The 10 Best Camping Shower Tents

While everyone has their reasons for wanting to get back to basics with a camping trip, there is a fine line between roughing it and reverting to caveman status. 

Even the most rugged adventurer needs protection from the sun, wind, and neighbors prying eyes. Perhaps you are traveling off the beaten track where bathrooms are not available or prefer to set up your own ablution facilities rather than share the athlete’s foot of previous intrepid backpackers, either way, a private area to shower and change is a luxury that everyone can now afford to plan for.

What exactly are camping shower tents?

It may be obvious in the name but to elaborate on it, a camping shower tent is a reasonably small tented enclosure that is suitable for showering or changing in. They differ from sleeping tents in that they are designed to accommodate an upright position and therefore have a smaller base diameter but a higher ceiling.

What are they used for?

The versatility, adaptability, and uses of camping shower tents are endless and should be an essential item on everyone’s camping, hiking, holiday, adventure list.

Camping shower tents offer protection from external elements, as well as a privacy screen whilst showering or changing clothes. They can be used during camping, on the beach, or in any public setting that requires a change of outfit. You can also use it as a shelter from the elements when pursuing an outdoor hobby, such as fishing or watching sports. 

Vendors will even find a camping shower tent useful at flea markets as an instant changing booth. Whether you need a private space at a week-long music festival or a contained space for your child’s messy play area, the uses are as limitless as your imagination. 

Buyer’s Guide (Things to Consider When Choosing the Best Camping Shower Tent)

Shower bag holders

The clips to hang up shower bags or shower heads are either metal clips, plastic hooks, or Velcro straps. They can be found either in the center of the shower or on the side, so take into consideration how your shower headworks, and which option will work the best for you. Some showers have both the center and side clips so that you can secure the shower hose on the side of the tent and out of the way to stop entanglement. After all, the outdoor shower tent will offer no benefit if you (and it) land up in a tangled pile with your feet in the air. 

Pop-up camping shower tents cannot support a shower bag, so you would have to hang the shower bag elsewhere and bring the hose inside through the hole in the top or a side window. This may pose an issue if you are camping at a spot with no trees or suitable structures to hang the bag. However, if you have a portable battery-operated shower that pumps water from a bucket, then hanging a bag isn’t a concern you have to take into deliberation. The shower tents with a frame can generally support up to a 5-gallon shower bag, depending on its recommendations.

Floor vs no floor

Some people prefer the bottom to have no floor for better drainage, while others might like knowing that the unit is completely enclosed so that no creeping crawlies can enter while you are in your most vulnerable state. If you are prone to running naked through a campsite at the site of a spider, you might want to consider an attached or mesh floor at the very least. 

If you are using the shower tent as a changing facility, one might prefer a solid floor to keep from tracking sand in whilst changing. As with most things, it comes down to what your intended use is, but the good news is that most of them come with a detachable floor, saving you from having to decide imminently upon purchase.

Sturdiness

I find that the sturdiest structures are the ones that come with a metal rod to build a solid frame. However, the extra robustness comes at a cost. The carry bag tends to be larger and heavier than those of the pop-ups, which may not be ideal if you are hiking to your intended camping spot. However, if you are staying in the same place for consecutive days or are in a particularly windy area, it may be worth the bulkier tent. 

Ease of set up

The main factor that contributes to ease of setting up again is whether the camping shower tent has a pop-up or external framework to put together. Even though those with rods must be assembled, it is no more complicated than putting up your standard camping tent.

One must not overlook the ease of takedown as a factor as well. The number one complaint that I have come across has been confusion and frustration over the folding up of pop-up tents. Some have gone so far as to bin a brand-new tent out of frustration at not being able to fold it back up once it has conveniently sprung up in less than 2 seconds. What goes up must go down.  

Size (folded and open)

One of the ways that camping shower tents obtain their stability is by sacrificing width on the top section, creating a more triangular-shaped tent that does not suffer from top-heaviness. So many of them have a tapered shape towards the top, particularly free-standing pop-up tents. If you are wanting a lot of headroom or are particularly tall you might want to consider a more rectangular shape that does not narrow at head height.

Take into careful consideration how much space you have available for packing purposes. Are you going somewhere in a vehicle where a bulkier carry bag won’t serve as a hindrance? Or will you be jamming it into an engorged backpack every morning where the truth is every inch most definitely counts?

Person capacity

Camping shower tents specify whether they are intended for single or two-person use. You can also choose a plus-sized option if space is a concern. I have noted that even the two-person shower tents are more of a single-person, two rooms option, where one room is intended for showering and the other as a changing room or ablution facility. However, if you have a large group, school, or extended family camping trip, you may prefer to set up both stalls for showering purposes.

Anchored vs free

Free-standing camping shower tents offer convenience and a quick pop-up option but are vulnerable to adverse conditions such as strong winds. Although an anchored shower tent may take a little longer to set up, it will certainly be worth it when the wind picks or if you intend on leaving the shower tent up for a few days.

