Finding the Best Outdoor Solar Showers for Your Backyard Pool or Camping Trips

Having the best outdoor solar shower beside your backyard pool is a great idea. You get the convenience of taking a hot shower without adding to your electrical bills. That is why I took the liberty of trying different kinds of solar outdoor showers so you can find the best fit for you.

But first, there are three main factors you have to consider when it comes to solar powered outdoor showers:

• Tank capacity: Solar showers work by storing water in their tanks and then heating it using the sun’s solar energy. So the more water you have, the longer your hot shower will be. The smallest tank capacity would be about 2.5 gallons, enough for a short hot shower of a minute and a half or two. A standard tank of 5 gallons will let you shower for 3-5 min while large tanks with 10 gallons or more will let you shower for more than 5 minutes.

• Type of shower: There are two types of solar outdoor showers. The first type would be the bag shower, an insulated bag with a shower head that uses gravity for water pressure. It’s the most portable type since you can just fold the bag and carry it around. The second type is the stationary shower which is not as portable as the bag type since you have to assemble, mount and connect them to a hose but is a great addition to poolsides and beach fronts.

• Type of material: When shopping for solar outdoor showers, it is important to note what kind of material is being used. Durable materials are PVC and non-corrosive metals since they are weather-resistant and rust-proof.

There are Many solar water heater outdoor showers out there, but the best one should be a perfect fit for someone’s specific needs. So here are some of the top-rated outdoor solar showers available in the market.

Top 12 Outdoor Solar Shower Reviews

1. GAME Outside Solar Shower

Ever since I got a pool in our backyard, I wanted to have an outside shower for my family and me to clean ourselves before entering and after swimming in the pool. That’s when I found the GAME Outside Solar Shower.

It can be cold once you step out of the pool, so having a solar poolside shower is pretty convenient. This product is also very easy to use as you will only need to assemble, mount and connect a hose to it. After that, you can store about 5.5 gallons of water in the tank and let the sun heat it.

But there are also times where I want to use a cold shower because of a hot summer day. Lucky for me, this shower can also be adjusted to cold temperatures, so it’s no problem at all. I’m also very pleased that this shower is very durable since it is made up of non-corrosive brass and strong PVC pipes.

2. Giantex Solar Heated Shower

So when I first tried this solar-heated outdoor shower, I was pretty impressed with how tall it is. At first, I thought it would be a hard installation, but it was easier than I expected. There were no complicated instructions at all.

I had to look for a mounting surface for the shower, and since it can be mounted on any solid surface, I mounted mine on the cemented platform beside the pool. After that, I just connected a garden hose to it, and it was good to go. It was able to hold about 9.3 gallons of water, enough for my whole family to use.

Water can even rise to 140 °F (60 °C), but I would not recommend that kind of temperature, though, since I think it is too hot. If it does get too hot, this solar outdoor shower also has a hot and cold adjustment, so I can take a cold shower, too, if ever I want one.

3. KIPIDA Solar Shower Bag

Although I’m an outdoorsy guy, I still like to bring the comforts of modern life with me, like getting a hot shower after a long day. So that is why I was delighted when I found this solar outdoor shower in the market.

The KIPIDA shower bag can hold about 5 gallons of water, which is more than enough for me in one use. I got to take a hot shower for about 5 minutes or less when I used it. No worries about leakage, too, since it’s made up of durable PVC material. The temperature can also rise to about 113°F (45°C) in about three hours.

This shower bag is also very easy to use. All I needed was to fill it up with water and get it exposed to the sun. It also has a temperature indicator to tell you if the water is already hot enough and an on and off switch with water flow adjustment to control use of water when you shower.

4. Yescom Pool Spa Solar Base Shower

So when I was looking for an outdoor solar shower with base that had a beautiful design, I was able to find the Yescom Pool Spa Solar Base Shower.

I easily assembled it and because of the bolts that came along, it was easy to mount too. Then I connected my garden hose, let the tank fill in with water and waited for the sun to heat it. Since it is solar, I had no extra charge for the electrical bill whatsoever.

Because this solar outdoor shower can hold 2.3 gallons of water, it can heat up pretty quickly. I was even able to take a hot shower for about 3-4 minutes. But if you are worried that the hot shower might become too hot, don’t, because the shower will not exceed more than 113 ℉ (45°C).

Why? Because the shower also has a high-temperature cut-off. So no accidental burns will occur to anyone. It has cold water adjustment, too, if you are not in the mood to have a hot shower.

5. Advanced Elements Summer Shower

Camping can be a very pleasant experience but what would make it better is if I can also take a hot shower too even if I’m not home. Thanks to the Advanced Elements Summer Shower, it was all possible.

This shower bag can contain about 5 gallons of water which is more than enough water for me to use in a decent hot shower session. The on and off shower head feature was nice too since it let me control the water I used.

