✅ Pros
- Available in different sizes
- Expandable with an exhaust system (M & L)
- Lightweight and easy to transport
- Wooden toilet lid
❌ Cons
- Very expensive price for the Origin S
- Low seat height on S & M
- Wooden lid must be sealed yourself
- Exhaust system requires drilling
- Simple plastic seat
- Inadequate odor seal
The Verdict
The original design, now overshadowed by the newer Evo
The Trelino Origin is, as the name suggests, the first composting toilet series from Trelino.
The Trelino Origin is, as the name suggests, the first composting toilet series from Trelino. The black body is made of plastic and fitted with a wooden lid. The manufacturer describes it as an all-rounder, and like the newer Trelino Evo, it's available in three different sizes (S, M, and L). For our test, we chose the Origin L. We've summarized the key dimensions of all variations below:
| Spec | Origin S | Origin M | Origin L |
|---|---|---|---|
| Height | 280 mm (11.0 in) | 335 mm (13.2 in) | 460 mm (18.1 in) |
| Width | 345 mm (13.6 in) | 330 mm (13.0 in) | 330 mm (13.0 in) |
| Depth | 400 mm (15.7 in) | 390 mm (15.4 in) | 390 mm (15.4 in) |
| Urine volume | 3.5 L (0.9 gal) | 5 L (1.3 gal) | 10 L (2.6 gal) |
| Solids volume | 6 L (1.6 gal) | 7 L (1.8 gal) | 10 L (2.6 gal) |
| Weight | 5.4 kg (11.9 lb) | 5.8 kg (12.8 lb) | 6.8 kg (15.0 lb) |
| Material | PE plastic | PE plastic | PE plastic |
| Load capacity | 150 kg (330.7 lb) | 150 kg (330.7 lb) | 150 kg (330.7 lb) |
| Price | €429 | €549 | €699 |
Material and workmanship
The body of the composting toilet is made of PE plastic. The wooden lid resting on top of the toilet is made of birch wood, multi-glued, and held in place on the toilet with magnets. Beyond that, however, the wood is untreated, so with regular water contact an additional varnish or lacquer coating is recommended, which you'll need to apply yourself.
The liquid container gives a sturdy impression. Only in the S version it appears to lack a handle. The solids container is essentially a bucket resembling disposable packaging from the food industry, which at least comes with a handle and lid in all variants. Overall, the workmanship of our test model gives a good and solid impression.
Comfort
In terms of comfort, unsurprisingly, the three variants differ primarily in their sitting height, which of course directly affects comfort. While the Trelino Origin L comes with a pleasant 46 cm (18.1 in), similar to a standard toilet, the Trelino Origin M and S require compromises in seat height due to their compactness. For the Trelino Origin M, this is only 33.5 cm (13.2 in), nearly 14 cm (5.5 in) below the L variant, a noticeable difference. For the Trelino Origin S, the seat height, at 28.5 cm (11.2 in), is another 5 cm (2.0 in) below the M version, a difference that matters far less for seating comfort compared to the reduction from L to M.
At 33 to 34.5 cm (13.0 to 13.6 in) wide, all the toilets are very nicely compact, but consequently relatively narrow when sitting. The toilet seat is a ring-shaped raised surface which, while "better than nothing," is also less comfortable than a full-fledged toilet seat.
Odor development
For the Origin M and L models, Trelino recommends retrofitting a SOG exhaust system if needed. This accessory currently costs 195 € and requires you to drill the matching opening in the housing yourself. For the smallest model, the Origin S, this option is deliberately omitted, since its lower capacity already requires shorter emptying intervals anyway, making odors less of an issue.
In principle, the Origin series, like all of Trelino's composting toilets, also relies on the classic separation of liquid and solid waste combined with litter material. Various materials are available for this: a 20 l (5.3 gal) biochar mix made of fibrous materials, compost, and rock flour for 32.90 €, 7 l (1.8 gal) softwood fibers for 14.90 €, or coconut briquettes, e.g. in a 6-pack for 19.00 €.
In our practical test we tried all three variants. The softwood fibers convinced us the most: they're a sustainable byproduct of the wood industry, easy to use, and bind odors well, even if they can't quite match some competing products in moisture absorption.
For the urine tank, Trelino also offers a liquid odor blocker with a citrus note. Anyone wanting even more effectiveness can buy a plug for 8.90 € that seals the urine outlet on the urine diverter. This temporarily prevents odors from escaping, but has to be removed with every use and then reinserted, a solution that we found rather cumbersome and not very hygienic in practice.
Value for money
In terms of value for money, the Trelino Origin performs rather weakly. Compared to the newer Evo series, prices are noticeably higher without the Origin offering any recognizable added value in material or function. The Origin S currently costs 429 €, while the Evo S is already available from 299 €. The mid-size version (Origin M at 549 € vs. Evo M at 419 €) and the large model (Origin L at 699 € vs. Evo L at 519 €) show the same trend: noticeably higher prices for essentially identical equipment.
We find it particularly critical that, despite the higher price, the Origin ships with an untreated wooden lid that's sensitive to moisture without additional finishing on your part. We also couldn't identify any advantages in the containers or in comfort that would justify the price premium.
Overall, the value for money of the Origin series feels unbalanced. Anyone wanting to buy a Trelino toilet gets a noticeably more modern and better-calculated overall package with the Evo series.
Our conclusion
The Trelino Origin was the starting point for Trelino's current product range and accordingly brings a solid basic concept. In our test, the sturdy workmanship and simple handling particularly impressed us. The different sizes make the series flexibly usable, from a small van to a larger motorhome.
That said, the Origin's age does show. The untreated wooden lid requires a lot of upkeep, the seating solution without a real toilet seat is less comfortable, and in terms of value for money, the series clearly loses out compared to the more modern Evo. The high prices in particular seem hard to justify in a direct comparison.
Bottom line, the Origin remains a functional composting toilet that fulfills its purpose, but in Trelino's current lineup it's somewhat overshadowed by the more advanced Evo series. Anyone who values their money is better served by the Evo. Today, the Origin is more of something for nostalgists or buyers who deliberately choose the original design because of the wooden lid.
