Best Camping Showers of 2023
solar shower bags and heated portable camping showers
July 10th, 2023
The Advanced Elements Summer Shower hanging in the Kelty H2GO shower tent at a remote campground in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana.
To find the best camping showers for campers, hikers, anglers, cyclists, backpackers, and beach goers, we spent a year testing solar shower bags and electric camping showers.
We had a dozen campers in Montana, California, Nevada, and Oregon test each portable camping shower side-by-side.
We also tested portable camping showers for a month while teaching at a rustic educational summer camp and at home during an emergency that took out our water heater. Then, we ranked solar and electric portable showers on criteria, including how quickly they produced hot water, the shower’s pressure, whether they had long shower times, and ease of filling and lifting.
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Comparison Table
| CAMPING SHOWER | TREELINE AWARD | TYPE | CAPACITIES AVAILABLE | TEMPERATURE GAUGE | HANDLE | SHOWER TIME | WEIGHT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Elements Summer Shower | Best overall Read why |
Solar gravity bag | 2.5, 4, 5, 10 gallons | Yes | buckle and hook | 4 minute 14 seconds | 13 oz |
| Sea to Summit Pocket Shower | Best backpacking Read why |
Solar gravity bag | 3L | No | buckle and hook | 3 minutes | 5.25 oz |
| Nemo Helio Pressurized Shower | Best pressurized Read why |
Foot powered | 11 L (2.9 gallons), 22 L | No | buckle and hook | 3 minutes | 1 lb 5 oz |
| Geyser Systems Heated | Best electric heated shower Read why |
Battery powered | 3 L | Yes | yes | 4 minutes (high), 15 minutes (low) | 7.9 lbs (empty) |
The winners
Best Camping Shower:
Advanced Elements Summer Shower
Type: Solar gravity bag
Capacities available: 2.5, 4, 5, 10 gallons
Temperature gauge: Yes
Handle: buckle and hook
Shower time: 4 minute 14 seconds
Weight: 13 oz
What we liked: leakproof, buckle handle is the easiest to hang on hooks and rope, accurate temperature gauge
What we didn’t like: dry time, handle is too thick for some shower tent hooks
The Advanced Elements Summer Shower is our overall best solar camping shower because it’s quick to heat, easy to hang, leakproof, and inexpensive. We think solar camp bags offer the best value and the Summer Shower is the best solar shower camping bag we tested. In nearly a dozen showers, it provided among the warmest showers of the solar camping showers we tested. It had our favorite handle of any of the solar bags because it allowed us to hang it on hooks and buckle the bag onto rope strung up between trees or vehicles.The Advanced Elements Summer shower is the best camp shower for the price, water temperature, ease of use, and speed of heating water.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE ADVANCED ELEMENTS SUMMER SHOWER
The Advanced Elements summer shower set up inside a shower tent with a towel.
While seemingly minor, hanging a shower bag can be a challenge (it weighs at least 30 pounds), so anything that makes the process easier is a plus. Although not unique, the Advanced Elements has an on-bag temperature gauge that is accurate.
The Advanced Elements summer shower is a gravity shower bag that has enough pressure to provide a good rinse.
As with other camp showers, we found that the Advanced Elements solar shower heats water fastest when lying directly on the ground in direct sunlight (as opposed to hanging it). The Advanced Elements was consistently the quickest solar shower to heat, but that may have to do more with the size we tested (4 gallons vs. other brands’ 5 gallons). The Advanced Elements is also available in 2.5-gallon and 5-gallon options.
The Advanced Elements summer shower was one of the solar bags we tested that was the fastest to heat up water.
On a 5-day fly fishing trip in Montana, the ambient temperature was 80 degrees but after 6 hours of lying in a sunny field by the campsite, the water got up to 110 degrees. On a 100 F-degree day in Southern California, it took merely three hours to get up to 110 degrees–which was convenient when the water heater went out on my house for a week and I had to rely on my camp shower. We also used it when the water heater went out for a month while we were working at an educational summer camp in the Sierra.
With the Advanced Elements shower bag, we never had to worry about dribbles or faulty valves. Its filling spout is sized for convenient filling from a garden hose. The built-in spigot is secure when using it as a gravity shower. The twist shower head locks when not in use so it doesn’t leak on the rest of your camp gear.
