Do you love camping but wish there were an easy way to stay clean? Being able to shower while you camp is not just a luxurious amenity; taking care of your personal hygiene on the trails is actually really important to ensure you have a safe and healthy camping adventure. A portable camping shower will solve all your personal hygiene needs so you can enjoy nature worry-free.
We did our research and created a list of the 10 best portable camping showers. The Advanced Elements Summer Shower was our favorite, because of its solar technology, decent capacity, compact storage, and extra features such as a temperature gauge and storage packet. Keep reading for a buying guide that will help you find a shower that fits your camping needs.
If you're pondering a camping adventure but not sure about the lack of showering options, a portable shower is a great solution. But a camping shower is a good idea whether you're a newbie or a seasoned camper. Maintaining good hygiene habits is important for your health, especially when you're in nature.
Keeping your body, face, and feet clean will help you avoid a number of irritants, like blisters and chafing, as well as infections and other hygiene-related diseases. If you neglect hygiene while camping, you're more susceptible to issues such as athlete's foot, lice, and chronic diarrhea. Showering will help you wash off grime, keeping you fresh and helping you avoid getting sick.
You could also use a camping shower to wash your gear or dishes. But these portable showers aren't just for camping. They would be great to take along on surfing or fishing trips, too! You could also water flowers, wash a pet or your car, bathe a baby, help an elderly or injured person shower, or have a makeshift shower if you unexpectedly lose access to water.
Camping showers vary in operation mode, capacity, power source, and size. The best one for you will depend on your camping preferences and needs.
$23.99
Type | Gravity-fed |
---|---|
Water source | 2.5-gal. bag |
Weight | 1.1 lbs. |
Hose length | Not provided |
Water heater | Solar |
$39.99
Type | Rechargeable pump |
---|---|
Water source | Your own bucket or similar vessel |
Weight | 1.9 lbs. |
Hose length | 6.5 ft. |
Water heater | No |
$47.00
Type | Rechargeable pump |
---|---|
Water source | Your own bucket or similar vessel |
Weight | Not provided |
Hose length | 5.9 ft. |
Water heater | No |
$45.99
Type | Rechargeable pump |
---|---|
Water source | Your own bucket or similar vessel |
Weight | 1.56 lbs. |
Hose length | About 6 ft. |
Water heater | No |
$34.95
Type | Gravity-fed |
---|---|
Water source | 2.64-gal. bag |
Weight | 0.26 lbs. |
Hose length | - |
Water heater | Solar? No? |
$39.99
Type | Hand-pump-operated |
---|---|
Water source | 2-gal. container |
Weight | 3.8 lbs. |
Hose length | 6 ft. |
Water heater | No |
$14.99
Type | Straw with shower head |
---|---|
Water source | Attaches to a 1- or 2-liter bottle (not included) |
Weight | 0.13 lbs. |
Hose length | Two straws included, one each for a 1- and 2-liter bottle |
Water heater | No |
$19.99
Type | Gravity-fed |
---|---|
Water source | 5-gal. bag |
Weight | 0.97 lbs. |
Hose length | Not provided |
Water heater | Solar |
$99.95
Type | Foot pump-operated |
---|---|
Water source | 2.9-gal. tank |
Weight | 1.32 lbs. |
Hose length | 7 ft. |
Water heater | No (can heat in the sun or directly add hot water) |
$9.50
Type | Gravity-fed |
---|---|
Water source | 5-gal. bag. |
Weight | Not provided |
Hose length | Not provided |
Water heater | Solar |
Image | 1 ![]() Advanced Elements | 2 ![]() Ivation | 3 ![]() Iron Hammer | 4 ![]() Kedsum | 5 ![]() Sea to Summit | 6 ![]() Reliance Products | 7 ![]() Rainburst | 8 ![]() WEIYII | 9 ![]() NEMO | 10 ![]() Coghlan's |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Summer Shower | Portable Battery-Powered Outdoor Shower | Portable Camp Shower | Portable Shower | Lightweight Pocket Shower | Flow Pro Pressurized Portable Shower | Simple Shower | Outdoor Camping Solar Shower Bag | Helio Portable Pressure Camp Shower | Solar-Heated Camp Shower |
Features | A Solar Shower That Rolls Up to Fit in Your Pack | Enjoy a Hands-Free Gentle Shower | Built-In Filtration and Battery for Clean Convenience | Endless Showering Thanks to Two Batteries | Minimalist Portable Shower With Adjustable Water Flow | No Charge Needed for This Pump-Up Shower | Keep It Simple With a Lightweight Option | Solar Shower With a Strong Handle for Hanging | Use Your Foot to Pump Up This Shower | Highly Portable Shower With a Large Capacity |
