Camp Showers

[KayakMacGyver]

Seriously considering a tank less water heater setup for base camp. My hunting style usually consists of 2-3 day satellite excursions with recharges at a truck base camp. This season and next I'm cashed in on Elk points (wife too) in a unit where day hunts are going to be practical. We also live/hunt/camp in Florida and sticky sweat is another level.

We've earned our stripes with some very, very long stretches without a shower. Creek baths are great when the weather is right, but NOTHING recharges me more for a hunt than a hot shower.

I think the purchase will be justified, but appreciate input from others who have made the investment.

Are they worth it, or too much hassel?

Do these things gobble down propane? Not worried so much about the expense of gas as the hassel of storing enough. How do they perform pushing ice cold creek water through the heater?

Any brand reccomendations? I'm leaning towards Flame King after reading reviews.

Anything I'm missing?

 

[TOGIE]

i find a combination of unisom, copenhagen, and a stout black coffee is all the recharge i need to get me all horny for a new day of hunting

but i can't blame a guy for wanting a nice hot shower.

 

[mevertsen]

Dude wipes and a bucket of warm water and a wash cloth.

 

[JohnCushman]

I used to have a Zodi set up for hot water showers. It became more of a pain in the ass, so, like @mevertsen said, wipes, warm water, and a washcloth. Dude wipes in the hands of a midget stripper would be even better.

 

[Dave N]

I used to have a Zodi set up for hot water showers. It became more of a pain in the ass, so, like @mevertsen said, wipes, warm water, and a washcloth. Dude wipes in the hands of a midget stripper would be even better.

But you would only get half clean!

 

[Sam Colt]

Works great. Going on 3 seasons with the same propane tank.

You need water pressure. We have a livestock well we can tap.

Heater works better when shielded from wind. We hang a tarp and it gives a bit of privacy and keeps the heater out of the breeze.

 

[KayakMacGyver]

You guys read the part about bringing the wife along, right? She's a bad a** and hasn't made this an issue. But, I'm not a caveman or a rutting elk and appreciate the scent of a clean woman.

 

[KayakMacGyver]

Works great. Going on 3 seasons with the same propane tank.

You need water pressure. We have a livestock well we can tap.

Heater works better when shielded from wind. We hang a tarp and it gives a bit of privacy and keeps the heater out of the breeze.

Much appreciated. Great to hear that the propane seems to work well. Models I'm looking at have a small diaphragm pump to pull water.

 

[WyoCoalMiner]

Are they worth it, or too much hassel?

Do these things gobble down propane? Not worried so much about the expense of gas as the hassel of storing enough. How do they perform pushing ice cold creek water through the heater?

Any brand reccomendations? I'm leaning towards Flame King after reading reviews.

Anything I'm missing?

I use one for hot water at my cabin. I will make it multiple years on one 20 lb tank of propane. It will turn cold well water hotter than you can comfortably shower with for sure. They are relatively cheap and I seem to go through one every couple of years. Tried several different brands, none seemed better than others. Draining when used at anything approaching freezing is mandatory. They burst very easily.

 

[LCH]

I use a pump sprayer, like you would use for spraying weeds in your driveway. Camp stove to heat up water in a big pot before putting into a sprayer. You can get clean with 2 gallons easily.

Solar showers aren't too bad, assuming you actually get some sunshine.

 

[TheDudeAbides]

Generator

Immersible Water Heater

5 Gallon Bucket

5 Gallon Water Sprayer

 

[KayakMacGyver]

I use a pump sprayer, like you would use for spraying weeds in your driveway. Camp stove to heat up water in a big pot before putting into a sprayer. You can get clean with 2 gallons easily.

Solar showers aren't too bad, assuming you actually get some sunshine.

This is pretty dang genius. It is making me reconsider my approach.

 

[CUElk]

I use a pump sprayer, like you would use for spraying weeds in your driveway. Camp stove to heat up water in a big pot before putting into a sprayer. You can get clean with 2 gallons easily.

Solar showers aren't too bad, assuming you actually get some sunshine.

Same thing here. I replaced the spray nozzle with a nozzle like you use at a kitchen sink.

I’ve seen some rechargeable submersible pumps with a spray nozzle on Amazon recently. Drop em in a warm bucket and ready for a shower. May try one of these this year.

 

[Nick87]

I use a pump sprayer, like you would use for spraying weeds in your driveway. Camp stove to heat up water in a big pot before putting into a sprayer. You can get clean with 2 gallons easily.

Solar showers aren't too bad, assuming you actually get some sunshine.

Pretty smart and economical I gotta say.

 

[WapitiBob]

Flame King requires pressurized water, where's that coming from?

 

[Bill Zent]

Put five 8d nail holes in the bottom of a coffee can and hang on a tree branch. Fill with warm water and go at it.

 

[Mudranger1]

If a hot shower invigorates you more than a creek bath then you haven't got in a cold enough creek!

 

[Robert N]

Ground Shrinkage is Real!

After Five decades of backcountry adventures...a bucket, warm water, a washcloth and a way to wash my hair once every few days is all I really need.

A shower? That's 15 minutes of luxury at home. I don't pack that much fuel to fire that much water on a trip.

 

[INMT]

Creek, lake, no soap in either, or don’t worry about it.

I worked on trail crew for 15 years and spent upwards of 80 days a season in the backcountry with no shower. Creeks and lakes were all we needed. Some wipes for the ol buttcrack were nice.

Now I hunt for 1-10 days without a shower and it’s the last thing on my mind. Again, wipes in cracks help.

WWMMD (What would mountain man do)

 

[buck137]

I'll heat water in a old turkey fryer pot, then I'll drop in a 12 volt boat bilge pump hooked up to a 8' hose and I have an old rv shower head attached to it, and I wired in a long set of wires so I can either run it off the truck or the atv. But I much prefer my Arctic fox travel trailer shower.