Water at camp rarely comes to you. The tap is at the other end of the campground, or the creek is a walk down the bank, and a rigid bucket takes up a lot of room in the car for something you use a few times a day. The Baiao Collapsible Water Bucket is our answer: a 20 L tarpaulin bucket that folds flat to about 2.5 cm and opens up in seconds. It cost us $29.
We’ve used it on several trips, from creekside cooking at Kangaroo Valley to water runs at inland national parks, for carrying water, washing up, filling the camp toilet and topping up the camp shower.
What’s in the box
A round, black 20 L bucket with two webbing carry handles. It’s sold on Amazon as Baiao, and the bucket itself carries a Freetour logo. The body is a tear-resistant tarpaulin with a waterproof PVC layer, double stitching and sealed seams at the bottom. It also comes in green, khaki and grey. Folded, it’s a flat disc about 33 cm across and 2.5 cm thick; open, it stands about 27 cm high.
What we like
- Packs flat to about 2.5 cm
- Tough, tear-resistant tarpaulin
- Holds 20 L, twice a folding sink
- Easy to carry, even when full
- No leaks, dries quickly
What we don’t
- No lid or zip top
- Must be upright to transport
- Less stable on uneven ground
Quick Specs
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Baiao |
| Capacity | 20 L |
| Material | PVC-coated tarpaulin |
| Colour options | BlackGreenKhakiGrey |
| Size | 30 Ø × 27 cm |
| Packed size | 33 Ø × 2.5 cm |
| Handles | Two webbing handles |
Design and build
The tarpaulin feels thick and tough, and it’s the same material inside and out. The bottom seams are sealed, and after all our trips it has had no tears and no leaks. It rinses clean easily and dries quickly, without the musty smell a closed plastic container can get.
The two webbing handles are stitched through a round, sealed patch on each side. They feel secure with the bucket full, and 20 litres of water is a fair weight to carry.
Folding flat
This is the main reason to have one. Push the walls down and the bucket folds into a flat disc, about as thick as a book, that slides into a camp crate or the side pocket of a 4WD drawer system. Pull it open and it’s ready in a few seconds, and it folds flat again without any special care.
Folded, it takes up a fraction of the room of a rigid bucket and weighs much less, which matters when the back of the car is already full.
How we use it
We’ve used it for creek water, for the washing-up, to fill the camp toilet tank and as the water supply for the San Hima portable shower. It has also done a turn as a mini cooler, packed with ice and drinks. The flat bottom keeps it steady on level ground, and the walls don’t sag when it’s full.
It has two weak spots. There’s no lid, so it has to stay upright when it’s full and can’t carry water in the car. And on sloping or uneven ground the soft walls make it less stable than a rigid bucket, so find a flat spot before you fill it.
Buckets compared
We’ve tested two smaller folding options as well. The Seymour’s collapsible bucket holds 10 litres and has a plastic rim and base that stand up even when it’s empty; the Sea to Summit Kitchen Sink (also in the Clean-Up Kit) also holds 10 litres and packs smaller. The Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Folding Bucket is the lightest, at 45 g packed. The Baiao holds the most.
This one Baiao | Smaller Kitchen Sink | Sturdier Seymour's | Lightest Ultra-Sil Bucket | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rigid rim and base | No | No | Yes | No |
| Material | Tarpaulin | Fabric | Plastic | Fabric |
| Capacity | 20 L | 10 L | 10 L | 10 L |
| Price paid | $29 | $35 | $12 | $45 |
| Our score | 8.7 | 9.3 | 8.8 | 8.7 |
Conclusion: Baiao Collapsible Water Bucket (20L)Conclusion
The Baiao Collapsible Water Bucket holds 20 litres, folds flat to about 2.5 cm and opens in seconds. The tarpaulin is tough, the sealed seams haven’t leaked and the handles are well attached, so it carries creek water, the washing-up and the shower supply without fuss. There’s no lid and it’s less stable on uneven ground, but for $29 it’s a big bucket that hardly takes up any room in the car.
A tough 20 L bucket that folds flat and hardly takes up room in the car.
It packs to about 2.5 cm, the tarpaulin body resists tears and it's easy to carry even when full, for washing up, hauling water or a shower. There's no lid, so it has to stay upright when full, and it's less stable on uneven ground.
- Car campers
- 4WD tourers
- Van-lifers
Yes. For $29 you get a tough 20 L bucket that folds flat to about 2.5 cm and hardly takes up room in the car. There’s no lid, so it has to stay upright when it’s full.
