Sara Baird investigates a portable alternative in composting toilets with the Compo Closet Cuddy.
This summer I wrote about testing out a composting toilet and the freedom it provided when we went tent camping. I loved having the same freedom from using an outhouse or waiting in line for the bathrooms we had when camping in a Camper with a bathroom without the hassle of hauling a camper.
The precious composting toilet I reviewed was small and designed for portability, it worked perfectly for camping for a few days and as a backup when a full bathroom was not available. I had considered using it in our camper remodel but when we travel in our camper we often stay places where we completely rely on our camper bathroom and while it would work I didn’t think it would be ideal.
When Compo Closet reached out to see if I wanted to try out their Cuddy Composting toilet, I thought it could be the solution that we were looking for.
Contents
Compo Closet
Richard Peter dreamed up Compo Closet during his time as a traveler. As he explored options for toilets in their self-converted van he fell in love with composting toilets and found all of the existing models left him wanting. He then designed the Cuddy Composting Toilet and Compo Closet was formed. Compo Closet strives to support its customers in living a sustainable and adventurous lifestyle.
The Cuddy Composting Toilet
Compo Closet sells two versions of the Cuddy Composting Toilet, the Cuddy, which comes with an agitator, and the Cuddy Light which has all the features of the Cuddy without an agitator. The Cuddy Composting Toilet. The Cuddy is built to be compact and portable. It is 16.3 inches high, 15.1 inches wide, and 16.8 inches deep and has stainless steel hinges that allow you to place the toilet flush with a wall. It weighs 21 pounds.
The Cuddy is full of features. It has a 1.7-gallon liquid container with an LED liquid level indicator to indicate when the liquid container is full. The solids container is 3.9 gallons and has an agitator to mix waste with your chosen medium to start the composting process and reduce any smell. It also has a carbon filter to eliminate smell and a fan that allows it to be vented outside.
The Cuddy is designed for easy installation: “Put it down, plug in the power, and done!” The only power sources needed are a 9-volt battery for the liquid indicator and an 11 volt for the fan. Both of these are not required to use the toilet.
How Composting Toilets Work
Composting toilets separate urine and solid waste to prevent smell and make disposal easier. To dispose of the waste you can either dump the urine into a toilet or outhouse or dilute it and put it in your garden. The solid waste can be composted or thrown into a garbage can.
Composting toilets do not require any chemicals, making them environmentally friendly. The solids container can be filled with fill of your choice. Choices include wood shavings, peat moss, coco peat, or litter. The Cuddy has an agitator so you would simply add your fill and then mix it after each use to begin the composting process. The Cuddy Light does not have the agitator so you would add some fill and then add more fill after each use.
The advantages of a composting toilet are that you do not need to deal with a black tank in a camper, portability since it does not need to be plumbed in, and it does not require chemicals like other portable toilet options.
How it Works
To install the cuddy you simply install the batteries, add medium to the solids bin, and ensure that the correct valve is on the liquids container. Then you can simply place it where you would like it and begin to use it. You can use it in a cabin, a camper, or even a tent. Depending on where you use it you may choose to vent the toilet outside or not, instructions are provided on how to do this.
Testing It Out
The Cuddy arrived in October and I was hoping to get in a fall camping trip to test it out but bad weather and illness foiled our plans. Instead, I played around with it at home to figure out all the features. I found the batteries and filter easy to install and needed to remove the cardboard from the agitator for the Cuddy to be fully set up. Compo Closet was even nice enough to send some Coco Noir for me to use as a medium in the solids container. It was super simple to hydrate the coco noir and add it to the solids container.
The seat of the Cuddy was very comfortable and felt very much like sitting on a regular toilet. The height is lower than a standard toilet but not extremely low. I poured in water to test out the liquid container. I noticed that it was not at all hard to send the liquids into the liquid container. The diverter is deep enough that it can tolerate some amount of unlevel ground and still divert the liquid into the correct container.
I was intimidated by the idea of dumping the solids container into a bag rather than just having it bagged up. I decided to give it a dry run and see how difficult it was to empty the coco noir into a bag. It is nice that the container pulls right out and is easy to handle. There is no need to move the toilet. It was not difficult to put a bag over the container and empty it.
My Recommendation
My main interest in a composting toilet was to determine if it would be a good fit for our 5th-wheel camper remodel. We often camp in places where we rely on the bathroom in our camper and occasionally it can be challenging to find a dump station. There are also times when the black tank is full and we don’t want to move. I would be happy with the Cuddy in our camper. I found it was comfortable and easy to use. Since I did not get to test it out on the road, I read reviews of others who have them and found that people didn’t have issues with smell and were happy with the Cuddy.
I appreciated that is it comfortable to use and that it is compact and can be placed flush with the wall. The diverter was designed well and works as it should. The size of the Cuddy is large enough that it can be used regularly without constantly needing to empty it but not so large that it can’t be portable. It would fit in a cabin, camper, van, or even an option when tent camping in a car.
I was very impressed by the customer service offered by Compo Closet when I picked out the model. They even offered to send me to “potty training” to ensure I knew how to use the toilet correctly. There is also a Facebook group for Cuddy owners to discuss experiences and Compo Closet staff are active on the site providing support as needed.
My only reservation about the Cuddy is that I’m not sure I want an agitator. I would feel better about using a compostable bag to line the solids container. I think this is only something that I will be able to figure out with use. I think while traveling I would prefer a liner but could see how an agitator would be helpful when using it in a cabin or when stationary. The cool thing is that I can purchase a solids container without the agitator for only $35 from Cuddy and use that in place of the agitator. That way I can use either option as it fits my comfort level.
