Pee Bottle and Backpacker Magazine (Marc h)

“On the second to last page of ?backpacker Magazine (March 2001)? is an article about using a pee bottle, to avoid leaving the warm tent in a down poor. So my question is, How many of you use them. Then my next question is how many of you subscribe to backpacker mag?”

“No pee bottle use here. Do use them when caving though, pee in a cave messes up the caves system.
I do not subscribe to backpker, but pick one on pretty reg. basis.”

“I do both. I would highly reccomend the first and the second is nice to have in the bathroom at home(but not really as informative as I would wish).”

“I think I'm going to try it on my next camp out”

“Have used pee bottles (empty water bottle) on a couple of trips.

Cold/snow
Rain.

Kinda hysterical. Got to make all sorts of crude jokes iwth my camping bud.

Whatever cracks you up at 2:30 am.”

“I never used one, but I can see the value of one for cold winter camping.

I read some posts on the subect on an AMC thread. One piece of advice several mentioned was, make sure that you can tell your pee bottle from your water bottle in the dark when you are half asleep and fumbling around in the dark. ThI think some people have learned that from experience.)”

“I use a pee bottle in the tent - grew up using one in the fishing boat. 22 oz Gatorade bottle is standard fare.
I heard one guy recommend sleeping with it when winter camping - "keeps you warm like a hot water bottle" he said

Not in my sleeping bag, Jack”

“I subscribe to Backpacker, but I never use a pee bottle. I had to pee in a bottle in the hospital for 29 days when I had a bone marrow transplant and it brings back bad memories.”

“I've liked the idea since I first heard of it, but I still have yet to do it. Can't get myself to taint a Nalgenes that I'd use sooo much more often for drinking water.

Last weekend I woke up and had to go. Well, I unzipped my sleeping bag, shimmied over to the edge of my groundcloth, stuck my hip out as far as i could and went. The snow soaked it right up. Chalk up another good reason to use a tarp.

My Dad use to make my brother and I pee in a milk jug when we were younger and going to out Aunt's house. Mom, or a dump, got pullover priority. Can't wait till I get to make my kids do it =8o”

“I subscribe to Backpacker, but not the pee bottle thing. Yes, it sounds great, but that's just one more thing I gotta carry. My pack is small enough as it is. Sure would be handy though.

I wonder if anybody has a pee bottle horror story, like:

I was peeing in my bottle and shivering from the cold and, well, I lost my grip (on the bottle or otherwise) and spilled it everywhere.”

“thats the one thing that is holding me back now.”

“Search the threads, a few pee bottle disasters.”

“I subscribe to Backpacker magazine. It is OK. I like the gear reviews and food related articles the most. Sometimes the describe a hike I would like to try.

Haven't used a pee bottle. I rarely camp in cold or rainy weather, so it's not a big deal.

(I think I will save the next gatorade bottle I see, however.)”

“Don't subscribe to backpacker. Have used a pee bottle - it's actually on our gear list for a bike trek I do. We camp in a tent city with few trees and porta potties seem far away in the night.”

“I use a pee bottle (gatorade) when its snowing or really cold. Never had any problems, or accidents.

I subscribe to Backpacker. I've gotten good trip ideas from some issues.”

“Yes to both. Will not be renewing.
Pee bottle very handy when cold or buggy!”

“Been a subscriber since '96. I've learned a lot by reading it, and reading old ones again. Some things I find entertaining. Some elementary. Some useful and informative. I suppose if I were the Editor, I might try to include something for everybody, too.

Pee Bottle: For short hikes & weekenders, probably not a bad idea, though get yer skull & cross bones ready. Longer hikes, & BP... I'm wet on the inside, I can tolerate a little wet on the outside (rain). I don't (yet) camp in the winter, so it's not that big an issue for me. Yet.”

“One of the plus's of being a male!!! I don't pack a pee bottle. If I'm lazy and tired, which is quite often when on the trail, I normally will hang it out the other door of the tent. If I am tarpin or sleepin under the stars when it is cold out, I will stand up in the bag and hop away from the sleeping area undo the zipper and just go. I did that in front of my crew boss out in Clearwater N.F. and he could not believe his eyes. I said it was to freakin cold and early and he said you have a point. You just have to avoid the extra shaking.

BP mag, I have paid for the sub. every couple of years but mostly I will either buy it or just read it at the store. It just doesn't cut it for me anymore.”

“I don't see the need really. I never get up and go at night at home so I never need to on the trail.
It's all about bladder capacity and control, and not drinking much before bed time.”

“Both. Wish I had thought of it before our extremely we trip to Cumby last September.”

“Wet, dang it, I meant to say wet.”

“Always carry one in winter. I use an old vitamin bottle, painted yellow, and is shaped differently than any other bottle I have. Never had an accident. Subscribe, but wish the gear reviews were more comprehensive.”

“I haven't done the pee bottle thing cause I'm usually not that lazy but when I am lazy I have a great bladder so I just hold it til wake up time.As for the BP rag I subscribe not because I think it's a great rag totally but I usually get something out of each issue.”

“Yes to both! If you camp in the winter where I go, a pee bottle is a must. Duct tape the pee bottle so you can make sure you are gonna pee in the right one. The only horror story I can think of is catching a cramp trying to contort myself to go while in a bivy.”

“Yes I subscribe.

I'd rather freeze my @$$ off than take a chance at a pee bottle disaster.”

“Tundra -

Likewise. Nasty cramp in my hip just as I was kneeling to go.”

“Guys, make sure the bottle opening is large enough. To much shaking to get the last drops out and something may inflate and get stuck. That would be a good disaster story. Heck, just get a catheter and run a long tube outside. No bottle here but I am working on that pee stand up thing.