Best Portable Hot Water Shower for Camping with Systems

What is the Best Shower Option for Camping?

The Yakima RoadShower is the perfect car camping trip gear. This beautiful powder-coated aluminum tube fits on your roof rack, following you anywhere and heating your water just by sitting on top of your car.

It produces pressure like a garden hose, and when the tank empties and the pressure decreases, you can quickly and easily "top up" using a normal air pump (like the one you brought for your bike). There's no need to set it up after it's on your car; disconnect the hose from the side of the tank and spray liberally. 

Filling it with a hose is simple, but if you don't have one, you can open it on top and fill it by hand, then pressurize it using an air pump.

Is there no electric pump? You can still use it if the cap is open, but the water will flow slowly, making it better for rinsing dishes or splashing your face than cleaning your sandy kayak.

The included nozzle is similar to a normal hose head. It's fine for cleaning equipment, rinsing feet, or cleaning up after a dirty dog, but it's not okay for a complete shower. If you want a better shower experience, we recommend the Yakima RoadShower FlexHead. 

The 3 Types of Portable Water Shower Models

We've got three types of camping bathing showers for you to choose from:

• Cold Only Portable Shower: This one, called PolyJohn Fleet Portable Shower (Cold Only) - Part Number SH1-1005, works with cold water. You just need a garden hose to make it go.

• Cold or Hot Portable Shower: If you want a shower that can be hot or cold, check out the Freshstart Portable Shower (Cold or Hot) - Part Number Freshstart-cold-hot-gray. It needs two water pipes (one hot and one cold), which you connect with garden hoses.

• Heated / Hot Water Portable Shower: Now, if you only have one water source (a garden hose) and still want a hot shower, go for the Fresh Start Heated Portable Shower - Part Number Freshstart-heated-gray. It uses a heater that hooks up to a propane tank (20 lb. is recommended) along with the cold shower water from the garden hose. Easy peasy!

How Does a Portable Camp Shower Heater Work?

The normal water heaters heat up a good amount of water fast, and they don't need a big tank to store it. Instead, you can pick from different water sources.

Here's how it works: When you want hot water for your tap or shower, the cold water goes through the pipes in the heater and gets hot super quick. Most of these handy water heaters use propane to make the heat, but some can use batteries, electricity, or even power source from the sun. Cool, right?

Tankless water heaters heat cold water instantly when it enters the unit by using electricity or gas. If the tankless water heater is powered by gas, the water is heated by a gas burner; if it is driven by electricity, the water is heated by power resistance heating coils.

This means a full tank of hot water at two to five gallons per minute for tankless water heater owners.

5 Best Portable Hot Water Shower to Stay Fresh

1. Helio Pressure Shower

The Helio pressurized shower is a good device and your best option, that's way better than those hanging camp showers with weak water pressure.

You don't need to hang the nemo helio pressure shower; it sits on the ground and gives you good water flow pressure for washing hair, doing dishes, rinsing gear, watering plants, or giving your dog a bath.

You can pump up the 2.9-gallon tank with your foot, and is pressurized for 5–7 minutes of strong, continuous spray. It won't get overfilled, and you can warm it up in the sun or fill it with hot water for a nice bath.

You can refill Helio anywhere, no hose is needed. The 7-foot hose is long enough to use overhead for a shower or to reach all your dirty stuff. If you get the Heliopolis™ privacy shelter, you can have a hands-free overhead shower for the ultimate camping shower experience.

Features:

• Holds a lot of water - almost 3 gallons!

• A 7-foot hose with a spray nozzle is super long, so you can hold it up high for a shower.

• No need to hang it up; just put it on the ground and pump it with your foot.

• Fill it up anywhere - no need for a hose.

• Gives you 5-7 minutes of water that flows steadily.

• Warm it up in the sun or fill it with hot water for a nice shower or to wash dirty dishes.

• Comes in a small carry-on bag that keeps everything organized.

• Sets up super fast and packs up really small with a cool folding design.

• Use it with the Heliopolis™ privacy shelter for a roomy hands-free shower.

• It's got a patent number D766,643 and is backed by the NEMO Lifetime Warranty.

READ ALSO: Single Wall Tent vs Double Wall

2. Solar Shower Bag

Check out this super cool camping shower bag! It's like the deluxe version, with a tough design to keep the heat in and work well. It's even better now because it won't leak easily, and it's simple to use. The best part is, it warms up the water to a nice 113°F (45°C) in just 3 hours of soaking up sunlight.

And guess what? You get two of these solar energy upgraded shower bags for camping, and each one can hold a lot of gallons of water – about 5 gallons (20L), enough for like 3 showers.

The water flows out nice and gently, giving you a great shower experience. Plus, the handles stay cool, so no burning your hands.

And there's this cool temperature indicator on the bag, so you always know how hot your shower is going to be – in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit! How awesome is that? The new large shower head has a cool switch that lets you control how fast the warm water comes out.

