Photography by Richard Giordano
It was during a European road trip that Richard Peter and his partner, Erica Pugh, realized their composting toilet could be so much better. Peter sketched out various designs, prioritizing a longer drop zone, more effective solids and liquids separation, increased portability, and a unit that was easier to clean. In 2020, CompoCloset was born.
The Cuddy Lite composting toilet is ideal for shorter trips, occasional off-grid adventures, or for guests and visitors. For two people, the 6.5-liter liquids bottle can handle two to three days of use before the LED light indicates the tank needs emptying, while the 14.7-gallon solids bin is good to go for around two to three weeks of use. While the original Cuddy uses an agitator within the solids container, the Cuddy Lite bin allows users to pre-line with compostable bags and add substrate after use, resulting in a more straightforward emptying and cleaning experience.
One of my favorite features of the Cuddy Lite is the urine-diverting cover, which, for splashy pee-ers, diverts any urine over a solid cover through a chute leading to the liquids container at the front of the toilet (preventing too much urine from making its way into the solids container). Odor management is also mitigated by the included carbon filter and internal fan, although the fan is optional and requires a 12-volt hard wire. At nearly 20 pounds and measuring 16.8 x 15.1 x 16.3 inches, the hardy and compact Cuddy Lite is particularly suited to van or expedition builds. I just wish we had the room and weight capacity for it in our current full-time overland vehicle.
$650 | compocloset.com
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Winter 2025 Issue.
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