Advanced Elements - Summer Shower/Solar Shower - Different Capacity - Shower Head - Reflective Mirror - Fill Valve - Black or Silver

I bought 2 of these after researching to replace ageing made-in-USA solar showers from the '90s. I've been very pleased with the Advanced Elements 5-gallon model, and wanted to try these 3 gallon's for a different location. They've worked well. Here's my review, and temp tests: The vinyl thickness is about the same as an inflatable kid's pool float. Build quality is good, but remember we're talking about a vinyl bag with a spout and a hose. At 8 pounds per gallon of water, these weigh 24 pounds full. Of course, they'll still heat whatever contents even if you don't fill to capacity. Maker's instructions say NOT to use these for human drinking water so I'll take their advice. Honestly there are not a lot of choices in solar showers currently, most are just flimsy plastic bags. All brands I see are made in China now. If you have owned older USA-made solar showers, the current bags will feel thinner and flimsier in comparison. That said, Advanced Elements is the best of the current makers. For most people the choice will be between the 3-gallon and the 5-gallon size, and whether a solar shower is realistic for your location. FIRST DAY TEST: We put 2 of these out in direct Florida sun, late March, from 3.00 PM to 5.45 PM. Filled them with kitchen tap water from the cold water tap. Outside air temp 74 degrees. At 5.45 after 2 hours and 45 minutes full exposure, temp gauge on one bag read 104', the other read 98' (the temp gauges go in 6' increments). The bag that reads 98' had more water in it so it did not heat as quickly. I tried both bags spraying over my hands, and water temperature was subjectively comfortable but not 'hot tub' hot. Both bags were certainly warmer than the air temp of 74'. I'd still have liked them a few degrees hotter than they got in the 2:45 test. I like that the rubberized top handle the bags hang by has a clasp lock that unlocks for easier hanging & unhanging. There's a little plastic mirror on a tether cord in the front mesh pocket. SECOND DAY TEST: 3 days after first test above, on another sunny Florida day I put the same 2 bags, again filled with water from the kitchen cold water tap, outside for 3;00 hours in mid-day. Air temp was 78', a warmer day than the first test. This time they reached 104' and 110' respectively. Each time one bag was filled a little less full than the other and each time the less full bag got warmer than the more full bag. Both 104' and 110' seem very pleasant shower temp's to me. Once you get to 104' that's about the temp most public gym's set their hot tubs to, just as a frame of reference. The extra time makes a big difference. And all day-exposure will get these really hot-- if these are out 6 hours or more in direct sun they're as hot as I can personally stand. Once these are out of direct sun, these bags will begin losing their warmth. So you need to use them while they're hot. Wrapping them in towels or a blanket etc will help them retain heat longer (evening dishwashing?) It also seems to take a minimum of 3:00 hours to reach a pleasant temp level, so plan on allowing at least that much time. I've used these a few dozen times now and so far they're holding up fine. I haven't treated them roughly because they clearly aren't designed for it. Sun is tough on plastics over time so I can't speak to long term durability. I'm pleased with these and glad I bought them. A 5 gallon model weighs 40 lbs full and it does take 20-25% longer to heat than these 3 gallon bags. These certainly work--they do make water hot in the sun-- and I can see why they are #1 in sales on Amazon in the category. AE's products are clearly better made than competing brands...some of which are really just flimsy black plastic bags. Based on my experience I would say these AE's do the job and are currently the best solar showers available. I do notice these have fluctuated between $32 and $19, so it pays to be patient and to shop around. You can also check out the AE 5-gallon model (listed separately) and the 10-gallon model (which at 80 pounds full is not very portable, but might work for a sailboat, cabin, car camping etc). Hope this is helpful. Happy trails and happy showering, everybody.

I ordered this in anticipation of my Memorial Day Camping Trip. It's always nice to have nice, hot water to rinse off after a long day fishing, especially in dusty northern Arizona. I debated between this and the larger 5 gallon size, but I'm glad I got this one. 3 gallons is PLENTY for a quick rinse of several people as long as you use the water wisely. More water means heavier which means more weight on critical areas on this shower and it won't last as long. The shower itself is made of vinyl a little thicker than your typical Camelbak bladder. One side is clear while the other is black on one side and silver on the outside. The included attach points for a hanging bar of soap or whatever were nice as was the included mirror. The hose is a basic vinyl hose - nothing special, but it does work just fine and is durable enough to last. The shower head is a push/pull valve - pull it and water flows. Push it and it stops. The stops are positive and no leaks were detected during extensive use. The port for filling the bladder is a twist off cap that seals well and is wide enough for easy quick addition of water. Now, for the important part - how well does it heat? I filled the bladder with tap water from the sink and placed it outside on my concrete driveway. Within 30 min I had 110 degree water. Note, however, that I live in Phoenix. Water from the tap is generally 80 degrees and it was just about 100 degrees the day I got it. It still heated VERY quickly. When I went north for camping, the weather was decidedly cooler. 40's at night and 85ish during the day. It took a couple of hours in the morning for the water to heat up, but I consistently had 100+ degree water before noon each day. I would set it on the open tailgate of my truck when I woke up and once it got to temperature I hung it in the tree where the water stayed hot and even got hotter through the day. At night, I'd refill the water and start it again the next day. All in all, the 8 people camping with me enjoyed the hot showers and we experienced no issues with the shower at all. I'd recommend this to anyone needing a way to have hot water when they are away from home.