The built-in thermometer on the Advanced Elements summer shower set.
As a 4-gallon portable shower bag, the Advanced Elements has a shorter shower time than the 5-gallon showers we tested. Advanced Elements make a 10-gallon version, but we had a hard time lifting this shower bag above our heads. Unless you have a pulley system, I recommend getting two bags if you need a longer shower.
We’re not the only fans of this shower, The Advanced Elements Summer shower is an overall winner at Wirecutter and Outdoor Gear Lab.
The fill spout opening fits a garden hose or campground faucet, which is how most people will fill it up. However, we found the small opening to be annoying when filling up from a stream at a remote Forest Service campground that didn’t have faucets or running water.
The fill spout is the only opening on this shower bag, so it took two days of hanging upside down in the sun until it dried out completely after the camping trip. Dry time was the one drawback on this shower, but none of the solar shower bags we tested did well on any of our dry tests. It’s a small quibble to take considering this otherwise easy-to-use, affordable, and quick heating solar shower.
Best Backpacking Shower
Sea to Summit Pocket Shower
Type: Solar gravity bag
Capacities available: 3L
Temperature gauge: No
Handle: buckle and hook
Shower time: 3 minutes
Weight: 5.25 oz
What we liked: leakproof, buckle handle is the easiest to hang on hooks and rope, accurate temperature gauge
What we didn’t like: dry time, handle is too thick for some shower tent hooks
Backpackers have different criteria in camp showers than campers, valuing weight and packability more than features like a temperature gauge.The best portable camping shower for backpackers is the Sea to Summit Pocket Shower, which comes in a pocket-sized container yet can deliver a 3-minute shower. The Sea to Summit solar shower bag is a lightweight black roll-top dry bag with a strategically-placed built-in shower head on the bottom. It even comes with a weight-bearing guyline to string it up on a tree in your backcountry campsite.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE SEA TO SUMMIT POCKET SHOWER
The Sea to Summit Pocket Shower bag has its own built in spout. Here, it is warming water in the direct sun at a campground in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana.
We were fans of the roll-top opening, which was the easiest to fill of any of the camp showers we tested. With the wide opening, we could fill it with a hose, faucet, and from a stream at a campsite with no running water. The instructions are printed on the inside and it has a clear fill line to prevent overfilling.
The capacity of this backpacking shower is a lot smaller than car camping showers–just 3 liters vs. the 5 gallons in some camping showers (that’s 3/20th the capacity for those doing the math). Still, we found it to be enough for a quick rinse off and made us feel ten times better after a long day of backpacking.
The Sea to Summit pocket shower has a wide opening that makes it easy to fill from creeks and streams. Here, I'm measuring the temperature after 8 hours in direct sunlight.
Because the Sea to Summit Camp shower has no clear window, the bag doesn’t heat as quickly as the other solar camping showers we tested. Despite the smaller volume, whether it spent 3 hours or 8 hours in the sun, the Sea to Summit shower 's water temperature was typically 10F lower than the car camping solar camp bags we tested. While most solar camping bags were able to get close to 30F above the ambient temperature, the Sea to Summit Camp shower was typically 15-20F warmer than ambient temperature. If you're willing to accept this will be a warm shower and not a hot shower, the Pocket shower is a treat on a backpacking trip.
While the rolltop is great for saving weight, it was trickier to make sure it was leakproof. We had much better luck securing the opening with failsafe screw tops found on the heavier camping showers. Still, we understand the advantages of the roll-top (it’s lightweight and easy to fill). To have a better experience in the field, we recommend practicing at home before going out. The rolltop is great for filling up from streams, ponds, lakes—and gives it a leg-up over camping showers for filling up from natural sources.
It’s hard to beat the 6 oz weight of this backpacking shower, which comes with its own cell phone-sized pocket stuff sack. While it wouldn’t be my preferred shower on a car camping trip or for emergency use at home, a shower from the Sea to Summit delivers feels like a real treat on backpacking trips without much of a weight penalty.