Filling up the shower is super easy since it has a very large filling valve. After that you just have to expose it to the sun, clear side up, and you will be able to take a hot shower in no time. The shower bag won’t be worn easily, too, because it has a four-layer design.

The shower bag also has a side pocket to put your soap, shampoo, shaver, etc., and velcro straps for your towels. It even has a temperature gauge so you can tell if the water is ready.

6. JAXPETY Solar Heated Shower

So in my quest to find the top-rated outdoor solar shower available in the market, I stumbled upon the JAXPETY solar-heated shower. It looked decent and had some nice features, so I bought it immediately.

Right off the bat, I was not disappointed at all when I used this solar heated outdoor shower. I liked the shower design since it had this modern look to it, but most importantly, assembling and mounting was super easy. I just needed a solid platform that, thankfully, I have beside my pool and I then mounted it.

I also like the fact that it is made up of durable PVC and chrome-plated ABS plastic, which I know can last for a long time. It can store 5.3 gallons of water, too, enough for my whole family to take short hot showers. The water temperature can rise to 140℉ (60°C), but I do not recommend that kind of hot shower since it may burn your skin.

If it gets too hot or if the water pressure is too strong for you, do not worry, since both can be adjusted using the middle faucet.

7. VIGLT Portable Shower Bag

I also love to go on fishing trips whenever I have free time, so I thought “What outdoor solar shower kit can I bring with me?”, so I had to look for a product that gives hot showers without the help of electricity. That was when I found the VIGLT Portable Shower Bag.

It is one of the best products out there when it comes to solar outdoor showers since it is very ultra-lightweight when empty and can be easily folded and carried around.

This solar shower bag can also hold about 5 gallons of water and easily raise the water temperature to 113°F (45°C) if fully exposed to sun for 3 hours. Because of this, I was able to get a hot shower every time I was on my fishing trips.

The PVC material that made up the bag is also very durable, light, and non-toxic. And because it is only using the sun as a source of heating, it gives a sense of pride that I am using an eco-friendly product to satisfy my needs.

8. GF Garden Sunny Style Premium Solar Shower

I came across the GF Garden Sunny Style Premium Solar shower when I was browsing the internet. The design really amazed me, so I got one to see if it’s a good solar poolside shower, and I’m happy to say that it is.

It came with a 33 feet hose, so I immediately attached it to my faucet. Once I turned it on, water got into its base and was heated by the sun immediately. It mixed tap water and hot water, which is why it gave off about 16 gallons of hot water.

It didn’t take too long for the water to heat up. Two hours of exposure was enough when I used it. This is because the base tank is very heat absorbent.

Because of this, my family and I got longer hot showers with a constant temperature of 86 °F (30°C). The hose and the height were also adjustable, which is a nice feature since I like to move the showerhead when I’m using it.

9. Blue Wave Poolside Solar Shower

I wanted to use another solar outdoor shower that is very tall so that I will not hit my head with the shower head. So I searched the internet and found the 7 ½ feet tall Blue Wave poolside shower.

Although this solar poolside shower was very tall with a six-inch diameter showerhead, there was no hassle when assembling since instructions were very easy to understand and it came with its own bolts too. You just need to drill a solid platform, screw it tightly, and it was good to go.

In addition, the reservoir had a 5.5-gallon water capacity. Because of this, short hot showers were no problem at all for my family and me. I could even use it to wash my dog if he needs to take a bath.

I like the materials used to create the shower, too, since they are very durable. The handle, trims and shower head were made up of stainless steel. You can even store it easily because its PVC design is two sections.

10. Yescom Outdoor Patio Solar Heated Shower

The Yescom Outdoor Patio Solar heated Shower was also a nice addition to the convenience of my backyard pool. All you needed was to assemble it, which you will not have any problems with, and mount it on a solid surface. It is always nice to take a hot shower every time you are done swimming, and this outdoor solar pool shower gave that convenience.

The 6.6 gallons of water in the tank was enough for my family to use too. If you are worried about the temperature being too hot, then do not worry since the unit will not exceed 130°F (54°C). So no accidental burns will ever occur.

If you do not want to take a hot shower, you can easily adjust the water temperature since this solar outdoor shower has a hot and cold adjustment feature. It is what also helps me in giving my son a hot shower that has a temperature that he can endure.

I also like that it is a 7 ½ feet tall shower, so there is no way I can accidentally bump my head to the showerhead.

11. Festnight Outdoor Solar Shower

So I wanted to look for a solar shower that embodied the eco-friendly look in its design. So I kept on browsing the internet, and finally, I found the Festnight Outdoor Solar shower. It had this wooden grain paint option, so I was very happy to put it beside my pool because of all the plants I put in my backyard.

It came with screws and straightforward instructions so it was very easy to mount on my cemented platform. Then, I attached my hose, filled it with water, and let it be exposed to the sun.

