Shower Awning VS Shower Tent VS Ensuite Tent. Which Is Best?

[@Camping_reviews]

Just thought I'd share the links to each of these products here if you'd like to check them out yourselves: Spinifex pop-up shower tent: tinyurl.com/3vdzzejk Kickass Vehicle Shower Awning: tinyurl.com/4adh7j2r Coleman Instant Double Ensuite: tinyurl.com/4dn9fcxs

[@Fiona_Chasing_Light]

I have a friend with a block of land in the mid northern region of SA - where the sun beats down through summer, the winds blow hard in Spring, etc. He set up the Coleman double ensuite as the bathroom (with a compost toilet ad camp shower set up in it) - and it stayed up just fine. It lasted through a year of full time use. Full exposure to the sunlight finally meant it needed to be replaced but I'd happily buy one for camping as I think you'd get a few years of use out of it easily. If he'd popped a tarp shelter over it (or could have pitched in a shaded area) it would still be fine.

[@Camping_reviews]

That's pretty amazing going!

[@sheldonpopesp]

I just use the shower awning because its out of the way and even if im at base camp i just roll it up after it dries. Its so quick to pack up and set up that it doesn't bother me too much

[@rickmackenzie8488]

The shower awnings zip where you were talking about having access to a gas hot water system etc. From what I’ve seen and heard, is that you align it to a window on your car, so you can unzip post shower to reach through into a car for towel, clothes, etc.

[@BTNomad]

I actually mounted a KickAss shower tent in my box truck. I roll my frig out of the way, put down the KA floor and drop the drain tube down the shower drain I put in the floor, pop open the KA, attach the quick connect shower head to my on-demand water heater, and I’ve got a shower with hot water inside my truck. It’s almost perfect.

[@caver6292]

Great video!! Very thorough and well narrated. Thank you! (I love my awning shower enclosure-no roof, no real complaints)

[@Camping_reviews]

Thanks! Yep aside from flies coming in and 'bugging' me, the lack of a roof hasn't bothered me too much yet

[@darrennorth929]

You need a video on how to fold up the pop up shower. Buggered if I can fold mine up. Been unfolded for 1 year now.

[@plants4thewin]

Mine came with the instructions sewn in on a paper. I can take it down in less than 2 min. I will agree when I first got it it was frustrating.

[@downthetrackaustralia]

Love my Coleman double. I refuse to use those bendy pole jobs on anything any more. Had the bendy poles on a tent that slipped out of the frame setting it up and scratched the duco on the ute . I put some of those foam square things (those ones that fit together) inside the shower the help keep your feet dry and some outside so that you're not trampling dirt inside the shower/loo. couple of pegs on the outside mats and you're fine. Loving your reviews. Keep up the great work.

[@Camping_reviews]

Yes! That's something I used to do with an old shower tent I had which had no floor. Bonus is that it's cushioned to keep you comfy on stony ground 😀

[@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen]

The final one looks great and would be very good for a long term campsite BUT we would still use our pop-ups because we have found them to be so convenient. If you get the right model and brand you won't have issues with setup or packup and they will hold a decent amount of weight despite the seemingly small 2kg rating. We usually hang a light, hose, shower head and put soap and shampoo in the pockets, we also have a dunny roll on one of the inner rods (we use it as a combined shower/dunny) and also hand a towel on the inside bar. No issue at all with them collapsing.

[@dadventuretv2538]

Excellent video. I started with the tent type, which were great for quick changes for mountain biking or hiking or surfing where I just put it up to change and that was it. The problem with them really is the packing time and in wind they just become kites. I love the idea of a mountable awning type, but biggest issue for me is that I wheel with my jeep gladiator in the Appalachian Mountains of the US and constantly hitting trees along the sides ofmy rig. I don’t want anything sticking off the outside that will get hung up. Plus, there is the fuel economy that you take with bounty or stuff on the outside. I went with the last option so far pretty happy with it. I have a AluCab canopy on the back of my gladiator bed and it along with my Davos light fit across the bed right behind the cab and I can access them from the side opening panel so that really minimizes the downside of them for me, but you are right they do take up a good bit of real estate inside vehicle. One of these is essential if you have a rooftop tent because trying to change those things is really a pain. They are also absolute necessity boondocking or on four-wheel-drive,beaches for your toilet, unless you’re OK being exposed, lol

[@domeniccurciarello3105]

Good to see you back on you tube

[@Camping_reviews]

Thanks 🙂 good to be back, so far so good!

