An End to Crappy Camping

Answering nature's call isn't always easy. There's the wasted paper, the strategic aiming, and then, of course, the smell. Plus, what do you do with it afterward? If you don't know what we're talking about, well . . . stop reading, because this isn't for you. We're sure your porcelain throne at home is glistening.

But for the outdoor adventurer, the trucker, or the emergency-prepared mother, the Biffy Bag, a new disposable toilet by Ledo Environmental, aims to prevent minor eco-disaster before it starts. The disposable toilet, at $3.49 each, is easy to use, sanitary, lightweight, biodegradable (save for the transport bag), odor-neutralizing, and contains liquid-absorbing powder. When you're done, store it in your backpack (seriously, it won't leak or smell), then drop it off at the next garbage can. Check the website for more details, or watch the online demo.

Greg Ledo, the product's developer, says that there are three things people don't want when dealing with their waste: "They don't want to see it, they don't want to smell it, and they don't want to touch it. The Biffy Bag solves all of this." And let's not get into the details, but it wins points for ease.

Believe it or not, human waste in nature is quite a problem. Just take the word of the American Alpine Club, which recently held a conference called "Exit Strategies" to discuss ways to deal with the issue. Iffy on the Biffy Bag? You can download the conference's podcast for more ideas and information about disposing of waste in remote places.

--Ronny Smith