What is Reddit's opinion of
Coleman 5-Gallon Solar Shower?
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36 reviews of this product found across Reddit:
Amazon or any store that sells camping gear, Canadian Tire, etc.
I just got this one for camping: https://www.amazon.ca/The-Coleman-Company-2000014865-5-Gallon/dp/B0009PUT20
Seems pretty solid all around except the shower nozzle doesn't actually stay in a closed position... which is kinda dumb but you only are supposed to hang them up when actually using them and it was $10.
I am not expecting to actually use it as a shower at Shambhala because there will likely be nowhere to put it for that, but it'll be nice to have some warm/hot water available without having to turn on the camp stove.
They have free cold showers in the water park area and you can pay for hot showers. I’ve never tried hot showers, but I’ve never had to wait behind more than 1 or 2 people for a cold shower. You could also look into something like this https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-2000014865-5-Gallon-Solar-Shower/dp/B0009PUT20/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?crid=KBFV3KNJ1YXH&keywords=camp+shower+bag&qid=1552399735&s=gateway&sprefix=camp+shower&sr=8-2
It's not necessarily a daily use item...because it will get damaged at some point, particularly if you fill it too high. solar shower bag 5 Gal
But it's a low cost solution to a human necessity, particularly after a day working outside...getting that shower outdoors under the trees was the high point of my day...every single day during this Summer.
I used this camp shower last year and its a game changer when the showers are gross or the lines were long. I just took the shower in my trunks and revitalized me every day
Lots of practical applications. The TLDR is that dark colors absorb heat a lot better than lighter ones, so think of things like the paint on your car or house, or the color of your clothes.
If you live in a hot-as-fuck area, choose lighter colors or white so that they reflect the heat and keep your car/house/body cooler.
Steering wheel melt your fingers off when you get in? Get a white cover for it.
Cold as fuck area? Go darker, and milk that sunlight for every degree you can.
If you own an outdoor pool and you want it to be warmer, throw a big black rubber mat on the bottom of it.
There are also products that exploit this process, like this Solar Shower. I've used this on long camping trips, and this fucker gets HOT - like, painful hot - if you leave it in the sun too long.
...and actual solar power is a over my head, but every solar panel I've seen has been black, which I've always assumed is for absorbing as much energy as possible. No idea if that bit is actually correct though.
My surfing/beach solution is this camping solar shower bag with a diy longer hose from Home Depot. Toss that bad boy into a 5 gal bucket and pop it up on top of the SUV and run the hose over the back of the rear hatchback. It owns.
I would not trust anyone other than my wife to take showers and not waste water. 5 people in an RV get in trouble quickly if even a single person has even one excessive shower.
If it were me I’d buy a shower bag and have people clean up that way, that way you’re not dealing with gray water either.
The other thing you can do is clean and rinse with wet towels.
Burning man is a special experience, I don’t think there’s any way to carry enough water to even do navy showers
I got this for $10 last year on sale. Only had to fill it up like twice for 4/5 people. Just hunt it on a corner of one of the EZ pop up canopies we had and it worked like a charm. After having it last year it definitely became essential for me. Being able to take a quick shower in your swimming trucks in the morning is amazing and it feels sooo much better being able to do a quick wash off at the camp site before trying to go to sleep after sweating and being grimey all day. Absolutely worth the 10/20 bucks!!
EDIT: All you do is leaving it in the sun and the water is plenty warm. The bag does a great job trapping heat so it will definitely stay warm 24/7
Check out solar camp showers. They come in a wide variety of styles and sizes. I have this one it takes a fairly long time during the day for the water to get warm and it will never be as hot as it would coming out of a water heater, but if you just want something for warmer water for soaking dishes or bathing, most of them will do just fine. btw- with the coleman one, the hose and "showerhead" are absolutely awful. Make sure you look at reviews.
Aside from that a camping stove or rigging up coffee cans or something over a fire.
Do you have game on your land? Maybe check reddit, craigslist, the bulletin board in town, and see if anyone would be willing to help you for a few hours in exchange for a place to hunt? I saw that offer on AirBnB a while back, you could camp for free for a week, with 2 hours of help per day.
