Camping trips are associated with fun times, relaxation, and getting close to nature, but they can also be related to stinky campers and nasty shared campground toilets. While we’ve been pretty fortunate in the past, it’s not always a given that you’ll enjoy the campground facilities. It was a complete game changer when we decided to add a shower tent to our camping setup!
We use ours as a shower room, changing room, and even a restroom when we bring our portable toilet setup. They’re essentially tall tents shaped like shower stalls, and they have mesh for air circulation, towel racks, shelves for toiletries, and sometimes even a built-in floor. We love having our shower tent for longer camping trips where we want some privacy to do our business or to take a quick shower.
We’ve assembled a list of our favorite shower tents on the market so you can pick the best option. Per usual, they’re all highly rated and have different features with various setup times.
Based on our experience and research, we chose the Caddis Rapid Privacy Tent as our Editor’s Choice, but all the other products on this list are also great options. Whether you’re looking for something oversized, more spacious, quick to set up, a feature-rich product, or a simple pop-up, we’ve got you covered.
5 Best Shower Tents
These are our picks for the best shower tent and privacy shelter:
- Editor’s Choice – Caddis Rapid Privacy Tent
- Best Features – Zempire Pocket Rocket
- Best Two Room – Caddis Rapid 2-Room
- Best Compact – Kelty H2GO
- Best Pop Up Shower Tent – WolfWise
Our #1 Recommendation: Caddis Rapid Privacy Tent
The Caddis Raid Privacy Tent is our favorite shower tent. Quick setup, durable materials, and fantastic quality are a few of the many reasons we love this privacy tent Full Review
Best Features: Zempire Pocket Rocket
The Zempire Pocket Rocket has everything you’d expect from a top quality shower tent with even more features and thoughtful additions that you didn’t know you needed. The price tag reflects the features, but we think it is well worth it Full Review
Best 2-Room Shower Tent: Caddis Rapid 2-Room
The same great construction and features as the 1 room Caddis Privacy tent, but with double the rooms and double the space. This would a great shower tent for families where more than one person might need to use it at the same time. Full Review
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Editor’s Choice – Caddis Rapid Privacy Tent
This Caddis Rapid is our Editor’s Choice for the best shower tent because it’s the most well-rounded outdoor shower tent with all the features you need for your next camping trip. This more robust frame with a heavy-duty ceiling hanger is perfect for holding a heavy solar shower bag or whatever setup you use. The Rapid tent frame sets up in minutes, and the poles are made of steel, so you can be sure this tent can withstand all weather conditions.
There’s an attached floor, but it has a mesh section around the edge, so water quickly drains without letting in bugs or critters. There are also two mesh windows and a mesh roof for ventilation; all weather-protected using either a zipper closure or the included waterproof rain cover. Use the interior pockets to store your toiletries or as a toilet paper holder, and use the exterior towel bar to keep your clothes and towel dry.
This Caddis is versatile and can be used as a shower, changing room, or outdoor camping toilet. It’s higher quality than most shower tents on the market and would be a great addition to your camping gear.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 48 x 48 inches
- Square Feet: 16
- Height: 84 in.
- Material: 190-denier polyester
- Poles: steel
- Weight: 15 lbs.
Pros
- All the best features in a shower tent
- Steel poles
- Attached floor
- Quick setup time
Cons
- No removable floor
Best Features – Zempire Pocket Rocket
Zempire is becoming our favorite go-to company for high-quality camping gear. We’ve selected their Pocket Rocket for our best shower tent recommedations because it’s easily the most high-quality and well-thought-out privacy shelter we’ve seen. Although, at first glance, it may seem like a traditional outdoor shower tent, it has features that you won’t see in the other options on this list.
The Pocket Rocket portable camping shower tent uses a silver-coated fabric to reduce light transfer – this eliminates shadows you could see through the material and keeps the internal tent temperature cooler. It’s also treated to be UPF 50+ for sun protection and has a 3000mm waterhead rating with included rain cover to keep moisture out.
On the inside, this shower tent has an internal waterproof panel that hangs over the towel hanger, so your towel rack is still accessible from the inside. Still, it is also protected from getting wet while you shower. There are hanging storage shelves, a hanging ring for a lantern, and an attachment for a showerhead.
It’s a giant shower tent that measures 5.74ft. x 5.74ft., is larger than any of the other single-room shower tents on this list, and has more than enough space for everything you could need. There’s even a clear PVC window with a “busy” sign that shows people outside when the tent is in use. The included guy lines let you stake out the shower tent for added stability, and the frame is strong enough to support a water bag from a portable shower.
