If you want to stay clean while camping, you need a good camping shower. The best portable showers heat water to a comfortable temperature, provide strong spray pressure and are easy to use, even for long periods of time. There are also a variety of products, like the Rinse Kit and Simple Shower, that you can add to your camp setup that make it easier to wash and rinse items without having to lug around a full-on portable shower.
Gravity-Fed Showers
The most common type of camping shower is the gravity-fed version. These models typically require you to elevate the nozzle above your head, usually by climbing a tree or using some other mechanism. They use gravity to build up internal pressure and then when you open the nozzle, the water sprays down. These types of camp showers work well, but you have to be careful not to get tangled up in the hose (or anything else that can block the flow).
Pump-Based Showers
These types of camp showers are powered by water pumps, which can be hand or foot operated. They have thick tubing that can’t easily tangle and they are easier to keep water flowing with than the gravity-fed versions. They are also able to reach deeper bodies of water, such as lakes and rivers, which is an advantage for backpacking camping trips. These portable showers often have a larger nozzle and higher water pressure than the gravity-fed options.