The Best Car Camping Upgrade Is a Portable ToiletKatherine Keeler - Car and Driver"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."I'm equal parts car girlie and camping girlie, so I've spent plenty of nights sleeping in, on, and around vehicles. Throughout the years, I've learned the best camping gear isn't always the flashiest. Forget rooftop tents and fancy camp stoves. My hot take is that the most underrated car camping upgrade is a toilet.I know, I know, it's not glamorous. But if you've ever stumbled through the dark woods with your phone flashlight looking for a poison-ivy-free place to wee, you get it.AdvertisementAdvertisementI've, ahem, tested more than a few portable toilets at music festivals (paired with a portable changing tent) and dispersed campsites, and, fun fact, I live off-grid for six months of the year. So, yes, I have plenty of real-world use. For me, two models stand above the rest. If you're looking for the best portable toilet for car camping, here's how my recommendations compare.Car and DriverFor this comparison, we're looking at the Boxio Composting Toilet and the OGO Nomad. Both are portable, urine-diverting dry toilets used in off-grid applications such as camping, van life, boating, or hunting where water and plumbing are not readily available. By separating liquid and solid waste, they make disposal straightforward: Liquids are emptied from a dedicated tank in the front, while solids are collected at the rear in a compostable bag and covered with a carbon-rich medium (hemp, coir, sawdust, etc.).The BoxioKatherine KeelerBOXIO Boxio Toilet$200 at amazon.comThe Boxio looks like a Eurobox-style storage container but hides a little toilet. Measuring 15.8 inches deep, 11.8 inches wide, and 11.0 inches tall, it's pretty darn compact.AdvertisementAdvertisementA five-liter tank at the front collects liquid waste, while the rear holds a removable plastic bin that you line, like lining a trash can. Emptying it is simple: Lift the hinged seat, remove the waste bag, and you're done. A second hinged lid closes over the entire unit, making it look like an ordinary storage box when not in use.The biggest compromise is the low seat height, which is simply the price you pay for such a compact design. Boxio does offer riser boxes (or you can stack it on compatible products like its portable sink), but adding height also adds bulk, which, for me, undermines the space-saving appeal that makes the Boxio so attractive in the first place.If you're tight on cargo space, I'd recommend the Boxio. It's light and simple to empty, with a compact design that makes it ideal for folks who need portability.OGO NomadKatherine KeelerOGO Nomad $200 at amazon.comAlternatively, there is the OGO Nomad. It measures 15.4 inches deep, 13.0 inches wide, and 12.4 inches tall. While it's only slightly larger than the Boxio on paper, its dedicated toilet shape creates a noticeably more comfortable seating position.AdvertisementAdvertisementMy biggest frustration with the Nomad is how the upper and lower sections fit together. The seat and lid are molded into one piece that slides onto the lower half with very tight tolerances. The snug fit does an excellent job sealing in odors, but it also makes removing the top (to empty the waste container) more difficult than it should be. Nearly every time I clean it, I spend several minutes trying to separate the halves only to struggle again when lining them back up.I also prefer Boxio's method of securing the waste bag: a removable bin that you line just like a regular trash can. The Nomad instead uses rotating clips at each corner to hold the bag in place. They work, and I haven't had a bag come loose, but they're fussier to use, and it's not as intuitive as simply dropping a liner into a container.Where the OGO clearly wins is comfort. The taller, more traditional seat shape feels much more like using a standard toilet. If you have mobility concerns or are using this for more extended periods, such as in a permanent van-life setup or off-grid cabin, I'd recommend the OGO over the Boxio, despite its extra size and weight.Both toilets are tucked into the space between the tailgate and wheelwell for size comparisonKatherine Keeler - Car and DriverThe VerdictAdvertisementAdvertisementAfter spending plenty of time with both toilets, I don't think there's a wrong choice here. They simply excel in different areas. If you're a weekend camper or a festivalgoer, I'd recommend the Boxio. Compact and lightweight, it disappears into a camping setup.If you're surviving on the road for weeks or months at a time, like living that #vanlife, the OGO Nomad is worth the extra size and weight because the seating position and shape are more comfortable.And yes, this is probably the strangest product comparison I've ever written. But after years of road trips and just being a human with the same biological needs as all of you, I've come to love my portable toilets. It's not the most glamorous piece of camping gear that gets all the attention, but it might just be the one you'll be happiest you bought.Cavan Images - Car and DriverWhy Trust Us?The Gear Team helps readers make informed purchasing choices about automotive gear, tools, and accessories through hands-on product evaluations and comprehensive testing. Car and Driver's renowned testing standards mandate that we use all products we feature and that our findings and recommendations are based on personal experience and knowledge—not hype.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Gear Team's product selection and gear picks are editorially independent; Car and Driver has a strict policy against accepting payment for placement in articles. We won't claim to have tested something we haven't, and we'll never recommend a product we wouldn't buy ourselves.We've evaluated dozens of product categories, including tonneau covers, electric scooters, and GPS trackers. Visit our Tested & Trusted page to see the very best in automotive gear, and learn more about our testing process here.You Might Also LikeGift Guide: Best Ride-On Electric Cars for KidsFuture Cars Worth Waiting For: 2025–2029