A Guide to Choosing the Best Portable Urinal for Women (and Anyone With a Vulva)

Portable urinals are often marketed as “male urinals” and “female urinals,” but those labels are a rough shorthand that can ignore the diversity of bodies and identities. In practice, a “female urinal” usually means a portable urinal designed to fit a vulva (not an identity). In this guide, we use portable urinal for people with a vulva as the most accurate description.

A portable urinal can make life easier for many situations: limited mobility, recovery from injury, bladder urgency, nighttime bathroom trips, road travel, or avoiding unsanitary public restrooms.

Quick Takeaways

• A “female urinal” typically means a vulva-fitting portable urinal with a wide, oval mouth and an angled neck.
• The best product depends on how and where you’ll use it: bedside vs. car vs. travel vs. camping.
• Look for: comfortable seal, stability, leak prevention, easy cleaning, and discreet design.
• Pee funnels / stand-to-pee (STP) devices help direct urine but usually don’t store it.
• Loona by Boom Essentials is designed to be more discreet, stable, and spill-resistant than many standard jug-style urinals.

What Is a “Female” Urinal?

A portable urinal is a container designed to collect urine when a toilet isn’t accessible or practical. When people say “female urinal,” they usually mean a urinal shaped to fit cis women’s anatomy—specifically, a design that seals comfortably against the vulva.

This does not mean the user must identify as a woman. A more inclusive and accurate description is:
a portable urinal designed for anyone with a vulva.

Typical Design Features (Vulva-Fit Portable Urinal)

Most vulva-fit portable urinals share a few physical characteristics:

• Wide, oval-shaped opening (mouth) to create a seal against the body
• Angled neck so it can be held in front of the legs (often more comfortable than positioning between the legs)
• Reservoir to capture and hold urine
• Often made of durable plastic, typically opaque or semi-opaque
• Many include measurement markings for monitoring urine output (useful in medical settings)

Different Types of Portable Urinals for People With a Vulva

Most products fall into a few functional categories. The best choice depends on whether you need storage, spill protection, discretion, or standing use.

1) Standard Vulva-Fit Bedside Urinals (Traditional Style)

These are the most common “female urinal” products. They usually consist of:

• Mouth/opening (contacts the body)
• Neck (connects opening to container)
• Reservoir (stores urine)

Best for: bedside use, short-term recovery, medical monitoring
Trade-offs: often look clinical, may be easier to tip, and may not feel discreet in a home setting

2) Discreet, Home-Friendly Portable Urinals (Loona by Boom Essentials)

Loona is a redesigned portable urinal made to feel less clinical and more like an everyday home object.

Key features highlighted by Boom Home Medical include:

• A soft, contoured funnel designed to create a comfortable seal
• A snap-close lid intended to reduce leaks and spills
• A broad, stable base to help it stay upright
• A more decor-friendly shape (closer to a vase than a jug)

Best for: bedside use where discretion and confidence matter, and for users who want a product that “belongs” in the room
Trade-offs: if you need clinical-style measurement markings or ultra-minimal cost, standard options may be preferred

3) Urination Devices / Pee Funnels (Stand-to-Pee Devices)

Products like GoGirl and Tinkle Belle are typically silicone funnels that allow people without a penis to urinate while standing by directing urine away from the body.

Important limitation:

• Most pee funnels do not store urine. They redirect urine but require a place for it to go (toilet, ground outdoors, bottle, etc.).

Best for: camping, hiking, festivals, travel when bathrooms are unpleasant
Trade-offs: not a storage solution; requires practice for confident use

How Do You Use a Portable Urinal for a Vulva?

Using a vulva-fit portable urinal is usually straightforward. The most common positions are seated or standing. Some products can also be used lying down, depending on shape and seal.

Step-by-Step: Basic Use

1. Position the opening (mouth) snugly against the body to form a seal.
2. Hold the urinal steady (by handle or body).
3. Urinate slowly at first until you’re confident the seal is secure.
4. Keep the seal in place until you are fully finished.
5. Move the urinal away carefully and set it down on a stable surface.

