The Best Portable Hot Water Shower For Camping: A Complete Guide

This one is definitely a serious contender as best camping hot water shower system. It’s a hot water shower for camping that’s powered by liquid propane gas, and comes complete with a handle for carrying. 

 This Camplux hot portable shower weighs only 14 lbs and takes only around five minutes to install once you’re on site. No pre-heating is needed, and this helps to make it a very economical model. 

 All you need to get started is two D batteries and a water pressure of at least 3 PSI. It has lots of safety features including anti-freeze and overheat protection and an integral flame-failure shut-off. Many customers also use this one for showering dogs or horses. 

Pros: 

• Carry handle 
• Various safety features 
• Work with water pressure of 3 PSI+

Cons: 

• Batteries not supplied

If you want a portable hot shower for camping that gives you heat on demand, this one from Gasland is a good bet. It’s safe, tankless, lightweight and compact. 

No pre-heating is required, as with the Camplux model, and it needs just 3.6 PSI of water pressure to get going. The design means it saves gas and water, and the operational noise is also minimal.  

There’s also a drainage plug so you can discharge any remaining water for use to storage in cold areas with sub-zero temperatures.

Pros: 

• Highly efficient 
• Lots of safety features 
• Lightweight & portable

Cons: 

• Takes a while to install

This Mr Heater hot water shower is a complete battery-operated camping hot shower. The electric ignition works to produce hot water almost instantaneously and in total six D cell batteries are needed to power this and the pump. 

You’ll need a source temperature of 60°F to operate this shower, and it can then heat the water by up to 35°F higher than that. 

To protect the user, it has an automatic tip-over shut-off and an anti-scald function. The pump with filter system and shower head are supplied and it can run for up to 40 minutes, which is enough time for a number of people to take their turn. 

Pros: 

• Pump, filter & shower head included 
• Runs for up to 40 minutes 
• Instant electric ignition

Cons: 

• Bulky unit 

Hike Crew’s camping water heater and shower is a little like the Mr Heater model detailed above. It also runs on propane, but the unit is a bit more sleek. A carry bag is also included with this product. 

You have more control over this portable hot water heater and shower than many other models. There’s a temperature control, three shower spray options and a hand-held faucet. 

The gas burner automatically shuts off when the maximum temperature of 125°F is achieved, and there is a clear LCD display panel. The shower head, AC/DC and 12V adapters and everything else you need comes with this Hike Crew camping shower.

Pros: 

• Carry bag provided 
• 3 shower spray patterns 
• Temperature control & LCD display

Cons: 

• Electric & propane required 

This is one of the most portable outdoor hot water shower options available. It comes with a large, smooth carry handle and a stand, so it’s easy to set up once you arrive at camp.

A waterproof carry bag is also supplied. Quick brass connectors mean you don’t need thread tape or spanners, and it works even when the water pressure is only 3.0 PSI. The 5 liter tank also holds more water than some models. 

Lots of inbuilt protection guards against freezing, overheating, low water flow, dry combustion, high water pressure and flame failure. This makes this portable hot water shower for camping one of the safest options too.

Pros: 

• Stand, bag & carry handle 
• Quick brass connectors 
• Great safety features

Cons: 

• Stand means more to carry 

This Flame King camping portable hot water shower is another tankless model. It’s pretty high tech for a portable heater, with temperature and flow controls and a digital display so you can see what’s going on. The robust casing is made from steel and built to last, and the supplied hose is 4.5 feet long. This is wrapped in steel to prevent looping, puncturing and kinking.  

A 10 liter capacity is more generous than many comparable products and there is integral protection against over-heating, freezing and flame failure. 3.6 PSI of water pressure is required to start this one up.

Pros: 

• 10 liter capacity 
• Tough casing & hose 
• Flow & temperature controls

Cons: 

• May be bigger than you need 

You may have noticed that this is the third Camplux product listed in this guide. That’s because their portable showers for camping are simply some of the best on the market, and receive consistently high ratings and good reviews. 
This is a larger, more powerful option than the other two. It’s equivalent to the Flame King model detailed above as it also offers up to 2.64 gallons per minute. 

Other great features include the various safety functions, plus the fact that it’s designed to make minimal noise while using as little gas as possible.

Pros: 

• Great brand 
• 2.64 gallons per minute 
• Power saving technology

Cons: 

• Less portable than some 

Buying a Coleman portable hot water shower means you’re getting a product from one of the most reliable brands in the camping business. It has a powerful electric pump that can dispense water heated up to 125°F in less than a minute. 

This Coleman gas hot water camping shower has a long 6-foot hose with a non-kink design to help ensure a steady stream of heated water to wash in. A collapsible water carrier is also provided as part of the package, as is a mesh bag.  

A Coleman camping hot water shower like this is great because it has an integral lithium-ion battery that can be charged from your vehicle. The charger is supplied. An attached holder means you can also use the shower head like a faucet.  

You can also power this with a portable generator with an adaptor (find one here).  

Pros: 

• No propane required (though it can be powered with propane too).  Which means that if you run our of propane, you can still charge the battery and get hot water. 
• Li-Ion battery & car charger 
• Collapsible water carrier included

Cons: 

• Needs re-igniting if water flow stopped, which is a bit of a pain if you’re trying to conserve water

This 12V camping hot water shower is a little but different from the other options.  It operates more like a powered sponge bath than a regular.   

You can get a warm shower by mixing cold water and boiling water in the tank, but it comes with an optional electric hot water heater (off a 12V battery, such as your car or trick battery), which I recommend. It gets you clean without using much water, so I especially love this portable 12V hot water shower for situations where water is scarce. 

Pros: 

• Very efficient water usage.  it’s especially great for camping situations where you need to conserve water e.g., if you’ve had to carry all the water you’ll use 
• Adjustable valve to regulate water pressure 
• Also has a scrubbing brush to use to wash dishes – you’ve got to love something that serves two purposes when camping 
• Small, so easy to store

Cons: 

• Not a regular shower –it’s definitely more functional than enjoyable 

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James Ian is a national park, camping and hiking expert.

He has dedicated his life to travel, visiting more than 80 countries, all 7 continents and all of the main national parks in the United States. With over 35 years experience in the travel industry, James has worked on cruise ships, at resorts and hotels, and as a travel planner who’s helped hundreds of people plan successful trips to US national parks. 

Based on his experience visiting our national parks multiple times, in-depth research and expertise as a travel planner, James has published detailed itineraries for most of the major national parks in the US. These itineraries, as well as in-depth park guides, comprehensive camping and hiking gear reviews and buying guides, and helpful packing lists and gift guides will help you have your own incredible trip to US national parks without stress and hassle.

As a national park expert, James has contributed to many publications, including Time Business News, Savoteur, Best Trip, and Wired.

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