Best Pressurized Solar Shower
Nemo Helio Pressure Shower
Type: Foot powered
Capacities available: 11 L (2.9 gallons), 22 L
Temperature gauge: No
Handle: buckle and hook
Shower time: 3 minutes
Weight: 1 lb 5 oz
What we liked: leakproof, buckle handle is the easiest to hang on hooks and rope, accurate temperature gauge, great for washing hair
What we didn’t like: dry time, handle is too thick for some shower tent hooks
The Nemo Helio Pressure shower is our winner for best portable shower that is pressurized. This foot pump shower is a game changer for anyone who camps with kids or pets, or anyone who actually wants to wash their hair while on a camping trip. Another advantage of the Nemo Helio over solar shower bags is that you use your foot, rather than gravity, to create the water pressure. This means you don’t have to lift gallons of hot water above your head. The Nemo Helio shower packs down to a small size for storage and travel.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE NEMO HELIO PRESSURE SHOWER
We found the Nemo Helio's water pressure is strong enough to wash long hair, rinse thoroughly, and shower all on one fill. Unlike gravity-fed showers, the pressure felt more like a traditional “inside” shower. There’s a clear view of the water level on the side for gauging how much shower time you have remaining. As with other solar camping bags, the black material of the water bag can heat up water quickly when placed in direct sunlight.
As expected for a car camping shower, it’s easier to fill from a faucet than from bottles (every car camping shower we tested is designed this way). That makes it better for using in campgrounds that have faucets rather than boondocking or dry camps where you need to bring in your own water. We tested the 11 liters (less than 4 gallons), so as with the car camping bags, if you are dry camping, it is less efficient than the Geyser but more efficient than gravity shower bags we tested. It's also available in a bigger 22 liter size for bigger groups or people who like longer showers.
Eleven liters of water weighs about 24.2 pounds, so as with car camping showers, it could be difficult for some users to move once filled with water. We recommend filling up close to where you plan to use it.
As with other car camping showers, hanging it to dry after use is complicated. There is no large opening to air dry. A lot of reviewers are also concerned about mold or mildew growth in the bag, although this is a common problem with camping showers in general. Only the Geyser had an easy-to-dry system.
To operate the Nemo, the nozzle has to be held in the “on” position to have water flow. If your hand gets tired, this can be hacked with a hair tie or rubber band.
The pump action to prime the shower is fun and easy to use. It only took us a few pumps to get a great water pressure that lasts about half the shower. We gave it a few more pumps half way that provided solid pressure to the end of the tank.
Best Electric Heated Shower
Geyser Systems Portable Shower with Heater
Type: Battery powered
Capacities available: 3 liters, heated and unheated version available
Weight: 8 pounds
Temperature gauge: Yes
Handle: yes
Shower time: 4 minutes (high), 15 minutes (low)
Weight: 7.9 lbs (empty)
What we liked: ability to take a hot shower any time of day, anytime of year without relying on the sun, ability to pour boiling water inside for a faster heat-up time
What we didn’t like: requires being close to an outlet or your vehicle’s outlet and does not come with a long cord, making privacy difficult
The Geyser Shower system is the best portable camping shower for people who want to reliably have hot showers. The Geyser system uses an innovative heated camping shower that ensures you never have to have a cold camping shower again. The Geyser heats water and then sends it through a pressurized shower head. The result is the best electric heater camping shower, ideal for any camping situation where you have access to a plug from your vehicle or a campground hook-up. This makes it a favorite for vanlifers. It gets excellent pressure with only 3 liters of water. It’s great for getting clean while dry camping. The included scrub/sponge helps optimize your use of water. Unlike other showers we tested, it also was not too heavy, weighing only 6.6 pounds when full. No water is wasted in this shower system and it's quite efficient.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE GEYSER SHOWER SYSTEM
Washing hair with the Geyser Systems heated camp shower, which uses water very efficiently with high water pressure to get you clean with less water.
The Geyser portable shower can be heated with a liter of boiling water from your camp stove or by plugging it into the auxiliary power outlet for about 45 minutes while full of water. One thing we really liked is that you can heat your shower water while driving. That means as soon as you get to your camp spot, you can use the shower.
