Best Camping Shower in 2023 (Portable, Light & Affordable)

Nemo Helio Pressure Shower

We’re starting off our list of the best camping showers strong with the Nemo Helio Pressure Shower. This is one ultra-portable shower that’s definitely worth taking with you on your next camping adventure.

This portable shower can hold 11L of water in its tank, which means that it can provide an impressive shower time of 5-7 minutes, although this is partially due to the narrow head limiting the amount of water released. To operate, point and shoot the shower head wherever you want, and occasionally use the foot pump to keep that water flowing – simple (and no power source required, yay).

Seeing as the Nemo Helio Pressure Shower system relies on the pressure generated by the foot pump rather than on gravity, you don’t have to worry about finding a high point, such as a branch or vehicle roof, for the tank, you can leave it on the floor, winning. If you find it a struggle washing with one hand and holding the hose with the other, you could always consider purchasing the compatible privacy shelter that will hold the hose for you.

Despite its lightweight, the garden hose, at 7 ft, is plenty long enough to make sure that all your angles are covered. You can leave the shower bag out in the sun to warm up the water, which works surprisingly well, or add warm water directly to the tank.

With a packed size of just 5.5 x 8.5 inches and weighing 1 lb 5 0z, even the most minimalistic packers won’t have any trouble bringing this along. It packs up very easily too thanks to the ventilated carry case that perfectly accommodates the table hose, nozzle, and pump.

Although this portable shower isn’t the cheapest option we’ve seen, it’s not the most expensive either. Plus, it’s constructed of durable materials and has a 1-year warranty included – definitely worth it for a reliable, portable, pressurized portable shower if you ask us.

Ivation Portable Shower

Next up is the Ivation Portable Shower, a fantastic all-round camp shower.

This lightweight outdoor shower system is super simple to use. It features a suction cup at one end that draws water from a bucket or similar container, passes it along with the hose, and then spouts out a steady stream (0.66 gal/minute) of water from the head.

2.5-gallons is enough to ensure that this stream will continue for around 7-8 minutes before you need a refill, which is more than enough time to rinse off that campsite dust. Or, if you like super long showers, simply fill up a bigger bucket!

This portable shower doesn’t rely on gravity, but it does require some power to pass the water up the hose. It features a 2200mAh lithium battery that provides up to an hour of use from a single charge – more than enough for some quick morning showers over a weekend camping trip.

You can charge it up at home or on the move via the USB adapter (which you could even connect to your laptop) or a 12v car adaptor (must be purchased separately).

It may not require gravity to pass water along, but sometimes it’s nice to hand your shower anyway. We love that this one comes with a suction cup holder and hanging hook, so you can set up your hose prior to showering and leave both hands free to wash yourself.

The broadhead makes for one luxurious camping shower experience but, if you want a warm shower, you need to add hot water to the bucket – this outdoor shower has no heating mechanism.

Overall, this is a lightweight, simple portable shower that won’t break the bank and will let you bathe for as long as you like depending on how big your bucket is – as long as you remember to charge it, it’s an absolute winner.

Reliance Products Flow Pro Shower

After an economical way to keep clean while camping? Well, your search is over. The Reliance Products Flow Pro Shower is a budget-friendly portable shower that will save you some pennies but hasn’t skimped on thoughtful extra touches.

This portable shower can hold up to 8L of water at a time and, once you’ve filled your container (which can be left on the ground), simply pop the lid on and pump the handle to crank up the pressure.

This simple shower pump mechanism doesn’t require any power, making it a great option for off-grid camping. There won’t be a constant stream unless you squeeze the trigger of the shower head, which is a great way to make sure that you don’t waste any water.

We also love that the hose is resistant to kinks, providing fantastic maneuverability (although we wish it were a tad longer). On top of that, we love the washable neoprene sleeve that adds stability to the tank while it’s at ground level, and it even has a handy mesh pouch for keeping your soap in.

It isn’t the lightest camping shower out there, but if you’ll be driving to the campsite in a vehicle, and you want a simple, affordable way to keep clean on your trip, then this shower is a great shout.

Hike Crew Propane Heater & Shower

And now for something a little different, the Hike Crew Propane Heater & Shower.

Unlike the portable showers we’ve looked at so far, this heavy-duty portable shower actually heats up the water, so you can experience the joy of a hot shower in the great outdoors, no matter what the weather.

You can select your favorite flow and it even features a knob that lets you find your optimal temperature, plus you can choose one of three spray patterns – this portable shower might even be better than your shower at home! And we love that all of your settings can be monitored via the LCD display.

