A shower at camp changes how a trip feels, mostly after a few dusty days when the nearest amenities block is hours away. The good news is that a camp shower doesn’t have to be complicated. The simplest ones are a bag you hang from a branch; the more comfortable ones are a small rechargeable pump you drop into a jerry can.
We’ve reviewed four. Here’s how they compare and which one suits how you camp.
Quick picks: the best camping showers comparedQuick picks
| Product | Score | Price | Type | Water | Run time (min) | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best overallFlexTail Max Shower | 9.3 | Premium | Battery pump | Jerry can | 70–110 per charge | Check price at Amazon |
Best budgetAdventure Kings Solar Shower 20L | 9.1 | Budget | Solar bag | 20 L bag | Up to 7 | Check price at Amazon |
Best for hikingSea to Summit Pocket Shower | 8.8 | Mid-range | Gravity bag | 10 L bag | 7–8 | Check price at Amazon |
Two spray headsSan Hima Portable Camping Shower | 8.5 | Mid-range | Battery pump | Jerry can | 50–70 per charge | Check price at VicOffroad |
Price: Budget under $30, Mid-range $30–79, Premium $80 and up, based on what we paid.
Best overall: FlexTail Max ShowerBest overall: FlexTail Max
The FlexTail Max Shower scored highest of the showers we’ve tested. It’s a rechargeable pump that fits in your hand: drop it into a jerry can or a bucket and it pushes water to a proper shower head, with a low and a high flow. One charge lasts for plenty of showers, the pump is fully waterproof, and the parts push together with no threads to tighten.
It doesn’t heat the water, so we add a bit of boiled water to the jerry can for a lukewarm shower. It has to be charged before the trip, and it’s the most expensive shower here. For a real shower without a 12V setup, it’s a very good lightweight solution.
FlexTail Max Shower
Scored 9.3 out of 10Our take: A 310 g rechargeable pump that turns a jerry can or bucket into a shower, with low and high flow and 70 to 110 minutes per charge. It doesn’t heat the water and costs $88.
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- Small and light: 310 g pump
- Works from a jerry can or bucket
- Push-on hose and shower head
- Low and high flow
- 70 to 110 minutes per charge
- USB-C charging, IPX7 waterproof
What we don’t
- Doesn’t heat the water
- Pricier than a shower bag
- Needs charging before the trip
Best budget: Adventure Kings Solar Shower 20LBest budget: Kings Solar 20L
The Kings solar shower is by far the cheapest here, and it folds down to almost nothing. Fill it, leave it in the sun to warm up and hang it up: a full bag gives a decent shower. It comes with a spare hose, and the back is see-through, so you can see how much water is left.
It relies on strong sun for warm water, and a full bag weighs 20 kg, so it needs a very sturdy point to hang from. There’s no bag for the hose and tap. As a cheap, simple shower that takes up next to no room in the vehicle, it’s hard to beat.
Adventure Kings Solar Shower 20L
Scored 9.1 out of 10Our take: A simple 350 g solar shower that packs down tiny and holds 20 L, enough for a shower of up to 7 minutes. It relies on strong sun and needs a very sturdy point to hang 20 kg from.
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- Ultra-light at only 350 g when empty
- Packs down tiny: 31 x 16 cm folded
- 20 L gives a shower of up to 7 min
- Comes with a second backup hose
- Clear back shows the water level
What we don’t
- No bag for the hose and tap
- Relies on strong sun for heating
- Needs a sturdy branch for 20 kg
Best for hiking: Sea to Summit Pocket ShowerFor hiking: StS Pocket
The Pocket Shower is a waterproof nylon bag that rolls up into a pouch the size of your hand. Hang it up and the twist spout gives a short shower, with the flow adjustable as you turn it. It also doubles as a dry sack, and it sets up fast.
There’s no on/off switch for a sudden stop, the bag can sag if it isn’t hung well, and the water heats slowly if you rely on the sun. For hiking base camps and short trips, where every bit of pack space counts, it’s the one to take.
Sea to Summit Pocket Shower
Scored 8.8 out of 10Our take: A simple, sturdy pocket shower that packs small, sets up fast, has an adjustable twist spout and doubles as a dry sack. It can sag if not well secured, and the water heats slowly in the sun.
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- Packs small, sets up fast
- Durable build with quality materials
- Adjustable twist spout
- Doubles as a dry sack if needed
- Great for short trips and hiking
What we don’t
- No on/off switch for sudden stops
- Can sag if not well-secured
- Water heats slowly in the sun
Two spray heads: San Hima Portable Camping ShowerTwo heads: San Hima
The San Hima is the other rechargeable pump shower here. Its pump has a mesh filter and fits most jerry cans, it charges over USB-C, and it comes with two heads, a wide one for showering and a jet for rinsing gear, plus a storage bag.
The suction mount struggles on dusty surfaces, the water pressure sometimes drops, and there’s no temperature control. If you want a jet head for rinsing sand and mud off gear as well as a shower, it’s a solid choice.
San Hima Portable Camping Shower
Scored 8.5 out of 10Our take: A simple battery shower with wide and jet spray heads, USB-C charging and up to 70 minutes of runtime.
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- Long battery life (70 mins max)
- USB-C charging
- Wide & jet spray heads included
- Quick setup with mesh-filter pump
- Packs away into small storage bag
What we don’t
- Suction mount struggles on dust
- Water pressure occasionally drops
- No adjustable temperature
Add privacy: Kings shower tentAdd privacy: Kings tent
A shower tent isn’t a shower, so it isn’t ranked here, but it’s what makes a camp shower pleasant at a busy campground. We use the Adventure Kings awning shower tent. It stays mounted on the roof rack, drops down in under a minute and gives a private space of about 1 × 1 m and 2 m high, with an integrated floor and pockets inside for soap and shampoo.
It sways a little in strong wind, so peg it down, and it doesn’t come with a shower base.
How to choose a camping showerHow to choose
Start with where your water comes from and where you’ll hang the shower. A bag shower is cheap, light and has nothing to charge, but a full bag is heavy and has to hang above your head. A pump shower sits in a container on the ground and gives steady pressure, as long as you’ve charged it.
Then think about warm water. Only a solar bag warms its own water, and it needs strong sun to do it; with the others, you add some boiled water from the kettle. Camp showers come in three types:
- Gravity bag
10 L bag
Rolls up to pocket size. Fill it, hang it and let gravity do the work.
Warm waterAdd boiled waterHangsOverhead - Solar bag
20 L bag
Warms up in a few hours of strong sun. A full bag needs a sturdy hanging point.
Warm waterWarms in the sunHangsOverhead, from a strong branch or rack - Battery pump
Any container
Pumps from a bucket or a jerry can on the ground, with steady pressure.
Warm waterAdd boiled waterHangsOnly the head; the pump sits in the waterLike
Also check
- Water use10 to 20 L is enough for a shower. Turn the water off while you soap up.
- ChargingPump showers charge over USB and run for an hour or so. Charge before you leave.
- PrivacyAt a busy campground, a shower tent beside the vehicle makes all the difference.
- Hanging pointA full 20 L bag weighs 20 kg. Check the branch or the rack can take it.
For more ways to wash at camp, see our guide on how to shower off-grid. And for drying off, see the best camping towels.
How we test
We buy the gear ourselves and take it on camping trips around Australia to put it to the test in real outdoor conditions, in the 4WD and at camp, and to see how it holds up over a few trips. We weigh everything on our own scale and photograph it ourselves. If we haven’t used something, we say so, and if anything fails later on, we update the review.
Scored out of 10 on
- Ease of use
- Performance
- Portability
- Durability
- Value
