STP Guide: How to Choose & Use a Stand-to-Pee Device
STP Guide: How to Use a Stand-to-Pee Device
Where to put it, how to practice, how to handle your stream, and which device to pick. Everything you need to go from nervous to urinal-ready.
Using an STP for the first time can feel intimidating. That's completely normal. The good news is that with the right device and a little practice, most trans men, trans masculine, gender expansive, gnc, and non-binary people find that STPs become second nature surprisingly fast.
We'll cover it all, from picking the right device to the tips that actually work in real life.
What Is an STP?
An STP (stand-to-pee device) is a prosthetic that lets you urinate while standing at a urinal or toilet. It has a cup or bowl that creates a seal against your body and a shaft that directs urine forward and downward. For trans men and trans masculine people, an STP can take a lot of the stress and dysphoria out of using the restroom.
Many STP devices also function as everyday packers. Some, like 3-in-1 models, can pack, pee, and play. TGS carries STP options from beginner-friendly to advanced. Our most popular models are the STP Freely, the STP Freely XL, and The Lou STP.
Choosing the Right STP
STP Freely
Lightweight, affordable, wide forgiving cup. It's the most popular first STP with TGS customers, and the easiest to learn on.
Shop →STP Freely XL
Wider urethral opening and more shaft length. Made for fast or heavy streams, so it handles heavier flows without backflow.
Shop →The Lou STP
Deep cup, angled shaft, built specifically for urinal use. Packs, pees, and plays. The premium choice for daily STP users.
Shop →Fast stream? Go for a model with a larger urethral opening. The Freely XL and The Lou are both built to handle heavier flows without overflow. If you're always having to stop and start your stream, the problem may be the device, not your technique.
Step 1: Know Where to Position It
Your urethra is not where you might think. It's about one inch behind your clitoris, which is further back than most people expect. This is the number one reason people struggle with STPs at first.
The cup of your STP should align with your urethra, not your clitoris. Take some time to find yours before your first try. Once you know exactly where it is, getting the position right becomes second nature fast.
Step 2: Practice in Stages, In Order
Don't take your STP straight to a public urinal. Work through these four stages in order. Each one builds the muscle memory you need for the next.
Shower, water off
Start naked in the shower with the water completely off. Practice getting a seal, start the flow slowly, and check for leaks. Keeping the water off means you can clearly tell the difference between pee and shower water. Cleanup is easy if something goes wrong.
Toilet, no clothing
Once you've got the seal down consistently in the shower, move to the toilet with no clothing on. This gives you a safety net while your body learns the position. Don't rush past this stage. Getting it clean every time here is what sets you up to succeed with clothes on.
Underwear on
Try with just your underwear on. Ideally that's Cake Bandit STP underwear or a Cake Bandit harness, Both hold your STP in the right spot on their own, which makes this stage a lot easier. Underwear made for STPs takes most of the guesswork out of positioning.
Fully dressed
Only add pants once you're consistently clean in underwear. Practice fully dressed in your own bathroom before going public. Once this stage is clean and reliable, you're ready for the urinal.
Step 3: Stream Management
If you have a fast or heavy stream, you may need to start and stop a few times during a single use to let your STP drain. This is completely normal. It's the funnel problem. If the flow is faster than the drain, it backs up and overflows.
- Slow your stream intentionally at the start until the seal feels solid. Give the cup time to catch up with the flow
- If you're constantly starting and stopping, your device may not be right for your body. The STP Freely XL and The Lou both have much wider cups and openings made for heavier flows
- Repeatedly stopping your stream mid-pee isn't great for bladder health long-term. If it happens every single time, think about switching devices
- Go before you really need to go. A full bladder means a faster stream that's harder to control. Going at the first urge makes it way easier to manage
Step 4: Clothing and Urinal Tips
Pants matter
Looser pants make STP use a lot easier. Tight jeans can prevent your zipper from opening far enough to position your device correctly. If you wear fitted pants and don't want to change your style, try unbuttoning and pulling them down a little. Just don't go too low.
Fly or drop trou?
For most situations, dropping trou is faster and less complicated than threading an STP through a fly. The fly is worth using if you're wearing a belt, dress pants with a clasp, or work gear that's difficult to take on and off repeatedly throughout the day.
At the urinal
Keep your STP angled slightly downward. STP-compatible underwear with a built-in fly opening makes urinal use way easier. No adjusting or hunting for the right spot mid-stream.