We found the hot shower was really luxurious, achieving a hot water temperature in 45 minutes when hooked up to auxiliary power. The attached sponge helped scrub off that dirt layer. It also helped stretch any drops of biodegradable soap that we were using to minimize our impact.
The Geyser Systems heated camp shower comes with a built-in sponge that makes cleaning up easier.
One challenge with the Geyser is it doesn’t have a very long cord and requires being hooked up to the auxiliary power outlet from your vehicle (unless you fill it with hot water from your camp stove). This can make privacy difficult since you’ll likely be taking a shower right by your car. It is also noisy when powered up and pressurized. We found with the noise, it was difficult to be discreet while showering. We recommend using an outdoor shower tent!
The Geyser system is a little harder to use to wash long hair. If you wanted to thoroughly clean your body and hair, you would need to dedicate one shower to washing, fill up again, and then another shower to rinse. We also recommend removing the sponge from the nozzle for washing hair effectively.
The Geyser Systems heated camp shower has lighted dials on the top that indicator when the water is hot and ready to use.
One thing we really liked about the Geyser system is how easy it is to clean and maintain. Unlike other showers, it is made of solid materials and has a large opening, so you can get in there and scrub and fully air it out.
The sponge system allows you to use water more efficiently on the Geyser Systems camp shower.
We found that the Geyser shower system isn’t only good for car camping, but also is a nice system for storing in the car to use after hikes. It was great for those backpacking trips where you have a long drive home but don’t want to stop in a hotel for a night. I typically drive to a remote area and hit up a few trails at a time for a couple weeks. I usually keep a full set of clean clothes in my car and some Wet Wipes in my car, but the Geyser is a much better system.
The Geyser Systems camp shower is the only camp shower system where we felt very comfortable pouring boiling water from our camp stove and cold water together into the tank for a hot shower.,
While normally the shower tank would heat up after a day in the back of a vehicle without using auxiliary electricity, we really appreciated the heated feature for shoulder season adventures where we couldn’t rely on the sun to heat up the water bag.
The Geyser Systems camp shower is a less expensive alternative to paying for a hotel every time you want a shower while on a camping or road trip.
I really loved the Geyser system shower and it’s become a go-to for extended backpacking trips to shower off before a drive home or before heading out on a second trip. The Geyser allows you to save money on a hotel room and having to spend a night in town.
Lastly, remember, water and electricity don’t mix, so read the instructions carefully and use the Geyser safely.
Best Camping Shower Tents
There aren’t enough camp shower tents to warrant its own standalone story, but we wanted to shout out two that we found to be helpful for providing some privacy while showering in camp. Our testers loved the fun and peacefulness of taking an outdoor shower.
NEMO Heliopolis Shower Tent
The Nemo Heliopolis shower tent is made of a super private opaque tent material. When you close the window and door, no one can see you even with the sun shining on the tent (believe me: we tried). Like the Kelty Privacy Tent, it can be used as a potential porta potty with a bucket for group camping or gatherings. See our Best Human Waste Bags and WAG bags for more on the Luggable Loo potty system.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE NEMO HELIOPOLIS SHOWER TENT
The Nemo Heliopolis shower tent has a wide zip door and plenty of height for most campers.
We liked that the Nemo Heliopolis has well designed features, like a mesh pocket in the ceiling to hold dry clothes or a towel while using the shower. There’s a hook and loop for the zipper on the inside to prevent accidental interruptions while using the tent. The tent is spacious inside. We found it is easy to shower and move around without bumping into the walls.
We liked that the mesh window can be cracked open for a view and more ventilation or completely closed for full privacy.
The built-in shampoo holder on the Nemo Heliopolis camp shower tent.
For those using it as a potty tent and a shower tent, one thoughtful feature we really liked is that the TP holder has waterproof covering so when in shower mode, the TP stays dry.
The Heliopolis shower tent has a very sturdy set up. We found that it can be set up in about 5 minutes. The center hook is tall and difficult for a shorter person to set up alone, but can be done by tilting the tent on the side. The take down time was also about 5 minutes. One challenge we often find with most car camping equipment is fitting it into its tote bag. With the Nemo Heliopolis shower, this isn’t an issue. It easily fits into the zipper storage bag. It’s a minor perk, but one we’ve found often in gear by Nemo Equipment and really appreciate.
