Looking for the best portable toilet for van life?<\/em> After 9 years on the road and testing just about every popular toilet option<\/a> \u2013 cassette toilets, pee jars, foldable toilets, and even the Trelino \u2013 the Compocloset Cuddy Lite is hands-down my favorite.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve been using the Cuddy Lite<\/a> every single day in my camper for the past four months, and it\u2019s the first toilet I\u2019ve tested that actually controls odors, feels sturdy, and is easy to empty. While it costs more than some competitors, it\u2019s worth every penny if you want your van to not<\/em> smell like a bathroom.<\/p>\n In this review, I\u2019ll explain exactly how the Cuddy Lite works, how it compares to the Trelino and other camper toilets, and why I think it\u2019s the best portable option for full-time van life.<\/p>\n Oh and if you\u2019re thinking about getting the Cuddy Lite for yourself, I\u2019ve got a discount code to share. You\u2019ll find it at the bottom of this post once you\u2019ve read my full review.<\/strong><\/p>\n *This post is sponsored by CompoCloset. I only recommend products I truly love and think you will love too. If you have any questions about the Cuddy Lite, drop a comment at the bottom of this post!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This post may contain affiliate links.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Enter your email & I’ll send this post to your inbox! You’ll also receive my weekly newsletter full of helpful advice for planning your adventures.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The Compocloset Cuddy Lite is a portable urine-diverting \u201ccomposting\u201d toilet that diverts the pee into a pee jug while poop goes into a bag that you can throw in the garbage. Here is a step-by-step process for going to the bathroom using the Cuddy Lite:<\/p>\n The Cuddy Lite is not a traditional composting toilet. Both the Cuddy Lite and a traditional composting toilet divert the pee into a pee jug. However, they differ in how the solids are handled. <\/p>\n A normal composting toilet has an internal agitator that mixes waste with a composting medium (like coconut coir) so the material can begin breaking down inside the unit, which means you need to manage moisture levels, stir the contents, and eventually dump a heavy bin of partially composted material. <\/p>\n The Cuddy Lite skips all of that. Instead, solids drop directly into a bag-lined bin with no agitator. After you go poop, you just tie off the bag and throw it in the trash. This makes the Cuddy Lite easier to empty and clean. <\/p>\n If you want to use the same bag for a few days without throwing it away, you can add compost material over each poop, but it isn\u2019t technically \u201ccomposting\u201d your waste inside the toilet.<\/p>\n The Cuddy Lite is completely portable. It doesn\u2019t require power, permanent installation, or to be vented to the outside, like many traditional composting toilets.<\/p>\n One of the first things I noticed about the Cuddy Lite is how solid it feels. The Cuddy Lite\u2019s lid and seat are connected to the toilet via a set of heavy-duty hinges that keep the seat upright when it\u2019s time to empty. <\/p>\n Sitting on the Cuddy Lite feels sturdy and stable. At 19 lbs, it has enough weight that it doesn\u2019t shift around in our camper bathroom that much, unless we are driving on a rough dirt road. <\/p>\n I\u2019ve even sat on it while we were driving (not something I make a habit of, but sometimes road life calls for it), and it never wobbled or felt like it might tip. The seat height feels comfortable and natural, similar to a regular household toilet. This isn\u2019t always the case with compact RV toilets.<\/p>\n The retractable solids cover is one of the best features and a key difference from the Trelino. It sits over the solids bin and opens and closes with a turn knob. <\/p>\n This cover on the Cuddy Lite solves two major problems:<\/p>\n The retractable poop bin cover is designed to be closed when you are peeing and open when you are pooping. If you accidentally sit too far back while peeing and some pee lands on the retractable cover, there is a small hole at the front of the cover that funnels those dribbles into the pee jug instead of letting it pool in the solids bin. This further helps keep odors down and makes the whole system more forgiving to use, especially for women who don\u2019t have the luxury of perfect aim.<\/p>\n For anyone extra sensitive to smell, Compocloset offers an optional fan kit that pulls odors through a carbon filter. In my experience, I haven\u2019t felt the need to install this. The fan does require power, so it\u2019s best to consider this during your build process and not as an afterthought.<\/p>\n The pee system on the Cuddy Lite has been a huge upgrade for me compared to any camper van toilet I\u2019ve used. <\/p>\n The pee jug has a capacity of 1.7 gallons. I\u2019m the primary person using the toilet for pee, and I typically need to empty the jug every three days. My partner mostly uses a Nalgene bottle, which helps stretch the capacity. <\/p>\n When you pee, the liquid drops through hole, into a one-way silicone valve that funnels the pee into the pee jug. The purpose of the silicone valve is to trap strong ammonia smells inside the pee jug. <\/p>\n To fully test it, I left urine in the Cuddy Lite for two weeks during a humid East Coast heat wave, and I was surprised by how little it smelled. I could pick up on it \u2013 but only when the toilet lid was open, and it never got so pungent that I\u2019d be embarrassed to bring friends into my camper.