Reliance Luggable Loo review

What it is and who it suits

Reliance calls the Luggable Loo its most economically priced portable toilet. It is a bucket-style toilet with what Reliance describes as a traditional snap-on, hinged seat and cover. There is no tank, no pump and nothing to plumb: you line the bucket, use it, and change the liner.

It suits a household that wants a stable, proper-height seat for the days when the water is off or the sewer is backed up, and that is willing to buy bags and an absorbent separately. This review is researched, not tested. Reliance's own site would not load from our server, so the details come from Reliance's catalog and from retailer pages that carry Reliance's product copy.

Size, weight and what comes with it

Overton's lists the Luggable Loo at 13.5 by 13 by 15.56 inches and 3 pounds, with Reliance part number 9853-03. Another distributor lists it at 2.98 pounds. At that weight it is easy to carry to whichever room or yard spot you set it up in.

Reliance says the toilet comes with a free sample of its Bio-Blue toilet deodorant. Waste bags are not included. Reliance pairs it with its own Double Doodie bags, which its catalog describes as having a sealable, leak-proof outer bag, sold with or without its Bio-Gel waste gelation powder. We could not find a weight limit or a warranty term on a Reliance page; retailer listings disagree on both, so we leave them out.

Setting it up the way health officials describe

Washington State's Department of Health describes this exact setup for when a toilet won't flush: use a five-gallon bucket, add a toilet seat, and line it with a plastic kitchen garbage bag inside another kitchen garbage bag. It suggests putting kitty litter, peat moss, lime or something similar into the inner bag to absorb liquid and help reduce odors.

Once the inner bag is full, tie it up, put in a new one and add more absorbent. The department says to store used bags away from kids, pets and wildlife, for example inside the garbage can in the garage. Ready.gov's basic kit list includes moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation, so a bucket like this sits naturally beside that list.

Hygiene after every use

CDC says handwashing and good personal hygiene are critical to help prevent illness during an emergency. It advises washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and if tap water isn't available, setting up a temporary handwashing station with a large water jug. Without soap and water, CDC says to use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, noting it works less well on visibly dirty hands. Keep sanitizer, wipes and gloves in the bucket so they are there when you need them.

How it compares with the other picks

On our emergency toilets comparison the Luggable Loo sits beside a similar Camco bucket, Camco's portable toilet with a 5.3-gallon holding tank, Reliance's Double Doodie bags and the Cleanwaste WAG Bag kits. The bucket gives you the seat; bags or gel kits do the containing. A tank toilet only makes sense if you have a working toilet or dump station to empty it into.

Verdict, and who should skip it

It is a simple, light seat for a bagged bucket toilet, and that is all it tries to be. Skip it if you will not keep a stock of liners and absorbent, since without them it is only a bucket. Skip it too if you need to hold waste for days with no way to bin the bags, where a sealed tank may suit you better. Our power outage checklist covers the rest of the kit.

Does the Luggable Loo come with bags?

No. Reliance's copy says it includes a free sample of Bio-Blue toilet deodorant, and pairs it with Double Doodie bags sold separately. Two kitchen garbage bags, one inside the other, with an absorbent such as kitty litter, is the method Washington State's health department describes.

How heavy is it?

Overton's lists it at 3 pounds and 13.5 by 13 by 15.56 inches; another distributor lists 2.98 pounds. A lined bucket with waste in it gets heavier fast, so change bags before they are full.

Where do I put the used bags?

Washington State's Department of Health says to tie each full bag and store it away from kids, pets and wildlife, for example in the garbage can in the garage, until it can go out with the trash. Follow your local trash rules.

What weight can the seat hold?

We could not find a weight rating on a Reliance page, and retailer listings give different figures, so we do not quote one. If it matters to your household, ask Reliance before you rely on it.