Step 5: After You Go
Give your STP a moment to fully drain before you take it out. There's usually a little left in the cup. A quick dab with tissue before tucking back in handles any residual moisture. This is completely normal and not a sign anything went wrong. A properly drained device won't leave you with wet underwear.
Hygiene and Care
- Clean after every use. Rinse with warm water and soap, or use Packer & Toy Cleaner with Aloe Vera. It's gentle, body-safe, and made for silicone
- TGS silicone STPs are dishwasher safe. Top rack, no detergent. It's the easiest way to deep clean
- Persistent smell after washing? Try a diluted bleach soak: 10 parts water to 1 part bleach for 10 minutes. Rinse well, then air dry completely. Silicone is non-porous so this fully sanitizes without damage
- For long-term storage, dust with Packer Renewing Powder to keep the silicone soft. Store in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight
What If It's Still Not Working?
If you've been practicing for a few weeks and it's still not clicking, it's almost always one of these three things:
You're placing the cup against your clitoris instead of your urethra. This is the most common cause of persistent leaking. Go back to Step 1 and take your time relocating your urethra before your next attempt.
If the cup is too small or shallow for your anatomy, you'll get leaks regardless of technique. The STP Freely XL and The Lou both have much deeper cups than entry-level devices. Give one a try if the standard Freely cup isn't sealing for you.
If you've ruled out positioning and cup size, your stream is almost certainly hitting the walls faster than your STP can drain. See Stream Management above, or switch to a wider-cup model.
One more option: if you're committed to a specific device but the shaft opening is too narrow for your flow, it's possible to carefully widen it with a hobby knife. This is permanent, so only do it if you're OK with the risk. But it can make an otherwise great device work for your body.
Pair Your STP With the Right Gear
An STP works best with the right gear around it. Good underwear handles most of the positioning and wobble problems that make STPs harder than they need to be.
Cake Bandit STP Underwear
A working fly and an inside sleeve that hold your device in the right spot. No improvising, no adjusting mid-stream.
Shop STP Underwear →Cake Bandit Harness
Holds your STP in place over any underwear you already own, even loose boxers.
Shop Harness →FAQ
What is an STP and how does it work?
An STP (stand-to-pee device) is a prosthetic worn in your underwear that lets you urinate standing up. It has a cup that creates a seal against your body over your urethra, and a shaft that directs urine forward and downward into a toilet or urinal. The key is lining it up just right. The cup has to sit over your urethra, which is further back than most people expect at first.
What is the best STP for beginners?
The STP Freely is the STP we recommend most for beginners. It has a wide, forgiving cup, and it's lightweight and affordable. It's the most popular first STP among TGS customers. If you have a heavy or fast stream, start with the STP Freely XL instead. Its wider opening handles heavier flows without backflow.
How do I use an STP packer for the first time?
Start in the shower with the water off. Locate your urethra (about an inch behind your clitoris), position the cup over it, and practice until you've had five clean attempts in a row. Then move to the toilet without clothes, then with underwear, then fully dressed. Only go public once you're consistently clean at home fully dressed. Going in stages takes longer, but it's what keeps you from having accidents at the urinal.
Why does my STP leak or overflow?
Almost always one of three things: the cup isn't aligned with your urethra (it's further back than you think), your stream is faster than the cup can drain, or the cup is too small for your anatomy. Check your positioning first. It's the most common cause. If positioning is right and leaking continues, try a wider-cup device like the STP Freely XL or The Lou.
What underwear works best with an STP?
Cake Bandit STP underwear is made for STP use. The inside sleeve and working fly hold your device in the right spot on their own, so there's way less guesswork. If you prefer to pack in your own underwear, the Cake Bandit Harness holds any STP in position over any underwear.
Can I make a DIY STP?
Some people make DIY STP devices from plastic funnels or bottles. It can work for practice at home, but real STPs don't cost much to start, and they're made to touch your body and handle pee. Learning is hard enough without also fixing a homemade device. The STP Freely is one of the most affordable entry points we carry.
How do I clean an STP packer?
Rinse with warm water and mild soap after every use. For a deeper clean, TGS silicone STPs are dishwasher safe. Top rack, no detergent. For a persistent smell even after washing, soak in a 10:1 water-to-bleach solution for 10 minutes, rinse thoroughly, and air dry. For long-term storage, dust with Packer Renewing Powder.