Keeping clean while camping isn’t always easy – especially if you’re staying off the beaten track. Nothing beats a hot shower when you've been hitting the muddy tracks all day. Some folks aren’t fussed about a bit of dust and dirt, but if you’d rather wash off the day before getting into your sleeping bag, a portable camping shower can help you stay clean and comfortable while you’re away from home. In this blog we walk you through how to heat hot water for a camp shower and more. There’s more than one way to have a shower in the bush, so let’s take a look at the different types of portable camping showers and how to heat hot water for a camp shower that will leave you feeling refreshed.
Solar Camping Shower:
This one is for those on a budget however it's nive to know that you can enjoy a nice warm shower courtesy of sun. Solar showers for camping are a commonly known as a dark-coloured camping shower bag that absorbs the sun’s heat after a few hours, giving you warm water at the end of the day. They have handy on/off taps to control waterflow, and many modern designs even have a built-in water temperature indicator to let you know when it’s time to get scrubbing. The only thing is, you’ll have to hold the small hose yourself as it doesn’t always hang at the best angle. Solar camping showers and other portable solar showers can be hung on sturdy tree branches or a rack-mount shower arm like the ones you see from Front Runner that slide easily out of your roof racks. If you can’t find a secluded spot to strip down, a shower tent is great for privacy. Choose from our huge range of pop up shower tents or shower ensuites from a range of trusted brands like Companion, Oztent or Oztrail.
Canvas Camp Shower:
Is there anything more bush than a shower bucket for your camp? A canvas camp shower is essentially just a waterproof and leakproof canvas bucket with a shower rose at the bottom and an on/off function. These are a simple way to shower while camping as they’re easy to fold and store while not in use, and there’s really not a lot that can go wrong with the straightforward design. Just fill it up with water from the open top and away you go. You might be saying, but how do you heat hot water for a camp shower like this? It’s easy enough to heat up some water over a camp stove or fire, too – just make sure the water isn’t too hot before you go standing under it. Just like the solar camping shower, canvas camp showers can be hoisted into a tree or hung off a rack-mount shower arm as well. They offer the added bonus of feeling more like the shower head you have at home. With a whopping 20L capacity you can enjoy a warm shower for around 5mins, with no need to hold a nozzle so you can shampoo and condition with both hands. What a treat!
Camping Showers with Hot Water:
Can’t go the weekend without the comfort of a no-fuss hot shower? There are a few types of camping showers that produce their own hot water that are easy to pack and easy to use. For more of a continuous stream of instant hot water without the fuss of boiling water over a campfire. We highly recommend this portable camping shower from Bush Ranger. It simply hangs from the side of your car and uses gas and a 12v water pump to operate. All of the temperature controls for this portable camp shower are clearly labelled on the front. It connects to a regular bottle of LPG gas you would pick up from any camping store, the same one you would use for a camp stove. It's a little more bulky to carry than a solar shower, but the benefits far out weigh the cost of the few extra kilos. The heat exchanger only requires two ‘D’ cell batteries, a water source to operate and a 12V power source for the pump. The portable camping shower will last up to 14 hours on the same 9kg gas bottle, on maximum settings. If you wanted to get started today this portable camping shower kit from Bushranger has everything you need including the pump.
Propane Hot Water Shower:
It doesn’t get much more luxurious than a portable camping shower and we've saved the best for last. The Companion Aqua Heat has it all. It features a long lasting lithium battery, instant hot water from a propane bottle for more efficiany. It comes with a built in pump and shower head that can be mounted on a shower stand or inside an ensuite tent. The Companion Aqua Heat, weighing in at just 6.5kg this portabe camping shower means you can enjoy instant hot water and with an inbuilt lithium battery designed to last days without needing to charge, so you'll be using it for the dishes well. This camping shower features a digital display control panel, built-in gas regulator and a unique slimline design to allow for easy storage.
Ensuite Tents:
We also highly recommend an ensuite tent if you are not able to mount a shower tent to your roof rack. Choose from a selection of double ensuite tents, pop up shower tents and fast frame options to help you enjoy a little privacy on the road. Outback Equipment has all the gear you need to clean your pits and bits when you’re on the go. Shop our showers and accessories to find your portable camping shower today.
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