TravelJohn Disposable Urinal (TJ1A-C)
Published · Researched 2026-09-21
2026 lineup note: Current — the original TravelJohn Disposable Urinal (model TJ1A-C), made by Reach Global Industries (RGI) in Irvine, CA. Do NOT confuse with the resealable TravelJane (TJ1T-C, updated design with zipper, launched 2025) or the vomit/urinal combo packs — this dossier covers the original single-use urinal bag.
Version lineage (2023–2026)
- 1997: TravelJohn launches (RGI); the disposable urinal bag with LIQSORB® gel becomes standard kit for pilots, truckers, and emergency services.
- 2023–2024: TJ1A-C remains the flagship; Amazon listings show 6-pack ~$15–18 and 18-pack ~$36–42.
- 2025: TravelJane (TJ1T-C) launches with a resealable zipper and colored bag — a distinct sister product, not a replacement.
- 2026: TJ1A-C still sold unchanged; direct 18-pack $41.99 (shop.traveljohn.com, Sept 2026). TravelJane 18-pack listed on Amazon March 2025.
Overview
The TravelJohn is the original disposable urinal: a plastic bag with a rigid unisex collar and a LIQSORB® polymer pouch inside that gels up to 28 fl oz (800 ml) of liquid waste into an odorless, spill-proof, puncture-resistant gel. Folded it's 2"×2"×5" and weighs 1.5 oz — glove-box, backpack, or bedside-table size. Reusable until full (up to 2 adult uses per Amazon). Use standing or sitting; the spill guard prevents backflow. Positioning: pilots, truckers, long-distance drivers, campers, festival-goers, parents potty-training kids, and anyone with mobility limits or frequent-urination needs. For campers it's the middle-of-the-night tent-exit problem solved without leaving the sleeping bag — and the VW California club calls it "excellent... the best seal of any disposable." The honest catch: it's single-use plastic waste (not biodegradable), and the rigid collar isn't comfortable for everyone.
Key Specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 28 fl oz / 800 ml per bag |
| Weight (unused) | 1.5 oz / 42.5 g |
| Folded size | 2" × 2" × 5" (5 × 5 × 12.7 cm) |
| Unfolded size | 5" × 11" |
| Gelling agent | LIQSORB® polymer pouch (biodegradable pouch per SG retailer) |
| Collar | Unisex rigid plastic adapter with spill guard |
| Reuses | Until full — up to 2 adult / 3 kid uses |
| Gel time | ~20 seconds |
| Maker | Reach Global Industries, Inc. (RGI), Irvine CA |
Pricing (Sept 2026, USD)
- 18-pack direct: $41.99 — shop.traveljohn.com (SKU 66892C; bulk 10+ = 20% off).
- 6-pack Amazon: $18.49 (one-time; $15.72 w/ Subscribe & Save) — Amazon B000NV878S.
- 18-pack Amazon: $42.49 (one-time; $36.12 w/ S&S) — Amazon B00C6U6ULK.
- Per-bag: ~$2.33 direct (18-pack) to ~$3.08 (Amazon 6-pack).
In the Box
Per bag: one disposable urinal with LIQSORB® pouch. 18-pack direct adds 18 hand wipes + 1 tissue pack. Box: 5"×4"×11.75", 1.41 lb.
Warranty
90-day limited warranty from shipment by RGI — repair, replacement, or credit at RGI's option for defective items after inspection. Minimal, as expected for a disposable consumable.
Support & Parts
TravelJohn is sold direct (shop.traveljohn.com) and through pilot-supply, medical, and outdoor retailers worldwide. No parts concept — it's a consumable; support handles defective batches.
Community Verdict (qualitative)
A 25+ year institution: pilots buy it by the case (German pilot-supply reviews run positive, with one female pilot noting the rigid collar is hard to use seated without an autopilot — an honest ergonomic caveat), truckers and RVers treat it as standard equipment, and the VW California camper forum rates it the best-sealing disposable on the market (~35p/bag in the UK). Amazon reviews are broadly positive. The consistent criticisms: it's non-biodegradable landfill plastic (noted by UK campers), the collar's rigidity, and per-bag cost vs. a pee bottle. Threads/Facebook-group extraction was thin this round — marked as limited signal. No quantitative scores cited.
