Gear manufacturers have realised that lots of women like the outdoors and they're different shapes from men. Here's what's out there, and where you can buy it.
GoGirl
Well girls, it’s time to put a stop to the envy - I have an answer (perhaps even ‘the’ answer) that will make that nasty jealousy go away. Recently I got a hold of a GoGirl and extracted some information about the product from Sarah Dillon, the president and founder of GoGirl, which is based in the USA. What is a GoGirl? Well, after consulting the GoGirl Fact Sheet, the GoGirl is a “simple, sanitary device made from germ-resistant, medical-grade silicone” which (apparently) lets women go to the toilet standing up. If you don’t have access to or don’t want to use a sit down toilet (anyone who’s travelled in a third world country will empathise with this), you simply take the GoGirl out of its little tube, unzip and off you go. Each GoGirl comes with a plastic bag so if you want to throw it away afterwards you can, otherwise it’s washable and reusable. They cost $6.99 each, or $18.99 for a pack of three (US Dollars).
The device arrived and I popped it out of its little tube (which is decorated fetchingly in pink and white, and features a little toilet door lady with her legs crossed above the phrase “don’t take life sitting down”). My partner Dave looked on, intrigued. Out the GoGirl popped, pink and funnel-like, accompanied by its funky pink/white/toilet door lady adorned plastic disposal bag. I set it on the kitchen table and Dave and I looked at it speculatively. “Small”, remarked Dave. “Pink”, I thought, and also “am I going to pee all over my pants?”
According to the Sarah and the GoGirl crew, the GoGirl is for “bikers, brides, business women, campers, climbers, concert goers, hikers, hunters, marathon runners, medical patients, missionaries, skiers, travelling women and more”. Aside from bride, business woman (in the power dressing, high heels sense), hunter, medical patient and missionary, I am all those things at different times (including “and more”, of course). However, I decided to try out the GoGirl in the bathroom for my first go - except in reverence to my supposed “outdoorsy” reputation and my tendency to like the higher risk outdoor activities, I avoided the shower and total clothing removal (tempting though it was) and went for the toilet.
Devices like the GoGirl seem to be the way of the future and growing in popularity. There are even some major institutions installing permanent women’s urinals. In the outdoors or for travelling, the GoGirl is a great option. The units are very affordable for a reusable device - I’ve used and washed mine several times now, even though Dave wouldn’t let me put it in the dishwasher (just joking). The only problems I’ve had with it were when I tried it sitting down in the kayaking position (not good, not good at all) and when I let go with a bit too much enthusiasm, things backed up and I had a minor flood (urgh). I also couldn’t get the GoGirl back in its little tube, but it’s small enough that this isn’t an issue.
Have a go at a GoGirl and see what you think. Remember, you don’t have to take life sitting down!
The GoGirl is available in the US (you can follow them on Twitter and Facebook to see where they’re turning up at an event near you), and through the GoGirl website to the rest of the world.
If you liked this article, you might also like A Little Bit of Equipment Envy and the reviews of the P-Style and Shewee.