There are several types of camping showers to meet just about any camping style and budget. The problem is that camping accessory manufacturers are happy to throw a ton of options out there. So, we rolled up our sleeves to take the guesswork out of it for you with this camping shower buyer’s guide.
When choosing the best camping shower, you first need to account for the resources you’ll have available. If you’re going to be deep in the bush without electricity in sight, a solar shower is your only option.
If you prefer to stay at caravan parks where electrical hookups and potable water are close at hand, you’ve got a lot more options. Both in terms of water temperature, pressure, and how you power your camping shower.
If you prefer to stay at caravan parks where electrical hookups and potable water are close at hand, you’ve got a lot more options. Both in terms of water temperature, pressure, and how you power your camping shower.
Solar Showers
Solar showers, sometimes called “Scottish Showers” harness good old-fashioned sunshine and gravity. You fill a bag with water in the morning and hang it in the sunniest place you can find. The sun gradually heats the water inside.
When you want to wash up in the evening, you hand the solar shower in a private place. Then turn the knob to get yourself wet and turn it off lather yourself up. One last blast rinses you off.
When you want to wash up in the evening, you hand the solar shower in a private place. Then turn the knob to get yourself wet and turn it off lather yourself up. One last blast rinses you off.
What we like
- It conserves water and doesn’t use any energy resources.
- It’s inexpensive and easy to use.
- Small and light enough for a hike-in bush campsite.
What we don’t like
- Only gives you warm water on sunny days.
- Not good for warm morning showers.
- The refill hole is usually too small to fill with hot water from a pot.
- Hanging height can be a challenge for tall people.
Best Solar Showers for Camping
Companion Deluxe 20L Solar Shower
The Companion Deluxe 20L Solar Shower is made from 600D Ripstop® polyester and clear PVC with fully heat-welded seams to prevent leaks. It only weighs 300g when empty and comes with a mesh bag that makes it a great option for hike-in camping.
RINSEPRO 40L Solar Camping Shower
The RINSEPRO 40L Solar Camping Shower is a barebones Scottish shower made from welded PVC material. There’s nothing overly fancy about it, which is reflected in its friendly price point. The two things that put it a hair above the rest, is that it’s a rare camping solar shower that can hold up to 40 liters of water, whereas most solar showers only hold 20 liters. The filler port is also just big enough that you can wedge a narrow funnel spout into it. This means you can carefully add hot water on a cold or cloudy day.
Manual Pressure-Pump Camping Showers
There are a lot of creative options for this type of camping shower. Ranging from innovative foot pumps that let you dole out just the right amount of water as needed. Up to glorified garden sprayers with a special nozzle swapped in.
Insulation and volume are important factors with pressurized/pump showers. Small uninsulated vessels will quickly cool making it nearly impossible to have a truly warm shower. Especially in models that produce more of a fine spray than water droplets.
Insulation and volume are important factors with pressurized/pump showers. Small uninsulated vessels will quickly cool making it nearly impossible to have a truly warm shower. Especially in models that produce more of a fine spray than water droplets.
What we like
- Better pressure than a gravity-fed shower.
- You control the temperature of the water.
- Saves water.
- Easy to transport.
What we don’t like
- Water can cool quickly.
- Some make mist instead of water droplets.
- Not hands-free.
- Can be difficult to rinse off.
Best Manual Pump Camping Showers
Wildtrak Handheld 15 Litre Portable Shower Bag with Foot Pump
This Wildtrak Handheld 15 Litre Portable Shower has a leak-proof bag that’s easy to fill by hand. The bag has modest insulation, which helps keep the water reasonably warm for the next person. The foot pump lets you keep your hands free for washing, making it easy to dispense water on command.
WADEO Camping Shower, 3 Gallons 12L Portable Outdoor Camp Shower
This manual pump camping shower by Wadeo holds 12 liters of water with a hand held adjustable shower nozzle, built in temperature and water level display. This unit also doubles as a solar shower.
This manual pump camping shower by Wadeo holds 12 liters of water with a hand held adjustable shower nozzle, built in temperature and water level display. This unit also doubles as a solar shower.
Electric Pump Camping Showers
Rechargeable batteries and small electric water pumps have finally evolved to the point where they can offer a truly viable camping shower. The pump module is lowered into a dry bag, or a bucket filled with water. This makes it easy to pour the hot water from your camp cook pot without painful spills.
The added challenge with these electric pump camping showers is that you need to properly prime the hose and pump with water before use. If the pump starts floating or the water level gets low, air gets sucked into the system, which stops the shower mid-stream.
The added challenge with these electric pump camping showers is that you need to properly prime the hose and pump with water before use. If the pump starts floating or the water level gets low, air gets sucked into the system, which stops the shower mid-stream.
What we like
- You control the temperature of the water.
- The electric pump provides a continuous stream of water.
- Water pressure is superior to gravity-fed systems.
- Doesn’t need to be hung overhead to work.
What we don’t like
- The pump needs to be primed with every use.
- Low water level can cause it to lose its prime.
- The battery needs to be fully charged before first use.