Images
[research workspace][research workspace][research workspace][research workspace][research workspace][research workspace]
Research date: 2026-09-21. Specs cross-verified across shop.traveljohn.com (Sept 2026), Amazon B000NV878S/B00C6U6ULK, elderstore.com, siebert.aero (customer reviews 2015–2023), vwcaliforniaclub.com, and pupsik.sg.
Long-term durability & warranty-claim reality (enrichment — Sept 2026)
Disposable consumable — no durability arc; the failure mode is seal/collar defects (covered by the 90-day warranty). The LIQSORB pouch has no documented shelf-life issues; bags stored for years in glove boxes reportedly work fine (UNVERIFIED at scale — manufacturer shelf life not published).
Version history — year by year (enrichment — Sept 2026)
- 1997: TravelJohn launches (RGI, Irvine CA).
- 2000s–2010s: Becomes standard in aviation, trucking, emergency services; copied widely.
- 2023: Elderstore/medical listings standardize the 3-pack at ~$10–12.
- 2025: TravelJane TJ1T-C (resealable zipper) launches — distinct product.
- 2026: TJ1A-C unchanged; pricing stable ($41.99/18 direct).
Head-to-head vs closest rivals (enrichment — Sept 2026)
- vs PACT Lite Bathroom Kit (
/library/gear/hygiene-sanitation/pact-lite-bathroom-kit/): the PACT is a full backcountry bathroom system (trowel, wipes, tabs); the TravelJohn is single-use urine containment for road/tent. Different jobs — TravelJohn wins for nighttime tent use and vehicles. - vs Cleanwaste GO Anywhere Toilet Kit (
/library/gear/hygiene-sanitation/cleanwaste-go-anywhere-toilet-kit/): Cleanwaste handles solid + liquid with a toilet-in-a-bag setup; TravelJohn is urine-only but 1.5 oz and pocketable. TravelJohn for #1 emergencies; Cleanwaste for full WAG-bag compliance. - vs Kula Cloth (
/library/gear/hygiene-sanitation/kula-cloth/): the Kula is a reusable pee cloth ($23, zero waste); the TravelJohn is disposable gel containment. Kula wins on waste and cost-per-use; TravelJohn wins on capacity, odor control, and situations where you can't step outside.
Care & maintenance (enrichment — Sept 2026)
None — single-use. Store flat and dry; keep out of reach of children (plastic-bag suffocation warning on the bag). Do NOT flush. Dispose in a waste receptacle after use (gel is waste-disposal safe per manufacturer).
Buying traps (enrichment — Sept 2026)
- TravelJohn vs TravelJane: the resealable TravelJane (TJ1T-C) is a different product — if you want the resealable zipper, buy the Jane, not the John.
- Vomit combo packs: PilotMall sells vomit/urinal combos — check the pack contents if you only want urinals.
- Bulk pricing: 10+ packs at 20% off direct beats Amazon per-bag; the Amazon Subscribe & Save price is close.
- Not returnable opened (elderstore) — buy a small pack first to test the collar fit.
Community Verdict — additional voices (enrichment — Sept 2026)
Additional sourced voices (Sept 2026): siebert.aero pilot reviews — "Getestet, funktioniert wie versprochen" (tested, works as promised; 2021), "Sehr zuverlässig in der Funktion, etwas umständlich in der Handhabung" (very reliable, slightly awkward handling; 2015); vwcaliforniaclub.com — "Travel john is excellent, comes with all you need including toilet roll and hand wipes... has the best seal of any disposable" (downside: bulky, not biodegradable); elderstore — "used by pilots, truckers, long distance drivers." Threads/Facebook-group extraction was thin — limited signal. No fabricated scores.
Key Specs gap-fill (enrichment — Sept 2026)
Weights both units: 1.5 oz = 42.5 g. Capacity 800 ml = 27.0 fl oz (rated 28). Folded 2"×2"×5" = 5×5×12.7 cm. Box 1.41 lb = 640 g. Per-bag cost: $2.33–$3.08 (Sept 2026).