coleman large portable flush  toilet review

Coleman Portable Toilet: A Gem or a Curse?

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Porta potties are the new craze among campers, RVers and hikers. The one-time idea has materialized into reality and the market is booming with different types of portable toilets.

With such a toilet, you carry to the wilderness the much-needed home toilet simulation and comfort.

Environment conservationists have been the happiest with this invention since with it, pooping in the woods is becoming a thing of the past and pollution of the wild with human waste is edging closer to eradication.

Does the Coleman porta potty live up to these expectations or is it just a worthless piece of large, portable plastic? Let's find out in this review that sums up pretty much everything about the Coleman toilet.

Our Verdict? Not the best of portable toilets.

Any Better Alternatives? Find them here: The 20 Best Portable Camping Toilets.

Coleman Toilet Features: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

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The Coleman portable toilet is large and boasts of the ability to hold close to 5 gallons of fresh water. Thanks to this, you can flush the toilet repeatedly. To save on water, it is advised that you flush only when the need arises. Fresh, clear water should be ideally used to give the toilet bowl a clean and fresh look.

A self-contained holding tank is part of the toilet’s design. The waste holding tank consists of a storage capacity of roughly 5.3 gallons. This means that the toilet can be used severally depending on the nature and bulk of the waste. A bad stomach may sometimes be a hindrance to a campers’ experience forcing them to use a toilet frequently. The Coleman toilet will help a great deal in such a situation.

The lid of the toilet snaps down and fastens securely. The snap down feature makes the Coleman one of its kind in the market. The lid snaps down securely and fast, and this comes in handy when you urgently need to use the toilet.

Notably, Coleman toilet has an ergonomically designed seat which offers extra comfort as you conduct your business. You can comfortably read a newspaper or a magazine as you go about your business. The seat is designed in a way to allow your butt to fit snuggly. Also, the well-contoured design ensures that you feel at home when using it.

A locking slide valve as part of the Coleman design allows you to flush one-handedly. Minimal effort is required while flushing thanks to the locking slide valve design.

The extra compartments that this toilet harbors can be used for storage purposes. Chemical disinfectants and other sanitation products can be stored comfortably in the separate compartments that are part of this toilet’s design.

Modeled handles allow for easy carrying of the toilet. The toilet is heavy especially when full, but the modeled handles make the load a bit bearable.

A hose connector is part of the toilet design. Thanks to the connector, you can easily clean the toilet when need arises.

The toilet is made of sturdy plastic and thanks to this, it is sufficiently durable. The toilet can be used for a long time, and every time you use it you rest assured of an almost top-notch service.

On the downside, a number of issues are noted. First, the clean water tank used for flushing can hold more water (5.3 gal.) than the waste reservoir (5 gal.). If you don’t keep an eye on the waste tank, then the toilet can overflow creating a big mess.

Second is the low height. The Coleman has a disgruntlingly low height which will see your chin kiss your knees every time you use it; this negates the other comfort features that this product carries.

Another downside you may have to deal with are the possible leaks around the flush button, through the center hole, and through the pump valve every time you flush.

And the leak doesn’t stop there; the waste-holding compartment is also a nightmare if you overflow it with flush water. Carrying it to the emptying destination, you may have to bear with awful leaks.

As a matter of caution, you will have to always make sure that you don’t overflush the waste compartment with the excessive flush water.

Our feelings and general concensus was that there are better flushing portable toilets other than the Coleman.

Pros
  • It is somehow durable.
  • Comes in different sizes, the most liked one being the large size.
  • Cleaning a dump from the toilet bowl is easy.
  • It provides extra comfort.
Cons
  • Made of plastic.
  • It may leak around the flush button and the pump valve handle.
  • It has no pour out spout for emptying.
  • The toilet bottom may crack especially after repeated use by relatively large users.
  • It is heavy.
  • Its height is too low for comfort.

Bottom Line

The Coleman toilet has had mixed reviews among campers and hikers alike. It has received a fair share of criticism with some arguing that the company could have done much better especially given the fact that its other outdoor products are marvelous. For Coleman to manufacture a porta potty that doesn't quite match the best in the market is unforgivable.

Generally speaking, there are other better options for camping portable toilets other than the Coleman.

What to Consider If You Must Buy the Coleman Toilet

There are several things that you need to consider before making the decision to buy the Coleman toilet. Listed are some of the things that you ought to have in mind:

Cleaning Tips for the Coleman Toilet

Cleanliness of any toilet is ideal for comfortable use of the amenity. It is also advised that you regularly clean the toilet to avoid making it a possible health danger. Listed are some cleaning tips that will go a long way in making sure that your porta toilet does not become a health hazard:

Cleaning chemicals:

A broad range of cleaning chemicals can be used to clean camping toilets. The cleaning chemicals should be utilized on a regular basis. Manufacturers and dealers in the industry advice the use of environmental-friendly products. Environmental-friendly products are those that eliminate harmful chemicals that would negatively impact on the environment. Such products include but are not limited to:

Purchase of cleaning chemicals should be in bulk. Bulk purchases reduce chances of wasting the cleaning chemicals.

Coleman Toilet Maintenance Tips

Maintenance of a portable commode is an absolute must for sanitary and hygiene purposes. Not only should you maintain the toilet for sanitary reasons, but also for compliance and smooth operation of the amenity. Some of the activities recommended as part of maintenance routine include:

Charlie Leone

Website Owner/Editor

Welcome to CampingManiacs

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Campingmaniacs.com consists of Charlie Leone and his family team of outdoor lovers. Ever enthusiastic about life outside, we truly enjoy being in nature through camping, hiking, and many other activities making us well-equipped to inform you about the outdoor life.

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cleone@charlesjleone.com

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