If you’re in a rush and want to find out what the best shower tent for camping is, we recommend the KingCamp Oversized Shower Tent.
There aren’t many great places to clean up in the wilderness. A local stream could work for washing your hair, and a bush could suffice as a makeshift toilet. Perhaps you could change clothes behind a tree?
Let’s be honest – none of these are very ideal, especially if you value a little privacy and comfort. A camping shower tent is a great way to solve this conundrum, by giving you a secluded place to take care of all your hygienic needs.
In this article, we’ll be reviewing the following best shower tents for camping:
- Texsport Instant Shower Tent – Best Bang for Your Buck
- Vidalido Outdoor Camping Shower Tent
- KingCamp Oversized Shower Tent – Best Overall
- EasyGo Outdoor Shower Tent – Tallest Shower Tent
- WolfWise Pop Up Shower Tent – Lightest Shower Tent
- Gigatent Pop Up Pod
What is a Camping Shower Tent?
A camping shower tent is a handy addition to your campsite setup, providing a bit of privacy for your hygienic needs. Toilets and showers can be hard to come by in the great outdoors, and even if you decide to use the river to clean off or the local bush to do your business, there’s always a chance you’ll be seen.
Camping shower tents are tall and narrow structures that look similar to an outhouse, designed to give you a safe and segregated place to use as a shower room, a bathroom, or a changing room. Like any other tent, they come with a pole structure, stakes, zippers, and flaps for easy setup. In fact, many of these tents have an instant or pop up design, so you may discover it’s even easier to put together than your dome tent!
How to Pick a Camping Shower Tent
You’ll find a number of different shower tent styles out there, all with their own pros and cons. Many of the features are essential (like water resistance), while others simply come down to personal preference. To give you a set of guidelines, here are a few points to consider when picking out your next camping shower tent:
Wall Opacity
Most shower tents are pretty good about having walls that aren’t see through when wet, but it never hurts to be extra careful. Fabric that’s UV resistant is a good place to start, as you’d be surprised by the amount of damage the sun’s rays can do to a tent. If exposed long enough, the tent material will start to degrade and grow thin, decreasing the longevity of your shelter in general. And it goes without saying, when the material is thinner, it’s easier to see through it as well.
While not essential, you may also consider finding a shower tent that has a black lining. This will prevent shadows from being cast, and may even work to heat up the inside of the tent, since black absorbs sunlight. If you’ve got your eye on a shelter that doesn’t come with this sort of lining built in, you can always buy a black shower curtain (or something similar) and attach it yourself.
Weight
I think it’s fairly apparent, but a shower tent isn’t really suitable for backpacking. When you’re counting ounces, it doesn’t make sense to bring a shelter to sleep in and another shelter to bathe in; however, for car camping, it can be quite the luxury item to include with your camping gear.
A shower tent only tends to weigh a few pounds, and it folds down fairly well. So, even if your campsite is a decent hike from your car, you won’t have to exert too much effort carrying it where it needs to go.
Number of Rooms
When you’re picking out a camping shower tent, you really have two options to pick from – a one room tent and a two room tent. The one room version is nice because it’s lighter and easier to carry around, while the two room design allows multiple people to use the space at the same time. This can be a bonus if one person wants to make use of the shower room on one side, while the other person turns the other side into a changing room. Each will have complete privacy, without having to wait for their companion to finish their business first.
Water Source
If you want to take a shower, the water has to come from somewhere, right? Some of the best shower tents come with a multi-gallon, solar shower bag that you can fill and hang above your head, so you can hose yourself off anywhere you are. But the far more common option is a little less impressive – you’ll have to make use of the opening in the ceiling to wash yourself using a beach shower, garden hose, or something similar.
Floor Design
If you plan on taking a shower in this type of tent, you’ll have to make sure it has a suitable drainage system. A common way for a shower tent to tackle this problem by making its floor removable, while others leave a little space between the bottom of the walls and the floor. Either way works, but the removable variety is definitely easier to clean once you get back home from vacation.
Portable Toilet
Bathing isn’t the only thing that a shower tent is good for. If there aren’t any outhouses nearby (or you just don’t feel like using them), a shower tent is a great place to put your portable camping toilet as well. That way, you can avoid the need to dig a hole somewhere, and run the risk of being discovered at the worst possible time!
Camping Shower Tent Reviews
Texsport Instant Shower Tent
- Pole Material: Steel
- Tent Material: Tafetta
- Weight: 19 Pounds
- Peak Height: 87 Inches
- Shower Water Capacity: 5 Gallons
One of the few shower tents that actually has a built in shower, this product by Texsport is already a lot better than many other tents you can find. It comes with a 5 gallon water bag with a built in shower head, so you can easily clean off. Just make sure to rinse it out with water and a little bit of baking soda before you use it for the first time to eliminate any plastic odors.