Best Electric Pump Camping Showers
Ridgewinder Portable Shower
This electric pump camping shower is available as a complete kit, which includes a heavy-duty water bag. One of the things that stands out with this electric camping shower is that the electric pump is engineered to suck itself to the bottom of the bucket. This prevents floating and the loss of prime that many similar models suffer from. The battery life for the Ridgewinder Portable Shower is rated for up to 60 minutes, and it has a convenient USB recharging port.
This electric pump camping shower is available as a complete kit, which includes a heavy-duty water bag. One of the things that stands out with this electric camping shower is that the electric pump is engineered to suck itself to the bottom of the bucket. This prevents floating and the loss of prime that many similar models suffer from. The battery life for the Ridgewinder Portable Shower is rated for up to 60 minutes, and it has a convenient USB recharging port.
CAOS USB Rechargeable Camping Shower
There are a lot of important little engineering cues that set this Caos rechargeable electric camping shower apart from similar models. This starts with the electric motor not being hosed in the submerged part of the pump, which reduces the risk of water leaks causing catastrophic failure. It was thoughtfully engineered so that the pump would fit perfectly into the mouth of a jerry can. This is a big plus if you have to haul your water into your campsite. If there’s a knock against the Caos electric camping shower it’s that the battery life is only rated for 45 to 60 minutes. Then it takes two hours or more to recharge it back to 100%.
There are a lot of important little engineering cues that set this Caos rechargeable electric camping shower apart from similar models. This starts with the electric motor not being hosed in the submerged part of the pump, which reduces the risk of water leaks causing catastrophic failure. It was thoughtfully engineered so that the pump would fit perfectly into the mouth of a jerry can. This is a big plus if you have to haul your water into your campsite. If there’s a knock against the Caos electric camping shower it’s that the battery life is only rated for 45 to 60 minutes. Then it takes two hours or more to recharge it back to 100%.
Propane-Powered Hot Water Camping Showers
One of the newest innovations in portable camping showers uses propane to heat the water, while an electric pump delivers a steady pressurized stream. This is as close to a hot at-home shower as you can get in the bush.
Yet these units aren’t all milk and honey. Some are designed to work off the cigarette lighter/power port in your car. Unfortunately, a lot of vehicle power ports and fuses aren’t designed to handle this level of draw, and you can easily burn them out. So, you want to prioritize a unit with AC/DC power connections and a built-in battery.
A lot of propane-powered camping showers are designed to run on small propane canisters. If you want to run it off a bigger propane tank, you’ll probably need to invest in an adapter.
A lot of propane-powered camping showers are designed to run on small propane canisters. If you want to run it off a bigger propane tank, you’ll probably need to invest in an adapter.
What we like
- Truly hot showers
- The electric pump provides a continuous stream of water.
- Like an at-home shower
What we don’t like
- The initial purchase price is high.
- Might burn out fuses & vehicle power ports.
- Need an adapter to run off a large propane tank.
- Too heavy and bulky for hike-in bush camping
Best Propane-Powered Camping Showers
Hike Crew Portable Propane Water Heater & Shower Pump
The Hike Crew portable propane water heater camping shower comes with a built-in battery with a charge life of up to 50 minutes. It also comes with a bevy of different power cords and charging options. So, you can hook it up to a generator, a caravan park power pilon, or your car’s power port. The Hike Crew propane water heater’s display tells you the temperature of the water coming in and going out. There’s even a built-in safety shut-off if the water gets over 61 degrees. Its overall ability to generate truly hot water means you can effectively wash grease off dishes, clean your hands, and take a comfortable hot shower.
The Hike Crew portable propane water heater camping shower comes with a built-in battery with a charge life of up to 50 minutes. It also comes with a bevy of different power cords and charging options. So, you can hook it up to a generator, a caravan park power pilon, or your car’s power port. The Hike Crew propane water heater’s display tells you the temperature of the water coming in and going out. There’s even a built-in safety shut-off if the water gets over 61 degrees. Its overall ability to generate truly hot water means you can effectively wash grease off dishes, clean your hands, and take a comfortable hot shower.
Companion AquaHeat Lithium Gas Shower
The Companion AquaHeat lithium gas shower also has a built-in lithium-ion battery that can run the internal water pump for up to 2 hours on a full charge. It has a modest flow rate of up to 2 liters per minute and the water temperature can maintain 30 degrees, up to 50 degrees. Companion gets bonus points for including a 2.3-meter stand, which lets you shower hands-free. However, it doesn’t come with an AC/DC adapter. You have to use a DC power source to charge the battery or spend a small amount more to get what should be a standard power adapter.
Wrapping Up
By realising your camping style you can easily select the right camping shower for you. Whether you’re deep in the bush or staying at a well-serviced caravan park, there’s a suitable camping shower option for you. Solar showers offer simplicity and eco-friendliness, while manual pressure-pump showers provide control over water temperature and pressure. Electric pump showers offer continuous water flow and superior pressure (after priming of course). Propane-powered showers deliver truly hot showers as if you were at home.
Among the options, each type has its pros and cons, from convenience to portability to water temperature control. By weighing these factors against your camping style, you can find the perfect camping shower to keep you refreshed and clean during your outdoor adventures.
Among the options, each type has its pros and cons, from convenience to portability to water temperature control. By weighing these factors against your camping style, you can find the perfect camping shower to keep you refreshed and clean during your outdoor adventures.
