Best Off-Grid Showers
Going off-grid doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be dirty all the time. You also don’t need to settle for a cold rinse-off. An off-grid shower will hit the mark, letting you get clean and comfortable without actual plumbing. There are many types and brands of portable off-grid showers out there, with a range of pros and cons.
This is where we come in. We’ve researched the best off-grid showers, compared them, and now the results are in: the overall best, a portable battery option, and a propane option. If you need to get clean on the homestead, one of our picks will keep you fresh.
Contents (Jump to a Section)
Best Off-Grid Shower
Advanced Elements 5-Gallon
Simple, Effective, and Inexpensive
Get this bag of water overhead and get the job done with a surprisingly effective and inexpensive solution.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
This solar shower can do a lot- if you have sunlight and overhead hanging space. While its performance depends on some things you can’t always control, its portability and effectiveness make it worth it.
Specs
- Flow: 0.9L/min
- Capacity: 5-gallon
- Heat: 113°F when heated in direct sunlight
- Features: Includes hose and shower head
- Size: 19″ x 20″ x 2″
- Weight: 0.9 pounds
This is a big upgrade over a bucket shower for a small cost. While the water pressure won’t be knocking you over anytime soon, it’s enough to get the job done. I have pretty thick hair, and the shower is enough to rinse out shampoo relatively quickly.
You will have to do a bit of planning if you want a hot shower, and it can get a little heavy to hang overhead (over 40 pounds when full of water!), but having a shower off-grid in such a small, versatile package is worth it. Pulling a full shower bag overhead using paracord could be tough if you aren’t used to it. Hanging the bag and having it face the sun is the quickest way to heat the water. The integrated thermometer is reasonably accurate, and it takes about 3 hours in direct sunlight to heat up to the same temperature as a hot shower.
One downside is that the length of the shower hose isn’t very long, so that limits how high you can hang the bag and the resulting flow/water pressure. I found that it’s worth hanging it with the hose fully extended, to maximize the flow rate and water pressure.
It can be difficult to dry out if you are on the move, too- you can’t quite get all the water out through the shower hose, so it needs time to air dry with the reservoir open.
It’s simple, inexpensive, and effective- so it’s easy to see why the Advanced Elements Solar Bag Shower is the best.
Battery-Powered Shower
Ivation Portable Shower
Pressurized, Portable, and Effective
Bring bucket power anywhere with this versatile rechargeable shower pump.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
While it’s just a hose with a pump on one end and a shower nozzle on the other, it works well for a huge range of off-grid tasks. With a reach of over 6′, you can use it from ground buckets, rain barrels, and cisterns.
Specs
- Flow: 2.5L/min
- Battery: 2200mAh Lithium Battery (1-hour continuous use)
- Features: Includes 6.5′ hose and shower head- requires an exterior water source
- Size:
- Weight: 1.4 pounds
It only takes about 5 hours to charge fully with a 5V USB adapter. It’s also surprisingly durable for being made of ABS plastic and being submerged all the time. The 6.5′ hose is plenty long to drop into a five-gallon bucket and hold overhead for me and my wife (We’re both 5’8″). It’s nice to be able to direct the water to where you want it if you are just rinsing specific areas of your body, gear, or washing pets.
One downside is that this is really just a submersible pump- it doesn’t provide heat or any sort of reservoir. The battery has a long life and is resistant to temperature swings, but it is not designed to be replaced if it quits holding a charge, since the 3.6V battery is hard-wired inside the housing.
If you are looking for an inexpensive powered option, the Ivation Portable Rechargeable Shower is what you need.
Propane-Electric Shower
Hike Crew Heater Pump
Pressurized, Hot, and Versatile
Live in the lap of luxury even when you’re roughing it with a hot shower and good water pressure.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
If you are serious about your showers and want to bring the heat, this little heaven-sent water heater is for you. The Hike Crew portable shower lets you control it all and set the temperature exactly how you like it, even if that is scalding hot.
Specs
- Flow: 2.2L/min
- Fuel: Propane, AC/DC, and 12V adapter
- Heat: 140°F Max (safety switch)
- Features: Includes hose and shower head- requires an exterior water source
- Size: 10″ L x 12″ W x 12″ H
- Weight: 13.2 pounds
If your off-grid spot has a large propane tank or a solar setup, getting a full-blown portable heat pump makes sense. This Hike Crew heat pump makes it all simple, with easy-to-use controls and multiple ways to power it.
One downside is that the shower head is pretty basic. It’s easy enough to upgrade, and not really the main feature of the unit. The water pressure (flow rate) isn’t that high for a powered unit- it’s noticeably less than a traditional home’s shower pressure. Still, it can get the job done and is better than a camp or solar shower.
If you are looking for the best portable hot shower off-grid, get a Hike Crew Propane/Electric Water Heater and Shower Pump.
Comparison Table
| Off-Grid Shower | Pick | Price* | Power Type | Flow Rate | Best Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Elements 5-Gallon | Best Overall | $36 | Solar | 0.9L/min | Portability |
| Ivation Portable Shower | Battery-Powered | $40 | 2200mAH battery | 2.5L/min | High water pressure |
| Hike Crew Portable Heat Pump | Propane/Electric | $270 | Propane, AC/DC | 2.2L/min | Hot water |
| Coghlan’s Camp Shower | $21 | Solar | 0.8L/min | Low price | |
| Coleman Solar Shower | $28 | Solar | 0.8L/min | Widely available | |
| Sea to Summit | $40 | Solar | 1.4L/min | Compact size | |
| NEMO Helio LX | $180 | Solar | 2.2L/min | Pressurized flow | |
| Geyser Systems Shower | $390 | DC | Sponge | Long 16′ reach |
The Showers We Compared
Our team did the research to narrow down off-grid shower testing to several brands and models: Coleman, Ivation, Hike Crew, Advanced Elements, NEMO, Sea to Summit, Coghlan’s, and more.