[@Feebeeee]

We have the pop up Coleman double & find it is the best thing we have used for heaps of reasons like you said & it is better for our style of camping to have something available at base camp when myself or my husband drives off to do something on our own, then the base camp person/people still has a dunny & a shower to use. I love that you can have the windows partly open to have better airflow & a shower or loo with a view. Especially great in hot weather! Definitely prefer the totally enclosed floor etc to keep the sandflies & mozzies out; no one wants to get bitten all over by a million sandflies, trust me, been there, done that, do not recommend! Had to drive back to town to see a Dr & buy antihistamines, I had a really bad reaction to the bites, it wasn’t fun. (Now in my first aid kit always). You can throw the fly roof over the top & manoeuvre fairly easily (I’m a shorty 🤣) And silver lined. A shower room & a dry room to change, is definitely the go! Dressing in a puddle is a nope from me.

[@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen]

We also have an awning style shower and it isn't great. It is a Kings and it really needs the zippable panel that the KickAss one has. One good tip to make that style much more solid in the wind is to drill a hole vertically through the ends of the swing out arms and then put a tent pole under each one. This style is a dry weather tent for obvious reasons but we solved that by mounting it on the back of our trailer and then adding a short awning to the top, so at least we dont get wet when using it as a dunny when it rains. Mozzies are a HUGE issue with this one in some places.

[@wally1166]

Popup ensuite suits my type of camping been using them from day one never had any issues with flexible poles

[@JenBolst]

So good having weekly reviews 🙌

[@OnCountryWithMick]

I've used the pop up style for quite a while but ended up scrapping it as they are a pain to pack down. I think I got mine from Kmart but couldn't say what I paid. It was fine to start with. I now have an shower tent on my Pajero and love it. Sets up in no time, gives me plenty of space and does all I need, if there is no wind I don't bother pegging it down. Down side is it partly blocks my back door and there is no roof and I have to pack up when leaving camp. I sit my clothes on the spare wheel on the back of my car or on the roof rack, shower plugs into my 12v plug at the back and I use a bucket of warm water. I always take a cassette toilet when camping away from amenities so it is ideal for that and if Im out exploring the tracks, at the beach or what ever it also gives some privacy for the wife to do her business or to get changed. My awning one cost me $70 on sale at Repco and went down as low as $40 on clearance. The big Double One wouldn't be bad for a long term base camp though especially if you are planning to set up and travel from a base camp.

[@tiredandcranky]

Con for Kicka&& tent. Constant mud puddle. Water at door of vehicle. Have to deal with water whenever getting inside of vehicle.

[@eileenbrodie7686]

You can get a folding ‘basin’ /bathtub floor for the KickAxx shower tent: (made by them.) It has a fitting for connecting a hose for sending the water some distance away from vehicle.

[@krh007]

I purchased an 18ft Coromal Seka 535 dual axle poptop which i am setting up with Solar etc (just my wife & i) as they are light & less wind drag when towing. Nice van but no ensuite/toilet which is fine because i am going to mouint a kickass or similar to the right side of the van. We already have portable toilet which can be placed anywhere & used inside the van or outside. However i will be buying the Coleman ensuite tent as well and have the best of both worlds as like the idea of the tent which can be carried in the 4wd (if the caravan is set up as a base camp) and your adventuring out & about in just the 4wd for the day or overnight beach camping in just the 4wd for example. Our older (full height) Roma 18ft caravan which i fully refurbed (we still have it) also does not have an ensuite but is a spacious super comfy van we have owned for more than 10yrs & been to all sorts of places with that and the portable toilet/shower has always been fine & easy. I am more conscious of towing weight & wind drag these days so the Seka poptop is all about going offgrid (tare weight 1350kg) & not towing a slug as per heavy modern offroad vans

[@gavinramsay539]

My pop-up shower dose'nt have the roof or side frames it's only got the main structure ones. The handful of times we've used it, I've been fortunate enough to tie it to a couple of trees. It made it stand up and stopped the wind from moving it too much.

[@4WheelingInNSW]

Good work Alex, as always. Great to see the differences of any product shown side by side 👍👍

[@Danpilecki]

I have the kickass shower awning mounted on our old caravan and it works a treat. Also have the pop up shower tent for when we tent it into more remote locations. Both function well for the different types of camping we do. Great review thanks.