Tips to Prevent Spills

• Maintain gentle pressure to keep a secure seal—especially during the start of the stream.
• Hold the handle firmly to avoid dropping it.
• Wait until the stream fully stops before removing the urinal (starts/stops are common).
• If you’re new to portable urinals, practice in the shower the first time to build confidence.

After You Use It: What Next?

You generally have two options:

• Empty immediately into a toilet or sink, then rinse/clean
• Close and store securely (preferably with a lid) and empty later when convenient

How to Buy the Best Portable Urinal for Women (and Anyone With a Vulva)

The “best” portable urinal depends primarily on your use case. Ask yourself: Where will I use it most? and what problem am I solving?

Choose Based on Your Primary Scenario

If you want a bedside urinal (nighttime convenience)

Prioritize:

• Discreet appearance (so it doesn’t feel clinical in your room)
• Stability (wide base helps prevent tipping)
• Leak/spill prevention (lid or secure closure)
• Easy to locate at night (some products offer glow-in-the-dark handles)

If you want a car urinal (road trips, traffic, emergencies)

Prioritize:

• Secure locking lid
• No-leak design (especially if it might tip)
• Easy one-hand handling
• Odor control and easy cleaning

If you want something for camping/hiking/travel

Prioritize:

• Whether you need storage (portable urinal) vs. direction only (pee funnel)
• Packability and cleaning practicality
• Comfort and ease of use in non-ideal conditions

Universal Buying Checklist (Works for Any Vulva-Fit Urinal)

Look for:

• Comfortable seal: opening shape that fits your body well
• Angled neck: helps positioning in front of legs
• Capacity: enough volume for your typical use
• Stability: a base that won’t tip easily
• Spill resistance: lid, closure, or shape designed to reduce slosh/leaks
• Material: durable, crack-resistant, easy to clean
• Discretion: appearance you won’t mind leaving out
• Ease of cleaning: wide enough access, smooth interior, fewer hard-to-reach corners

Where Can You Buy a Portable Urinal for a Vulva?

Common places include:

• Drugstores: CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid
• Medical supply stores (in-person)
• Online marketplaces like Amazon
• Brand sites such as BoomEssentials.com

FAQs

What do people mean by “female urinal”?

Usually, it means a portable urinal shaped to fit a vulva—a wide opening and angled neck—rather than a product meant only for people who identify as female.

Can anyone with a vulva use a “female urinal”?

Yes. These products are typically designed for vulva anatomy, not gender identity.

What’s the difference between a portable urinal and a pee funnel?

A portable urinal stores urine in a reservoir. A pee funnel (STP device) redirects urine but usually does not store it.

Are portable urinals only for medical problems?

No. Many people use them for convenience, nighttime urgency, road trips, travel, or avoiding dirty restrooms.

How do I avoid leaks or spills?

Focus on a good seal, steady grip, and don’t remove the urinal until you’re fully finished. For travel/car use, a secure lid is especially important.

What features matter most for bedside use?

Discretion, stability, ease of finding it in the dark, and spill prevention. Many people also care that it looks at home in the room.

What features matter most for car use?

Leak resistance, a locking lid, one-hand usability, and stability if it gets knocked over.

Is Loona different from typical urinals?

Loona is positioned as a more discreet, home-friendly design with a contoured funnel for comfort, a snap-close lid for spill protection, and a stable base.

Summary

Portable urinals designed for vulva anatomy—often called “female urinals”—can be a practical solution for mobility limitations, urgency, nighttime bathroom trips, road travel, and more. The best option depends on where you’ll use it most and what matters most to you: comfort, stability, spill prevention, ease of cleaning, or discretion.

If you want a portable urinal that blends into a home setting and is designed to reduce spills, Loona by Boom Home Medical is built around those priorities. If you need a simple, clinical-style bedside urinal, traditional models may work well. And if your goal is standing urination outdoors, a pee funnel may be the better tool.