from the car to a gas station. And I didn’t have an ADA placard to park near a gas station anyway.

So I remembered the conversation with my friend! And I’m on Amazon, going “I need to have the Freshette pee funnel sent to me by tomorrow!” And it arrived!

What was it like the first time you used it?

I got it New Year’s Eve and we were driving back the next day. And I was like “How do I use this thing?” I saw it said “Try it in the shower first.” So I did that, and it worked, even though I could barely stand.

And the Freshette was my life saver coming home, it really was, because I could pee on the side of the road! I just had to slide out of the truck—still standing—and it has this lip on it, you just kind of scrape it along, and it takes away the “drip drip.” So that was great!

Freshette’s had a couple of models, and is now on its “third generation” model. There’s also a 36-inch tube. What do you use?

Well, all that story is how I got to use this one [Stefanie holds the Freshette with retractable 5-inch tube, an earlier model]. And then I was like, this is great, I’m gonna use it when I go backpacking and hiking and camping when I have to pee, rather than squatting.

Fast forward a few years, then we get this one! [Stefanie holds the current Freshette model with 7-inch tube that folds back.] This one’s great because now the tube just rolls out. I love it! The tube is a little bit wider, so if you do have way more pee, it’s coming out really fast. Then it just folds back up. And it has a contraption here to keep the tube in place.

I like both models! I keep the original one in my car for emergencies—and trust me there have been a few! And the other once I keep in my backpacking gear, or when I go skiing.

And then there’s the long extension tube, for people who are at home—so it also caters to people who have had injuries.

How did using Freshette impact your life?

Funny, as I’ve aged, something happened with my knees. My knees started getting sore as I was mountain biking. I could barely squat! And I was like, Hmm! Love that I have the Freshette! I don’t have to worry about squatting.

Or skiing! Sometimes you’re skiing, and you really gotta go—well, that means you have to go all the way back to the lodge to go to the bathroom, whereas now I don’t have to. And when it’s cold, you don’t want to have to take off your bottoms and squat with skis on. This is way easier.

Have people ever been surprised or reacted strongly when finding out that you use a pee funnel?

When I went mountain biking, one person said, “That’s interesting, I just squat,” and I said, “Yeah, I just squat too sometimes.” But there’s some times when squatting is very difficult. Or I’m tired! And my knees hurt. And I don’t want to squat. And actually, when you squat, you’re more exposed. I can’t squat by my car. But I can use this by my car.

So yeah, I think one person was surprised, and asked, “Why don’t you just squat?” But my guy friends were all like, “This is great!” My boyfriend didn’t know about the Freshette, but when I ordered it and I told him and he went, “That’s awesome!”

I think people are more interested. They’re intrigued.  

Was there ever a time that you were very grateful to have the Freshette?

I took it to Portugal. I took it travelling because some of those bathrooms are nasty—not in Portugal specifically, just anywhere in the world, including here.

I was stand-up paddle surfing. We went to a place before the summer season. So the bathrooms were locked! Of course the guys go behind the bathroom to pee standing up, and I’m like, I got my Freshette! I’m gonna do the same thing! I told a friend there and she said, “That’s brilliant!”

What would you say to people who are afraid to try it?

Oh! I would say, “Get over it.” [Laughs.] I would be like, “Just try it in the shower. Try it in your back yard. Try it where it’s a safe environment. So if you do get pee on yourself, it’s no big deal. It’s okay! Pee’s sterile. [Laughs.] It’s no big deal. Give it a try!” Because it’s amazing how liberating it is afterwards.

And if people are grossed out by germs, think of the germs in some of these bathrooms you go to, that’s even worse! So I would just try it. Even just try it at home naked, aiming into the toilet.

I’d say Freshette’s probably the easiest one to use! It’s got a big funnel, and if you hold it right up to your vagina, then it’s sealed! The pee’s not gonna go anywhere else.

Anything else you want to share?

The Freshette is great! I use it when I go backpacking, hiking and biking, instead of squatting.

I like that it helps people with injuries. It’s not just for outdoorsy people.

I also like that it’s a woman-owned business, and I like supporting small businesses—this is the one I recommend.

You can get a Freshette pee funnel or learn more about Freshette at their site: Freshette. As Stefanie says, Freshette is a small, woman-owned business. Read about my experiences with the Freshette pee funnel on my site at What’s the Best Pee Funnel? Thanks Stefanie!

The pStyle Interview

In order to build community and share awareness, I’ve been reaching out to the owners of different STP manufacturers to hear their stories. Krista Eickmann, founder and owner of pStyle, gave me some of her time recently to discuss the pStyle, STPs, social change, stigma, and her own experiences.

Who is pStyle for?

It’s really important to me to say that pStyle is for anyone who needs it! We are aware, through having been in business for twenty years, that it’s useful not only for the people that you might instantly think of—cis women—but also for trans people, some non-binary people, some intersex people, and some cis men. So that’s the gender dimension.