In summary, The Zempire is the most expensive shower tent on this list. In exchange, it has more space than the Caddis Rapid Privacy Tent and the Kelty H2GO, more storage options than the WolfWise Shower Tent, and can easily support a full-sized solar shower.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 68.9 x 68.9 inches
- Square Feet: 32
- Height: 7ft. 6.5in.
- Material: UPF 50+ polyester
- Poles: fiberglass
- Waterhead Rating: 3000mm
- Weight: 13 lbs.
Pros
- 2 year guarantee
- Can’t see shadows through the fabric
- Oversized shower tent
- “Busy” sign on the front
Cons
- No floor
- Fiberglass poles
Best Two-Room Shower Tent – Caddis Rapid 2-Room
Caddis is known for its rapid tents requiring very little setup time, and this 2-room privacy shelter sets up in just a few minutes. It’s a larger portable shower tent that measures 84 x 42 inches, with a max height of 7 feet. The poles are steel, so you can be sure this unit can stay upright during wind and rain. There is an included rain cover, or you can leave it off during good weather and let heat and steam escape through the mesh roof and mesh windows.
Many shower tents are just one room, but because this shower tent features two separate spaces, there’s more than enough room for a changing room, shower room, and bathroom facility in one unit. Both sides of the shower tent have a floor, and the shower compartment has a mesh layer around the bottom to allow water drainage. The steel frame construction provides enough support to hang a portable shower bag from the heavy-duty ceiling hanger, which isn’t necessarily something you will see in all camping shower tents.
This spacious shower tent would be perfect for campers who want lots of space and the flexibility of having two separate rooms. There are six interior and exterior storage pockets, and the removable towel rack can be placed inside or outside. It’s perfect for letting your towel dry in the fresh air or moving it inside for easy access while you change and shower.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 84 x 84 x 42 inches
- Square Feet: 24.5
- Height: 84 inches
- Material: 190-denier polyester
- Poles: steel
- Weight: 18 lbs.
Pros
- 2-Room privacy tent with plenty of space
- Rapid frame sets up in just minutes
- Steel frame perfect for supporting a portable shower
Cons
- Dimensions are wide but not very deep
Best Compact – Kelty H2GO
Kelty always makes affordable yet high-quality outdoor gear that we love. Their H2GO is one of the best camping shower tents on the market, so we’ve selected it as our best affordable shower tent. It’s only 46 x 46 inches, so it’s perfect for smaller campsites and people who want something lightweight, portable, and affordable. Other shower tents take up lots of room, but this camping shower tent is the perfect size for small setups.
The steel poles are designed to hold the weight of a heavy shower bag while staying strong during windy weather conditions, and the oversized door provides easy access. The roll-up floor has a built-in drain for when you use the unit as a shower tent and an interior hook that can support a five-gallon camping shower or an access port to hook up an external camp shower source. There are also several interior pockets, a towel rack, and mesh vents with a mesh roof for ventilation.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 46 x 46 inches
- Square Feet: 14.7
- Height: 86″ (7ft.)
- Material: 68-denier polyester
- Poles: steel
- Weight: 13 lbs. 7oz.
Pros
- Two color options
- Best budget shower tent
- Perfect for smaller campsites
- Can roll up floor out of the way
Cons
- Not very roomy
Best Pop Up Shower Tent – WolfWise Shower Tent
Like our favorite pop-up tents for camping, pop-up shower tents are quick and easy to set up and great for a short camping trip over the weekend. This WolfWise is our favorite pop-up tent because its dark color (with silver lining) helps minimize the shadows you can see through the fabric. It also sets up in seconds, with no assembly required and no poles to worry about, although you can use the provided stakes for added stability in windy weather. It’s easily the most compact shower tent on this list because it folds into a flat circle that measures 23.6 inches in diameter and weighs only 5.62 pounds.
The main issue with this WolfWise pop-up shower tent is that it doesn’t have a removable floor mat like the rest of the tents on this list and has minimal mesh for draining. Also, the structure isn’t strong enough to support a shower system. This privacy tent is better suited for people who don’t regularly shower on their camping trips and want a changing room for changing clothes and a portable toilet.
If you have an alternative way to hang your shower bag and can deal with a bit of slower drainage, the Wolf Wise is a great shower tent for the budget-minded camper. Where the WolfWise shines is quick setup time and affordability. This shower tent is a fraction of your price compared to either Caddis Shower Tent or the Zempire.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 47.24 x 47.24 inches
- Square Feet: 15.5
- Height: 78.74″
- Material: 190T polyester
- Weight: 5.62 lbs.