The floor is removable, and the gap between the bottom of the walls and the ground allows water to drain easily. Inside is a mesh rack for you to house your soaps, shampoo, and conditioner, and there’s even a handy towel rack on the outside of the tent. It’s located right under one of the windows, so you can easily stick your hand out to grab your towel without completely exposing yourself by leaving the tent.
At a little over 7 feet tall, it can be a bit of a pain to put this shower tent together with how high you have to reach. The poles all are quite sturdy, though, but because they’re made out of steel, it increases the tent weight to about 20 pounds.
Pros:
– Built in water bag and showerhead
– Removable floor
– Sturdy frame
– Mesh rack to store soap
Cons:
– Not super compact
– A little difficult to put together
Vidalido Outdoor Camping Shower Tent
- Pole Material: Steel
- Tent Material: Nylon/Polyester
- Weight: 13 Pounds
- Peak Height: 86.5 Inches
- Shower Water Capacity: 2.5 Gallon
Everything about Vidalido’s shower tent indicates high quality. The materials are nylon and polyester, with a few steel poles to create a sturdy and durable design. In the picture, you can see that the interior color is a dark green, which discourages the creation of shadows and increases opacity. Needless to say, privacy will be the least of your concerns when you’re taking a shower or using the toilet in this tent!
The shower tent doesn’t come with it’s own bag to hold water, but there is a built in hook to accommodate a 5 gallon bag, or something smaller. That much water is pretty heavy, and you might be a little hesitant to trust the tent to hold the weight, but believe me when I say it’s more than suited for the job. If you don’t feel like hanging a bag, the roof is removable, allowing you to open it up to feed a shower head or hose in from the top.
Like the roof, the floor is also removable for easy drainage and cleaning. You’ll also find a conveniently placed pocket to store your hygienic items, and a zippered window for easy ventilation (or a nice view, depending on where you are).
Pros:
– High opacity material
– Built in hook to hold a 5 gallon water bag
– Removable roof and floor
– Zippered window
– Handy internal pockets for easy storage
– Only 13 pounds
Cons:
– Not tall enough for large folks to stand straight while showering
– A little difficult to put together if you’re by yourself
KingCamp Oversized Shower Tent
- Pole Material: Fiberglass
- Tent Material: Oxford Cloth
- Weight: 12.5 Pounds
- Peak Height: 85 Inches
- Shower Water Capacity: 3.9 Gallon
If you liked the product by Vidalido but want just a bit more room, you’ll love KingCamp’s shower tent. It’s effectively “oversized,” so you’ll have more than enough room to spread out while you’re taking a shower, changing, or using the toilet. And somehow, in spite of all extra space, they managed to keep it to a modest 12.5 pounds! That honestly might be the most impressive feature of this shower tent, in my opinion.
Also like Vidalido’s shower tent, this one doesn’t come with it’s own water bag, but does have a double hook design capable of holding one that’s 4 gallons or smaller. In addition, there’s a handy side hook as well that provides a convenient place to hold your showerhead (and attached hose).
On the inside, you’ll find a rope that acts as a clothesline, so you can hang your washcloth for showering, or a new outfit to change into if you want to get out of your dirty clothes. On the outside above the window is a pocket with two compartments, allowing you to keep your towel dry for when you’re done washing off. Overall, it’s a great shower tent that’s more than capable of meeting your hygienic needs, and its giant size is perfect for taller people who like a bit of space to move around.
Pros:
– Large size
– Still a very reasonable weight
– Clothesline on the inside
– Pocket for towels and clothes on the outside
– Plenty of openings for ventilation
– Mesh pocket for holding soaps
Cons:
– Setup is difficult without a second person
EasyGo Outdoor Shower Tent
- Pole Material: N/A
- Tent Material: Polyester
- Weight: 10 Pounds
- Peak Height: 90 Inches
- Shower Water Capacity: 3 Gallons
As a two room shower tent, EasyGo’s product offers an incredibly versatile design. Generally speaking, one half of the tent is meant to be used as a shower, and the other side could either act as a space for your toilet or as a changing room. The shower side comes with a convenient mesh pocket for toiletries, and a hanging bar for you to store your bath towel, while the other side is a fairly blank slate.
Just because it’s a two room camping shower tent doesn’t mean that you need multiple people in order to use it, either. Solo campers will enjoy the extra space to take care of their needs, and despite the large size, it’s pretty easy to put together. As an instant, pop up tent, it’s simple enough for one person to get it up and working in under 10 minutes, and just as easy to take down again. Of course, carrying it by yourself might be a bit of a struggle depending on how far you need to take it, but since it falls around 20 pounds, it’s certainly doable for you to carry by yourself.
