A “pee pouch” for women usually means one of two things: a disposable urine bag that turns urine into gel, or a pee funnel you use over a toilet or outdoors. They solve different problems. A urine bag is for when there is no toilet at all. A funnel is for when there is a toilet you would rather not touch, or open ground outside.
We make The Pee Pocket, which is a funnel, not a bag. The urine bag details below come from the sellers’ own listings, checked November 2026, and we say plainly when a bag is the better choice.
The short answer
- Stuck in a car, traffic jam, small plane or tent with nowhere to go: a urine bag with gel.
- Dirty restrooms, portable toilets, festivals, hiking and travel: a pee funnel.
- Both are likely on the same trip: carry a funnel and one urine bag, and use the funnel into the bag.
Urine bags: how they work
Disposable urine bags contain an absorbent powder or pad. When urine goes in, it turns into a gel within seconds, so the bag will not slosh or leak, and you seal it and throw it away.
- TravelJohn uses a polymer its sellers call LiqSorb, holds about 28 fl oz (800 cc), and has a unisex adapter for use sitting or standing (Campmor listing).
- Brief Relief sells a liquid waste bag for women with a one-way funnel that guides urine to the bottom of the pouch and gel that solidifies it (Rescue Essentials listing).
Their strength is that they need no toilet and no ground. Their weakness, for women, is the opening. A bag mouth or small adapter is easy to miss, especially sitting in a car seat, so practise before you rely on one.
Pee funnels: how they work
A female urination device, or pee funnel, covers the whole area and channels urine through a spout. You stand, stay mostly dressed, and aim into a toilet, a portable toilet or the ground. Nothing is stored, so there is no weight or capacity limit.
The Pee Pocket is a single-use funnel. It folds flat, comes individually wrapped with a wipe and a disposal bag, and goes in the bin after use. See the disposable pee funnel page for how it is made.
Urine bag vs pee funnel at a glance
| Urine bag (gel) | Pee funnel (The Pee Pocket) | |
|---|---|---|
| Needs a toilet or ground? | No | Yes |
| Holds urine? | Yes, about 800 cc for TravelJohn | No, directs it away |
| Ease of aim for women | Harder; small opening or adapter | Easier; covers front to back |
| Position | Sitting or standing | Standing, or perched |
| Packed size | Flat pouch | Folds flat |
| After use | Seal the gelled bag and bin it | Seal in its disposal bag and bin it |
Which to pack for each trip
- Road trips: funnels for rest stops and roadside stops; one urine bag for traffic jams. See pee funnels for road trips.
- Flights: a funnel for the lavatory, so you never touch the seat. See air travel.
- Camping and hiking: a funnel, used at least 200 feet from water. See camping.
- Festivals and stadiums: funnels for portable toilets and long lines.
- Ice fishing, hunting blinds, long shifts in a vehicle: urine bags, with a funnel to make aiming easier.
Using a funnel with a urine bag
If you do need a bag, a funnel makes it much easier. Hold the bag open and low, place the funnel as normal, and put the spout into the bag opening. The funnel handles the aim and the bag handles the storage. Seal both and throw them away together.
Try a funnel for $3.99
A 3-pack gives you one to practise with at home and two for the car or your bag. Frequent travellers usually go for the 30-pack, which ships free in the US. First time? Read how to use a female urination device.
Questions
What is a pee pouch for women?
Usually a disposable urine bag with gel inside, sometimes with a women’s adapter. Some people also use the term for fold-flat pee funnels.
Can women use a urine bag in the car?
Yes, but only when parked safely, never while driving. Sitting forward on the seat and using a funnel into the bag makes it easier to avoid spills.
Do gel urine bags smell?
Once sealed, the gel holds the urine and the bag limits odor. Throw it away as soon as you can.
Is a pee funnel or a pee bag better for hiking?
A funnel. On a trail there is open ground, so you do not need to carry urine with you. Bags are for places with nowhere to go.