I've used this style of shower for years and there are two kinds of bag solar showers: those that work and those that don't. This one works and works well. I've now owned this shower for nearly four years (note: mine doesn't have the same shape as the one in the pic, but is shaped like a square with the points pointing up and down and side to side) and it has worked great every time I've used it. It has not been pampered, babied or stored with particular care. It's never leaked and it's never stunk after good cleaning. The parts still work. The temperature gauge did peel off and I sort of wish the silver exterior were black instead to help it absorb better, but it is black on the inside and one panel is clear, so I turn it face down compared to the picture. With care, two showers can be gotten out of a full 2.5 gallon bag. I find this holds true, for instance, when my brother and I camp together, but less so when I camp with my wife and daughters... Any one of them will go through the whole bag. Note: Always let them go first and refill it for yourself... if you go first, they curse you for their shampoo infested hair when the shower runs dry... moving on... Solar showers never get as warm as I wish they did unless I am camping in hot weather. On a 70-degree day in the spring or fall with moderate sunlight, you can get your shower up to slightly above body temperature. That works for me. In cold weather, prepare to dry off fast. That's not a criticism of this shower specifically but of the style of shower. That said, I prefer a few minutes of having a cold chill and drying out in front of a camp fire to being filthy for days on end. As solar showers go, this is a good one. It is durable and I like that the top strap has a detachable buckle to make hanging it easier. I've definitely gotten my money's worth and this is a quality product. If mine dies tomorrow, I've gotten plenty of use out of it to justify the cost and would buy another.

Great for camping. The water gets pretty hot under the sun. Water pressure depends on how high you can put the bag so it could get a bit inconvenient. But we put it on top of our van and it works great.

The ADVANCED ELEMENTS 5-Gallon Summer Shower is an essential piece of gear for anyone who enjoys camping or outdoor activities. After testing it out, I’m really pleased with its performance and overall quality. With the 5-gallon capacity, this model provides more than enough water for multiple quick showers or for rinsing off after a day in the outdoors. This shower is built to last with its four-layer construction, including a solar panel that heats water efficiently, a water reservoir, and diamond ripstop fabric for durability. The materials feel strong and rugged, ideal for extended outdoor use. It’s capable of heating the water up to 110 degrees in about 3 hours of direct sunlight, which makes for a warm and refreshing shower at the end of the day. We filled it up and tested the flow, and it gave us about 6 minutes and 30 seconds of continuous water flow. Of course, in an outdoor setting, you’re only going to open it for short bursts to wet yourself, soap up, and then rinse off, so this 5-gallon shower is perfect for extended outdoor stays or when multiple people need to use it. The temperature gauge makes it easy to keep track of how warm the water is, and the extra-large filling valve is convenient for quickly filling up. I also love the wide carrying handles and Velcro straps for holding soap and shampoo—it’s a great touch for staying organized while camping. While some customers have mentioned concerns about leakage, I haven't had any issues with it. The shower rolls up compactly for easy storage, which is a huge plus when packing it up for trips. It’s lightweight, portable, and sturdy enough to handle frequent use. Overall, the 5-gallon model offers ample water capacity for anyone needing a reliable shower during camping trips or outdoor activities. It's well-designed, easy to use, and provides the comfort of a warm shower wherever you are. Highly recommended for all outdoor enthusiasts!

This is an inexpensive item yet it provides something that you really can’t get any other way easily and that is warm water from a sprinkler at a campsite. I’m not expecting it to be a long lasting item but that's ok. Even for one camping trip or two it’d be worth it to me. We set it up to rinse off legs and feet after going into the river. It was also nice to wash hands with. I felt like it was less likely to tear if we just laid it on the picnic table and put a bucket underneath for catch water. I did hang it from a tall tree at one point, but I feel like the weight of it could cause the seams to bust sooner. It’s also great for dishwashing. It's very hard to wash grease from dishes without warm water so I would use it to wash dishes as well. I replenished throughout the day. Hey, it's camping and there's loads of time. After using it, I'd just fill it with another gallon of water after it got partially used through various activities and it seemed to keep it at a decently warm temperature throughout the day. It does cool overnight so you kind of start over. It was a fun device for people at the campground to enjoy. I don’t particularly like the on off pull nozzle mechanism, but I learned that if you just raise the nozzle up higher, it would pause the flow until you were ready to rinse again rather than pushing the nozzle shut and open each time which was harder to do. Kind of hard to dry out so storing it open so it'll dry out eventually. I thought about running cold air (setting on hair dryer) but that might compromise the seams so air dry it is since I actually do want to keep using this. I can see wanting to make any excuse to break it out - picnics, front yard, back deck, neighborhood block party, etc.

