The Shower Tent

A shower tent is a only a necessity if you're planning on camping for several days or longer at a camping site with no facilities. You'll find this if you're camping out in the boonies someplace remote, or perhaps when you have permission to camp on private property, such as a remote paddock on someone's farm.

Most paid-for campsites, and some in state and national parks, will have both public toilets and showers available for visitors. Be sure to check this out before you set out on your camping trip. You don't want the expense of buying and bringing your own shower and tent if it won't be needed. But at the same time, you don't want to be miles from civilization and then decide you should have brought one with you!

Most shower tents are between 3x3 or 4x4 feet wide and deep, which gives you enough room to move or even undress and change clothes inside. Their height varies, however. Some shower tents have no roof as such, and may only cover you from knees to shoulders, while others are fully enclosed like an old-fashioned telephone booth.

The fully-enclosed type of shower tents can usually do double duty as a toilet tent, because they give complete privacy. However, if you are camping with a group of people for more than just a couple of days, you would be better advised to have separate tents. Everyone will be happier that way.

Unless it's the height of summer, or you are really into cold showers, I suggest you bring along a portable hot camping shower of some kind. These use bottled propane gas to heat the water, while 12 volt battery power from your automobile pumps the heated water along the hose pipe and out through your shower nozzle.

A few well-known name brands come to mind here. Coleman, Primus and Zodi all manufacture portable propane shower water heaters. The third maker, Zodi, has a range of different models to handle one person or a large group.

Other hot water systems for campers include heat-exchange systems which use the water-cooling system from your car or SUV. These can be convenient, but your vehicle will be burning up gasoline while you heat the water for your shower. They also have to be installed properly in the car's engine compartment.

One option I do not recommend are those flimsy plastic bags which are sold as so-called Solar Showers. Sure, they can warm the water a little on a hot summer's day, but they only hold a small amount of water, and the shower is not built to last. I tried one once and it died after the third day or so. They last about as long as an ice cream in summer.