Short answer: for most camping trips in New Zealand, a rechargeable battery pump gives the best shower. It has real pressure, needs no vehicle, and runs from any bucket, stream or lake. A solar bag is the cheapest way to get warm water, but the pressure is weak and it needs hours of sun. A 12V pump suits trips where the car or van is always parked beside you. A hand pump sprayer needs no power at all, but you do the pumping. We make a battery pump, so keep that in mind as you read; we have tried to be straight about where each type wins.
Camp showers compared at a glance
| Type | Pressure | Runtime | Power source | Heats water | Setup | Best for | Rough price (NZD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery pump | Strong (ours runs at 25 PSI and 5 litres a minute) | Up to 90 minutes per charge (ours) | Rechargeable battery, USB-C | No, pair it with a solar bag or warm water | Drop the pump in the water, hang the shower head, switch on | Most trips, beach days, washing dogs and horses | About $80 to $180 |
| Solar bag | Low, gravity fed | Until the bag runs dry | The sun | Yes, in strong sun | Fill it, leave it in the sun for hours, hang it above head height | Warm summer camps where you have time to let it heat | About $10 to $35 |
| 12V pump | Medium, varies a lot by model | As long as your 12V source lasts | A vehicle socket or 12V battery | No | Plug in, put the pump in a bucket, run the hose | Car and van camping | About $35 to $110 |
| Hand pump sprayer | Starts reasonable, drops as the tank empties | A few minutes per pump up | Your arm or foot | No | Fill the tank, pump it up, spray | Quick rinses of feet, gear and dishes | About $30 to $150 |
Prices are rough ranges for what you will commonly see in New Zealand, not quotes. Our own kit is $105, or $125 with the Solar Sac™.
Battery pump showers
A battery pump sits in a bucket or container of water and pushes it up a hose to a shower head. Ours delivers 25 PSI at 5 litres a minute, runs for up to 90 minutes on a charge, and charges through a standard USB-C port, so a phone charger or power bank will do. A full charge takes 3 to 5 hours.
Pros: proper pressure, so you can actually rinse long hair and sand; works anywhere, with no car needed; draws from a bucket, stream or lake; small enough to pack in a mesh bag.
Cons: it has to be charged before you go, it does not heat the water on its own, and it costs more than a solar bag.
In January we rafted the Tongariro River on a scorcher of a day. We left the Solar Sac on the roof of the car, drove to the top of the river and rafted down, which was an absolute blast. The catch was getting the raft back to the car. We had to haul it through the bush and up a bank, and in that heat it took a couple of hours.
By the time we got back we were dripping in sweat. Before dinner we dropped the pump into the Solar Sac, which had warmed up nicely on the roof. The pressure cleaned off all the sweat and was strong enough to properly wash Charlotte's hair, and we both went to bed feeling fresh. We'd brought 20 litres, and it was enough for the two of us.
The next morning we used it again to wash the breakfast dishes before we loaded up. None of that would have worked with a gravity solar bag. They just don't have the pressure to make you feel properly clean.
Solar bag showers
A solar shower is a dark bag you fill with water and leave in the sun. The dark surface soaks up heat, and once it is warm you hang it from a branch or roof rack and let gravity do the rest. Our Solar Sac™ holds 20 litres and can heat water to as much as 40°C after 2 to 5 hours in direct sunlight.
Pros: warm water with no fuel or power, cheap, and very light when empty.
Cons: the flow is gentle because it relies on gravity, so it needs to hang well above your head. It needs strong, direct sun and time, so a cloudy day or an early start means a cold shower. A full 20 litre bag is also heavy to lift into place.
That is the real drawback in our experience: a gravity solar bag just doesn't have the pressure to make you feel properly clean.
You can get the best of both by putting a battery pump inside a solar bag: the sun warms the water and the pump supplies the pressure. That is how our kit with the Solar Sac™ is designed to work.
12V pump showers
A 12V shower pump plugs into your vehicle's accessory socket or a 12V battery and pumps water from a bucket to a shower head.
Pros: steady flow for as long as the power lasts, and no separate battery to charge.
Cons: you are tied to the vehicle by the length of the cord, and running it for long periods can drain a car battery if the engine is off. Pressure varies a lot from one model to the next. Like the battery pump, it does not heat water.
Hand pump sprayers
A hand pump sprayer is a sealed tank you pump up by hand or foot to build pressure, then spray through a nozzle or small shower head.
Pros: no batteries or cords, simple, and handy for rinsing sandy feet, boots and dishes.
Cons: the pressure falls away as you use it, so you stop to pump again, and the tanks are usually small. It works for a quick rinse more than a proper shower.
How much water does a camp shower use?
It depends on the flow. Our pump moves about 5 litres of water a minute, so:
- a 20 litre bucket or Solar Sac™ gives you about 4 minutes of continuous water
- a 5 minute shower with the pump running the whole time uses about 25 litres
Turn the flow down with the switch on the shower head, or switch the pump off while you soap up, and the same water goes much further. A gravity fed solar bag usually flows more slowly, so it uses less water per minute, but it also rinses less.
On the Tongariro trip above, 20 litres was enough for two of us.
Which camp shower suits which trip?
- Weekend car camping: any of them will work. A battery pump gives the best shower; a 12V pump is fine if you are happy to stay near the car.
- Longer trips away from power: a battery pump with a solar bag, so you have pressure and warm water without a vehicle. One charge covers several showers.
- Beach days with the dog: a battery pump, so you can rinse off sand and salt water before they get back in the car. See our portable dog wash.
- Horses at the float or in the paddock: a battery pump with a couple of buckets of water, where there is no tap. See our portable horse wash.
- Hot summer camps with time on your hands: a solar bag on its own is fine if you are happy with gentle pressure.
- Rinsing gear and dishes: a hand pump sprayer, or the sprayer attachment on a battery pump.
Camp shower FAQs
Is a camping shower worth it?
If you camp more than a night or two, or spend days at the beach or on the trails, most people find a proper rinse at the end of the day makes the whole trip more comfortable. It also keeps sand and mud out of your tent, car and sleeping bag.
I started Compass & Creek after countless camping trips, hikes and days on the water around New Zealand, where I kept running into gear that didn't quite do what it should. So instead of settling for it, I started designing better solutions.
Can a camp shower heat water?
Only a solar bag heats water on its own, and only in strong sun. Pumps move water rather than heat it, so either pump from a warmed solar bag or mix some boiled water with cold until it is the right temperature. Our pump can sit in water up to 60°C, but if it is too hot to touch, it is too hot to shower in.
Can I use a camp shower on my dog or horse?
Yes. A battery pump is handy for this because it has enough pressure to shift sand and mud and runs from a bucket anywhere. Use the shower head for the coat and the sprayer for paws, legs and hooves, and check the water temperature on your hand first.
What is the best portable camping shower in NZ?
For most people, a rechargeable battery pump, because it gives real pressure without needing a car, a tap or hours of sun. Add a solar bag if you want warm water. Have a look at the Compass & Creek Portable Shower Pump Kit.