There is no better feeling after a long camping trip than getting into your first hot shower but what if you could have a hot shower while you were camping?
With a great solar shower, you can enjoy a warm shower at your camp at the end of every day so you can enjoy cooking under the stars feeling clean and fresh. But, finding a good solar shower isn’t so easy as there are loads on the market and not all of them are as good as the next.
At A Glance: Our Top 3 Solar Showers
Join me as I review the best solar showers on the market so that you can find the right portable solar shower for your camping needs.
![]() | Best Allrounder
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![]() | Best On A Budget
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The first solar shower we are going to look at is the Advanced Elements Solar Shower which has pretty much all of the best features you can ask for from a solar camping shower.
This solar shower consists of a solar shower bag with a 5-gallon volume. It is built with 4-ply construction to ensure long-lasting durability and zero leaks, so you can be sure it isn’t going to fail you in the wilderness. It is also super light and has a tiny pack size so hiking with it is a breeze.
This solar shower is designed with insulation and heats water to 110 degrees within 3 hours of being left in direct sunlight. To use it, all you need to do is fill it up through the easy-to-use cap and leave it in the sun during the day.
When you get back to camp in the evening, check the temperature gauge to see if the water is hot enough. Then hang the solar shower bag from a tree or anything else and turn on the shower head, and enjoy a shower.
You can even use the handy pouch for toiletries. The only downsides are the shorter hose and it is heavy to hang up when full, but you will get a 10-minute shower out of it.
The best solar shower, in my opinion, is the Nemo Helio Pressure Shower. This solar shower is a little different from the others featured as it doesn’t require hanging as you create pressure with a foot pump instead.
The issue with a traditional solar shower bag design is that you have to have somewhere to hang it, these solar showers remove that problem.
It comes with a 2-gallon bag that is simple to fill and is self-standing. The solar shower heats up water quickly and keeps it warm so at the end of the day you can have a warm shower.
When you are ready, all you need to do is use the foot pump to create pressure before your shower, and then use the long hose and shower head to wash. You might need to do a little pumping mid-shower to keep the pressure going though, which can be a little annoying.
Overall, this is an excellent solar camp shower that can be used anywhere, is lightweight, durable, and works well. It is quite an expensive solar shower though!
If you are shopping on a budget, I would recommend going for the Risepro Solar Shower Bag. This is one of the most affordable solar camping showers around but unlike the more affordable ones, this one lasts.
This solar shower is built from durable multi-layers of quality material to ensure no leaks or cracks. It comes with a 5-gallon capacity, enough for 2 showers and it heats up very quickly. The water inside can hit 113°F (45°C) in under 3 hours!
When you get back to camp, just check the temperature gauge to ensure the water is hot, and then hang the bag from the tough carry handle. The shower glows in the dark so you can shower at night, it is easy to turn on and off, plus you can adjust the flow rate too.
To top it all off, it is simple to use, super light, and portable! The only downside to this great solar shower is that the hose can kink, which can be a little annoying.
The Sea to Summit Pocket Shower is an incredibly versatile solar shower as you can use it as a dry bag, washing bag, or shower. The design is ingenious as Sea to Summit simply added a shower head to the bottom of a dry bag.
It has a 2.1-gallon volume, enough for a 6-minute shower, and comes with two ‘D’ rings attached to 20 feet of nylon cord to make hanging it up as easy as possible.
Once hung, the shower is simple to use, just twist it to turn it on and off, and adjust the flow rate too. The pressure is excellent and the durable build means this is a solar shower that is going to last.
However, this solar shower is designed for warmer climates as it doesn’t heat up quickly and there is no temperature gauge to check either.
The Coleman 5-Gallon Solar Shower is one of the most basic solar showers on the market which makes it very affordable but not so great over time.
The shower bag itself is pretty tough and durable. It can hold 20 liters of water and will heat it up over the course of the day when left in direct sunlight.
When empty, this is a very light and portable option as a solar shower but there are some issues.
The problem with this solar-powered shower is that the valve leaks, the hose kinks, and the head is kind of laughable being so small.
Overall, I would avoid this for use as an outdoor shower but it might work for rinsing dogs after muddy walks and cleaning dishes.
The Stearns Sun Shower is a great solar camping shower that consists of a shower bag, hose, and shower head. This makes them very lightweight and super portable so you can hike anywhere with them.
The shower bag holds 4 gallons of water so you can have a long 8-10 minute shower and it will always be warm. The bag is great at heating water and it has a built-in thermometer so you can be sure it is hot before bathing.
The hose is a little short, which is the main issue with these solar showers but it still works. The head is removable and turns on and off with ease, making it simple to use.
Overall this is a pretty durable and inexpensive solar shower that is quite durable but don’t expect it to last for years.
