Are You Ready To Shewee?
Let it not be said that Team Source doesn't rise to the challenge or take product reviews to the Extreme.
The Source caught up with 'Shewee' at Guilfest 2011 and were invited to sample some items from this ingenious product range - so we headed home with two Shewee Extremes (in Nato green and bright pink) plus a standard Shewee and an absorbent pouch.
The idea behind the Shewee is that it "allows women to urinate whilst standing and without removing clothes which makes it ideal for travelling abroad, festivals, long car journeys and any kind of outdoor pursuit where toilet facilities are absent or less than desirable."
The products themselves are very well presented and come complete with instructions and advice on how to use them.
The Shewee basic comes with a clear resealable bag - making it easy to store in your handbag, backpack or even your pocket, while keeping it clean and your belongings dry - although the Shewee is made to repel liquid and most of it simply falls off and leaves the Shewee drier than you would expect.
The Shewee Extreme in Nato-green and bright pink, comes with a 15cm extension pipe and a handy case for storage. The extension pipe is ideal if you are wearing lots of layers and need that 'little extra' - not just a 'guy thing' after all!
Personally the Nato-green seems a little more inconspicuous but for those of a slightly braver disposition or a real girly-girl, the pink really is bright.
When testing the Shewee for the first time it is advisable to try in the shower as it avoids any 'accidents' while learning.
It does take a while to fidget around and get comfortable, positioning the Shewee where you feel it should be. Once in place it also takes some time to persuade your bladder that it is OK to go.
Progressing to trying while you are dressed but in the privacy of your own bathroom would be the next stage and then getting really comfortable with the whole concept before venturing out.
This handy device is effective to say the least and with correct use prevents any spills or wet clothes and certainly stops the age-old problem that us girls have when caught short or stuck in a long line.
Popping into the gents is a personal option when faced with long queues but the Shewee certainly makes this a more discreet choice.
Children adapt more quickly and if young girls were introduced to the Shewee from an early age then it would become second nature for them to use.
The older generation may take a bit more persuasion but, trust me, if you are out on the golf course or stuck at a festival and faced with a toilet you wouldn't want to sit on then the Shewee is preferable to the 'half-squat'.
If you want to go one step further then carrying some biodegradable feminine wipes with you would be an advantage and the handy Shewee Extreme case has just enough room spare to pop some in.
The absorbent bag is perfect for travelling, especially with young children. The dreaded car journeys and added danger of stopping on a motorway hard shoulder, busy road or country lane, to pop the boys at the side of the curb - or persuade a tearful toddler that she can in fact go 'au naturel' are now a thing of the past.
These bags are ideal for use on the go and since they reseal and have a super-absorbent insert that converts the fluid into a secure biodegradable gel then there is no worry that anything will spill while you are on the move or when you need to re-use them.
Every parent should have a handy supply in the car.
And it is not just children that benefit because the absorbent bags are just as useful for anyone who finds themselves bed-ridden for any length of time - especially after an operation, because they are a great alternative to the dreaded bed-pan.
On the whole the Shewee range is a marvellous collection of 'must-have' accessories for both men and women, boys and girls.... I certainly wish I'd had a Qeezee in my car on more than one occasion when 'taxi-ing' teenagers home.
For more information and to view the whole range visit: www.shewee.com