A footprint doesn’t take up much space, is relatively inexpensive, and is much easier to repair or replace than a tent bottom if it tears. Some shower tents don’t have a floor, requiring you to stand on the ground while you’re showering. Others feature a built-in floor that’s typically made from the same material as the walls and ceiling.
Below, we’ve outlined some basic pointers to help you get started on the right foot. For example, instant “pop-up” showers are great (all you have to do is unfold them) but chances are their frames aren’t robust enough to support the weight of a standard 5-gallon solar shower. Designs with more durable pole-and-hub or instant-cabin frames, on the other hand, will typically support any shower system on the market. It’s a trade-off, but one you’ll definitely want to keep in mind. The Green Elephant is essentially a personal privacy tent (ideal for storing a chemical toilet, changing, etc.) that doubles as a shower tent as well.
ozark trail shower tentThe Tungsten’s two brow poles create an especially effective awning over the tent door, so very little water gets in when someone comes or goes. Underneath the fly, the Mineral King 3 has a full mesh dome with a waterproof, tape-seamed bathtub-style polyester floor. The tent doors are nearly wall-sized, and after you unzip them, you simply stuff them into pockets, rather than having to roll and toggle-tie the fabric. Another two hanging pockets plus loops for a ceiling hammock provide simple yet effective interior storage. If you’re a car camper, you probably won’t be too worried about this part.
If you’re looking for the most well-made, feature-rich shower tent money can buy, you can stop reading right here. Nemo’s Heliopolis camp shower is the highest quality option on the market, and is packed with the same kind of premium design and components that make Nemo tents so popular. After testing and analyzing the most popular models on the market, we found the Nemo Heliopolis to be the best shower tent money can buy. Its combination of premium features, high-quality materials, and a lifetime warranty make for an all-around high-performance package that’ll keep you squeaky-clean for years to come. But it’s one of the least expensive tents we found that had no significant drawbacks and will truly cover your bases for three-season camping. The tent also comes with its own footprint, a groundsheet that protects the tent from abrasion, which we recommend that you have.
On sunny days and clear nights, take off the fly and enjoy the sky through the tent’s clear mesh canopy. Some testers, though, thought the tent was stuffy when the fly was fully closed and the sun was out. Our only quibble with the Mineral King 3 is that it comes with only six stakes. (Our runner-up pick comes with eight.) Six is enough to secure the tent and fly but not to fully secure the tent’s extra lines in very windy conditions. This shouldn’t be an issue in most situations, but if you’re headed into a particularly windy place or simply want some backup, we suggest picking up four extra tent stakes at your local outdoor shop or online. These inexpensive stakes are comparable to the ones that accompany the Mineral King 3; these slightly more expensive stakes will serve you well in any car-camping terrain.
It has a partial rain fly, but only one door and no vestibule. Easy to set up and pack away, the Mineral King 3 is a lightweight, two-door tent with a generous footprint and a sturdy dome shape. It’s the perfect choice for three-season multipurpose camping. To make sure the shower tent you’re looking at is going to be sturdy, reliable, and durable, it’s important to know a little bit about the materials it’s made of. You’d be surprised by the amount of shower tents there are made of materials that, under certain circumstances, are translucent. You could have a shower tent that provides you with great privacy throughout the day.
Note that these tents are strictly meant for car camping; the Base Camp 4 and the Base Camp 6 weigh 16 and 21 pounds, respectively, so you won’t want to carry either one very far. Both come with storage sacks that you sling over one shoulder. Temperatures ranged from the 50s at night to the 80s during the day.
ozark trail canopy tentThe North Face Wawona 4, which we used to list in our Other Good Tents section, has been redesigned; it’s now made of polyester, not nylon. Unlike our top pick, the Tungsten 4 is coated with flame retardants. Weighing just 7 pounds, the tent is light enough to double for backpacking trips, especially if you divide the pieces among hikers. We were surprised at first to see the Mineral King 3 come out on top because it was the smallest tent in our test group. But all our testers, including our tallest panelists, gravitated toward this tent. You’ll have plenty of room to shower and change, making it easy the superior choice.
The structure is freestanding, but you have 10 steel stakes included for the tent and for the fly, together with all necessary guylines. So do not miss fixing the shelter to the ground, it is tall and better avoid trouble in the case of a sudden wind. The picture below shows how this utility shelter looks with the closed door and the front window. You start by expanding its base and then extending its four legs poles. You can attach the fly before you extend the legs completely, this is easier to attach it to the frame because the shelter is tall, you have a 7 ft (213 cm) peak height. The Base Camp tents include a low side vent and multiple stuff pockets on the walls and ceiling, which are made of 75D polyester treated with 1500mm of polyurethane waterproofing.
Many users said that the instructions were unclear, and the pieces didn’t fit well together. Users, especially taller ones, appreciated the roominess of this shower tent. Unsatisfied customers stated that the fabric tore easily on uneven ground and pavement. Customers enjoyed the versatility of this shower tent, sharing that it worked as a changing area, shower station, and porta-potty.