Topic: The Best Camping Showers of 2022 (Read 148 times)
previous topic - next topic
It's your post, so post it!
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
The foot-powered NEMO Helio was much easier to pressurize (and then repressurize) on the fly than expected.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
The NEMO Helio operates off a similar mechanism as the Decathlon Quechua Solar Pressure Shower 500, except that instead of pressurizing via a topside pump plunger, it uses a foot pump connected to the main body by a short tube. During testing, I noticed it was easier to repressurize the chamber without having to put down either a washcloth or the nozzle, which is connected to the water chamber by a second seven-foot-long tube.
While the NEMO Helio was arguably easier (or at least more convenient) to use than the Decathlon Quechua Solar Pressure Shower 500, it ultimately didn’t create as much water pressure out of the nozzle. It was also more difficult to fill up and seal the chamber, even if the overall streamlined aesthetics were more pleasing once the shower was set up and ready to use. That said, if the Decathlon is out of stock, or you simply feel strongly that you want the ability to repressurize on the fly, then this is an excellent choice.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
The battery-operated Coleman OneSource Camp Shower was easy to set up and provided a steady stream of water with no additional pumping required.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
The Coleman OneSource Camp Shower was by far the easiest to use of the camp showers in my test. Once the basin filled with water, it was simply a matter of securing the top, popping in the battery, and hitting start. And unlike pump showers, it didn’t need any further fiddling after that point. This is one of the best camping showers that allows you to keep spraying the water until there’s nothing left in your reservoir.
The Coleman OneSource tied for second (after the Advanced Elements Summer Shower) in how quickly the water warmed up when left in the sun, and it also had one of the most impressive spray pressures, just behind the Decathlon. Something that set the nozzle of the Coleman OneSource apart from the others in my test is that it can be adjusted from a single, high-pressure stream to a mist spray with multiple options in between. I also liked that it had durable material on the base protecting the thinner plastic sides from any abrasions on the ground.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
Campers who know they won’t need a hot shower may find that the low-cost Ivation Portable Shower, paired with a simple bucket, is all they need to rinse off.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
For campers venturing out during the dog days of summer, a hot shower isn’t always necessary (or even desirable) but getting a strong spray is. Since there isn’t an acco*panying water chamber for the Ivation Battery-Powered Portable Shower, and thus no way to heat up the water, you’ll need to supply a DIY reservoir of your own. A plastic bucket works great for this purpose, and gives you more flexibility with how much water you’re setting aside for your shower.
To use the Ivation Battery-Powered Portable Shower, you simply hit the on switch (hidden under a flexible gray cap) and drop the pump end of the tube into the water. It’s important to note here that the pump also houses the internal battery, which is protected from the water by a simple twist-off cap. This represents both a failure point and a safety issue, so it’s worth double checking the security of the cap before each use and also checking that there was no water encroachment underneath the cap before storage.
Because the on/off switch is on the pump end of the shower (rather than the nozzle end), it’s more difficult with this camping shower than others in my test to turn off the water flow. Further, since it can push water through the nozzle at an impressive velocity (generally a good thing during testing), it can tear through even a sizable water supply fairly quickly. The larger the reservoir you’re able to secure for this camping shower, the happier you will be.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
It was hard to believe how much water the tiny, lightweight Sea to Summit Pocket Shower holds.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
The Sea to Summit Pocket Shower was easily the most minimalist camp shower in my test, and you wouldn’t have a problem stashing this one in your backpack. It’s essentially a 10-liter bag with a roll top on one side and a low-tech nozzle (don’t expect a significant blast here, gravity is the only force at play). On the other side, screw to the left to open and to the right to close. To add water, just dunk in a nearby lake (checking first that there is no debris that could clog the nozzle), or hold it open under a faucet until the water reaches the fill line on the inside. Then, roll the top down three times and snap the buckle shut. Now it’s ready for you to lay out in the sun for a few hours to warm up the water inside.
The next part is a little more co*plicated—you actually need to get this puppy elevated enough to use. The internet is full of solutions to this problem, from pulley systems on tree branches using carabiners to lantern stands to elaborate jerry-rigged car hoists. My personal approach to this style of bag has always been to tie it off at a height I can reach (meaning I need to crouch down while showering), so it’s worth keeping in mind how much trouble you’re willing to go to set up a shower like this before making a purchase.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
The water in the Advanced Elements Summer Shower heated up faster than any other in my test.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
Let’s start with the good here. The Advanced Elements Summer Shower heats up water fast. In my test, it was the only camp shower where the water would be considered a co*fortable temperature for showering after being left in the sun for four hours. Of course, fast here is relative. Unless it’s an extremely hot day (when you might not mind a cold shower anyway), you’ll still need to plan ahead of time if you want a warm shower.
While the Advanced Elements featured a temperature gauge, I found that it didn’t provide an accurate read of the water temperature inside the bag. That being said, it still provided some clue as to whether the water was indeed heating up. With the other camp showers in my test, the only way to find out was to waste a little of the water you planned to shower with later. The Advanced Elements Summer Shower also had a small mirror that stored inside of a mesh pocket on the front.
Like the Sea to Summit, this shower must be elevated above head height to use and does not provide as powerful a spray as the battery-operated camping showers or ones that used human-powered internal pressure.
Camping showers cost between $30 and $170, depending on the mechanism used to move the water through the nozzle. Gravity-powered camping showers will generally be the least expensive (with less powerful water flow), while battery-operated camping showers generally cost more.
You can expect a camping shower to last for about seven minutes, depending on the flow rate and the capacity. That’s typically long enough for two showers, assuming the water is only turned on when you’re ready to rinse.
The length of time it takes to heat up a solar shower depends in part on how hot the day is and how much water you are trying to heat. In general, it’s best to give a camping shower at least three hours to warm up in direct sunlight before use, more if you’re looking for an especially hot shower or if the day is overcast. Before showering, it’s always a good idea to check the temperature of the water to ensure it isn’t too hot.
If you are camping in the backcountry, whether on a backpacking trip or at a dispersed site, it’s important to follow Leave No Trace principles to minimize disruption to the surrounding ecosystem. The most important part of this is to set up your camp shower at least 200 feet (with some reco*mendations going up to 300 feet) from any surrounding water sources, as well as the trail or any surrounding campsites. If you use soap, which most campers and backpackers agree isn’t really necessary, then it’s important to use as little as possible by lathering up a bandana or camping washcloth and using that to clean off. While it’s essential to ensure that none of the water that you are using for your shower makes its way back to a water source, using a biodegradable soap can also help minimize the impact to the environment.
The camping showers in my test were evaluated in tandem on a mid-60s June day, during which I considered the following criteria:
There is a lot of variety between the best camping showers currently on the market, from fully battery powered to pressurized chambers to simple bags with a nozzle at one end. You can purchase these camping showers from well-known co*panies like NEMO Equipment and Sea to Summit as well as from pop-up brands like Ivation. After trying out some of the most popular models available, I’m reco*mending the Decathlon Quechua Solar Pressure Shower 500 as a great mid-priced option that will fit most people’s needs, with the Coleman OneSource Camp Shower a great (if more expensive) option for those that don’t want to have to re-pressurize the water chamber while their showering. Backpackers should check out the Sea to Summit as a great lightweight choice that had the smallest packed size in my test.
The post The Best Camping Showers of 2022 appeared first on Outdoor Life.
[/html]