The floor is made of a waterproof tarp material so your feet don’t get muddy while showering. It has mesh around the edge to allow for water drainage. When set up on a full flat surface, the water pools inside the tent, but a slight angle allows the water to drain away easily.
As with other privacy shower tents, the Heliopolis is great for vanlife. If you had a spot you were going to stay at for a few days or a couple weeks, this not only gives you privacy, but a place to elevate a solar shower and stash soap, shampoo, and a towel.
Kelty H2GO Privacy Tent
The Kelty Privacy Tent is a sturdy and quick to set-up camping shower tent ideal for van lifers or campers at campgrounds without facilities. They’re also good for those who avoid public showers. The directions are printed on the bag, so though it wasn’t the easiest to set up initially, we got it up in about 10 minutes the first time.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE KELTY H2GO PRIVACY TENT
The Kelty H2Go shower tent with a towel at our campground in a remote area in Montana.
We liked that the Kelty H2Go Privacy Tent has a shower caddy built in and an unbreakable mirror. It has a built-in hook for placing sun shower bags, but the hook isn’t wide enough for every bag, so check for compatibility before buying your solar bag.
The bathtub floor of the Kelty Privacy tent keeps your feet from getting muddy while showering.
It also has a bathtub floor so you don’t have to shower in the dirt, but it’s easy to drain out for the next person to use. It includes mesh half doors for drying out. Lastly, this camp shower also doubles as a potty privacy tent for people using a system like the Reliance Luggable Loo that we review in our Best Human Waste Bags and WAG bags guide.
The Kelty privacy tent comes with a hook to hang solar shower bags, but we wish it were bigger to fit some of the thicker handles that we found on solar bags we tested.
Taller people found they had to squat to wash their hair in this tent. A shower bag is typically 18 inches tall, so while the shower tent itself is tall enough for folks 6'3' to stand in.
Contenders
Kipida Solar Shower Bag
Type: Solar gravity bag
Capacities available: 5 gallons
Shower time: 4 minutes 15 seconds
Temperature gauge: Yes
Handle: buckle and hook
Weight: 15.8 oz
The Kipida Solar Shower bag is a bestseller at Amazon in the “portable camp shower” category, so we had to test it side-by-side against other highly-rated solar showers. When it arrived, the shower nozzle and hose were separate from the bag so it could ship in a minimalist package. It comes with a metal O-ring to secure the nozzle in place. However, the attach-it-yourself nozzle fell off and leaked while we were filling, while it sat in the sun, and while we were showering. Additionally, when we heat water by laying it on the ground (the same process we used for all the bags), it leaked from the fill-entry point.
The Kipada solar bag came with features we liked such as a temperature gauge and hook and buckle handle.
If you’re willing to put up with some flaws and baby it, the Amazon shower delivered some of the hottest showers. It occasionally reached 110 F faster than our overall winner. Still, we don’t think it’s worth the hassle of the leak. Plus, one camper in Montana complained that the water from this shower was too hot.
VIEW PRICE OF THE KIPIDA SOLAR SHOWER BAG
Stearns summer shower
Type: Solar gravity bag
Capacities available: 2.5, 4, 6 gallons
Shower time: 4 minutes 23 seconds
Handle: strap only
Temperature gauge: Yes
Weight: 1.3 lbs (5 gallon version)
The Stearns Summer Shower is a durable portable shower bag that nearly won our overall solar winner. It’s durable, leakproof, heats quickly, and has a reliable temperature gauge.
Ultimately, we prefer the buckle handle on the Advanced Elements over the Stearns solid handle. If you want to hang the shower on a pre-strung rope or a tree branch, you need to bring a carabiner that can hold the weight. We found the buckle handle on the Advanced Elements to be more versatile.
The Stearns solar camp shower heated water quickly when placed in direct sunlight.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE STEARNS SUMMER SHOWER
The Stearns summer shower has the clearest to read temperature gauge.
