One of the best feelings after a long day of touring is washing the dust off. Some setups use 12V camping accessories and electric pumps, but the simplest solutions are often the most reliable. The Kings solar shower is one of those: a black vinyl bag that uses nothing but the sun to give you a warm rinse.
It holds 20 L, weighs very little and is a cheap way to keep up camp hygiene without complicated gear. I took it on a recent trip to see how well the idea works in practice.
What’s in the box
A light, portable 20 L solar shower bag that uses the sun to warm the water for a camp shower. It has an adjustable valve and a transparent back.
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
Quick Specs
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Adventure Kings |
| Capacity | 20L |
| Material | PVC/Vinyl |
| Weight | 350 gempty |
| Packed size | 31 × 16 cm |
| Run time | Up to 7 minutes20 L |
| Features | Solar heatingLarge fillerAdjustable valve |
First look
The first thing you notice about the Kings solar shower is how small and light it is. Empty, it weighs only 350 g, less than most water bottles, and folds to 31 cm x 16 cm. It takes up so little room that it fits in the glovebox or a side pocket of your 4WD storage. The material feels like a thick, dark PVC or vinyl, made to soak up as much heat as possible. The back is transparent, which lets me watch the water level as I fill it.
Mine came with two shower hoses, a nice surprise: there’s a spare if the first one gets damaged or lost. The inlet is wide, so it fills quickly from a creek or a larger water container.
Materials & Build QualityMaterials & Build Quality
The Kings solar shower is built to catch the sun and weigh little. The dark, thick plastic absorbs heat and is tough enough to hang from a branch when the bag is full. The material is simple, but strong enough for the job. The seals around the large filler cap and the outlet valve are solid, which matters most when 20 L of water is hanging above your head.
The hose and shower head are basic but work. The outlet valve has a flow adjuster, which helps you save water. The spare hose is a bonus that keeps the shower going if a part fails in the bush. With so few parts, there’s little that can break.
Ergonomics & WeightErgonomics & Weight
With this Adventure Kings solar shower, gravity decides how you use it. Empty, 350 g makes it ideal lightweight backup gear. Full, you’re dealing with 20 kg of water. So choose your hanging point carefully: a thin awning pole or a small branch won’t do. You need a sturdy tree limb or a strong shower frame.
The packed size of 31 cm x 16 cm is very convenient. What it lacks is a bag for the hose and valve. They flop around when the shower bag is folded, which makes it a bit awkward to keep everything together. Still, a warm shower from something that packs this small is hard to argue with.
Performance & FeaturesPerformance & Features
The Kings solar shower depends entirely on direct sunlight, and that’s also why it costs so little to run. Leave the black bag in the sun for a few hours and the water heats up a lot. On a hot, sunny day it easily gets warm enough for a comfortable shower, and sometimes too hot, so always check the temperature before you step under it.
20 L is generous: up to a 7-minute shower if you’re careful with the flow. That’s enough for a full wash, or for several people to rinse sand off their hands and feet after the beach. The adjustable outlet valve lets you go from a trickle for washing hands to a steady stream for a full rinse, which saves water.
Portable showers compared
We’ve also tested three pump showers. The FlexTail Max Shower and the San Hima drop into a jerry can or bucket and run off a battery, and the ONTAP Portable Camping Shower is a 22 L jerry can with a 12V pump built in. They all give more pressure than a bag, but the Kings is by far the cheapest and lightest, and it warms the water in the sun.
This one Kings Solar Shower | Top score FlexTail Max Shower | 22 L can ONTAP Shower | 2 heads San Hima | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in tank | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Warms in the sun | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Power | Gravity | Battery | 12V socket | Battery |
| Capacity | 20 L | – | 22 L | – |
| Max flow | – | 2.96 L/min | 4.4 L/min | 3.5 L/min |
| Weight | 0.35 kg | 0.62 kg | 2.9 kg | 0.6 kg |
| Price paid | $13 | $88 | $249 | $75 |
| Our score | 9.1 | 9.3 | 9.2 | 8.5 |
Conclusion: Kings Camping Solar Shower (20L)Conclusion
The Kings solar shower shows you don’t need complicated gear for a warm wash outdoors. It’s cheap, simple and dependable, and it heats 20 L of water with nothing but the sun. You need a very sturdy point to hang 20 kg from, it relies on strong sun and there’s no bag for the hose and tap. At 350 g and this small when packed, it’s an easy backup to keep in the vehicle.
This shower is a simple, good-value way to stay clean at camp.
It weighs 350 g and packs down to 31 cm x 16 cm. It heats 20 L of water on a sunny day, but you need a sturdy support for the full 20 kg.
- Car campers
- Weekend trips
- 4WD tourers
Yes. A budget 20 L solar shower that weighs 350 g and gives about seven minutes of water earned full marks for value. It needs strong sun and a sturdy branch to hang 20 kg.