Pros
- Sets up in seconds
- Lightweight tent
- Mesh corners for draining water
- Dark silver-lined fabric minimizes shadows
Cons
- Can’t support weight of a shower bag
How We Tested, Reviewed, And Rated These Tents
We love outdoor gear and recommend equipment that adds value to our outdoor adventure. We know and understand the importance of having gear worth every penny, so we thoroughly research and test every product we recommend. No matter how we procure an item, our goal is to remain as unbiased as possible, and we put it to the test against its competitors to find the best and worst features.
We also understand that each adventurer is different, and our favorite shower tent may not be yours. That’s why we rate and review a wide variety of products currently available, so you can see a breakdown of all the features and pick what’s best for you and your situation. We don’t recommend anything we wouldn’t personally use, so whether you’re looking for the highest quality, an affordable price, superior weather resistance, a particular brand, or any other desirable feature, there’s sure to be a tent on our list that’s perfect for you.
Comparison Table
Things to Consider When Choosing a Camping Shower Tent
To help you better understand the performance of the shower tents we’ve discussed, let’s look at some critical quantitative measurements and the impact of design choices on users.
Privacy
Shower tents are also called privacy tents, and they 100% need to be able to give you the privacy you need. That means not letting people see through the tent’s fabric, even if it’s just your shadow. Whichever tent you pick, ensure it’s a thicker fabric, decreasing the likelihood of being seen through the material. Several of the best shower tents above even have a silver-coated fabric that blocks shadows even more, which is an excellent feature.
Peak Height
We’ve purposely only included tents with a generous max height, so don’t be fooled by smaller tents. A prominent required feature is that you need to be able to stand up straight, but you also need enough headroom for your shower head or bag to hang above you. If you’ve ever showered in a tiny shower where the shower head was at eye level, you know how inconvenient that can be.
Space
You’ll notice that we’ve included the square footage on each of the products above, and this is to give you an idea of the difference in space between the tents. While some are more compact and best for simple setups, others are quite large and would give you more space in your tent. This personal preference would also depend on the size of the campsites you typically use.
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Pole Material
Poles are the main support structure in any tent, and they become even more critical in shower tents, where they need to support the weight of a solar shower bag. Anyone who has carried around one of those shower bags knows that they get heavy quickly, and it takes a strong tent frame to hold up the weight.
For example, the Caddis Rapid Privacy Shelter boasts a sturdy frame that can support up to 50 pounds, making it ideal for holding a filled solar shower bag. On the other hand, the WolfWise Pop-Up design is unsuitable for supporting heavy shower bags due to its more lightweight and flexible frame.
You should look for shower tents that actively advertise that they can support the weight of a shower bag, and it’s a bonus if the poles are made of steel. While fiberglass poles aren’t necessarily a deal-breaker, we would generally prefer steel so the frame would last longer and better withstand wear and tear.
While it’s possible to use a pump shower where the tent structure only needs to support the weight of the hose and shower head, we use a solar shower bag, and a strong tent is of the utmost importance. Plus, solar shower bags are way more affordable than any pump shower, so consider that when perfecting your camping shower setup.
Remember that while a pop-up tent can be made of steel poles, the poles are meant to fold and bend for storage. Therefore, a pop-up shower tent is best used as a privacy tent for a bathroom or changing but isn’t ideal for showering. Don’t let the pole material fool you into thinking it could support the weight of a shower bag.
Water Resistance
Regarding water resistance, the fabric of the tents plays a crucial role. Most shower tents use polyester with a specific water resistance rating measured in millimeters (mm). A higher rating indicates a better resistance to water penetration. For instance, the Zempire Pocket Rocket Shelter offers a 3000mm water resistance rating, making it a reliable choice in wet conditions. Comparing the water resistance ratings of the tents helps you determine which ones are best suited for your camping environment.
Mesh for Ventilation
Ventilation is another essential aspect to consider, affecting the overall user experience. The Kelty H2GO Privacy Shelter features two large mesh windows and a mesh ceiling that promote airflow and prevent the tent from becoming musty. Additionally, the Caddis 2-Room Shelter has zippered windows and vents, allowing users to adjust the ventilation according to their needs. By examining these design features, you can assess how well each shower tent will perform in terms of air circulation and comfort.
Pockets & Shelves
Part of showering is that you’ll have toiletries, so you’ll need storage shelves and a place to hang your towel so it won’t get wet. The optimal shower tent will also have a hook or support, whether using a shower bag or a shower head with a pump. If you plan on using the tent as a restroom, having a lantern hook for nighttime trips to the toilet is always helpful
Tent Floor
The floor of a shower tent is a personal preference, so you should consider what kind of design you want in your ideal shower tent. Some shower tents, like the Zempire above, do not have a shower floor. This gives you fewer things you need to clean but also exposes your feet to bugs, dirt, grass, and sticks. You could put down a wooden shower mat or small tarp; some argue it would last longer and drain better than any polyester tent floor.
