Nature's Head Self Contained Composting Toilet with Close Quarters Spider Handle Design

We originally intended to purchase just one Nature's Head Composting Toilet for our nonprofit NC mountain retreat property. Unfortunately, we experienced some communication challenges while trying to cancel an order through Amazon that appeared not to have gone through. Long story short, we ended up with two toilets instead of one.... and we're thankful!! Was meant to be in our opinion! As a small startup nonprofit, an unexpected extra $1,000 expense was definitely not in our budget. That said, after actually using the first Nature's Head during one of our FULL capacity restorative retreats, we quickly understood why so many people rave about them. The toilet performed flawlessly. No odors. No mess. No complicated setup or break down using a simple shower pop-up-tent for privacy. Our guests appreciated having a clean, comfortable, environmentally responsible option while several camped and all enjoyed nature-based wellness experiences. It was simple to use, easy to explain, and surprisingly user-friendly for people who had never encountered a composting toilet before. Because it worked so well, we've decided to keep the second unit rather than return it. It will now support our "HiKing to Heal" program, a progressive "couch-to-mountaintop" hiking initiative that helps individuals reconnect with themselves through nature, movement, community, and healing outdoor experiences. Easy to transport, set up, and break down. For anyone building tiny cabins, yurts, treehouses, canvas glamping tents, off-grid retreats, homesteads, mobile setups, or remote recreational properties (like we hope to do in the next 3-10 years), this product is worth serious consideration. The portability alone opens up countless possibilities. We're currently developing a sanctuary where trauma survivors can rediscover hope, resilience, and restoration through nature's therapy, mindful movement, nourishment of body and soul, and supportive community. As we grow, we anticipate adding sustainable lodging options throughout the property, and I have little doubt that additional Nature's Head units will become part of that future. The initial investment can feel significant, especially for small organizations and startups. But after seeing the reliability, convenience, portability, and overall quality firsthand, I can confidently say this is one of those purchases that earns its reputation. If you're on the fence, stay curious and do your research. We did—and despite our unexpected ordering adventure, we're grateful we now have two. Highly recommended.

I can't fully express how well this toilet works. I was a little aprehensive about living full time with a composting toilet. I had done a fair bit of research on the topic in preparation for living in a tiny house and this one seemed to be the clear leader. I had so many concerns: would it have an unpleasant odor? Would it be difficult to use? Would it require constant cleaning? What about installation? Most importantly, HOW WILL I LEARN TO AIM?? Well I am pleased to report after two weeks of full time use that all my concerns are calmed. Firstly, it has no discernable odor, even when the lid is lifted or the upper portion is lifted partially when removing the liquids bottle to empty it every other day or so. Even when in use it us less odiferous than a standard flush toilet because the little onboard fan is constantly whisking any odors right out the vent hose. It is not difficult to use, just sit and go. Open the trap door before a solids deposit of course, but otherwise just do what you do naturally. Installation was easy, this 50 ish woman with slightly above average handy person skills did it in 15 minutes. Cleaning is simple if you spray down the inside of the bowl with a water and white vinegar mix after EVERY use and perform a minor wipe up with a paper towel (which you then just drop into the trap door) if you have a particularly egregious contact mark. Which leads me to AIMING, which is not even a thing, just sit down comfortably. This thing is so well designed that unless you have some wildly divergent anatomy that I can't even imagine, it is a non issue. That trap door is right where it needs to be. Just remember to open it first. And if you are a dude, just sit already, it's ok, nobody is judging you. As for emptying things, the liquids bottle is easy to remove, cap, carry and dump. I have't got to the point of emptying the solids chamber yet ( I used coir fiber available here on amazon as the composting medium) so I will update if it is anything other than as straightforward and simple as all the other aspects of this product. If you want lots of details on that there are several good youtube videos on the topic. The brilliant design, heavu duty construction, super simple installation and stellar online support makes this worth every single penny.