You can see our full list of review criteria below in the What to Look For section, with an explanation for each.
We considered a wide range of portable off-grid showers. We narrowed the focus to truly portable ones with smaller, more manageable sizes.
Next, I personally tested the showers, conducting practical tests by using the showers in my backyard and having my family use them on camping trips.
What to Look For
The features to consider when you are shopping for an off-grid shower include:
- Value
- Heat/Energy Source
- Water Pressure
- Size & Weight
- Versatility
When you get the right blend of these, you can find a shower that will keep you clean without permanent plumbing. Below, we break down what each of these features means for the off-grid showers that truly set themselves apart.
Value: Cost vs. Benefit
The amount of money you spend on something like a shower shouldn’t blow out your entire budget. There is a wide range of options, and almost all of them will get you clean. Stick to your requirements and don’t spend lavishly.
You never want to spend too much money on one thing when it comes to off-grid supplies. It’s better to diversify your equipment and budget to make sure you are covered for a wide range of scenarios.
Heat/Energy Source
Sure, showers are nice and all, but hot showers are exceptional. They are one of the luxuries that I always insist on and always make room for.
Showers don’t just get hot on their own, you’ll need a way to heat water. Here are the most common methods:
- Solar – plenty of camp showers have large surface areas that you make sure the sun is hitting at its peak to warm the water inside. They can take a while to warm up, so you’ll need to time your showers to the time of day or weather conditions.
- Battery – not very common due to the energy requirements, but there are a few camp shower models that heat using rechargeable batteries. These are not very practical.
- Electric – using DC or AC power to heat showers is common, and some residential water heaters work the same way.
- Gas – while natural gas is more common residentially, propane is more common off-grid.
Our propane pick has the option to also be powered with AC/DC power, making it extremely versatile for anyone insisting on having hot water available.
Water Pressure
Gravity can only go so far, so we found ourselves appreciating the power pumps provide. The pressure ranged from less than a liter per minute for solar bags all the way to over 6 liters per minute for showers using pumps.
Depending on your reservoir size, this can limit shower time, so striking a balance between the two while still having enough pressure to clean soap out of your hair is ideal.
Size & Weight
If the shower you get is too large and heavy, you’re not much better off than just roughing in some plumbing. A good portable off-grid shower should be portable, otherwise, it’s missing the point for the most part.
Versatility
If you can use a portable shower for more than just showering, all the better! From cleaning dishes to washing off equipment, showers can always come in handy for more than just getting yourself clean. How well a solution works for a wide range of cleaning activities should affect your choice.
DIY Off-Grid Shower
Anyone can make a DIY gravity shower with a bucket or bag, and it’s been done all over the world. The most common build uses a 5-gallon bucket and some plumbing supplies to rough in a shower attachment to the bottom.
There are also clever truck-top PVC pipes with nozzle attachments on the end so you can heat water as you drive.
With the many different ways to build an off-grid shower, our favorite DIY solution uses the military surplus 5-gallon water jug.
Zack shows off the portable shower build step-by-step:
Who Needs an Off-Grid Shower?
Showers aren’t necessary for survival, but they do contribute to good hygiene, which is important. Beyond just getting clean, showers can be relaxing and good for your mental state as well.
An off-grid shower isn’t for everyone- if you have plumbing, you can use that for everyday use. There are plenty of ways to get clean, so we can’t recommend just a shower for emergency or camp use either. Portable showers excel for these setups:
- Homestead
- Off-Grid Bug Out Location
- Bug Out Vehicle
Still, they are worth considering for camping if you know you won’t have any other solution to get clean. They also make handy backups for emergencies and disasters.
How We Review Products: We research thoroughly before selecting the best products to review. We have vast prepping and survival experience and bring in outside experts when needed. Hours on end are spent testing gear in stressful conditions and using specialized testing gear to verify claims. We assign performance criteria and impartially rate each tested item. Learn more about how we test.
Sources and References
Using references sets our reviews apart from others, as we acknowledge we don’t know everything. These sources aided us in our research phase, enabling us to understand how solar showers, powered pumps, and water heaters functioned, which in turn helped us determine the best approach to testing.
Garg, H., et al. (1984). Studies on an all plastic solar hot water bag. International Journal of Energy Research. Volume 8. Pages 291- 296. (Source)
Vannini, P., et al. (2013). Onerous consumption: The alternative hedonism of off-grid domestic water use. Journal of Consumer Culture. Volume 16. Issue 1. Pages 80 – 100. (Source)
Vilanova, E., et al. (2023). Study and design of a shower for people living in precarious conditions. Barcelona School of Industrial Engineering. (Source)
The Final Word
Showers and hygiene in general are usually not given the most consideration. I personally love a good shower, and a warm shower is a luxury my family will always have on hand, both on and off the grid.
Some related posts our subscribers have found helpful include:
- Best Rain Barrel for Prepping and Emergency Water Storage
- Best Composting Toilet for Off-Grid Sustainability
- Home Survival Kit List | 53 Essentials
If you have any questions about off-grid showers, give me a shout. My testing found the Advanced Elements Solar Shower Bag to be the best option given its value, heat source, water pressure, size/weight, and versatility.
Keep exploring, stay prepared, and be safe.
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