<\/p>\n Compocloset recommends replacing the valve every 6\u201312 months (a two-pack runs about $15, and it\u2019s very easy to replace). After four months of full-time use, I haven\u2019t noticed any serious odors creeping up from the jug, which tells me the valve is still doing its job. <\/p>\n Another feature that sets the Cuddy Lite apart is the full-tank indicator light. It\u2019s a little LED (powered by a 9V battery) right next to the seat that turns bright red when the jug is full. At first, mine didn\u2019t work, but after some trial and error, I realized the squishy side of the cover has to face inward for the sensor to work. Once I fixed that, the light has functioned perfectly, and it\u2019s a great reminder to dump it before it overflows.<\/p>\n Unlike a cassette toilet, the Cuddy Lite doesn\u2019t require chemicals in the pee jug. This means you have a lot more flexibility with where you empty the pee. Ideally, you should use a toilet or dump station, especially in high-use areas. <\/p>\n But if you\u2019re off-grid and there is no toilet available, it\u2019s technically ok to dump urine on the ground as long as you\u2019re following Leave No Trace principles<\/a>. This means you want to walk away from your campsite and disperse the pee widely, away from vegetation and more than 200 feet from a water source.<\/p>\n The pee jug is black, so the contents aren\u2019t visible when you\u2019re emptying it. That may seem like a small detail, but when you\u2019re dumping it at a public restroom or campground toilet, not having everyone see what\u2019s inside makes the whole process feel a lot less awkward.<\/p>\n The jug itself is easy to empty, but the first couple of times, I misjudged the pouring angle and ended up spilling it all over the toilet I was emptying it into. That goes to say that the first time you\u2019re emptying it, go slow and aim carefully. <\/p>\n If I could change anything on the pee jug, it would be the handle design. Instead of a proper handle, the jug has two small plastic loops, which means when it\u2019s completely full, you need two hands to carry and pour it. It\u2019s not unmanageable, but a built-in sturdy handle would make a big difference.<\/p>\n The solids system on the Cuddy Lite is one of the main reasons I chose this toilet, and after four months of daily use, it\u2019s proven to be a great solution to common van life bathroom woes.<\/p>\n The 3.9-gallon solids bin is lined with a bag, and the bin is surprisingly spacious. It can easily hold up to a week\u2019s worth of waste (for one person), including toilet paper and cover material, without pushing its capacity.<\/p>\n If there is a trash can available, my preference is to toss the poop daily after both my partner and I have used it. However, there have been times when we didn\u2019t have access to a trash can, like when camping off-grid, and we\u2019ve let the bag sit for up to three days. Even then, I never felt like our camper was stinky from it. I also haven\u2019t experienced nearly as much condensation as I did with the Trelino despite spending my entire summer in a humid environment.<\/p>\n If I plan to reuse a bag for a couple of days, I always add a layer of absorbent material after each use. I\u2019ve tried both coconut coir and wood chips, and I think the wood chips are easier and less messy since you don\u2019t have to rehydrate them first.<\/p>\n The retractable solids cover, which I discussed above, makes an enormous difference when it comes to locking in smells and being able to use a single bag for a few days before throwing it out. <\/p>\n As for bags, I\u2019ve experimented with a few options. The bin fits a 30-liter bag best, which makes it easy to line and tie off. Personally, I prefer using black trash bags since they\u2019re opaque and keep things discreet, especially when tossing them at a campground dumpster. Compocloset also sells compostable liners, which are the most eco-friendly option for minimizing plastic waste. Both work fine, and the Cuddy Lite works with any bag that fits.<\/p>\n One of the biggest perks of the Cuddy Lite is how little cleaning it requires compared to a traditional composting toilet or a cassette toilet. Since the solids go straight into a bag-lined bin, there\u2019s no agitator or compost chamber to scrub out. Once the bag is tied off and tossed, the bin is essentially clean.<\/p>\n For daily upkeep, I spray the urine diverter and seat with a vinegar-and-water mix to prevent any residue, then follow with a pleasant-smelling cleaner to keep it smelling fresh. It takes less than a minute but makes a big difference. <\/p>\n If I could change one thing on the Cuddy Lite, it would be the ability to lock the retractable cover in place. When I\u2019m cleaning the cover, it tends to move around as I wipe it down, and I have to hold the knob in the closed position to keep the cover from sliding from one side to the other. It\u2019s not a dealbreaker, but a locking mechanism would make the whole process easier.<\/p>\n The only real cleaning challenge is the inside of the pee jug. The opening is too small to get in there with a brush, so it\u2019s pretty much impossible to scrub out any buildup that forms over time. All you can really do to clean it is rinse it out with water, and if the jug ever gets too gross, Compocloset does sell replacement pee jugs.<\/p>\n Since the Trelino is the closest competitor to the Cuddy Lite, I wanted to provide my comparison now that I\u2019ve used both. <\/p>\n Before getting the Cuddy Lite, I was using the Trelino in my truck camper. After a few months using the Trelino down in Baja, I was really<\/em> disappointed with it \u2014 and honestly confused why my experience didn\u2019t match all the glowing reviews I\u2019d read. That frustration is what pushed me to keep searching for a better solution.