It’s common knowledge that members of the military face an unbelievable amount of adversity, especially those currently deployed. Not only do they face dangerous, life-threatening situations, but they are also separated from their loved ones for long periods of time.
As if all of that wasn’t hard enough, these brave soldiers sometimes endure it all without even the basic comforts we take for granted, like flush toilets.
I’m sorry, what?
Yup, I said flush toilets. For a long time, wartime soldiers made due with outhouse-style military bathrooms. (Remember the scene in which we first meet Lieutenant Dan in “Forrest Gump”?) They actually burned their waste in metal drums!
Enter the WAG® Bag. The military began issuing the WAG® Bag to soldiers in Iraq in order to provide them with a cleaner, more sanitary toilet solution. While outhouses are still built, soldiers no longer need to dispose of waste by burning it. (That is not a campfire we want to make s'mores around.)
But, What Is a WAG® Bag?
WAG® (short for “waste alleviation and gelling”) Bags are a convenient, portable, and sanitary solution when you need to go on the go. Each bag is filled with a powder that gels and solidifies waste and acts as a decay catalyst, using natural enzymes to break down waste and neutralize odor and bacteria.
- These lined, zipper-sealed bags (think: the ultimate Ziploc bag) are made of durable, puncture-resistant materials.
- The outer bag has a secure zip-top that creates an airtight seal when closed.
- When you’re finished, you can simply toss them into any trash can.
Here are a couple of crucial points to keep in mind when choosing the best WAG® Bag:
Ease of Use
Obviously, the last thing someone wants to deal with in a bathroom emergency is a hard-to-open, tricky-to-use device. Are these bags easy to access and simple to use?
Durability
Since waste bags need to allow soldiers to carry their waste to an appropriate disposal location, you don’t want a bag that will (literally) fall apart under pressure.
Sanitation
A good waste bag is meant to provide a safer, more sanitary solution for soldiers and protect them from bacteria and disease. Does the bag close well and stay closed? Is it double-lined (or triple-lined) to keep waste locked in?
How To Choose?
Now that you’ve had a crash course in waste bags, how will you know which ones to get?
We’ve compiled a short list of portable military toilet solutions from a few brands to get you started.
The Biffy Bag is a small, lightweight option that’s easy to keep on hand. That being said, some reviews claim that while the instructions are straightforward, the actual usage of the bag is a little counterintuitive.
It also doesn’t come with any toilet paper or wipes, which is not so handy when you account for the extra gear you’ll need.
These bags are double-lined, meaning they have an inner waste bag with a sealable, leakproof outer bag. The inner bag comes preloaded with waste powder which removes the step of adding it manually.
Again, these bags do not come with any toilet paper or sanitizing wipes.
While those above are fine options, we recommend The Original WAG® Bag- GO Anywhere Toilet Kit. These bags have a triple barrier and liner for liquid and solid waste complete with a NASA-developed gel to break down waste, allowing it to be thrown away in any trash bin without hurting the environment.
The triple barrier makes these bags both odorless and puncture-proof, and it holds 40 percent more than other products out there! Not to mention, each pack includes toilet paper and sanitary wipes.
The Reliable Bathroom Solution for the Front Lines
There’s a distinct advantage to being able to easily transport and safely deposit waste when the security of your location is at risk.
With Cleanwaste’s complete line of military waste management products, your members can go with confidence.
We’re the creators of The Original WAG® Bag, and years of research went into developing the safety, reliability, and durability of our bags. Cleanwaste doesn’t just have a near-perfect satisfaction rate. We’re an industry leader in the innovation of safe, convenient products that allow users to manage waste in a dignified, reliable, and environmentally-friendly way.
Our solutions are perfect for soldiers, first responders, and anyone who needs functional, portable solutions. No matter where life takes you, Cleanwaste goes where you go. To learn more, check out our full military product line.