The Coghlan’s Solar Heated Camp Shower is one of the most affordable portable solar showers featured in the article. It is amazingly cheap which is good on the one hand but it does have a lot of issues, let’s start with the good first.
These solar showers will provide you with a shower. They are light, pack down small, and hold 5 gallons for multiple camp showers. These solar showers all get the water temperature up pretty quickly so you will have a hot water shower.
Now, onto the bad. The portable shower bag leaks often, it isn’t very durable, it doesn’t provide much water pressure, and the on/off hose trickles or leaks when you try to turn it off.
Overall, you get what you pay for with this camping shower. It is not a heavy-duty solar shower, it won’t last too long, but you will have hot water at a good water temperature for a bargain.
The Suvast Solar Shower is the perfect solar shower to take camping. Unlike most solar showers, this one has almost no flaws, making it very reliable.
The shower bags have a smart heat-absorbing design to ensure you bathe in a warm water temperature every time you use them. There is also a water temperature indicator to ensure you don’t get a surprise cold shower by mistake.
The shower bags are super tough and last a long time. You can even stand on them when full and they don’t burst, unlike other portable showers. The head also provides a lot of pressure and you can use the flow control valve to adjust the pressure too.
The only downside is that the hose isn’t very long so you will have to stand under it!
The WEIYII Solar Shower Bag is another food option for a camping shower and it features a similar design to all the others but it does have some flaws.
It is super light, portable, and comes in a handy carry bag. The extra large filling valve makes topping it up easy and it quickly heats water in a few hours when left in the sun. There is also a thermometer so you always have a hot camp shower.
Being made from durable PVC material, the water bag lasts and doesn’t leak but the hose and head make having a refreshing shower almost impossible. This means that you will have poor water flow with barely enough water pressure and not a very nice shower overall.
The WADEO Solar Camping Shower Bag is another of the pressurized solar showers meaning you will need to use a foot pump to get any water pressure. This is very handy as you can have a shower in places where there is nothing to hang a bag from.
It features a durable build that lasts, is easy to fill and use, plus it holds enough water for two showers. You will have to pump to get a shower and the main issue is that this can take a long time.
You can hang this shower though, despite it not being designed for this, so you do have a backup option if you need it.
The main issue with this solar shower is that it is not so good at harnessing solar power and takes a while to heat up. But, there is a temperature indicator so you can ensure it is hot enough before you shower.
The first question to answer is whether you want a pressure-based solar shower or a hanging solar shower.
Hanging showers are more affordable and portable but they need a place to be hung, which isn’t always available when you’re camping, say on the beach or above the treeline.
Pressurized showers require a foot pump to create pressure. You don’t have to hang them and they can be used anywhere but the pumping can get very tedious if the system isn’t set up well.
You have the choice of going for a 2/3/4 or 5-gallon solar shower. A 5-gallon shower will provide up to 4 showers which is great but hanging a heavy 5-gallon water bag isn’t so easy as they are very heavy when full.
That being said, I would always recommend going for the 5-gallon option as you don’t have to fill it every time and have the option too when you are camping in a group.
If you want a good shower, make sure the hose doesn’t kink, is long, the valves don’t leak, and the head has an on/off function plus an adjustable flow rate. With all of these things ticked off, your shower will provide good pressure and be a delight to use instead of something annoying.
The whole idea of a solar shower is to heat up in the sun. Most of the solar showers featured warm up to a balmy temperature within being in 3 hours of warm sunlight. It also pays to have a water temperature indicator so you know it is warm enough before you shower.
Durability is important, if your shower bag punctures or leaks, that is the end of it. Check it is made from tough materials and lasts.
The all-around best solar camp shower is the Advanced Elements Summer Shower. These solar showers are light, packable, easy to use, and very effective. The water heats up to 100 degrees within 3 hours, once hung just turn on the shower head and enjoy a hot shower.
With a 5-gallon capacity, there is enough water for two 6-minute showers with the Advanced Elements Shower or one long shower. The Summer Shower is easy to fill up, durable, and doesn’t leak.
The best solar shower featured in the article is the Nemo Helio Pressure Shower. This portable solar shower doesn’t need hanging and uses a pressure system instead in the form of a foot pump. Just leave it in the sun to warm quickly, pump up the pressure, and shower.
These solar showers are light, portable, durable and you can have a 7-minute warm shower anywhere, even in the desert which is why I think they are the best.
The best solar shower for anyone shopping on a budget is the Risepro Solar Shower Bag. This solar shower comes with the best features at the most affordable price and it lasts.
It heats up water fast, has a temperature gauge so you always have a hot shower, the head glows in the dark, and it is easy to use. Overall, it is hard to find a better solar shower for the money.