One of the fun things I get to do, besides Undercurrents, is write the gear review column for KANAWA, Canada's Paddling Magazine. I test-drive the latest and greatest paddling/camping gear, and talk about the best of them. Some we carry in the store, and some we don't.

I just submitted my latest column - it will hit the newsstands in about two months. I thought I would post one of the reviewed items on this blog for your consumption. (The editor will clean it up for publication and make it more readable) It is an interesting item, and we do carry it in the store.

Shewee

The Shewee is a British invention which has proven to be ‘big relief' for women all over the world. Now that it is available in Canada, we had to give it a try. And, when I say "we," I actually mean my beloved had to give it a try, because I'm not qualified to ‘test-drive' this product.

The Shewee is a female urinating device. When paddlers are playing outside and have to ‘go,' we guys need only unzip (70 metres from the water!), do our thing and mosey along. For women, it is a lot trickier to find a sheltered spot, remove half of their clothing, squat down, do their thing, clean up, get fully clothed again and get going, all the while trying to maintain dignity. If it is rainy then women also want to try to stay dry. If it is cold, they lose a lot of heat ‘having a whiz.' If the mosquitoes or black flies are in season - I don't even want to think about it! It is times like that which make me really appreciate being a guy.

The Shewee allows a woman to ‘pee like a man,' with all of its advantages.

The Shewee is actually the 4^th brand of female urinating device that my beloved has test-driven, and she has declared the Shewee ‘the best!' And, she's not alone. The Shewee's inventor, Samantha Fountain won the James Dyson Product Design Award (of Dyson vacuum cleaner fame) for the product, as well as the Silver Award for British Female Inventors and Innovators.

The Shewee is small compared to its competitors, so it is more convenient to keep it with you. Yet its design fits well and easily - most everyone will get it right the first time. And, it is the least expensive of the models tried!

The Shewee is easy to clean, too. When you are done, pull the funnel away to wipe off any last drips. Since the Shewee is made of a hard plastic, giving it a shake will get rid of any drips. If you wish, you can squirt some water from your water bottle into it and it's clean - and, ready for the next time.

According to my beloved, "size matters!" Shewee has an extension available ($3) that doesn't leak. It's great to use when you have a lot of clothing that might get in the way, like a drysuit and insulation layers or winter clothing. Plus, the extension virtually guarantees you won't soil your shoes.

Another optional extra that just came available is a hard plastic travel case for $10. My beloved is keen to get one of those to neatly (and discreetly) contain her Shewee and extension.