Maybe empty out the qounset hut and make that more habitable, so you aren't all cramped together in one room all the time? Make it a simple retreat, just somewhere that you can decompress, sit in a chair and drink a beer, maybe take a solar shower out back and spend a few minutes naked in nature? Maybe she could read a book for an hour, or listen to the birds? Smoke a doobie and listen to Adele? Yall need to carve out some space for your emotional state and have a retreat from EVERYTHING - or else you're going to get so snappish and short with each other as all the stress is piling on. Good luck man, you're long on heart and grit, and you'll handle stuff. Baby steps. You're learning.
Buy one of these. Fill it up stick it on the roof of your car and you should be good to go. We bought two and filled them once and it was enough for 4 guys to make it through the festival washing every morning.
Square-plastic-bag + lots-of-water + gravity = spherical-blob + stress-points = fun-for-audience = safety-requirement-for-self (steam explosions are 'not funny').
You can try one of these (example) to experiment with.
Even with a simple 'flat plate' collector it is possible to reach 200⁰C+ temperatures, a pressure relief valve is mandatory (in my opinion), having some way to control to about 90⁰C maximum is a lot smarter.
Most places are not going to have plumbing (except vaults, BoS airship, New Vegas, maybe Diamond City). Places that do not have running water could do something like a Solar Shower. I expect that conserving water is important. People will probably use plant based soaps, like someone else mentioned, if they use soap.
Probably not much bathing for most though.
I used a solar shower at Lightning in a Bottle last year that worked great.
You fill it and let it sit in the sun for about an hour and it has a hose with a valve. Extremely handy.
For $10 these are so fucking money. They heat up in the sun in an hour or two, although cold isn't too bad. 1 bag is good for about 2-3 showers. We brought two for a campsite of 9 last year and it was perfect. Highly recommended
You would be better off just getting a camping shower as it will take up less space. Like this but the best way to deal with showers while dwelling is to get a cheap gym membership that is everywhere like golds or ymca.
I had this when I went camping last and it worked well for one person at a time provided you didn't waste the water. Wet yourself, turn off the water, lather, rinse, repeat as needed. 7 women camping with us didn't have any issues either.
Shower bags. Fill it up (all 5 gallons of it) and leave it on top of your car for an hour. You'll have a warmish shower for free! They come with a hose and are only like $10. The full bag should easily shower 5 people. http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-2000014865-5-Gallon-Solar-Shower/dp/B0009PUT20
Do you have the regular planet fitness membership or the black one? http://www.planetfitness.com/membership-types
If you have the black one you're golden ;)
Other than that, get a good portable stove so you can make some food and boil water for tea or coffee.
Buy a jerrycan for water with a little tap on it, fill it up regularly, it also means you can wash yourself even if you don't have access to showers etc.
A small camping spade is good for number 2s in the woods :)
Get a mosquito net hammock, and maybe a cheap tent it means you can sleep outside or on campsites on hot nights.
Your biggest expense will be gas for the car.
Planet fitness is a good idea, but it's urban areas, I would do some (wild) camping more often.
I have no idea what campsites cost in the US per night, but if you do that every other night, or even once in 3 nights, it beats sleeping in a car park, and is cheaper than a hotel.
Have a look at some of the national parks, some of them have basic (cheap) camp grounds too. Campgrounds are really cool places to meet people, much better than a Walmart car park ;)
Shopping list:
Camping canister stoves are cheap, between $10 and $50 Cheap tent is around $50
Total expenses before hand, around $150-200 max.
I just went for the first items I found on amazon, there are probably cheaper or better products out there.
Source, I did a 6 month trip by bicycle through Europe, so not the same, but the basics are the same. You have the advantage of not being restricted by weight or size of items, which makes it cheaper.
If you need more ideas, packing tips or anything else, I'll gladly help ;)
Have fun, explore and enjoy, it's fun!
