STP Guide: How to Choose & Use a Stand-to-Pee Device
STP Guide: How to Use a Stand-to-Pee Device
Positioning, practice stages, stream management, and which device to choose — 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.
This guide covers everything — from choosing the right device to the technique 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, using an STP can significantly reduce restroom-related anxiety and dysphoria.
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. The most popular first STP among TGS customers — easiest to learn on.
Shop →STP Freely XL
Wider urethral opening and more shaft length. Designed for fast or heavy streams — 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 frequently have to stop and start your stream, the device may be the issue — not your technique.
Step 1: Know Where to Position It
Your urethra is not where you might think. It's located approximately one inch behind your clitoris — further back than most people expect. This is the single most common reason people struggle with STPs early on.
The cup of your STP should align with your urethra, not your clitoris. Take time to locate yours before your first attempt. Once you know exactly where it is, positioning becomes instinctive fast.
Step 2: Practice in Stages — In Order
Don't take your STP straight to a public urinal. Work through these four stages in sequence — each one builds the muscle memory you need before the next.
Shower — water off
Start naked in the shower with the water completely off. Practice creating a seal, let the flow begin slowly, and identify any 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 building positioning muscle memory. Don't rush past this stage — clean consistency here is what lets you succeed with clothes on.
Underwear on
Try with just your underwear on — ideally Cake Bandit STP underwear or a Cake Bandit harness, both of which hold your STP in the correct position automatically and make this stage significantly easier. STP-designed underwear removes most of the positioning guesswork.
Fully dressed
Only add pants once you're consistently clean in underwear. Practice fully dressed in your own bathroom before going public. When 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 significantly wider cups and openings designed for heavier flows
- Repeatedly stopping your stream mid-pee isn't ideal for bladder health long-term — if it happens every single use, switching devices is worth considering
- Go before you really need to go. A full bladder = a faster, harder-to-control stream. Going at the first urge makes stream management dramatically easier
Step 4: Clothing and Urinal Tips
Pants matter
Looser pants make STP use significantly 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 down slightly — 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 dramatically easier and more discreet — no adjusting or searching for positioning mid-stream.
Step 5: After You Go
Give your STP a moment to fully drain before removing it — there's usually a small amount 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 — gentle, body-safe, designed for silicone
- TGS silicone STPs are dishwasher safe — top rack, no detergent. The easiest deep-clean option
- Persistent smell after washing? Try a diluted bleach soak — 10 parts water to 1 part bleach, 10 minutes, rinse thoroughly, 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 still struggling, it's almost always one of 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 significantly deeper cups than entry-level devices — worth trying 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 a permanent modification — only do it if you're comfortable 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 as part of a system. The right underwear removes most of the positioning and stability challenges that make STPs harder to use than they need to be.
Cake Bandit STP Underwear
Functional fly and internal sleeve that positions your device correctly — no improvising, no adjusting mid-stream.
Shop STP Underwear →Cake Bandit Harness
Holds your STP in position over any underwear you already own — including 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 to using one successfully is precise alignment — the cup must sit over your urethra, which is further back than most people initially expect.
What is the best STP for beginners?
The STP Freely is the most consistently recommended STP for beginners — wide, forgiving cup, 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. The staged approach takes longer but it's what separates people who succeed from people who have accidents at urinals.
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. Work through 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 designed specifically for STP use — the internal sleeve and functional fly hold your device in the correct position automatically, removing most of the alignment 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 purpose-built devices start at an accessible price point and are designed specifically for body contact and urine flow — most people find the learning curve is hard enough without also troubleshooting a DIY 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.