Decoding the specifications

Confused by the technical jargon when it comes to the materials of camping shower tents? Let me break down the terminology for you so that you can decide for yourself which camping shower tent materials best suit your unique needs. 

Although you will find Oxford material referenced a lot, it is not a fabric but rather a type of basket weave that creates a stronger material than standard weaves and is highly suitable for additional coatings to adhere to. 

The two main types of fabric choices when it comes to shower tent material are polyester and nylon. They are artificial fabrics that are cheaper and significantly lighter than natural materials such as cotton. Although they may suffer from condensation, they are also much quicker to dry out before packing away. Cotton tents (or canvas) are better insulated and breathable, it is also more UV resistant. Poly-cotton is a hybridized mixture of polyester and cotton to capitalize on a combination of both materials’ fortes. 

The material that makes up Polyester is waterproof, however once it is woven into a fabric it is considered water repellent, as water can still travel through the airgaps created by the weave. That is why when you touch polyester fabric with water beads on it, it quickly becomes wet, as the water is pushed through the air gaps. However, once the fabric has been coated with a continuous membrane it becomes waterproof. 

Polyurethane (PU) coatings are applied to polyester or nylon fabrics to waterproof it. It doesn’t strengthen the material and can break down when subjected to prolonged UV exposure, but its advantage is that it is still breathable. 

Silicone can also be used as a waterproofing barrier applied to fabric, but it is not breathable, and seams are not waterproof unless sealed with an additional layer of sealant. A factor in its favor is that it does strengthen the fabric against tearing. 

Some manufacturers combine the two by applying silicone to the outside of the fabric and Polyurethane to the inside, which is known as a SIL/PU coating.

Another common coating found in privacy tents is a silver lining on the inside. The silver layer absorbs and reflects sunlight, protecting you from harmful UV rays whilst you are inside. It also contributes to the opaqueness of the material and may quite literally be the silver lining of your camping experience when you realize that your partner can’t see your shadow while you are spending quality alone time in the bathroom, or hiding out from your children. 

Waterproofing ratings or Hydrostatic Head (HH) are measured by the amount of water they can hold out before becoming permeable and are measured in mm. Any ratings above 1500mm are considered waterproof.

Denier (D) is the measure of the weight and thickness of the individual fibers used to make up a fabric. The higher the D number is the thicker the thread, and the more durable a fabric becomes. For instance, 150D would be stronger than 120D. Different types of material have different individual strengths too, for instance, nylon would not be as strong as polyester. Keep in mind that the higher D value also means that the tent will be heavier to carry.

Thread count (T) is the number of threads per square inch of fabric. A higher thread count means a higher density and stronger weave. It also contributes towards its water repellent properties as denser materials are less permeable. Generally, items with a lower D have a higher T, as more thinner threads can be condensed into a square inch than thick threads. 

Ripstop is a weaving method where a stronger thread is woven into the material at regular intervals to reinforce it, creating a gridlock pattern. This ensures that any rips or tears are contained in a smaller area and stops the tear from spreading. 

For a comparison of metals used in camping shower tents, Aluminium is lighter than steel, which is 2.5 times denser, but it is not as strong. Steel is usually used when strength is more desirable, and weight is not a critical factor. It is also more affordable than Aluminium. Alloy is a combination of elements with Aluminium being the primary metal. Alloy gives you greater strength while still being lighter than steel, it is a blend of materials to bring you the best compromise on promising characteristics. 

Fiberglass is a combination of plastic and glass that is used for tent poles. It is a more affordable option than aluminum or alloy, but not as heavy as steel. It also offers a degree of flexibility and astonishing strength for its weight. Carbon fiber is another lightweight yet strong option for tent poles. 

How We Selected Our Products

When putting together this list, we focused on the most important parts of camping shower tents. Firstly, we realized that there were distinct types of shower tents, some of which are designed specifically for showering and others which are generally privacy tents. For example, we included several multipurpose privacy tents that are easy to pop up at the beach, but also useful to bring with you as a shower tent when you camp.

We took into account the weight of the products, ensuring that we selected winners that covered a large spectrum of needs. A heavier tent generally provides better stability, but we didn’t want to overlook the value of easy to setup options that were lighter weight (ideal for those looking for something to take along to the beach). Playing into weight is the material, which was another deciding factor we wanted to include products that boast both heavy-duty materials and also some which are perhaps easier to set up, but not as resilient.

The space offered by the shower tent was also important. We wanted to make sure that there are options for all body types, so we included some larger shower tents which are guaranteed to provide sufficient headroom.

Conclusion

The specific camping shower tent that you choose will depend on cost, space limitations, ease of set up (and taking it down), durability, and how much weight you are capable of lugging around with you. I am confident that armed with the information laid out above, we have been able to help demystify the specifications and narrow down your selection process for you. No matter what camping shower tent you decide on, I have found from experience that any shower is better than no shower.