Each individual room is also slightly bigger than what you’d find in many single room shower tents. The extra space is a nice touch for those of us who don’t enjoy scraping our elbows against the walls, every time we want to wash our skin or raise our arms.
Pros:
– Two rooms
– Instant, pop up design
– Suitable for one or multiple people
– Larger interior space
– Mesh pocket for toiletries
– Hooks to hang a water bag
Cons:
– Heavy
– Some of the materials feel cheap
WolfWise Pop Up Shower Tent
- Pole Material: Steel
- Tent Material: Polyester
- Weight: 4.3 Pounds
- Peak Height: 75 Inches
- Shower Water Capacity: 2 Gallons
I thought it would only be fair to cover the full spectrum of shower tents by including an option that’s much more basic and affordable. The WolfWise pop up shower is about as bare bones as you can get, without compromising on functionality, quality, or privacy.
Only weighing a little under 5 pounds, the lightweight material and pop up design make it incredibly simple for one person to set it up. And because of how light it is, you’ll find it’s one of the more portable options as well. I’d say it’s your best bet if you’re hoping to stay mobile without giving up many of the things you’d expect to find in a durable shower tent.
Unfortunately, there is no way to hang a water bag on the inside, if for no other reason than the tent is too flimsy to hold anything that heavy. You could always find a way to hang the bag outside the tent and snake the hose through one of the windows, but it’s certainly not the most convenient option. Overall, I would recommend just using this product as a portable outhouse or as a changing room.
Pros:
– Very affordable
– Lightweight
– Pop up design is easy to set up
– Internal storage bag and clothesline
– Windows for ventilation
Cons:
– Too flimsy to hold a water bag
– Can be difficult to fold back up again
Gigatent Pop Up Pod
- Pole Material: Steel
- Tent Material: Polyester
- Weight: 3 Pounds
- Peak Height: 71 Inches
- Shower Water Capacity: N/A
Like some of the other shower tents in our review, the Gigatent pop up pod has a much beloved pop up design that makes setup simple and easy. It doesn’t have some of the fancier features, like a toilet paper holder or removable floor mat, but it is inexpensive and effective.
The walls are solid, waterproof, and don’t allow anyone to sneak a peek at you while you’re inside. So as a privacy tent, it certainly gets the job done with flying colors. That is, as long as you’re a child or shorter adult. It’s not a very tall or wide shelter, so someone like me wouldn’t be able to get much use out of it.
You may also have some trouble with the tent blowing away, unless you stake it down properly. There’s also an included pouch designed to be used as a sandbag to help keep it in place during moments of high wind. The steel frame gives it some heft as well, but despite being made from such a heavy material, the tent itself only weighs in at a meager 3 pounds. There are obviously pros and cons with that, depending on how you look at it.
I’d also like to point out that, despite being an instant tent, this product doesn’t come without its woes. Setup might be a cinch, but put it back into the carry bag again can be a real bear. I’d suggest paying close attention to how everything unfolds the first time you set it up, or watch a few YouTube videos that demonstrate how to fold it back down again.
Pros:
– Flexible steel frame
– Water resistant
– Great privacy tent
– Instant setup
– Inexpensive
Cons:
– Not very big inside
– Wind catcher
– Difficult to disassemble
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FAQ
What is a Shower Tent and How Does it Work?
A shower tent is a just what it sounds like – a tent that allows you to take a shower inside of it. Tall and narrow, they resemble an outhouse, allowing you to clean up, change clothes, or use the restroom in privacy.
Many have features that let you hang a water bag and attach it to a shower head or hose. Otherwise, just stick a portable toilet inside, and you’ve got an enclosed bathroom.
Do I Need a Shower for My Off-Grid Camping Trip?
It depends on how long you plan to be gone, but you don’t necessarily need a whole shower for an off-grid camping trip. If you plan on moving around a lot, the extra weight from a shower tent won’t be feasible, so you’ll have to find an alternative method for cleaning up. Sometimes a few wet wipes or a bucket filled with river water is the best way to go.
Final Thoughts
Staying clean while camping doesn’t have to be a monumental task anymore. With the right camping shower tent, you’ll be able to wash up, use the toilet, and change your clothes all within the privacy of your own enclosed space. And out of all the tents reviewed above, I believe the KingCamp oversized shower tent is the one best suited for the job.
The fact that it’s oversized makes it a great option for people of varying body types, especially if you’d like a little more elbow and leg room! I also like how, despite being so large, it still weighs a modest 12.5 pounds, making it easy for one person to carry it and put it together. On the inside and the outside, there are plenty of areas for storage, so you can keep your washcloth and soap in with you, while sticking your towel and new outfit outside where it’s dry.
