Why are portable camping showers useful things to have while camping? You always remember to take your cooking equipment, but your hygiene is the other essential. If you’ve ever been to a campsite, you might observe that one of the only ways you can have a wash every morning is to use the communal showers at the main base.
That’s if your lucky because in some cases, sites don’t have a shower area at all, and are rather just an open bit of land where you can pitch your tent up and/or park your campervan.
However, portable camping showers are a thing. They’re brilliant for when you need a wash, but don’t either have immediate access to a public shower, or don’t want to step foot into those facilities. If you’re feeling like it, you can use that fresh water to refill your camping kettle, too.
The best portable camping showers 2024 at a glance:
The best portable camping shower: Colapz Rechargeable Camping Shower – Buy now from Amazon UK
Editor’s pick: Nemo Helio Pressure Shower – Buy now from Alpine Trek
Most compact camping shower: Sea To Summit Pocket Shower – Buy now from Amazon UK
Searching for the things however, can be a bit of a tricky task. So, we’ve done the hard work for you and rounded up the best portable camping showers – along with a couple of showering tents – available for your next camping trip.
The best portable camping showers 2024
The best portable camping shower
Powered by a rechargeable 2850mAh battery, this portable shower has a pump that sits in a bucket of water and drives water out at a rate of three litres per minute. That’s similar to the flow rate of the excellent Worx Hydroshot pressure washer.
The Colpaz shower’s run time is about one hour, which is impressive, and the battery is recharged via USB. We also like that there is a jet nozzle in addition to the regular shower head. This adds to its versatility. It’s a hard model to fault and unquestionably the best option out there.
Pros
- Can also be used as a dog shower away from the campsite
- Long run time of 45-60min water flow
- Has a jet wash that can be used on other things
Cons
- Battery isn't waterproof
Editor's pick
The Helio shower comes with a foot pump to pressurise the water tank to give the user about five minutes of pressure. It’s not as strong as the pressure from the Colapz portable shower, but it’s enough to give you a proper rinse.
You can warm water by leaving the Helio to absorb heat in the sun or fill it directly with hot water. The model seen here has an 11-litre capacity, but a larger 22-litre model exists too. Both shrink down to small, light packages, and the lifetime warranty-backed quality is immediately noticeable.
Pros
- No mains electricity or batteries required
- Energy efficient and clever solution
- Five minutes worth of water flow is good for quick showers
Cons
- Not as powerful as electrical showers
Best compact camping shower
Regarding Sea To Summit’s Pocket Shower, the compromise is that water pressure is driven by gravity and can’t match the Colapz and Nemo showers. However, the plus sides are numerous. This tough 70D fabric water sack weighs a mere 120 grams yet expands to hold 10 litres of water when needed.
There is a small shower head on the bottom that twists to open and shut as needed. You do need to have the Pocket Shower suspended above your head, but it’s made easy with the strong D rings and cord included. Because it’s waterproof, the Pocket Shower also doubles as a dry bag.
Pros
- Very good value at just over £20
- Easy to pack with your other camping gear
- Gives you seven minutes of shower time
Cons
- Gravity-operated showers aren't ideal for everyone
Best value pressure-powered camping shower
The hose itself is 2.6 metres long and is recommended for use between 12-6pm. You will get approximately five to seven minutes of water flow, which should be enough for most quick washes. If you wanted to, you could also use it to wash other things on the campsite, such as your dishes, bicycles, or even bits of your car or campervan.
Pros
- Enough water flow time for a quick shower (circa 5-7 minutes)
- Great value for money compared to the others
- Can be used for other washing/cleaning tasks
Cons
- 10 litres will be very small for some
Best multi-purpose camping shower
It’s meant as a multi-purpose water sack, rather specifically as a portable shower. Therefore, Ortlieb’s shower valve is needed. However, the Water Sack is BPA and PVC-free, so it can be used for safely storing drinking water too.
Moreover, it can act as a dry bag and a compression sack. If you’re camping light, it’s the best multi-purpose option.
Pros
- Suitable for other uses, such as storing drinking water
- Good value for money at under £30
- Easy to pack and store
Cons
- Not strictly designed as a portable shower
- Shower attachment not included
The best enclosed camping shower cubicle
Decathalon’s model is lightweight, compact, very fast to pitch, and great value. There are a couple of drawbacks: at two metres high, it’s tight for tall people; also, there’s no holder for a gravity-fed shower, and therefore only works with pumped showers that have a hose.
Pros
- Good sense of privacy
- Quick and easy to set up on site
- Roomy enough for most people's needs
Cons
- No mount for gravity showers
Best large camping shower tent
You set it up via a pump which inflates the structural tubes running through the tent. It's a little more unconventional than a standard pole tent, but one that's less fiddly to set up overall. Even when not in use, you can use it to store all sorts of things while you're on a walk somewhere away from camp.
Pros
- Quite multi-purpose and practical
- Can fit two people inside
- Easy to set up, thanks to inflatable structure
Cons
- Perhaps overkill for some
FAQs and things to consider with portable camping showers
Are shower tents worth it?
If you value your privacy and cleanliness, then absolutely. They are a great solution if you don’t want to walk all the way to the communal showers, yet still want to be clean on your camping trip. Be aware of how you want yours to be set up though, as some tents won’t have a place for gravity showers inside – meaning you’ll have to look for a battery-powered or pressure-generated version to meet your needs. You also won’t have to walk a long way between your shower and your campsite spec toaster for a spot of breakfast.
How long does a 20 litre camp shower last?
It’s hard to put a firm figure on, as shower designs and flow rates differ between them. But if we take the Nemo Helio pressure shower, it lasts anywhere between five to seven minutes with 11 litres at the realm. You can get a bigger version which boasts 22 litres, so you should expect that time figure to double.
Can you use portable camping showers for anything else?
You absolutely can. Some models are simultaneously designed for other tasks, such as washing your dog, equipment such as bikes, and many other things you might have on your campsite. If you wanted to, you could use one to hose down your camping cutlery, if you had no other way.
Aaron Hussain is a commercial content writer at Bauer Media writing for Parkers and CAR. He is obsessed with classic cars and anything with a fascinating story to tell.
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