Nothing beats a refreshing shower at the end of a long day, especially when coming back from a long day of physical activity. Gone are the days where you needed to wait to get home to shower – Portable showers are a great solution to take with you camping, road trips or any adventures!21k547
Keeping yourself clean can go a long way to make your outdoors time more enjoyable, especially for your adventure buddies! Portable showers are a great way to freshen up whilst on the go, and come in many forms, shapes and capacities – even heated showers!
So what is available on the market now? Read on to find out!
Why are portable showers great?
Having a portable shower to take with you is great for a number of reasons;
- A portable shower is lightweight and easy to carry and store when required.
- You can use a portable shower pretty much anytime and anywhere – just not somewhere your feet will get muddy!
- You can use a portable shower for any purpose where you need water – such as cleaning or rinsing equipment.
- Most portable showers come as a complete set, ready to use out of the packaging
- Portable showers typically have low flow rates, conserving water
- Portable showers can be filled with hot water, or left in the sun to heat up passively to provide a heated shower.
- Portable showers can be hooked up to roof racks of a car, a tree, shelter, or the inside of a portable shower tent.
Having a portable shower is a must to make your camping experience more enjoyable. There are also a number of different types of portable showers
Different types of portable showers
There are a few main types of portable showers
- Gravity fed portable showers
- Passive solar powered showers
- Pressurized portable showers
- Electrical portable showers
Gravity fed portable shower:
A gravity fed portable shower is a system raised off the ground. They rely on elevating the reservoir of water above the shower head or spigot, using gravity to cause the flow of water. These are the simplest form of portable showers, and the most basic is the shower bag
Pros
- You can keep enough water for multiple showers in it.
- It contains a strong handle for reliable and easier hanging.
- Easier to turn on/off with a connected valve to shower head.
- Can simply fill with warm water from a stove, or hang in the sun to warm the water
Cons
- Slower water stream as compared to pressurized systems.
- An overhead support is required to use it
- Require a stove and pot to heat water for a warm shower
Example: Coleman 5 Gallon Water Heating Solar Shower
This is also known as a camping shower bag, and looks like a big water bladder or some kind of pouch. You basically just fill up this shower bag with water and hang it overhead for support. It can hold up to 5 gallons (20L) of water, which is enough for multiple long showers with ease.
Price: Usually retail between $10 – $30.
Portable solar camping shower
Solar camping shower bags can absorb sunlight effectively if left in the sun. This makes these portable showers extremely user-friendly and simple. You can leave these in a sunny spot during the day or even put them on the roof of your car, and when you come back to use them at the end of the day the water is hot enough for a warm shower.
Pros
- Identical to shower bags – very simple design
- Passive heating doesn’t require a stove or pots
- Perfect for a portable warm water shower
Cons
- Overhead support is required to use it
- Water stream intensity can be weak due to gravity feed
- Temperature might not be as hot as desired
Example: 20L Solar Shower Bag
This is a solar shower bag that can offer you a warm water stream without using gas or electricity. It has been produced with durable materials and should last years. Lightweight, simple and cheap – it is an easy choice.
Price: $30 – $50
Electrical water pump portable shower
This type of portable shower uses an electrical pump to move water to shower from the container. These can use electricity from many forms including 12V ports on your vehicle, rechargeable batteries or dedicated portable power supplies like power banks.
Pros
- This is a multipurpose portable shower that you can use to clean yourself anywhere, any time.
- A water purification filter can ensure clean water supply .
- USB charging can let you charge it more effectively while outdoors.
- It is pretty straightforward to use.
Cons
- You have to charge it before using.
- An external water tank or reservoir is necessary to make it work.
Example: Innhom Electric Rechargeable Portable Shower
This is an electric water pump portable shower. You can charge it in 2 ways with a rechargeable battery or 12V USB vehicle charger. Consequently, you can shower anywhere with ease. The effective water filter system and provides an added assurance of clean water when using local streams or rivers as a water source.
Price: $80 – $100
Pressurized portable showers
This is a pretty nifty solution among all other portable showers. Rather than needing to lift these up for gravity to feed, you can pump water by pressurizing the vessel using a hand or foot pump. This will build up residual pressure in the system and most have a push button on the shower head to start the pressurised flow of water
Pros
- No rechargeable and electrical parts required
- Offers great water pressure stream
- No need to hang or move reservoir to flow water out.
- You can keep it under direct sunlight to warm water passively
Cons
- Pressurizing can be annoying if you constantly need to pump
- Damage or improper fittings can cause leaks or prevent it from pressurizing properly
- Much more expensive than shower bags
Example: Nemo Helio Portable Pressure Shower
This is a really cool portable pressure shower based on pressurized compartment technology. It comes up with 11 litre water capacity which is enough for multiple showers because of the low-flow nozzle. The spray nozzle and hose is long enough that you can hold it overhead with ease for showering
Price: $150 – $180
Conclusion
Finding a great portable shower can be a revelation for travelers and adventurers alike. Knowing about the different types portable showers on offer can help you to choose the best system that suits your budget. So, check out some of the types we discussed above, and enjoy a refreshing shower on your next camp or road trips
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I like that you talked about how portable showers would also have hot water while some will passively get hot when left in the sun. I would love to find a portable shower trailer rental with that option to ensure that we don’t get cold out there. We will use it when my family goes camping with our neighbor this coming July for a week.