It works by taking in water from an external container, heating it up again, and then firing out delicious warm water for you to bathe in. This process does require some power behind it, and this beast runs off propane gas and an AC/DC or a 12V power adaptor.

As with all showers of this kind, you will require an external container, but on the plus side, this means you can essentially choose the capacity – a bigger bucket = longer showers.

And for any of you safety-conscious types, a feat not, this outdoor shower comes with tonnes of in-built safety mechanisms, including an auto shut-off feature in case the water gets too hot as well as a fuse protector.

Weighing in at over 13 lbs, this heavy-duty camping shower certainly isn’t the best option if you’re on a backpacking adventure, and it’s also a little on the pricey side…

However, if you’ll be going on vehicle-based camping trips and want to bring a touch of luxury to the great outdoors, then this shower is definitely worth the investment.

RISEPRO Camping Shower

The RISEPRO Camping Shower is another fantastic budget option for keeping clean on your camping adventures.

It works by taking in water from a bucket or similar container, passing it along with the hose, and splurting it out of the shower head while you rinse. The movement of water does require some power (which you can even do from your phone, laptop, or car via a USB), but because you aren’t relying on gravity you don’t have to worry about hanging the water container up high.

Plus, as it relies on an external container, the capacity is only limited by the size of the container you pick, but 10L of water will give you plenty of time for a quick campsite wash (5-7 minutes).

This portable shower is also super portable (weighing in at just 1.65 lbs) and simple to use – we love that it comes with a suction cup and hook for hands-free use, although we wish the hose was just a bit longer. Just bear in mind that if you want hot water, you’ll have to find a way to heat it up before adding it to the bucket.

Overall, you’re getting a simple, portable way to keep clean while camping for a very affordable price.

Advanced Elements Summer Shower

No, it’s not a handbag, it’s a shower, honestly… Don’t be fooled by the dainty appearance of the Advanced Elements Summer Shower, it really is a solid option in the world of camping showers.

This is the first gravity shower on our list, which does mean you need to place the container (more of a sack really) high up to allow water to flow down and out of the shower head, which is when the large carrying handle doubles up as a hook. One advantage of this design is that it doesn’t require any external power, making it a great option for off-grid camping.

The container itself is constructed of durable rip-stop materials to help you avoid any punctures, and it can hold a whopping 37L of water (although there are smaller models available if you want to downsize).

Despite this impressive capacity, the whole solar shower remains very lightweight, at just 1 lb 4 oz when empty (although it will be very heavy when full). We also love that the container features a nifty little pouch for your toiletries.

One of the best things about the Advanced Elements Summer shower is that it can heat up water when left in the sun thanks to its solar, reflector, and insulator panels – and there’s even a temperature gauge on the side of the shower bag.

Sea to Summit Pocket Shower

The Sea to Summit Pocket Shower really is, as the name suggests, pocket-sized. It folds down into a minuscule pouch and weighs an astonishing 4.25 oz – if you’re a minimalist packer but really like your showers, then this is definitely the one for you!

Despite its super portable nature, this shower can actually store 10L of water and provide an 8-minute long shower even with the head fully open. It does have to be hung from high up to function, as it depends on gravity, but the lack of a shower pump or suction feature has definitely helped to keep the weight down. Plus, it comes with in-built durable D-rings to help out with the hanging process.

The on-off twist mechanism is super simple to use, and the contoured shower head ensures an even spray. It heats up well in the sunlight too – you might not have a piping hot shower but it will certainly help to take the edge of any cold water. This nifty little shower can even be used as a regular dry sack for overnight trips when you might not need a shower, making it incredibly versatile.

Overall, it might not be full of fancy touches, but the Sea to Summit Pocket Shower is one durable and incredibly portable way to make sure you stay clean when you’re out in the wilderness.

Rinse Kit Outdoor Shower

And last but by no means least on our list of the best camping showers is the Rinse Kit Outdoor Shower.

One of the things we like best about this shower is how sturdy it is – you certainly don’t have to worry about every little bump and scrape like with some of the bag-style containers out there.

To pressurize the container itself, charge it up at home or pump it up by hand pump (purchased separately), and voila – you can leave the container at ground level while you spray. Plus, if you like a hot shower, there’s a heater accessory you can purchase separately too.

The tank itself can hold up to 6.6L of water, giving a shower time of 5 minutes, which isn’t the longest we’ve seen but is enough to get yourself cleaned up. It’s also pretty heavy thanks to its solid construction but, if you’re after a durable outdoor shower that won’t let you down, then it’s a great option.