Yakima RoadShower
Capacity: 4, 7, 10 gallons
Weight: 20 lbs
Temperature gauge: yes
Shower time: ~4 minutes
The Yakima RoadShower is the undeniable winner for best rooftop shower system for van life, RV road tripping, and mounting to a truck. For the scope of this story, we focused on portable showers. While technically, the term "portable shower" is literally in the name (Yakima RoadShower Portable Shower) since it mounts on a car, it's in a different category than the systems we tested. Using a hand pump, electric pump, or Schrader valve, the RoadShower can pressurize your shower for power washing off mud, cleaning pets, or washing long hair. Also, it is almost double the price of the most expensive shower we tested and nearly 15 times the cost of our budget showers. Still, if you're van-living, the Yakima RoadShower is a lot less expensive than a few nights in a hotel. We recommend it only if you are on an extended road trip or living in your van and can appreciate the extra storage room you get from keeping your camp shower on the outside of your vehicle. Otherwise, we think the other camping showers we recommend will be a better value.
VIEW PRICE OF THE YAKIMA ROAD SHOWER
Ivation Portable Outdoor Shower
Capacity: n/a (use your own bucket)
Weight: 1.9 lbs
Temperature gauge: yes
Shower time: up to 10 minutes (with 5 gallon bucket)
The Ivation Portable Outdoor Shower is an electric portable shower that shows up on many best camping shower lists. To use the Ivation portable outdoor shower, you put cold water in a bucket. Then you place one end of the shower in the bucket. The Ivation shower is battery-operated and heats water from the bucket as it comes through the shower head. The battery is USB-charged, so you can run it off your vehicle or plug it in at home. The 0.66 gallons per minute pressure wasn't as high as some of the other showers we tested. It's popular with pet owners as a way to give dogs a warm shower outside of the house. One major drawback of the Ivation battery-powered system is that it is not available in every state due to local laws about proximity of water to electric units. For example, our main tester lives in California and was unable to purchase this unit.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE IVATION PORTABLE OUTDOOR SHOWER
Buying Advice
We tested solar shower bags side-by-side. Here, several bags are heating up water in solar bags at a campground in Montana.
These are essential things to look for in a camping shower.
Leakproof
This should be a no-brainer, but shower bags that leak water mean it’ll be a pain to fill and will lose water during the heating period. In our testing, we found camp showers can leak where the hose attaches to the bag, anywhere there is a hole in the bag, and from the cap where you load water.
We measured the water temperature of every bag at different intervals of time to see which bags heated up the most quickly and which bags got the hottest.
Heats water to a good temperature
Solar camping showers are designed to heat water to a temperature that is 30 F degrees warmer than the ambient air temperature. For example, on 80F days, after 8 hours in the sun, we had several water bags that heated water to 110 F–too hot for multiple testers to actually use in the shower. Most doctors recommend showering below 110 degrees with dermatologists recommending showering in warm water between 98F and 105F.
Heats water quickly
We put all the solar heated showers side-by-side in direct sunlight in camping areas in Montana, California, and Oregon. No matter the location or time of year, some bags got 10F hotter than others. Due to a smaller surface area to volume ratio, a 2.5-gallon bag will generally heat faster than a 5 gallon bag. That’s why we recommend you get the smallest bag you need for your group. Bags with clear plastic on one side and dark or reflective material on the backside heat faster than bags that are 100% clear or 100% black. For folks ok with a cold shower or fine with a warm shower, that just means you don't have to wait as long for the water to get to your preferred temperature.
Comparison of the handles on solar shower bags seen side-by-side. We prefer solar bags that come with hooks and that are narrower so they can more easily be placed onto different lines or hooks.
Handle
A camping shower should have a handle that will be sturdy enough to carry the 20+ pounds of water to your outdoor shower destination. Ideally, it should come with a buckle that allows you to secure the water bag onto a rope, shower tent hook, or tree limb.
That being said, in our testing, we found some handles are too thick to fit over smaller shower tent hooks, like the one that came in our Kelty Privacy shower. The best handles are ones that are adjustable enough to fit on the varied ways you will hang your shower.
Long Shower Time
How long the shower lasts depends on the capacity of the shower. If the shower holds more water, it’ll run for longer. Depending on the pressure you set for your bag, most solar shower bags last around 5 minutes.