And then there’s the dimension of your access to toilets. That encompasses the people you’d commonly think of, like hikers, outdoors people who are able bodied—but we like to take it out to bigger perspectives. There’s a lot of occupations where it’s useful, sometimes life-saving, [to pee standing up]; there’s the disability aspect; there’s things most people have never thought of!

For example, a customer told us that they had multiple-chemical sensitivity and going into a public restroom meant not knowing what smells they’d encounter—they said they just pee by the side of the road with their pStyle. We had someone who had a fear of drains and a fear of loud noises--they used the pStyle in public restrooms, so the auto-flush toilets were less distressing. I would never say that I heard it all when it comes to why someone finds the pStyle useful!

I review 15 devices on this site. What do you think makes pStyle stand out?

What makes pStyle stand out is ease of use while fully clothed, ease of cleaning, and easy of carrying—that’s in the category of functionality. It also has a wiping function, which many others don’t.

Then there’s the inclusiveness  and USA manufacturing. We manufacture both the pStyles and pCases in Tennessee. We’re a queer business and we market the pStyle in a gender inclusive way. We donate to organizations working with women, LGBTQ+ people, unhoused people, and immigrants. Making an impact socially is part of what we’re interested in doing.

You market pStyle as a Personal Urination Device, not a Female Urination Device. Can you talk about the distinction?

We made the phrase Personal Urination Device specifically in opposition to Female Urination Device. And that was and is the accepted term—because people are horrified if they don’t KNOW this is for [cis] women.

People believe that all cis men can stand and pee, which isn’t true. People believe that all cis women cannot stand and pee without a device, and that’s also not true. So they feel that using the word “female” explains it to people, which it doesn’t. We need to recognize that people know their own bodies. The cis men whom I’ve talked to on the phone buying pStyles KNOW they cannot stand to pee… and they do not want to buy something called a Female Urination Device.

What is a common misconception people have about your product?

That they’re gonna pee on themselves! It’s rare, but I think in people’s minds it feels very likely, which is not the reality. Other misconceptions? That it’s gonna be really gross, and “oh my God, what do I do with the pStyle after I pee, you want me to put it in a case, won’t that be gross???” And then after they use it they’re like, whatever. [Laughs] I think that’s one of the biggest misconceptions: that it’s gonna be hard to deal with.

What challenges have you faced as a company?

I’d say just being small. And having certain convictions. That’s been challenging, but it’s also been really rewarding. We wouldn’t be doing it if it wasn’t rewarding.

We’ve done so many things that aren’t profitable. Like for example our skin tone pStyles are not profitable. We don’t sell a huge amount of all the colors, but I don’t care. It was important to us to offer at least five skin tones—so if I had to justify that to shareholders? They’d be like, “WHY?” [Laughs]

What is your story, and why did you found pStyle?

I got a menstrual cup, and it changed my life! It changed my relationship to my body in such a profound way. And it was through that that I came to the stand-to-pee device concept, and I was like, “Oh my God, this is a thing that’s even LESS popular than menstrual cups!” [Laughs] But I couldn’t stop obsessively thinking about it and talking about it. And I had to make it a well-known thing. It solves so many of my problems! I was like, “It’s gonna be like a toothbrush, ubiquitous.”

It struck a feminist nerve for me, like with the menstrual cups. People were afraid to talk about [periods], and women had so much shame! I feel it’s the same for peeing. Women especially have so much stress around peeing. There’s like the urinary leash and all these ways women restrict what they’re doing because “how am I going to pee?” and no one really talks about that. But if we talk about it, then it doesn’t have the same power over us. And that’s why I can still be really passionate about pStyle, twenty years later.

When I went out into the world to try to sell it, especially to men, who were in charge of a lot of the places where you sell things, I realized that wow, it was not going to be easy. It’s largely been women and queer people who are our champions.

What’s next for pStyle? How do you want to expand, whom do you want to reach out to?

What we’re working on now is our packaging, making it easier to be on a shelf in a small store. And we wanna make a glow-in-the-dark pStyle! And we do have a bigger version in the works, which is important to us for inclusiveness. But also, it’s a reusable product, so we do need to keep reaching new people. And there’s so much we want to do, like collaborate with other small brands like Kula Cloth, Gnara, Symbiosis Gear… we’ll just do as many of those cool things as we can!

I asked Krista if she had any concluding thoughts to share about pStyle.

Yes. I just want to emphasize that we believe in toilet dignity and toilet equity. It’s about respect.

You can get a pStyle and learn more on the pStyle website.

Krista states that in addition to the causes mentioned above, pStyle supports the Rich Earth Institute. Rich Earth Institute works toward sustainable farming and clean rivers, specifically through using urine as fertilizer. To learn how to safely use urine as a fertilizer, visit their site and check out this guide.

