What a shower tent is
A shower tent is a tall privacy tent made to get wet. You stand inside with a shower bag hung above you, the kind you fill and leave in the sun to warm, or a portable camping shower, and the walls keep you out of sight and out of the wind. They suit campsites without showers, wild spots by the car, and the beach after a swim. Most double as a changing room or a toilet tent.
Pop-up, hanging, car side or wearable: which shower tent
- Freestanding pop-up shower tents stand on a folding frame, pegged and guyed. Most are 120 by 120cm and 190cm tall; larger ones are 150 by 150 by 200cm and 160 by 160 by 240cm, with room to move about. See privacy tents.
- Hanging shower tents hang from a tailgate or a branch. Several have a top and base that come out and four hooks inside for towels and a shower bag.
- Car side shower tents fix to the side of the vehicle. One adjusts from 1.65m to 2m tall to suit the car, opens onto a door or window, and has its own LED light strip. See car awnings.
- Car mounted tents fix to the boot. One can be bought with a 20-litre shower bag. See SUV and tailgate tents.
Where the water goes
A shower tent has to let water out as well as keep eyes out. Pitch it on grass or gravel that drains, never in a dip where water collects. A tent with a base that comes out lets the water run straight into the ground, and the base can be rinsed afterwards. A top that opens lets the steam out, and a zipped side window helps air move on a still day. The hooks matter more than they look: a towel and clothes hung up stay dry, and a shower bag needs a strong point above head height.
What the waterproof rating means on a shower tent
The rating in millimetres, the hydrostatic head, is how much water pressure the fabric holds back before it leaks. About 1,000mm is the lowest rating usually called waterproof. The shower tents here that state one run from under 1,000mm up to 2,000mm. On a shower tent the rating is about rain coming in from outside; the shower water runs down the inside. The silver coating on many also shades you from the sun: some are UPF50+, and others say they block up to 95% of UV rays.
Questions people ask about shower tents
How do I hang a shower inside?
Use the hooks or the frame at the top, or hang the bag from the car's tailgate above a hanging tent.
Can a shower tent be used as a toilet tent?
Yes, most say so on their product page.
How long does delivery take?
Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when that tent usually arrives, so check it before ordering for a set date.
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