Pressure
High pressure showers are better to get dirt and grime off and for overall cleanliness. It also makes it easier to wash hair. For gravity-fed solar showers, pressure is related to the capacity and run time. The higher your pressure, the lower run time you’ll get from your shower (generally). Gravity showers will have less pressure than showers that allow you to pump pressurize or that come with their own electric shower pump. If you’ll be cleaning off gear, an animal, or washing thicker hair or fur, you’ll want a pressurized shower. If you just need a quick rinse off, a gravity fed shower should work.
Capacity
We think the ideal size for a camping shower is 4 to 5 gallons–unless it is one that has a pressurized system to more efficiently use water, like the Geyser or Nemo showers. A gallon of water weighs 8 pounds. That means a 5 gallon shower is going to be 40 pounds. Unless you rig up a pulley system, you’re going to need to lift those 40 lbs above your head to get a good gravity-fed shower.
If you’re a bigger group, you may be tempted to get a larger capacity shower. However, we think 5-gallons is the sweet spot. While Treeline Review usually recommends buying less stuff, we think two 5-gallon showers are going to work better for a larger party than a single 10-gallon. A 5-gallon bag is not only easier to carry around, but it warms quicker, too. That being said, in our testing, we found the 2.5-gallon doesn’t give enough shower time for more than one person.
The nozzle of the Kipida solar bag comes with a gauge to control pressure.
Nozzle ease of use
How to turn the water on and off should be straightforward. During testing, several of the campers asked me how to work certain showers. We don’t think taking a shower should require reading a paper manual. There are plenty of showers with nozzles that are intuitive to use (that being said, you should absolutely read instructions for any showers that have electricity, as those can be potentially dangerous if misused.)
Accurate Temperature gauge:
The best solar showers have a thermometer integrated on the side of the bag to make it easy to tell when the water has reached your desired temperature. We compared temperature gauge reports to what was reported on our Thermopen thermometer rated for hot water or cooking meat.
Pockets and accessories
It’s convenient when camping showers have pockets to hold soap. We also liked showers that come with built-in sponges and scrubbers. Some camping showers come with attached mirrors. If you’re using a privacy shelter, you’ll likely not need the bag itself to have pockets. But if you’re showering under a tree or off the side of an adventure van, the pockets will be handy.
Portability
We tested portable solar showers for this guide. This meant showers that don’t require mounting to an overlanding truck or vanlife setup. While the Road Shower is highly rated, we don’t consider it portable, so didn’t test it for this guide.
How to choose a camping shower
Testing solar bags at a campground on the Columbia River in Oregon.
How big is your group?
If you’re solo, you’ll be able to get away with a lower-volume camp shower. Due to a smaller surface area to volume ratio, a 2.5-gallon bag will generally heat faster than a 5-gallon bag. Smaller bags also weigh less and are easier to lift. That’s why we recommend you get the smallest bag you need for your group.
What’s your budget?
If cost is not a concern, the Geyser pressurized system provided continuous hot water and great pressure. If you’re on a tighter budget, we found even budget solar camp shower bags were still a good investment and made a big difference in feeling more comfortable on trips.
What’s your outdoor shower set up?
Will you be showering off the side of your van? Or will you set up a privacy tent somewhere in the campground? Will you rig up a solar shower on a rope between two trees? Decide where you plan to hang your bag depending on your campsite and other camping equipment. Then you can figure out which camp shower works best. For example, if you’re at a campground where the parking area is far from your campsite, then an electric system may not be the best for you (unless you’re cool with showering in a parking lot).
A solar camping bag set up in an outdoor shower at a rustic environmental education camp in the Sierra. The camp didn’t have electricity or heated water, so we turned to the sun for our hot showers.
Do you have access to electricity?
If you’re boondocking, van living, or car camping, you may have access to electricity from your vehicle. For those campers, we recommend electric-powered camping showers. If you’re at a more remote campsite, don’t have reliable electricity, need a way to shower during emergencies, or don’t have much space, go with a solar camping bag.
Can you lift 40 pounds above your head?
