I had plumbers in the day the SheWee arrived. As I pulled it out of its packaging one of them, obviously attracted by the SheWee’s bright pink casing, spotted it and asked “What is that?” Holding it up I replied “What do you think?” They both stared at it for a moment before he finally twigged, “It’s so you can stand up!” I had to laugh, it’s really not the sort of conversation you expect to have with your plumber.

The SheWee is indeed a device that allows you to stand up while you go to the toilet. This device has already been snapped up by the military and medical services, it could also be of help to anyone planning on camping or heading off to a festival this summer.

The SheWee and various imitations have been around for a while now, but I’ve never seen one quite like this before. This SheWee looks much like the original, with two differences; Firstly it comes with the above mentioned pink casing, which when opened, revealed not only the SheWee but a pink piece of piping! Myself and the plumbers were perplexed by this, until the packaging revealed it to be an Extension Pipe to be used with bulky clothing - Very useful if you happen to be outdoors in chilly temperatures. I did worry that the SheWee was too small to be secure, but when I mentioned it to one of our reviewers (an avid runner), she pointed out that smaller is far more useful in order to fit it into a pocket.

It takes a bit of faith when you first stand before a toilet with your clothing still on. I was much cheered by the thought that I could throw myself into the shower were anything to go wrong. Luckily everything functioned perfectly. I slid it through the fly of my trousers and wished myself luck. Half-way through I attached the extension pipe to see if there was much of a difference. Aside from having to step back, it was just the same.

My first surprise was the pee didn’t come out in a straight line, instead it curled as it fell (or maybe that’s just me). My second surprise was how difficult it is to actually aim into a toilet bowl, particularly when you get splash back. Neither of these points would matter if you were using the SheWee out in a field, in your work bathroom you may need some practice to get it right.

After you’ve finished you can then dry the SheWee with paper to wash at home, or rinse it off in water. Made of plastic, the SheWee is non-porous so unlikely to carry germs if dried off properly. If in doubt it can also withstand being boiled or cleaned in disinfectant.

To my knowledge the SheWee only comes in pink, is the length of my hand and is lighter than a small mobile phone. While travelling, the SheWee can either be carried in its casing or on its own in your handbag. When using, remember to pee steadily and wait until you have finished completely before removing (or you shall wet yourself). Where to use the SheWee? Public toilets, outdoor areas, sporting events and anywhere else you can think of. (Ed’s Note – being aware of the legalities of Public Urinating might be advantageous ;-) There is a Spot Fine in the UK for this behaviour in certain circumstances)

Do I like the SheWee? I was apprehensive at first, but am now completely convinced of the fabulousness of this gadget!

Available from www.houseofbath.co.uk and other retailers for £11.95.

See www.shewee.com for more information.