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How to Make a Camp Shower Heater

How to Make a Camp Shower Heater
Taking a shower after a sweaty day on the trail can be a great relief. Unfortunately, showers aren't typically part of the camping experience. While some people seem to take pride in their wild filthiness, others may find that a warm shower would be just the thing. Luckily there are some creative solutions to the hygiene problem. Bringing some easy-to-find supplies along can warm your water efficiently and provide for a higher standard of cleanliness than your fellow campers.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:
  • Plastic bag (10 gallon) Black paint Hole punch Adhesive glue Hose Watering pail Duct tape Seam sealer
  • Plastic bag (10 gallon)
  • Black paint
  • Hole punch
  • Adhesive glue
  • Hose
  • Watering pail
  • Duct tape
  • Seam sealer
Step 1
Paint the plastic bag black. You will likely want something more durable than a trash bag. Instead, you'll want a bag that can seal and open at the top while remaining durable enough for multiple uses. A plastic tote or dry bag would be the best solution. If your bag isn't already black, you'll need to paint the entire bag black, which will hold in heat. Apply several coats to ensure that the bag's surface absorbs heat rather than allows it through.
Step 2
Punch a uniform hole in the plastic bag. The hole should be perfectly round and smaller in diameter than the rubber hose you intend to use.
Step 3
Coat the rim of the hose with glue and force the hose through the hole, into the bag's interior. Once the hose is firmly in place, apply a layer of seam sealer to ensure a tight seal. Seam sealer can be purchased in a spray form, allowing you to spray a thin layer around the attachment point.
Step 4
Cut the spray nozzle end from the water pail. The spray nozzle will serve as your shower head, regulating the flow of water from the plastic bag. Cut off the spray nozzle up the stem, after the point at which it narrows.
Step 5
Use the duct tape to affix the nozzle head to the hose, wrapping as tightly as possible. Cut off the excess tape, then spray the tape edges with the seam sealer.
Step 6
Fill the bag with water and set it out in the sun for a few hours. The black surface will capture heat, warming the water inside. Once you return from your hike it will be a simple matter of hanging the bag in the crook of a tree and enjoying a warm shower in the middle of the woods.

Resources

Article Written By Louie Doverspike

Based in Seattle, Louie Doverspike has been a professional writer since 2004. His work has appeared in various publications, including "AntiqueWeek" magazine, the "Prague Post" and "Seattle Represent!" Doverspike holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Hamilton College.

Write for Trails.com

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