Camping is fun until you realize you need to shower yet you don’t have anything to shower with. You could take a dip in a river or lake, but then again you might risk getting eaten by crocodiles. Some people are just afraid of the water and what lurks beneath and might not wish to get in, and this is where camping showers come in. These camping showers are usually compact and portable thus allowing you to take showers at any place.
Luckily for you, we have researched into these camping showers and selected the ones we believe are the best based on what the people who have bought these showers had to say about them.
What is the best portable shower for camping?
Why we like it: This handheld showerhead can be used both indoors and outdoors. It allows you to convert water in a bucket, sink, or anything else that can hold it into instant shower stream by pumping the water using the rechargeable pump that is included.
Suction cup and hook
The showerhead comes with a suction cup that allows you to stick it to any flat surface making it an excellent camping shower. When you are not camping or hiking you can use it as an outdoor shower to clean your dog after a trip to the park and even water your flowers in the garden!
It also includes an s-style hook which allows you to hang the showerhead safely above your head whether on a tree, against the window of your car or van, or anywhere possible thus enabling you to conveniently take a shower without having to hold it with your hands whenever you need to make a shower.
Constant stream
The showerhead produces a continuous flow with a perfectly pleasing pressure to enable you to have a perfectly pleasant shower. It operates at .66 gallons thus providing a comfortable bathing experience to pets, little kids and babies as well as elders.
The pump has rechargeable batteries, and it comes with a USB cable which you can connect to a laptop or a power bank to charge the pump. The shower can be used continuously for one hour on a full charge making it excellent for travel, hiking, and camping.
Portability
The showerhead can be packed easily and conveniently with other luggage. The small size of the showerhead makes it discreet, but it is long enough to allow you to hang it comfortably above your head.
- Compact and portable
- Includes a suction cup and a hook
- Rechargeable batteries
- Perfectly pleasant pressure
- Great for indoor and outdoor use
- The showerhead cannot work without a water receptacle
Why we like it: This solar camping shower is very affordable and comes in handy during emergencies and while out camping. It uses energy from the sun to heat water so you won’t have to persevere showering with cold water every time you go camping.
Capacity
The plastic bags can hold up to 5 gallons of water which will allow you to take several quick showers or a reasonably long shower depending on your preference. You can quickly and easily fill the bag with water from the tap or merely fetch it from a stream or a lake.
Once ready to use the bag can be hanged easily by attaching it to anything practical above your head and switching on the valve to allow the water out of the bag.
Solar energy
The bag has a transparent side which is exposed to sunlight to heat the water. It takes approximately one to three hours depending on the intensity of the sun and your preference for the water to become warm enough for you to take a shower comfortably.
Using solar energy saves you money which you would have used to buy batteries to aid in heating the water, and this also makes the bag environmentally friendly.
Shower nozzle
The most significant feature about this solar shower is the shower nozzle attached to the tube. This allows you to take a shower at any place effectively and whenever you please. The bag needs to be higher than the nozzle for it to work.
- Huge capacity
- Very affordable
- Uses solar energy to heat the water
- Can be used anywhere
- Does not limit water sources
- The hose is a bit flimsy and might limit the flow of water
Why we like it: This portable shower for camping use solar energy to warm water, and it can hold up to 5 gallons of water. The solar shower is highly practical, and although it is a bit more expensive, it is the best camping shower in this category.
Exceptional quality
Summer Shower is a good quality product that will last you through several camping trips. It has a 4-layer design including a water reservoir, a solar panel, insulator panel, and a reflector panel. Apart from adding to its durability this design also enables the bag to produce warm water over a shorter time compared to other solar-powered camping showers.
The outdoor camping shower also has a sturdy handle that allows you to hang the bag without a possibility of it coming apart.
Functionality
The solar shower has a side pocket to hold soap, shampoo or anything else you will need thus allowing you to shower conveniently. It is straightforward to use with an on/off shower head and a large filling valve which allows you to fill the bag easily with water from a faucet or even a stream.
The plug is very secure, and this prevents leakage that you may experience with other brands and this, in turn, saves water. The bag can also be rolled up easily for storage until the next use.
Temperature gauge
The solar shower has a temperature gauge that shows you the temperature of the water so you can know when the water is ready for use.
- Exceptional quality
- Easy to use
- No leakages
- Has a gauge to display the temperature of the water
- Includes side pockets for holding essential items for showering
- Requires sufficient sunlight for the water to become warm
How Long Does a 5-Gallon Camping Shower Last?
It depends on how long you let the water run, but it will allow you to have a decent shower. A 5-gallon camping shower usually lasts about two minutes if left to run continuously.
However, you may prolong the time by turning off the water in between showers when you are lathering up for instance. This way you get to save water for the next use or even for a fellow camper.
The good thing about these camping showers is that they can be quickly filled with water from anywhere be it a faucet or directly from the lake and the sun heats the water for you as long as there is sufficient sunlight.
Camping Shower Ideas
Homemade camping shower
If you are not willing to buy a camping shower, you can also go for the homemade camping shower. There are a lot of tutorials on YouTube and DIYs online showing you how you can make a camping shower at home with materials that are available.
Homemade camping showers are cheaper, and some may take a lot of time to create while others only take a short time. Either way, you need to make the camping showers early enough to be ready in time to go camping.
The most commonly used materials for homemade camping shower include a bucket, plastic/trash bags, watering can, and more and if you believe you can make it yourself then go for it! However, you might not be able to save as much water as you would have with an actual camping shower.
Water
Some people prefer or do not mind using cold water to shower while others would rather skip a shower when there is no warm water. If you do not have a solar camping shower, you can just warm the water over a fire and pour it into the water receptacle which you will use to take a shower.
The good thing about this is that the water will be warm enough to your liking and you can easily add cold water in case it becomes too hot.
Shower enclosure
Of course, you cannot take a shower stark naked out in the open unless you like people watching you, which most people don’t. There are many ways in which you can quickly build a shower enclosure, and there are a lot of ideas on the internet about this too.
You can create a compound using bed sheets, curtains, or any other significant pieces of linen. You can also suspend a hula hoop and attach a shower curtain to it.
Final words
All these camping showers have their advantages and disadvantages whereby an affordable camping shower isn’t such good quality and vice versa, and it is now up to you to determine whether you can work with these downsides.
For those who are going camping for the first time using these camping, showers are easy, and you only need to follow the instructions provided so that you don’t experience any difficulty with them. Have fun camping!
Visitor Rating: 5 Stars
Visitor Rating: 5 Stars
Visitor Rating: 5 Stars
Visitor Rating: 5 Stars
Visitor Rating: 5 Stars