Have you used a composting toilet or would you consider one for your van, camper, or rustic cabin? I would love to hear your thoughts. You can check out the Cuddy at https://compocloset.com/product/cuddy/
I am an adventurer at heart, always looking for the next opportunity to learn something new. I spend my winter days working with high school students to explore their interests and develop passions.
I spend my evenings and summers developing new hobbies and being outdoors as much as possible. I enjoy camping, hiking, cross country skiing, and biking.
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
-
Sara Bairdhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/sara-baird/
Sara Baird, your insightful exploration of the Compo Closet Cuddy Composting Toilet showcases its potential for camping and RV adventures. Your detailed review, from installation to practical use, offers valuable insights. The Cuddy’s portability, eco-friendliness, and customer service impress. Your consideration of using a compostable bag or opting for a solids container without an agitator reflects thoughtful user preferences. Thanks for sharing your experiences and contributing to a sustainable lifestyle discussion.
I am not a camping sort thus far although it does sometimes appeal to me to drive out to nowhere and setup a tent to sleep under the stars but I have not done it thus far. When I do, I believe the composting toilet would come in really useful and a rather comforting item to have – not to deal with groping around in the dark trying to find a toilet. I think that it is really smart that you did a dry run first to test out some of the functionalities. I am really glad to know of the existence of a portable toilet: I can think of many instances when it would have come in handy – traffic jams when you gotta go…
I don’t have a camper nor go camping very often, so I didn’t think that in remote areas, you would need a toilet. Especially when you camp in places where there is no water supply. I think this compost toilet is a great idea, especially that it separates the solids and the liquids, and that is very easy to clean. The agitator looks like a very useful tool, on the bigger version of this closed cuddy.
I do not have a camper, but I can imagine that a composting toilet is a good addition to a camper. Acutally I used a composting toilet at a holiday cottage of friends. They started living permanently there in summer, but there was no plumbing installed, so they opted for a composting toilet and never regretted it.
I didn’t know about this. Thanks for sharing your honest review.
This is the first, I am hearing of a composting toilet. While reading your post, I was thinking how useful this would be for the villages in India. It would work as a cleaner option to outdoor crapping. I would certainly like to check this out.
I’ve never heard of a compositing toilet. Thanks for explaining how it works.
I appreciate your honest assessment of its features and functionality, especially how it could fit into different camping scenarios.
I’ve been researching composting toilets for my upcoming camping trip, and the Compo Closet Cuddy sounds like it could be the perfect fit. Your firsthand experience and insights have been incredibly valuable in helping me understand its functionality and benefits.
This review gave me a much better idea of what to expect with a composting toilet. Thanks for the thorough and honest assessment. The Cuddy seems like a compact, convenient, and eco-friendly option to consider for future DIY campervan builds.
This would come in handy if you go camping. I would prefer this than having to squat.
Perfect item for those with an RV or camper. Looks like it would break down waste easier.
This is such a cool product! I love how it is compact, portable, and odorless. It sounds like a great solution for camping and van life. Thanks for sharing your experience with the Cuddy composting toilet!” 😊
If I took up camping, I would definitely want to invest in my own composting toilet so would check out the Compo Closet Cuddy. There is nothing worse than the thought of trying to find outdoor toilets in the middle of the night! It looks like it is portable enough and easy to set up. Great idea to test it out at home and figure it all out in advance. And some experience will help to decide if you need the agitator version.
Who knew a toilet could be so cool, right? Perfect for those camping trips where nature calls, but you still want to be eco-friendly. I highly recommend this Compo Closet Cuddy Composting Toilet for people who are always on the go.
This is so cool, no need to mess on the ground anymore when going camping. Great product.
oh this is a must-have for sure! We camp yearly so this is a great to have. Thank you so much for the recos.
Thanks for sharing this innovative camping essential! The Compo Closet Cuddy is now on my radar for our next outdoor escapade.
Thank you for sharing your experience with the compost closet cuddy. It sounds like it would be a great fit for campers needs and the customer service offered by Compo Closet is impressive. It’s good to hear that the size of the Cuddy is practical for use in various settings and the agitator handle is easy to access.
I love this composting toilet. It’s small and pretty handy and looks good too. Not too many people know that human feces is good as a fertilizer.
The Compo Closet’s eco-friendly approach and the convenience it brings to outdoor adventures are a winning combo. Who knew a composting toilet could make such a difference in the camping experience?
Hey, that’s a game-changer for camping trips. I hate getting up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom while camping. That’s true if there’s a community bathroom and worse if there isn’t, lol
This is an excellent idea for those who travel in motor homes or camp. Thanks for the info.
What an interesting little toilet. It is nice to know that this is an option that is available.
I’ve always wondered how a composting toilet worked. I would have to vent it outside if I was using it indoors, but glad it comes with the instructions on how to do this. I also like that it looks like a regular toilet when you open the lid. Not sure I would choose a composting toilet for indoors, but if it is the only option, I guess it works.
That’s great that folks didn’t have an issue with the smell. It seems like a great solution for camping or tenting. We have an RV and I think this would be a perfect addition in a pinch!
I kind of like the idea of an agitator. I feel like it would make things break down more quickly, and for me, eliminating the bag helps cut down on more environmental waste. Above everything else you listed here, though, the customer service is what sells me on this brand.
What a clever idea – a composting, portable toilet. Thanks for the honest review.
Your post on “The Compo Closet Cuddy Composting Toilet” is an informative and practical guide for outdoor enthusiasts. The detailed information about this specific composting toilet, its features, and benefits for camping or outdoor activities provides valuable insights. Thanks for sharing this resourceful review, it’s a helpful read for individuals looking for eco-friendly and efficient solutions during their outdoor adventures. Keep up the great work!