When you go camping at the beach, or camping for an extended period of time. You might consider a camping shower. To wash off the sand & dirt. This article has everything you didn’t know, you wanted to know about camping showers.
What about camping showers? Camping Shower question & answers.
- How do Camping showers work?
- How do you Shower in a tent?
- How many gallons for a camp shower?
- What’s a solar shower?
- How much does a camping shower cost?
- What’s the best camping shower setup?
- How does an Electric camping shower work?
- Best Gas Camping Shower.
A camping showers might be the closest thing to home on your next camping trip. Read on to find out everything you need to know about camping showers.
Why Would You Need a Camping Shower?
Your camping at the beach and you have had a perfect day of fun in the sun. Now you just want to get that sand off of you. So you can kick back and enjoy a glass of wine while watching the waves come in and go out.
Good thing you bought that camping shower. Nothing else would work as good to get rid of the left over sand stuck to you.
Or maybe you are going camping for a long period of time. There is no substitute for getting you thoroughly clean. There are other things you can do with a portable camping shower. But primarily a camping shower comes in handy after a couple of days out in the woods.
How Do Camping Showers Work?
A camp shower works off of the Sun. The solar power is generated from the sun and absorbed into a black covered water bag. The solar power heats up the bag, and in turn heats up the water.
The black water bag is made of a special PVC material that absorbs the heat. The PVC is also very durable so that it is not easily punctured, and isn’t prone to leaking. The bag is pliable which makes it easy to fold up for portability and storage.
Using the Water Bag:
Fill the water bag and wait for the solar energy from the sun to heat up the water. There is a hose attached to the black water bag. With a shower nozzle at the one end. The water is dispensed by the force of gravity.
There are also portable propane showers. This kind of shower heats the water with the use of propane. There is an electric water pump. The water pump supply’s pressure to pump the water out.
Even though you have instant hot water with this propane tank water heater. The propane shower costs a lot more than the solar shower.(See the comparison on Amazon).
How do You Shower in a Tent?
For privacy you use a pop up shower tent. The shower water bag hangs up high. Then there is a special opening in the tent for the shower head. The pop up tent is for privacy. Which means it can also be used for a portable bathroom too.
Related Article: Camping Gear for a Baby: 25 Things You Must Have.
How Long Does it Take to Heat Water for Solar Camp Shower?
A solar shower depends on the sun to generate power to heat the water. There are different things that can affect the duration of time to heat the water. Things like; If the solar is in the shade, or if it is cloudy outside. But for the most part the water heats up within 3 – 4 hours.
According to The Farmers Almanac the sun starts heating up at 12 O’clock noon and gets to its hottest by 3 PM.
Related Article: Are Truck Tents Worth It?
How Many Gallons for a Camp Shower?
Most portable showers use 5 gallons of water. How long will five gallons of water last, depends on the shower that you buy. Some showers work off of gravity and others off of a 12 volt battery. Also the shower head that comes with the portable showers will also be a determining factor.
Some solar showers, water supply will last up to 8 minutes. There is a trick to conserving the water when showering at camp.
How to Conserve Water Showering at the Campsite
- First soak yourself with water.
- Turn the water off.
- Lather up with soap.
- Wash hair.
- Turn Water On.
- Rinse soap off.
Related Articles: What to do camping in the rain.
Camping Shower Features to Look for
- Style – Portable showers are like owning a truck they all can be driven, but there are different styles. The shower can be heated by Solar, or a propane shower that heats the water. Electric water pump shower. And even showers that work with the use of gravity.
- Construction – Your going to be using your shower at the camp. And it will be outside. So your going to want to make sure that the shower you choose is durable, and rugged enough to withstand the outdoors. Shower materials are plastic, PVC, and metal.
- Portability – When your camping you are usually taking everything including the kitchen sink. So you want to make sure that the shower is portable. It needs to be small enough to take anywhere you want to go camping. And light weight to carry it where your campsite shower is going to be setup.
- Pricing – There is a big price range on portable camping showers. And the big difference mainly is the convenience factor of having hot water on demand.
- Reliability & Functionality – Your going to want an easy to use functioning shower. That you can adjust the water temperature. One that is convenient and works every time you need it too. Although it costs a little bit more up front. You get more bang for your buck with the Heat on demand portable shower. Which I highly recommend.
Related Article: Best camping gadgets.
What’s a Solar Shower?
A Solar shower consists of a water bag, and a shower head. Which is on the end of the hose that is attached to the bag. The water bag is made of PVC material. This material take solar energy and heats up the water. That is in the bag.
Related Article: Best Solar Power Station.
6 Ways to Use a Portable heated Shower
Of Course you can use your portable heated shower camping to take a shower. But what else can you do with it?
- Portable camping Shower.
- Use to heat water for washing dishes at camp.
- Wash your car, truck or SUV.
- Give the dog a bath.
- Wash off sand that you got from the beach.
- Wash the kids.
Related Article: Camping near NYC Just a Hop Skip & Jump Away.
Propane Shower Heater
The propane water heater runs off of propane. It comes with a water pump, and a shower head. A water tank and an electric chord to charge the rechargeable battery. Which can be charged in the car. Or ahead of time with a regular 110 outlet.
First thing you want to do before using the portable propane shower heater is fully charge the battery. Next connect the shower hose to the unit. There will be an inlet and outlet connection. Make sure you connect the hose to the outlet. At the other end of the water hose screw on the shower head to the hose.
After that you have the water pump, it is connected to a hose. Connect the water pump via a quick disconnect, to the inlet side of the unit. At the other end of the hose is the water pump. Find the electrical plug that plugs into the unit at the back.
Then you take a 1 lb. bottle of propane and screw it onto the manifold.
Take a 5 gallon water container and immerse the water pump into the water.
On the front panel of the water heater/shower. There is a power switch for on/off. And a switch to start the pump. The panel also has a visual for the ignitor, water outlet temperature, and a safety cut out.
On the propane heated water shower. The battery and electric operate the water pump. And then the propane is used to heat the water.
How Much Does a Camping Shower Cost?
There are different kinds of camping showers. That are portable for tent camping. There are solar showers, heat on demand Showers, such as propane or electric showers. Showers range from 20 – 350 dollars. But you are going to also want to get a privacy tent.
Related Article: List of Campgrounds in CT (Ultimate Guide).
How Does an Electric Camping Shower Work?
There are different options you can get a small canister that houses a rechargeable battery. There are two control buttons one for on/off. And the other controls the speed of the water being pumped up and out of the shower head.
This kind of water pump sits in the water. There is a built in filter. That can be removed and cleaned out. This kind of camping shower will not supply any heat to heat the water. It works similar to a sump pump. So you will need a bucket or basin to hold the water.
Then you submerse the bottom of the pump in the water. When you turn the electric motor on the pump, pumps the water up through a hose. The hose is connected to the shower head. Which is screwed onto the hose. And water comes out of the shower head.
Best Gas Camping Shower
What’s the Best Camping Shower Setup?
The best camping shower setup has a premium shower shelter. One that has extra room inside to move around in it. One that has a towel rack so that you have a place to hang your towel to dry. And a shower rack inside for your shampoo’s Etc. Then a solid heat on demand propane heated or electric heated water heater.