Water weighs about 8 pounds per gallon. Many solar camp showers hold 5 gallons. Unless you’re cool with squatting for your shower, that means you’ll have to lift 40 pounds above your head and secure it with a hook or rope. If this doesn’t sound ideal, consider a camp shower like the Geyser or Helio, which use electricity to pressurize water so you can get a longer shower.
How hard is it to set it up?
Most solar camping shower bags aren’t too hard to set up–except for lifting the weight of a solar bag over your head. The exception is the electric pump ones like the Nemo Helio Pressure Shower or the Geyser Systems portable shower, which both require finding a good spot on your car and making sure that you are operating it safely.
How fast does the water heat up?
We tested heat times in temperatures from 70F to nearly 110 F ambient temperature from Montana to Oregon to California to Nevada. Ultimately, most of the solar camp showers took around the same amount of time to heat up. This is a slow process that requires patience, so we recommend setting up your solar showers in the morning, going for a hike, climb, or fishing, and planning to enjoy your shower mid-afternoon.
How do camp showers work? (foot pump, battery powered, gravity, etc.)
GRAVITY:
Most of the camping showers we tested work by gravity. Gravity-fed solar showers are the least expensive and the simplest systems. They’re not going to get a heavy pressure like a foot pump or battery-powered camp shower, but they’ll generally be good to rinse off some sweat and dirt.
FOOT PUMP:
Foot pump camp showers allow you to have more pressure than a battery-fed camp shower, which is great if you are washing off gear or animals that came with you into the backcountry.
BATTERY POWERED:
Battery powered camp showers hook up to a hose or a bucket and heat the water. Unfortunately, they aren’t legal for sale everywhere due to the possibility of electric shock, something I learned when I tried to buy one and have it sent to my home in California, so we didn’t test this kind of shower.
ELECTRIC POWERED:
Electric powered camp showers operate off a vehicle’s battery or your campground RV hookup. These tend to heat the fastest and have the best pressure. They also are the most expensive.
Camping Shower Tips
A solar bag set up in the Kelty privacy tent. We recommend setting up all your accessories like soap and shampoo before starting your shower.
Set your outdoor shower up far away from water
Leave No Trace outdoor ethics recommend being at least 200 feet away from water sources while using soap. Even if you are far from water, use biodegradable soap.
Turn the shower off while soaping up
When camping, we recommend getting wet, turning off, soaping up, and turning water back on for a rinse. Using this showering process, in our testing, three people could shower off one 4-gallon bag.
Get all your towels, toiletries, and clothes ready before your shower
Shower time is limited when you’re using a camp shower. Get your toiletries positioned and your towels and clean clothes within reach before you start your shower. Get naked and only then start your shower.
Watch where your shower drains
Set up your shower tent on a well drained permeable surface, ideally flat or sloping slightly downhill. Make sure clothes and dry towels are not in the path of where your shower drains. Additionally, make sure that you are far away from natural water sources like streams and lakes. Water can pool up easily, especially if you’re using a camp shower tent with a waterproof bottom. Drain the bottom of camp shower tents before the next person takes a shower.
Why you should trust us
Liz Thomas is an award-winning Los Angeles-based writer and Editor-in-Chief of Treeline Review. A former Fastest Known Time (FKT) record holder on the Appalachian Trail, Liz came to Treeline Review from New York Times/Wirecutter, the New York Times’ product review site, where she was a staff writer on the outdoor team.
Liz has talked gear on Good Morning America (TV), in The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, Buzzfeed, Men’s Journal, Women’s Health, Gizmodo, and Outside Magazine.
To test the best camping showers, she and a dozen other campers tested showers side-by-side for two summers of use–from a fishing campout in Montana to an educational summer camp in the Sierra. As an outdoors person always on the lookout for ways to reduce her environmental footprint, she's excited about solar camps showers as a way to stay clean without relying on the grid.
She represented the sport of hiking at President Obama’s Great American Outdoors Initiative.
Liz’s keynote speaking engagements have included colleges and universities including Yale and MIT and on Capitol Hill, the Trust for Public Land, American Hiking Society, and BikeTexas.
You can read more about Liz at her wikipedia page here or on her website. See all her Treeline Review articles on her author page.