I bought this Toilet system for my vintage Airstream that is parked as a farm dwelling in rural Montana. While it does take a few minutes of reading to understand the system, if you use it with care and pay attention to your output, it works very well. I found it easy to install. I was able to adapt a vent opening to connect the vent hose to the existing toilet exhaust in the Airstream. I trimmed the vent hose to fit nicely. I've got mine in a narrow space so it's not mounted to the floor--I have to pull it forward to release the side clips to empty the urine container and to slide off the solid waste collector. I've just placed a sturdy washable outdoor rubber mat under it and it doesn't slide or tip as the space is snug. Emptying the Urine Container is simple but you do have to empty often--every 2-3 days for 1 person using only this toilet. The solid waste is a bit trickier, but if you follow the directions and upend the solid bin collector into a bag as directed, it's straight forward. Although I could wait longer, I dump the bin every 4 weeks. I'm able to manage it with a bit of effort in the small bathroom space. I use coconut fiber as the composting material--I bought enough to fill a large covered bin which I store outside in all weather--just add the block to your fiber storage bin and add water as directed--when moistened break into pieces--it looks like nice clean brown fibrous material--just allow plenty of room for the coco fiber brick to expand. You can then scoop the coconut fiber into the toilet solid waste receptacle to the right level. When you're ready to empty the solid waste, do stretch the opening of a 13 gallon kitchen bag over the opening of the base tightly over the rim so that you can invert the base and empty the contents into the bag--I use a 13 gallon composting bag. Don't count on the waste to be fully composted when it comes out of the bin although it isn't smelly if you use the toilet as directed. You'll want to dispose of the waste in a responsible manner--further composting or approved disposal method. I dump mine into a fully contained disposal compost system used only for this waste--it will take a long time to fill my system since it contains only the solids from one toilet/one person. I intend to compost it for 2 full years before using it--and then around trees we've planted. So far, I've used the toilet for Fall and Winter use in a mostly heated space but I'll update the review after a full year. I've tried multiple systems for toilet waste--and am very happy with the comfort of the toilet, functionality, cleanliness and appearance. If the costs were less, I'd buy several for our farm--as it is, they're a bit of an investment although I'm very happy to have mine. Edit update. As of May 2022 I’m still completely happy with the toilet and it is still functioning as intended.

I have been using the Nature's Head toilet for about three months on a 34 foot sailboat. Has to be one of the best upgrades any boat owner could ever consider. There is absolutely no problem with odor and the installation was a snap. By far, the most difficult part was removing the old head and all of the associated gear that went with it. The old hoses were nearly choked off from calcium crystals and were only two years old. Removal of the hoses and holding tank provided a huge increase in storage space and it is sure nice to not be sleeping over "you know what" sloshing around in your holding tank. Servicing the liquid tank is a easy, just remove, screw on the cap and dump out when ashore. Make sure you don't lose the cap like I was stupid enough to do. I can't speak yet about emptying the solids container, as it is not close to being ready. I have to say though, there is no way emptying it can be as bad as all the head maintenance required throughout the year. Oh yeah, no winterization work either, big, big plus here in Maine. I did face a few challenges, mostly related to my boat configuration. The NH sits fairly tall just on its on and is a bit larger than most marine heads. That means shorter crew members on the boat are at a bit of a comfort disadvantage. I added a 3 inch raised foot platform, but really needed more like six (in my boat). Side to side access is fine, but check all the measurements carefully before placing in a small space. Same for front to back and make sure you allow for space to tilt the upper assembly when it comes time for solids removal. I have had no issues with small gnats, but based on other user comments I added a small filter screen on the end of the vent hose. We are currently using coco noir for the solids tank. The material is easy to store in compressed form, but does comes with a bit of learning curve when it ones to expanding for use and getting just the right amount of moisture. It can be a messy and frustrating process. Might give peat moss a try on the next refill. Build quality is excellent and overall the design is well thought out. I do think the overall product is a bit overpriced ( six people in my boatyard would buy the head at $500 or less, only two plan to buy at the current price). Even at the current price, I still feel like this was a huge win for cruising comfort.

We live off-grid and have been using this toilet for a little over a year now. There are a couple issues that keep me from giving it 5 stars. It “functions” as expected. We originally used coconut coir as our medium, but that gets expensive really quick. We switched to the giant bags of peat moss from Lowe’s/Home Depot, that works just as well and it is much easier to work with. (No chopping and moistening the coconut coir). Just fill it to just above the churning paddle. With a family of 5, we clean it about once every 7-10 days. (Side note- we are in the desert in Phoenix, so I’d imagine you would clean it out a little more often in a humid/wet climate). As for the toilet itself pros and cons… Pros- aesthetically it looks similar to a toilet. The fan works well and is very quiet, it’s just loud enough to know it’s working if you’re right next to it. The churning lever is easy to step on to rotate it. I don’t recommend using your hand. Cons- the plastic is microscopically pitted (the best way i can describe it). So over the past year, it doesn’t have a super clean look anymore. I have tried everything (bleach, comet, sos pads, magic erasers, etc) and nothing will get it back to white. The flap that you open is all but impossible to clean and is also stained around the edges. (We are extremely clean, so I know if I’m struggling, most people would have to be also). The pee bucket has also become so discolored that you can no longer tell the level. So we just empty it every day now, that’s a pain. Also, the latches are, in my opinion, upside down. When you go to unlatch it, you have to hole the latches back while lifting at the same time or they drop and catch back on the hook part. Which I super fun when your face is 6 inches away from the toilet. Ugh! So… is it worth it… I suppose. I mean all compost toilets are essentially toilet shaped buckets. It 100% does what it’s supposed to do, but for the money I feel like it could have been a bit better quality and “cleanable”.