[@louiskudlak2241]

Well done, certainly explain the good & bad on every item you review, loving it buddy, cheers for sharing

[@WildcatPhoto]

I've had all three styles. I haven't yet tried the attached single. The tent was really nice, but it was a hassle for when you don't stay in one place long and it took up space, and the floor was a pain. The popup is ok, but doubt if I will need it now. I think the attached Joolca on my teardrop trailer will be much better.

[@jasonstansborough3037]

Thanks for the comparison, very well communicated. I have the pop up ensuite for emergency use only. (When there is no other option).

[@Bigcountry_littlelegs]

Great job, keep up the good work. Your review of helinox seat was very good and helped a lot before I ended up buying one, I honestly wouldn't have considered one prior to your review, Thank you

[@Camping_reviews]

That's awesome, thanks for the feedback 😀

[@Bestrong61]

With the kickass shower how muddy does it get around the vehicle?

[@tubby4718]

Have the Kick Ass mounted on the rack on my Opus, very happy with it, so fast up and down

[@justjamie72]

Thanks for the tips! I’ve been thinking about a shower tent for ages but wasn’t sure if it would hold my shower bladder or not. It’s good to know that the Coleman could hold the one I’ve bought but haven’t used yet. Plus it’ll match my Coleman tent. Bonus! I guess though, caution should be advised, just to be sure? My bladder is a 20L shower.

[@Camping_reviews]

It would be worth sending coleman an email I think, just to double check. The other consideration is the height. By the time the bag is hanging from the roof, and if there's a hose hanging underneath too, is it still high enough to stand under?

[@justjamie72]

@ that’s great advice thank you.

[@jamesduncan2427]

I have a shower awning. I mount it over the passenger window. I drop the window and hang towels/clothes over the door and access them through the zip section on the back when the showers finished. Mine has a roll across roof but I never use it. I reckon mine is a bit longer than yours as it doesn’t have the big gap at the top and bottom.

[@ap.bb6]

perfect timing, I'm about to buy one for an upcoming trip!

[@Camping_reviews]

Brilliant! Let us know what one you end up going with 🙂

[@ap.bb6]

@@Camping_reviewsI think for the fact we want to keep the toilet and shower away from our car and use it for a base camp going towards the fast-up frame one! Maybe Oztrail or Coleman

[@donfinch862]

We've got the glam van, but still enjoy your reviews. Our grown kids will def find this interesting

[@saltydog888]

Good vid never had a problem with snapping poles

[@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen]

That Wanderer shower tent looks exactly like a re-branded version of the ones we are currently using. Ours are branded as Outdoor Equipped Bermuda. For my money, they are the BEST shower tents we have ever used - and boy have we been through some shower tents over the years. As for lasting, we have been using them for several years with no issures. Some pop-ups are a nightmare to pack up. I usually don't rubbish Aldi gear but we got one of theirs and I could not get the bugger to fold back down. We returned it promptly. Other brands are SERIOUSLY WEAK and collapse under just the weight of a hose and shower head (OZ Trail is one brand that comes to mind.) The Bermuda ones we use now are very easy to pack and if you don't need a full setup, they are very easy and quick to set up. We often loop a couple of the guy lines around something solid on the 4x4 or Coaster. If there is a lot of wind, then yeah, setting up with full guy lines and internal supports is a good idea.

[@Camping_reviews]

I've gotta say I could almost like this wanderer one if it weren't for those roof poles. It's spacious and better built than the spinifex one I have.

[@4WheelingInNSW]

Some can be a bugger to pack back away however I don’t think it’s so much brand dependant, more some users just can’t get their head, or hands 😁 around it. We use a number of Aldi ones and they’re great. Pretty sure 90% of these things are out of one factory with just different brands slapped on the side. Here’s ours from Aldi showing probably the most simple way to fold back up, hope it helps - kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJOzi4Jvl695r8Usi=AwadL3lxAzsx1HSU

[@southerngentleman5321]

Really looking forward to more of your videos, would be interesting to compare different makes of shower awnings .. funny as seeing you talking serious on the loo. PS: where can i find your old vids?

[@Camping_reviews]

Haha yeah I really managed to deadpan my loo chats 😄 I do plan to compare the Kickass to the Kings shower awning so keep an eye out for that. And my old vids can be found here www.youtube.com/@Alex.G

[@southerngentleman5321]

appreciated, you will grow superfast comparing the same type of products from diff manufacturers. deadpan lol..