FIRST IMPRESSION... upon un-boxing this product ---> I just received this in the mail today and will review again - after I use it. I am disappointed that this product is packaged so poorly for shipping. The hose came with a big fat crimp in it - all the way across - right under the connection to the bag. The reason I chose Advanced Elements was because of the brand recognition. I trusted that they would take better pride in how the product arrives - especially after reading some of the reviews of other people with different brand shower bags and their experiences - that are exactly like this one... a crimped shower hose. Surely Advanced Elements - you can do better than that with packing to protect the hose. When people buy stuff on Amazon, it is sight unseen, so a lot of trust goes into a purchasing decision. Bottom line of my First Impression -> I could have got a different shower bag and still have a crimped hose, for less money. SECOND IMPRESSION ---> I filled the shower bag with a tablespoon of Baking Soda and a Quart of warm water to rinse out the bag. It really did not stink, but I followed the directions. Upon dumping out and rinsing, out came slimy, slick water with somewhat of a greasy feel to it. I had to go back and fill it again twice with dish-washing detergent to get the slick out of the inside. I don't know what that was. Next, I had to dry it out somehow, so I put a small washcloth inside and shook it all around. It got most of the water out. I then took a wire close hanger and pulled it in the middle (bottom of the hanger) to make a long accessory to keep the sides open. (note - do not insert the hanger part at the top inside of the shower bag). No problems drying out the bag. That was pretty easy. By the way... the crimp is still there. The hot water and a lot of squeezing it with my hands while the hose was filled with hot water at least made a way for the water to flow through without interfering with the flow too bad - but the crimp is still there. *** Wouldn't it be great is someone would manufacture these shower bags with a FLEXIBLE SILICONE HOSE instead of a hard plastic one - and make them like a dry bag that you roll down at the top with an adjustable snap handle like they already come with? No more cleaning issues to prevent mold, you could just open it out and dry it with a cloth ... just saying.... Next update, on how it worked as a shower. FINAL IMPRESSION ---> Okay.... drum roll please LOL. I used the shower to wash my hair. The size (3 gallon) was just right. I did not fill it up all the way, so it probably had about 2 1/2 gallons in it. The flow was okay. It worked. I thought it would be a little bit stronger than it was, but it got the job done, and was what could be expected with a water saver shower head. Overall, I think the shower bag is made well, but I watched a YouTube video on it the other day by someone who had theirs for several years, and it looked like his shower bag had a FLEXIBLE SILICONE HOSE. Why don't they bring that back. I despise that stiff hard hose on this shower. It is always in the way while you are trying to fill it, or move it around to hang it. After you get it set up, it's a decent solar shower. I did put rubber bands around the base of the hose where it attaches to the shower head to help with wet slippery hands from the soap: that helped. Bottom line... it's a well made shower bag. It works. They do need to redesign the hose and make it either a detachable, flexible silicone hose, or just a plain flexible silicone hose. Not too much to ask for. As a result of my displeasure with the hard plastic stiff hose, that came shipped with a permanent crimp - I will only upgrade my review from 1-star to 3-stars. This could be a 5 star review if they used a flexible silicone hose on the shower bag. It does get the job done, but the product quality, in my opinion (the hose), needs to be improved. If I were designing this bag, I would manufacture it with a disconnect so that you could choose using either of two hoses: one short one -or- one long one, depending upon the camp needs at the time.

This is a fantastic camp shower. It is made incredibly sturdy and does a good job of holding heat. Also, the faucet head has a good flow, stronger pressure even than some home showers that run on wells! Other camp showers we have owned have had slow trickles coming out and were essentially worthless as it took too long to rinse off. The ONLY major issue with this shower is how heavy it is. I went to test it in the shower before taking it on a trip, and when I had it 3/4 of the way full, I could not lift it above my head. But that is not the fault of the shower, it is just how heavy water is. So, if you want a five gallon shower, you'll have to find a way to overcome this. I had my husband hold it up so I could try it. We were impressed with the flow and the fact that it didn't have one single leak and the faucet could be turned on and off without dripping. But short of attaching it to a tree or the rack on our truck, we can't find anything strong enough to hold it above head height that is worth toting on a camping trip (pop up shower tents will not hold this up). Because we had less of an ability to choose the location of our shower, we purchased a cheap kid's inflatable swimming pool to catch the water, so that we wouldn't be creating puddles in areas where we wanted to walk. OVERALL: The shower has a panel that increases the amount of solar power warming the water. There is a mirror attached to a string that doesn't stay in the pocket if this is moved around, but doesn't hurt to have thrown into the box with the shower. The faucet has a strong flow and can be turned on and off without leaks. The handle is very sturdy. I highly recommend this camp shower.