The valve is easy to use even if your hands are soapy. The hoses are longer, reaching everywhere you need, and they connect.

This shower is perfect for rafting, camping, fishing, or hunting – gives you a nice shower experience. You can even bring it to the beach in the summer to wash off the salt and sand after swimming.

Features:

• Item Package Dimensions L x W x H - 10.39 x 9.13 x 2.6 inches

• Package Weight - ‎0.41 Kilograms

• Item Dimensions LxWxH - 11.02 x 9.06 x 2.36 inches

• Brand Name - ‎KIPIDA

• Model Name - ‎KPD-854512

• Color - Green

•  Size - 18.5x19.7inch

3. Ivation Portable Camping Shower

Whether you're hiking in the woods, catching some waves, or chilling by the pool, everyone can stay clean with Ivation's Battery Powered Portable Outdoor Shower.

This simple hand device takes enough water from a pail, sink, water chamber, or something like that and turns it into a nice, soft flow—just like a shower. It's perfect for everything from washing yourself to watering plants.

Parents washing little ones can use the suction-cup and hanging system for a hands-free experience. Car campers dealing with water issues? This shower has a built-in filter to help out. Got a plumbing problem?

Use it to get clean in a hurry. Even if your dog gets messy at the park, you can give them a stylish shower. This cool device does a bunch of things, making it super handy for a lot of situations on the go.

Features:

• 6'5" is the total length of the unit.
• Hose Measurement: 5'9"
• 2200 mAh Lithium-Ion Battery
• Run time: approximately 60 minutes
• Time to charge: 2-5 hours.

4. Yakima Roadshower Portable Shower

The RoadShower is your honest foot pump sidekick for the convenience of pressurized water in the middle of nowhere. Its honest add-on to your car or trailer allows you to roam freely while the sun heats up the water in the tank.

Check the thermometer and you can enjoy a hot sun-powered shower, or blast off mac-n-cheese from campsite dishes.

You can get this thing in three sizes: 4, 7, or 10 gallons. The special design is tough, made with strong welded aluminum and a tough powder finish.

You can easily fill it up through the big top cap. You can make it pressurized using the Schrader air valve, direct sunlight, or a regular garden hose.

You can use a hand pump or an electric one to pressurize it, and there's a built-in safety valve that stops at 55 psi. It comes with an adapter for your home water pump spout so you can fill and pressurize it at the same time. And guess what? There's a thermometer strip you can stick on the outside of the tank. Cool, right?

Features:

• The Yakima RoadShower is built to last with welded aluminum construction and a durable powder coat finish.

• Tough construction can withstand the wear and tear of your great outdoors adventures.

• The large top-cap allows for easy filling of the tank.

• The tank can be pressurized through the Schrader air valve or a garden hose.

• The included garden hose adapter harnesses the pressure of your home water spout.

5. Advanced Elements Summer Shower

The Advanced Elements Summer Shower is like the top pick for solar camping showers because it warms up fast, hangs easily, doesn't leak, and doesn't cost a lot.

We believe these solar bags are the best, and out of all the ones we tried, the Summer Shower is the best. In about 12 tries, it gave us some of the warmest showers compared to other solar camping showers.

The handle on this shower is our favorite because we can hang it on hooks or buckle it to a rope between trees or vehicles.

So, if you're looking for a camp shower that's good on the wallet, heats up quick, easy to use, and keeps the water warm, the Advanced Elements Summer Shower is the one.

Feature:

• Building Stuff: This shower is made with 4 layers, and it has a reflector thing and an insulator thing to keep the heat in and work well.

• How Much Water: This summer shower can hold a lot – like 5 gallons! And it's made to warm up the water super quick when it's sunny.

• Checking the Heat: There's a gauge that shows you how warm the water is. It's easy to read. And this shower can get as hot as 110 degrees in less than 3 hours if the sun is shining right on it.

• Easy to Use: There's a pocket for your stuff like a razor or shampoo, and you can use Velcro straps to hold a washcloth. Super handy!

READ ALSO: Best Portable Camping Sink

Are Portable Showers Worth it?

Staying clean while camping is easy with a camping shower. We checked out 60+ options, picked the top 10, and tested them by living and camping for months. Whether in trailers, tents, or under the stars, we kept ourselves, our dogs, dishes, and gear super clean.

We even tested the showers outside, checking their flow rates, spray coverage, and hot water wait time. From rooftop showers to ones you can carry in your backpack, we found the perfect camping summit pocket shower for you without breaking the bank.

Camping is always a blast, and some comforts can make it even better, like sleeping in a great tent. We've got info on the best camping mattresses, top-rated camping blankets, and the coolest coolers for your drinks.

Our reviews help you find the right gear for your outdoor adventures, making nature feel like a second home. If you have lots of gear, check our recommendations for the best cargo boxes to fit everything in your car.