<\/p>\n While the Cuddy Lite and the Trelino, are designed to do the same thing \u2013 separate liquids and solids in a compact, portable toilet \u2013 my experience with them couldn\u2019t have been more different.<\/p>\n So how does the Cuddy Lite compare to the Trelino?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The Cuddy Lite outperforms the Trelino in every way that matters \u2013 smell, usability, and overall design. It does cost a little more, but in my opinion, it\u2019s worth it for something that you rely on every single day and that plays such a big role in keeping your van odor-free.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n If you\u2019ve made it this far, you\u2019re clearly serious about upgrading your toilet setup. As a thank-you for reading, I\u2019ve got a little bonus for you.<\/p>\n Use the code \u201cBEARFOOTTHEORY30<\/strong>\u201d at checkout on Compocloset\u2019s website<\/a> to save $30 on your purchase of the Cuddy Lite. <\/strong><\/p>\n The Cuddy Lite is also available select RV and van-life gear retailers. However, ordering direct is usually the best option since they offer free shipping to the US and Canada and a free 30-day return policy for unused products. This means if you buy it and it doesn\u2019t fit in your van like you thought it would, you can return it without a hassle. <\/p>\n The Compocloset website also has a great resources page<\/a> that is worth checking out if you have general questions about composting toilets.<\/p>\nCuddy Lite Overview<\/h2>\n
Specs<\/h3>\n
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Cuddy Lite Pros<\/h3>\n
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![\"Kristen](\"https:\/\/bearfoottheory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Compocloset-Cuddy-Lite-Review-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nCuddy Lite Cons<\/h3>\n
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Save this post!<\/h3>\n
How does the Cuddy Lite work?<\/h2>\n
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![\"inside](\"https:\/\/bearfoottheory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Cuddy-Lite-1-1024x683.jpg\")
Is the Cuddy Lite a Composting Toilet?<\/h2>\n
![\"Hand](\"https:\/\/bearfoottheory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Compocloset-Cuddy-Lite-Review-38.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nOverall Design<\/h2>\n
![\"Hinge](\"https:\/\/bearfoottheory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Compocloset-Cuddy-Lite-Review-32.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n![\"Kristen](\"https:\/\/bearfoottheory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Compocloset-Cuddy-Lite-Review-7-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n![\"closeup](\"https:\/\/bearfoottheory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Compocloset-Cuddy-Lite-Review-36.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n
Pee Jug<\/h2>\n
![\"Cuddy](\"https:\/\/bearfoottheory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Compocloset-Cuddy-Lite-Review-29.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/bearfoottheory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Cuddy-Valve.jpg\")
![\"battery](\"https:\/\/bearfoottheory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Compocloset-Cuddy-Lite-Review-33.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n![\"Full](\"https:\/\/bearfoottheory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Compocloset-Cuddy-Lite-Review-31.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n![\"Kristen](\"https:\/\/bearfoottheory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Compocloset-Cuddy-Lite-Review-19.jpg\")
![\"Kristen](\"https:\/\/bearfoottheory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Compocloset-Cuddy-Lite-Review-6.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nSolids Bin<\/h2>\n
![\"Kristen](\"https:\/\/bearfoottheory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Compocloset-Cuddy-Lite-Review-13.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n![\"a](\"https:\/\/bearfoottheory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Compocloset-Cuddy-Lite-Review-37.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n![\"Kristen](\"https:\/\/bearfoottheory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Compocloset-Cuddy-Lite-Review-16.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nCleaning<\/h2>\n
![\"Kristen](\"https:\/\/bearfoottheory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Compocloset-Cuddy-Lite-Review-23.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nCuddy Lite vs. Trelino<\/h2>\n
Odor Control<\/h3>\n
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![\"Trelino](\"https:\/\/bearfoottheory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Sprinter-Van-Trelino-toilet-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>![\"Cuddy](\"https:\/\/bearfoottheory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Compocloset-Cuddy-Lite-Review-28-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>Design & stability<\/h3>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/bearfoottheory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Trelino-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>![\"xKristen](\"https:\/\/bearfoottheory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Compocloset-Cuddy-Lite-Review-12-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>Pee System<\/h3>\n
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Verdict: Cuddy Lite vs Trelino<\/h3>\n
Where can you buy the Cuddy Lite?<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/bearfoottheory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Cuddy-LIte-discount-1024x341.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\nComing Soon: Cuddy Lite S 1 Upgrade<\/h2>\n