Camping Showers

Shower enclosures, like this, will run you close to 70 bucks. It's also another item to pack and carry, but maybe worth the investment, if camping with young children.

You may be miles and miles away from home but you can still have a warm shower. It can be your little reward at the end of a day full of hiking, traveling, playing, etc. Purchasing a camping shower, which starts at a measly twenty dollars, will be worth every penny, and you won’t regret it. It’s all a part of learning how to live comfortably outdoors.

Most solar showers consist of a bag made of a heavy duty material called PEVA. PEVA is polyethylene vinyl acetate and is a plastic and a vinyl. It is eco-friendly, nontoxic, and antibacterial material. The size of the bag varies but the directions are basically the same from brand to brand. It comes with a tube for filling the water and a hook which can be hung from a tough limb of a tree. You fill the bag with water and lay it out in the sun for a predetermined length of time. The PEVA bag will absorb heat from the sun and transfer it to the water. The bags I use and have seen are black which help in the speed of absorption, which is about three hours. At the bottom of the shower nozzle, there is a nozzle; pulling it releases water.

The amount of time you get to shower varies - depending on the type, and brand. Many start at five minutes, though a lot of people (myself included) have known them to last longer than the manufacturer suggests. These showers are great additions to any family trip, and can be used for showering, dish and hand washing, or pet bathing.

You can purchase a shower enclosure separately that offers a protective area, while enjoy your shower of warm water. Aside from giving needed privacy, it eliminates the stress of where to place your soap and shampoo, since pockets for these bath essentials are usually present.

For backpackers, the best option is the solar camping shower - which are very light, and easy to use. Storage is no problem; it can easily fit in small spaces - even your backpack.

If you have a lot space for packing, and limited sunlight, consider camping showers powered by propane. Portable, gas-powered, hot water heaters come with some showers, and it only takes seconds for the water to heat up. The packages consist of propane cylinder, burner, water tank, and hose attached to a hand-held plunger (used to pressurize the water). They can cost upward a couple of hundred dollars, but are durable and easy to set up. They are ideal for extended-base camping trips.

Camping Shower Tips:

This gentleman is obviously freshening-up, but large-capacity showers like this, can be used for a number of tasks. In most camping situations, it's not a serious burden to carry. Hiking, however, is a different story: you may opt for a smaller shower. This man could use a Shower Tent.

Take advantage the shower's multiple uses - washing hands, cleaning dishes, etc.
When you are bathing outdoors, respect nature and use biodegradable soap.
Purchase a camping shower that has mesh pockets so you can store your razors, soap, shampoo and other bath necessities.
Purchase a shower enclosure for extra privacy.
Purchase a shower that has a temperature gage; it makes it easier to see how hot the water is.

Shower Tent

A little something on picking a camping shower:

Showering privacy. Granted - not the easiest set-up in the world, but it's a decent option.

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