Notes From a Penis-Haver

Throughout my journey with STP devices, my husband (cis male) has been supportive, if bemused. He also cleared up some questions I had, which, in retrospect, must have seemed obvious. Here are some of our conversations; I’m in bold:

Peeing in a toilet seems really splashy, loud and annoying.

Don’t aim for the water. Aim for the side, and put a little tilt on it.

Ugh, I have an STP that works but it’s not pretty. I like things to be pretty!

Save it for when you want to channel raw masculine energy. Go outside, start pissing, and imagine a bald eagle flying overhead.

When, if ever, would you pee sitting down?

When I need to take a [poop]. Or I guess if I’m dying. Like having trouble standing up.

You don’t ever join me in peeing in our yard. What’s up with that?

I like being in comfort?

Do you undo your pants, or just undo the fly?

Personal preference, depends on the guy. I usually undo the button because my pants are tight enough that they won’t fall down, but plenty of guys just unzip the fly.

Realistically, would you notice if a trans guy used a urinal next to you in a bathroom?

How would I know? There’s a whole lot of dude etiquette here. You don’t look over at another man’s junk. So how would I know?

But if you did notice, would it bother you that a trans guy was in there?

No. But admitting that I noticed would be admitting that I looked, so again, how do I know?

Would it be weird if you went on a hike or road trip with a girl and she peed standing up?

If she gave me a heads up that she was using a device, I’d certainly have no problem with it. I could see a lot of guys being freaked out if they saw her pee standing up and didn’t mention the device.

What would you say to a guy who felt bad that his girlfriend was using an STP?

Why the f--- do you care bro? It’s kind of like guys who don’t like tampons. You don’t have to take a huge interest in it, but why do you care?

Am I still cute even if I pee standing up?

No, I’m sorry, it was over the moment you did it once. [Laughs] Of course!

STP Playlist

 Want to get in the pee-standing-up ZONE? Here’s a playlist to get started.

Man! I Feel Like a Woman, by Shania Twain

—For all of you who feel womanly and playful using an STP

I sure do. My favorite way to pee standing up is in lipstick and heels. It feels so cheeky!

Macho Man, by the Village People

—And this is for all you who feel manly (and have some self-irony)

Such a macho way to pee. Like peeing with a handlebar mustache. This is a great song because it’s about the aesthetics of masculinity, and how you pee is definitely an aesthetic choice.

Tubthumping, by Chumbawumba

—For those of you taking your STP out for a night of debauchery

Enjoy skipping that loooooooong bathroom line. Wave at it as you go by.

Road Trippin’, by the Red Hot Chili Peppers

—For those ditching nasty gas station bathrooms

Road tripping when you’re tied to bathrooms is a drag. When is the next one? Is it clean? Will there be a line? Will it be closed for cleaning? Ugh. Here’s to liberty!

Try Again, by Aliyah

—For those who had a little trouble learning. You did it!

Hey it isn’t easy for everyone, especially if you had to test multiple models. Congratulations on your perseverance! (If you’re still having trouble, see the Troubleshooting section of the site.)

Detachable Penis, by King Missile

—For those of you who view your STP as a detachable penis of course

If I lost my STP I would also be pretty bummed out, even if it doesn’t feel like a penis. For those of you who DO view your STP as a detachable penis, take better care of it than King Missile!

Funnel of Love, by Wanda Jackson

—For the funnel users!

I hope you all love your device. It’s an intimate relationship to have with an object—I admit I got a little attached to mine.

Go Your Own Way, by Fleetwood Mac

—For those who just want to do their own thing

Have you encountered haters or naysayers? Just go off and do you.

I’m Only Happy When it Rains, by Garbage

—For those who need to think of water to get going

I do love rain. If you’re still thinking of water to relax and let go, keep at it—it does get easier!

Take Me Home, Country Roads, by John Denver

—For those of you on a journey, and the hikers of course

If you need to pee or you’re dehydrated or you’re just worried about peeing, you’re not enjoying the experience. Now you can focus on the beauty, the tranquility, the adventures, or whatever your reason for hiking.

Cherry Cola, by Eagles of Death Metal

—For those of you who loaded up on a favorite beverage to practice

Shout out to everyone who stayed home for a day with Diet Coke, lemonade, sparkling water, beer, tea, Gatorade, or whatever you drank. That beverage was in the trenches with you!

Sisters are Doing it for Themselves, by Aretha Franklin and Annie Lennox

—For the sisters who are feeling EMPOWERED

YES. It’s a great feeling! It’s not just about knowing you can pee anywhere; it’s about subverting expectations and keeping life surprising. Once you break that leash to the bathroom, it’s a whole new world.

I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends, by The Beatles

—For those who appreciate the help

Hopefully your friends were supportive to you on your journey—maybe they were on it with you! I also think about my STP as a little friend. I get by with a little help from everyone.

Get Up, Stand Up, by Bob Marley

—STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS

Don’t let anyone tell you how to pee.