Price | $23.99 | $39.99 | $47.00 | $45.99 | $34.95 | $39.99 | $14.99 | $19.99 | $99.95 | $9.50 |
Type | Gravity-fed | Rechargeable pump | Rechargeable pump | Rechargeable pump | Gravity-fed | Hand-pump-operated | Straw with shower head | Gravity-fed | Foot pump-operated | Gravity-fed |
Water source | 2.5-gal. bag | Your own bucket or similar vessel | Your own bucket or similar vessel | Your own bucket or similar vessel | 2.64-gal. bag | 2-gal. container | Attaches to a 1- or 2-liter bottle (not included) | 5-gal. bag | 2.9-gal. tank | 5-gal. bag. |
Weight | 1.1 lbs. | 1.9 lbs. | Not provided | 1.56 lbs. | 0.26 lbs. | 3.8 lbs. | 0.13 lbs. | 0.97 lbs. | 1.32 lbs. | Not provided |
Hose length | Not provided | 6.5 ft. | 5.9 ft. | About 6 ft. | - | 6 ft. | Two straws included, one each for a 1- and 2-liter bottle | Not provided | 7 ft. | Not provided |
Water heater | Solar | No | No | No | Solar? No? | No | No | Solar | No (can heat in the sun or directly add hot water) | Solar |
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To pick a suitable portable camping shower, you'll need to consider logistics, such as water source, power source, shower time, weight, and compactness. Here's some information to help you find a shower that fits your preferences and camping conditions.
Some showers have a pump that is placed directly into a water source. These are a good option if you have easy access to a body of fresh water, although keep in mind privacy could be an issue and you should not use any soap in a natural body of water. You may prefer to place the pump in a bucket of water.
If you're not sure about the water access you'll have, think about how long you'll be camping. If there will be extended periods of time without opportunities to replenish with fresh water, go for a shower with a tank that has a larger capacity, such as four or five gallons.
Depending on their capacity, other camping showers will require more refilling than others if you want a full-length shower. This might mean the shower is more compact or more lightweight, but the tradeoff is having to refill a bucket or the shower bag multiple times while you shower, which might be more especially inconvenient if you are camping a decent distance away from a water source.
Check product listings to see if there's any mention of the average length of a shower per a certain number of gallons or liters of water. For example, a camping shower might have the power to provide you a 10 minute shower using 2.5 gallons of water. This will help you figure out how much mileage you can get out of a shower given your water supply.
Camping showers can be categorized by the source of water pressure. Check the product listing to see if water flow is listed. Often measured in gallons per minute, this specification will give you a sense of how powerful the shower is. Depending on who or what will be washed with the portable shower, you might want a gentle stream of water or a more high-pressure shower.
Camping shower bags are usually hung from a tree or another high spot. You fill the bag up and then the water falls naturally, thanks to gravity. The higher the bag is, the more pressure you get. This is a useful shower type if you're camping in a wooded area with lots of branches. There are several options on the market that are lightweight and store compactly.
With manual pump showers, you have to pump by hand or foot to build up pressure from a container of water. There is no hanging required, but this type of shower will likely take up more space and the shower process will be more physically involved since you'll need to use some elbow grease before you can hit the showers!
Automatic pumps are normally powered by rechargeable batteries. Pick this kind of shower only if you'll have access to electricity or if one charge will take care of your shower needs for the duration of your camping trip.
Some camping showers run on batteries that require a charge. If your shower is powered by a rechargeable battery, you'll want to know how many minutes of use you'll get out of a single charge, especially if you won't have any access to electricity during a long camping trip. To conserve both charge and water, consider turning off the shower while you're soaping up.
If you won't have electricity access or just don't want to contend with batteries, there are plenty of options that don't need power to operate and work instead via gravity, solar heating, or hand pumping.