First off I cannot say enough for the customer service we've received from Nature's Head. Michael in technical support is incredibly helpful, and one of the most genuinely good people to work with. He has helped us with fan issues, and venting questions, and always returns calls promptly. My wife and I bought this toilet for a van life conversion, and installed it in our bathroom. We use coconut noir and this toilet is working great for us. The one thing worth mentioning is when we first got it when didn't realize there are two positions the flap closing handle can rest at. When you just give it a light flip up it doesn't quite close all the way because there's a little bit of friction that comes into play as it seals against the bottom of the bowl, so we had some slight issues with the urine diverting feature. However, we found that if you pull on that handle a little more it will shift into a completely closed position, and the urine diversion works perfectly. With this knowledge, and the vent in place, it truly has no smell-as advertised. The urine tank is easy to empty, and a simple rinse out with water each day or two helps prevent smell build-up. The composting area for feces works well, and is easy to clean out. Simply remove the seat and dump the contents in a garbage bag to either dispose of or fertilize with. Also, this toilet is sturdy. I accidentally ran over it with my van after forgetting I had left it in front of it, and it still works perfectly! This toilet is so tough you can run over it, and it will still hold sh**. I would recommend this toilet to anyone!

Quality item, feels well built and is intuitive to use. Easy installation. It's a pain to empty the main compartment and disassemble the whole thing but it's been problem free a year later.

Terrible Design I could only recommend this if you are a single male living alone and don't rely on it 100% to allow the composting process to properly work. 1. For two people, the urine jug will require emptying every single day and REEKS during every step of that process. 2. Main compartment will require emptying every 1.5-2 weeks (less if you put toilet paper in) and by then is a sludge of wet smelly poop. There is nothing earthy about the smell or look. 3. When you do attempt to lift this thing to empty it, it is too unwieldy for a single person to do alone. One person must hold bag over opening while other person lifts and tips it. While it is upside down shit will get into the inside of a lip on the top edge. (You need to spray this out with a hose everytime) 4. Mixer does not mix in dirt at the edges and corner of bucket, wasting over 50% of the dirt in there. You will have to manually mix this in at least once during the cycle. 5. Poop door does not completely fold away. About 1/2" of it sticks proud into the opening and poop will get on there and buildup, causing urine hitting the door in the future to not drain away properly (adding to urine in the bucket next time the door is opened) and getting poop into the diverter mechanism which is not accessible for cleaning. 6. Urine diverter is extremely hard to clean scale off, as its inside a sealed compartment with only a few small holes for access. 7. Women will have to pee first before opening door to poop, have fun doing that. When they are done and door is opened a small amount of pee will drip into bucket as girls cant control what direction their urine goes and mess up the whole system. Poop dirt will become too damp. 8. Fan just isnt powerful enough. Poop does does not dry out. It also isn't powerful enough to prevent backflow of air when your main bathroom fan is on during a shower. Anytime you take a shower your bathroom gets filled with humid stinky poop air. Fun. 9. Cost is insane. $1000 for 75¢ of plastic and some off the shelf hardware. I could justify the cost if it worked as advertised (no smell, 3-weeks+ between emptying) but that just isn't the case. I will spend hundred+ a year on the coco coir alone which is over 100x the cost of the water in a normal toilet. 10. I also spend much more on toilet paper as this thing always requires wiping down after every use, even though you cant get to most of the areas that really need the cleaning. You literally have to take this thing apart and have a pressure washer w/ fine tip nozzle to get into the small areas that get caked in awfulness. 11. Bowl is far too small. If you're lucky about 1/4 of the time your turd will go right in the hole (if you perch forward, straighten your back, and have a small member that wont get smashed into the front of the bowl (this feels very unhygienic, just asking for UTIs really.) If you are well endowed or even slightly above average (and are a shower) your willy will not fit into this thing even when sitting all the way to the rear. 12. This is damaging to relationships. I am way to intimate with both my own and my partners waste now. Even after 6 months I am not acustomed to this yet. Maybe if it actually worked. You argue about who will take out the pee, or at the very least it is one more chore that needs to be delegated. You will be resentful for them using it and filling it up. You will be embarrassed about the mess. You will lose attraction to your partner after looking at and smelling their feces every day. I wish I had bought the C-Head for half the price.

This was one of my favourite purchases in a long time! I'm excited any time I get to use it. It gives me freedom from having to use water for the bathroom.

funktioniert einwandfrei

Das Teil hat jetzt 2 x 4 Wochen Skandinavien hinter sich + einige Kurzurlaube in Deutschland, den Lüfter habe ich immer noch nicht angeschlossen, bisher keine Geruchsbelästigung vorhanden, Funktion und Stabilität immer noch unverändert gut. Wie es bei einer Außentemperatur größer 25°C mit den Gerüchen ist kann ich noch nicht beurteilen.

Had our Natures Head nearly a year now, not the cheapest on the market, but there's a reason for that; it's a well made piece of kit, well designed and customer service is exceptional. Unless you have a fairly arrid climate a fan is a must. Easy to install and maintain.

This toilet works as well as promised. It is easy to use and is odour free. Assistance regarding a power supply for the vent fan was easy to a access and Brian was very kind and prompt. Thanks.