Some tents have an attached floor, which is what most people prefer. Most of the options on our Best Shower Tent List above have this built-in floor, and we like seeing a mesh outer layer connected. This allows for water to drain without letting in bugs. On the downside, the tent’s life may outlast the floor, which is harder to replace than if you had used your flooring.
FAQ
Which shower tent is the best?
The best shower tent is the Caddis Rapid Privacy Shelter, which perfectly balances features and quality while still being affordable. We’ve also selected some other awesome products so you can pick the best one for your needs.
Is a shower tent worth it?
A shower tent can be worth every penny if you frequently camp for longer durations where you would like the option to shower, or even if you just want your own bathroom setup. They also work great as a changing room if you’re camping with larger groups that offer little privacy.
Can a shower tent hold a shower bag?
Some shower tents can hold a shower bag, but not all can. Make sure you’re looking for something with a sturdy frame, like the first four options on this list. Most of the time, the manufacturer will say if the shower tent can support a shower bag or not.
TL;DR
Ultimately, the best camping shower tent and changing room is the one on this list that best fits your needs. While we chose the Caddis Rapid single room as our shower tent, all the products above are great options depending on your situation.
The Zempire offers excellent features, the Caddis 2-room has lots of space, the Kelty H2GO is the best budget option, and the WolfWise pop-up design is quick to set up. Whichever shower tent you pick, consider these key factors: privacy, peak height, space, pole material, ventilation, storage options, and tent flooring. The perfect shower tent should provide complete privacy with thick, non-transparent fabric and enough height to accommodate the user and the showerhead or bag. Consider the available space and choose a tent with adequate square footage that suits your camping preferences.
While the affordability and simplicity of some pop-up tents may be tempting, we recommend using one if you only plan on using it as a bathroom and changing room, as it just doesn’t have the features and stability to compete with one of the more traditional shower tent designs.
Pole material is vital, as it determines the tent’s ability to support the weight of a solar shower bag. Opt for steel poles when possible, as they provide better durability and support than fiberglass. Ventilation is also crucial, so look for tents with mesh panels that promote airflow, prevent mustiness, and allow for quicker drying. Storage options, such as pockets and shelves, are necessary to hold toiletries and other shower essentials and hooks for shower bags, showerheads, and lanterns for nighttime use.
Flooring in a shower tent is a matter of personal preference. Some tents come with built-in floors, while others do not. Consider whether you prefer an attached floor or a different mat or tarp to provide a more customizable, longer-lasting flooring solution.
We’ve reviewed several excellent shower tent options, including the Caddis Rapid Privacy Shelter, Zempire Pocket Rocket Shelter, Caddis Rapid 2-Room Privacy Shelter, Kelty H2GO Privacy Shelter, and WolfWise Pop Up Privacy Tent. Each product offers unique features to suit different needs, and by considering the factors mentioned above, you can select the perfect shower tent for your camping adventures.
Ultimately, we selected the Caddis Rapid Privacy Tent as our Editor’s Choice because it checked all the boxes we needed in a shower tent for our personal use.
The Caddis Rapid Tent is available at a conservative price compared to its competitors without sacrificing the necessary features and specifications.
NOTE: if you shower in nature, ensure you’re disposing of your grey water properly. If you just let your water run into the nearby soil, make sure you’re using a biodegradable soap like this one.
Our #1 Recommendation: Caddis Rapid Camping Shower Tent
With a thick fabric that eliminates shadows, steel poles for a sturdy frame, and an attached floor, the Caddis Rapid portable shower tent is our top pick for the best shower tent.
Ashley is an adventurous soul who loves all things nature, especially warm sunshine, wildflowers, scenic snacking, and mushrooms. She is an avid outdoor enthusiast who has spent years enjoying time outside doing things like hiking, camping, and rock climbing.
Her goal with Know Nothing Nomads is to make these hobbies easily accessible through knowledgeable content and how-to’s based on all the stuff she’s learned on her journey. If she isn’t writing an article, she’s probably in a forest looking at big mountain views and tiny pieces of moss on the side of the trail.
My goal with my writing and Know Nothing Nomads as a whole is to share my passions of hiking, camping, and a love of the outdoors with our readers. Making the difficult and uncertain feel more approachable to people that might not know enough to feel comfortable taking their first steps into the wilderness is a driving factor for me. When I’m not writing you can find me on a trail, in a forest, or next to a river with hiking shoes on my feet and a fly rod somewhere close by.