You'll want to consider your personal preferences for your camping shower experience as well as your electricity access, the length of your camping trip, and your camping setup to decide which type is best for you. Battery-operated showers and non-electric showers will take up different amounts of space and require varying levels of involvement and preparation.
Having an estimate of shower time is helpful for the sake of efficiency, water conservation, and other logistics. The showering minutes you get from a full container of water depend on the amount of water pressure, the size of the hose, and the size of the shower head.
If you have a pump-operated shower, you'll want to figure out how much water you'll need for a full-length shower for you and perhaps for fellow campers if you're sharing. If you have a bag shower, you'll want to know how many showering minutes you'll get from full capacity.
There might be a tradeoff between shower capacity and durability as well as between water pressure and portability. For example, bigger showers tend to be made of sturdier materials, but if portability is more of a priority for you, you might want to go with a smaller shower, which might have a gentler flow of water.
When you're camping, space is a hot commodity. You might not have the room, or the desire, to lug a big shower, so be sure to see how heavy it is and decide if it's worth the weight or will add too much bulk to your gear. For example, a shower with a larger capacity might make showering more convenient, but it will take up more space and might weigh more.
Also think about how easy it will be to store and transport the shower. Is it an awkward shape that won't fit easily in a backpack? Can it be stored compactly? Are there a lot of pieces to keep track of? Is there a convenient way to carry it, like a handle or strap? Another consideration is whether you'll need additional gear for your shower setup, like a bucket.
Most portable camping showers do not include a water heater. However, you can enjoy a warm shower if you have a way to heat up water, such as fire, propane, or solar energy. Make sure to read the instructions to see if it's safe to add hot water to your portable shower. Some companies specify the temperature tolerance.
Many bag showers feature solar absorption technology, which warms up water that is left in the sun. This is an easy and eco-friendly way to get hot water, but isn't reliable if the weather is not sunny or you're showering at night. Propane camping showers are another convenient option, but since they're not very portable, they aren't included in this article.
Be sure to test the temperature of the water before showering in case the water has gotten too hot. Some solar showers are equipped with a temperature gauge. You could add some cold water if the water temperature is too high.
If you're looking for a shower that will provide as much comfort and convenience as possible, search for extra features. Some portable showers have interchangeable shower heads, pouches for toiletries, temperature gauges, or longer shower hoses!
Keep in mind that these extras might add extra weight to your gear, so you'll have to weigh the benefits of the features with the costs of heavier gear. How long you plan to be camping might affect whether you want to invest in added features.
Another feature to look for is water filtration, which might be important to you if you're planning on using water directly from a natural water source rather than adding water you've boiled or filtered yourself first. Filters help remove pathogens, such as bacteria, from your water, so a camping shower with water filtration could help reduce risk of getting sick.
When you're showering in nature, it's important to use eco-friendly products and pick a showering spot that won't harm wildlife or otherwise disrupt the ecosystem. Check the policies of your particular campsite, but here is some basic information about "Leave No Trace" showering habits.
If you're washing without soap, it is okay to do so in a stream, lake, or river. But if you're using soap, you don't want to pollute the water or contaminate drinking water, so you should shower at least 200 feet away from any water source, which is a distance of about 70 steps. You could use a regular or collapsible bucket, pot, or collapsible sink to carry water to a safe showering spot.
If you do wash with soap, use minimal amounts of an unscented biodegradable soap. Scented soap could attract bugs or other animals, and harsh chemicals will negatively affect the natural environment.
Now that you've got a way to shower while you're camping, what about other personal hygiene matters? This video from Dave Collins of CleverHiker.com provides a lot of tips that will help you keep clean and respect wildlife and fellow campers at the same time.
Now that you've got camping hygiene covered, what about sleeping and cooking? We've got buying guides with products that will help you whip up tasty meals and get a good night's sleep in the wilderness.
Once you've cleaned off with your handy new portable shower, wrap yourself in this absorbent, quick-drying towel recommended by Cinneah El-Amin, a personal finance and travel content creator. Lightweight and compact, it fits in a small mesh pouch, and there's even a loop on the towel so you can easily hang it up to dry on a branch or your tent!
$10.72
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