This solar shower can hold about 9.25 gallons which means I could take a hot shower for more than five minutes. Maximum temperature can rise up to 140°F (60°C) which to me is already hot enough for a decent hot shower.

Lucky for me, I can adjust this solar shower’s temperature and pressure, so if ever the water gets too hot or too strong, it would not be a problem. It was also built with UV-resistant PVC, so I know that it will last for a very long time.

12. GOTOTOP Solar Heated Shower

In my quest to find another durable solar shower to put beside my pool, I was able to find the GOTOTOP solar-heated shower. It looked decent, like a black tuxedo over white long sleeves. But an important question is, is it one of the top-tier solar heated showers out there? And the short answer is yes.

Easy to understand instructions made assembling it easy and with the four screws that were provided, all I did was get my drill, put some holes in the cemented platform beside my pool, screwed it tightly and attached my standard garden hose.

As I said, the solar shower is also very durable since it is made with UV-resistant PVC. Furthermore, all the metal in the shower is also made up of non-corrosive brass, which means this shower is very weather-resistant.

The tank capacity for the shower is about 9.25 gallons and temperature can rise to 140°F (60 °C), which to me is already hot enough. I also like that it has a faucet so I can easily wash my feet.

What to Look for When Buying Outdoor Solar Showers

Now that you’ve looked at some of the top-rated outdoor solar showers available in the market, you are probably having some outdoor solar shower ideas for your next outdoor activity.

But before that, here is a simple guide to help you find the right outdoor solar shower to match your needs.

• Tank capacity

So before you bring home a solar-heated outdoor shower, you first need to consider how much water it can store. The amount of water it can store will determine how much hot water you will enjoy with your family and friends.

I think everyone can agree that the larger the tank capacity, the more hot showers you can take. So obviously, we all would choose the largest. Plus, the tank will not have to be refilled all the time. A large tank would have a minimum capacity of 10 gallons

But a large tank capacity means you will have a longer time heating the water. So if you live somewhere cold, it is best to choose a small or standard tank capacity. A standard tank would be able to hold about 5 gallons of water while a small one would be able to hold 2.5 gallons.

• Thermometer

Some models do not have a thermometer with them, but it can be very useful.

It can tell you if the water is hot enough for you to take a hot shower. Plus, it will prevent you from being burned accidentally if the temperature gets too hot.

• Materials

A durable solar-heated outdoor shower means it will not break so easily. So try to find out if it is made up of high-quality PVC material or polyester and if there are metals, make sure they are non-corrosive and rust-proof.

• Replaceable parts

If parts ever break or are damaged, you need to make sure that you can easily replace them. Unfortunately, cheap products do not usually give you replaceable parts.

• Stability

Solar outdoor showers can be installed differently. For example, while solar shower bags only need to be hanged properly, stationary showers sometimes need to be mounted on a solid surface while others have a base.

If it needs to be mounted, make sure the unit comes with its screws so you won’t be bothered to find one in your local hardware store. If it has a base, it needs to be stable. Regardless of the type, stability is a must, so there won’t be any interruption when you take a shower.

How Do You Build an Outdoor Solar Shower

To make an outdoor solar shower you are going to need a water tank that absorbs radiation from the sun to heat up the water. For a solar shower bag, you are just going to need a bag with a shower hose and head to hang.

Stationary showers on the other hand, if their tank is mounted or placed on the ground, they won’t have gravity for water pressure. So they need to be pressurized. You can use a pump or water from the hose to push the water out. Attach a hose and a shower head to the tank and you’re all set.

How Many Gallons Does an Outdoor Shower Use

It depends on what type of outdoor solar shower you are going to use, but most units have a tank capacity of 2.5 to10 gallons of water. Some even higher.

How Long Does an Outdoor Solar Shower Take to Heat

It mostly depends on how well exposed it is to the sun and how much water there is. But a standard 5 gallons of water sun will be hot enough after 2 to 3 hours.

Can You Use a Solar Shower in Winter

This might surprise you, but yes, you can use a solar shower in the winter as long as it is exposed to the sun properly. Mine still worked even when it was winter in the UK. But it might take longer to heat up because of the ambient air temperature.

You can also check out a review of solar ovens, an option worth considering for camping. Don’t forget to read our review of the 12 volt solar battery charger and share the post.

Conclusion

It will always be a nice feeling to take a shower anywhere you can, especially after swimming or when you are camping. That is why having a solar outdoor shower is such a blessing.

Now that you read all of this review, you will finally be able to choose the best outdoor solar shower that is a perfect match for your shower needs.

Kathleen Miller

I am Kathleen Miller, staff writer and reviewer of the Avasolar team. Working with the team has been a pleasure for me so far, I hope to bring readers useful information by creating detailed and easy-to-follow contents.