shower ensuites for camping

see also:

• photography and camping main index page
• hot water and showers for campers
• Youtube video comparing pros and cons of popup shower tent vs awning shower tent vs double fast frame ensuite

• most free camp grounds and most Parks Victoria campgrounds do NOT have showers
• if you need to wash you have a few options:
  • discretely “top and tail” hand wash with a bucket of water or in a stream (but don't use detergents or soaps in a stream)
    • this could be done in the toilet block, inside your tent (especially if there is no floor) or in your van
  • shower inside your tent if the tent has no floor (see larger tents without integrated floors to act as fly tents or hot tents )
  • shower outdoors in the open - if there is no-one around
  • go to the local town and pay to use the swimming pool which usually has hot showers
    • don't bother asking a commercial camp ground if you can just use their showers - even for money they usually say no as they probably have bad past experiences - pay for an unpowered camp site for the night might be a better way
  • buy a private, wind-protected camping shower ensuite - and that's what this page is all about - personally I can't be bothered but in crowded camp grounds they do have a place if you are staying for more than a few days
    • you can buy really cheap ones where you have to assemble a whole of of troublesome fibreglass poles which have a tendency to break or the fabric rip
    • you can buy more bulky but better quality fast frame rapid set up ensuites
    • you can buy en suites designed to attach to 4WD roof racks which swing out or pull out

• generally cheap and nasty, the fibreglass poles will break and give you nasty splinters and potentially tear the tent walls easily, and they are likely to end up in land fill
• may be OK for occasional use of to keep something on your base camp when you go for a drive - as long as a storm doesn't blow it away
• takes a long time to set up and pack up - and packing up can be impossible for those who lack the aptitude to fold these things

• great if you have a 4WD and a roof rack as they are a great compromise and are the fastest to set up and dry the fastest
• HOWEVER, they generally have no roof and so have potential issues with rain, insects, and privacy

• these are the BEST option for most people - especially if you don't have a 4WD and roof rack for an awning tent
• easy to put up and take down (if you follow the instructions)
• the double ones have a dry change area which makes a big difference
• they are much more insect and animal proof
• BUT they are bulky and will take longer to dry out

• these are perhaps the most popular en suite option and come as either single or double (the second room being a change room or potentially a toilet)
• you just unpack the kit, spread the 4 legs out, push up the top part of each leg until they lock in place, attach the roof fly (if rain is forecast), and peg it down and guy it out.
• double en suites:
  • generally have a large zip door separating the shower compartment with the change room compartment
  • each compartment generally has a large external zip door
  • shower compartment generally has a PE floor with mesh edges to allow drainage, a shower head holder, and a flap to allow inserting the shower hose from outside
  • change compartment generally has either a fixed full PE floor, or a roll up one to allow a drop toilet to be used (have not heard of people having drop toilets in en suites!)