[@seanchristie7150]

Fantastic review, had a pop up but could never fold it up. Bought a ensuite tent from Aldi, awesome bit of kit, takes loger to set up but has a built in shelf as part of the window, separate floor and sturdy, you can buy them in a double version and from memory the Single was well under $100

[@Camping_reviews]

That's great! The problem I've found in the past is stock at Aldi, super high turnover of some things and by the time I've heard about it they no longer sell it

[@seanchristie7150]

@Camping_reviews unfortunately yes, the same with all of the middle aisle

[@susanmorgan647]

Very informative. Thank you!

[@JudeMorris-x9l]

We have the Oztrail fast frame double. Love it though first timing using it my wife almost lost her fingers in the pinch points at the top

[@stuartkcalvin]

Thanks Alex, all good points.

[@geoffhensher7100]

Grey water. How do you syphon it out and dispose of it appropriately?

[@tuvia4082]

Cool, good video, thanks for sharing.

[@RawPatrol]

Have the popup like yours. Only use it for longer trips with family. It's fine and does the job, and I haven't had the issues with the poles yet. Packup requires some mental preparation though. The coleman double looks great but just gets everyone used to too much luxury imo.

[@OldFellaDave]

The KickAss premium Shower Awning comes with a roof, but its $189.00. You can also get a floor that will fit the Premium version and the one you reviewed in the video for $49

[@rogerlikes]

I was an early adopter of the shower awning, mine is older and does not have the double layer fabric, so it shows shadow puppets. Another drawback of the awning with the exposed top is if your buddies have drones:')🙄

[@Camping_reviews]

Yeah I remember those early shower awnings, a mate of mine had one and they were still great. The design has always just worked really well. The drone was also an issue for him then too 😆

[@carmenslee6234]

This attached one would be great for my horse float!

[@shaunhughes8206]

I have a single Coleman for my toilet and a double for my shower ( dry and wet room)

[@jayniecharlton4882]

I have a Joolca double shower tent….bloody marvellous……so what, a little extra weight and set up time…ya camping….leave ya damn clock at home…enjoy your camping…I also have the Joolca quick frame tent …also bloody marvellous…

[@Tom-lf8hx]

I grabbed a cheapy shower tent to see i liked them, i did so i upgraded to one with better features, gave the old one to a mate

[@Camping_reviews]

Yep solid choice, pretty much the same thing I did

[@SlothTravel]

Good.👍

[@FergHyde]

I would suggest that set up times should not be part of this review because if you're going for one to two nights, then baby wipes and shower in a can (deodorant) will more than suffice but if you are camping for longer, then a longer set up / dismantle times are such a tiny part of the length of the whole trip that it is inconsequential. It would have been good if you were able to throw the Evershower into the review mix.

[@Camping_reviews]

Yeah very true about setup and packup times, shower and a can or a good dip in the nearest water body does me well enough after 3 days in the bush. The evershower, that's the one with the narrow base that recycles your shower water hey? Definitely want to get my hands on that one for a look sometime.

[@FergHyde]

@@Camping_reviews Yes it is. My thoughts with the Evershower are to use a hot water system and water filter setup to extend shower times, with hot water, indefinitely.

[@nancystrickland1623]

I hate pop up’s tents!! I can never get them folded back up. I have two tents for my bathroom. One is a two room for showering and a single room tent for my toilet.

[@Auxbeam]

Hi Do you interested in adding some LED upgrade to your rig? We hope to do some sponsorship with you!

[@neilab3614]

Why would it be so important if it takes longer to set up time is not important if holidays.

[@Camping_reviews]

You're right, it doesn't bother me as much. Some people might just really dislike setup time. Pack up time is a bit more important for me, we need to get the kilometres done as early as possible, so the quicker the packup the better.

[@PhilipHarrington]

“Legacy” media not “main stream“.

[@youraussienomadfriends]

Hi, none of them last more then 5 months. We are full time nomads and constantly buying toilet tents. Doesn’t mater if we pay $300.00 or $30.00 off eBay they are all rubbish.

[@catherinemichael916]

Can you research tents that are easy to put up and take down for disability people.

[@Camping_reviews]

This is a great idea! I'll have to do a fair bit of research on the common struggles encountered by people with disabilities. Did you have any particular points in mind that I could pay attention to?

[@2-old-Forthischet]

Those pop ups are useless during windy days. They look like they're possessed. Good awnings are very pricey. There's a guy on Ew Toob that made his own awning shower using two flag pole holders, pvc tubing and shower curtains. It's really cheap to make. I made a version of his to temporarily mount on my roof rack. The most expensive part would be the type of shower curtain you use!

[@4x4CampingandAdventures]

Can’t agree more with the first one Alex they are a bucket of shit

[@torsen1987]