If you're near a Walgreens, I've had luck finding this or similar, and it works well - https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/no-rinse-moisturizing-body-wash/ID=prod3946589-product
Depending on where you're at, or if you're able to ship Amazon to a locker, etc., these are awesome for a simple fresh clean - https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/no-rinse-moisturizing-body-wash/ID=prod3946589-product
And if you check Walmart, you may or may not have luck finding something along these lines - https://www.walmart.com/ip/Grime-Boss-Field-Wipes-24ct/55302028 - It really depends which Walmart you're at and your part of the country. Some have bath/shower wipes with all of the other personal hygiene/bath products. Some only have them back in the camping/outdoor sections. Some have multiple varieties in both places, and some don't even sell them at all.
I also have a solar shower like - https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-2000014865-5-Gallon-Solar-Shower/dp/B0009PUT20 - which you can definitely find a lot of places, though I don't really use it.
I keep all 4 of these things in my van along with my other "normal" shower, all in a 5 gallon bucket - https://www.amazon.com/Ivation-Portable-Outdoor-Battery-Powered/dp/B00IFHFJXI, which can be used in any water source. You may have luck finding it at Walmart, but a better chance at an outdoor store like Bass Pro Shops, Cabellas, Gander Mountain, or REI
We bring a solar shower, they are not quite as great as the one that other person posted, but another great alternative. We also will have a privacy tent, they are great. I've also just done it in my swim suit.
I agree about the ground, it usually doesn't run off too much, but I also recommend something to stand on, such as bamboo shower thingy to keep your feets a biot more clean!
Solar shower with a DIY longer hose mod from Home Depot or wherever in a 5 gallon bucket is absolutely based. Toss that bad boi up on the roof of my SUV/minivan and you got yourself an auto-siphoning warm shower stew going. I'm thinking about upgrading to something like this but I have that first system on lock rn.
As long as I'm on pavement, that's 99% effective at mitigating sand, and I leave another bottle of water to rise of the bottom of my flops and that's it. If I'm in a sandy area, it might drop to like 80-90%, save for the accidental goofy wetsuit flail & fall where I'll get a wetsuit leg sandy that's stick on my for like an idiot. Honestly, I'm brand new to kiting, so I'd likely get a giant cheap plastic bin to toss sandy gear into until I learn that end of things.
Sand is total dogshit though. We're not fucking animals - get a plan in place that works for you.
I just posted this in r/VanLife, but this is how I've always dealt with showers (as I don't always rely on Planet Fitness, especially when out west):
If you're near a Walgreens, I've had luck finding this or similar, and it works well - https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/no-rinse-moisturizing-body-wash/ID=prod3946589-product
Depending on where you're at, or if you're able to ship Amazon to a locker, etc., these are awesome for a simple fresh clean - https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/no-rinse-moisturizing-body-wash/ID=prod3946589-product
And if you check Walmart, you may or may not have luck finding something along these lines - https://www.walmart.com/ip/Grime-Boss-Field-Wipes-24ct/55302028 - It really depends which Walmart you're at and your part of the country. Some have bath/shower wipes with all of the other personal hygiene/bath products. Some only have them back in the camping/outdoor sections. Some have multiple varieties in both places, and some don't even sell them at all.
I also have a solar shower like - https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-2000014865-5-Gallon-Solar-Shower/dp/B0009PUT20 - which you can definitely find a lot of places, though I don't really use it.
I keep all 4 of these things in my van along with my other "normal" shower, all in a 5 gallon bucket - https://www.amazon.com/Ivation-Portable-Outdoor-Battery-Powered/dp/B00IFHFJXI, which can be used in any water source. You may have luck finding it at Walmart, but a better chance at an outdoor store like Bass Pro Shops, Cabellas, Gander Mountain, or REI
You'll definitely be roughing it in GA. Portapotties only and $10 a shower. My friends and I brought a portable camp shower this year and it helped tremendously https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-2000014865-5-Gallon-Solar-Shower/dp/B0009PUT20
Take as many free showers as you want you filthy animal - Coleman 5-Gallon Solar Shower https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009PUT20/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_N08rxbXCJ573R
You're lucky it's summer. Buy a solar shower and some tarps. Set up a shower cube in your yard.
Pro tip: Buy a camp shower. They work like a charm.
Popular alternatives to Coleman 5-Gallon Solar Shower
Ivation Portable Outdoor Shower, Battery Powered - Compact Handheld Rechargeable Camping Showerhead - Pumps Water from Bucket Into Steady, Gentle Shower Stream
