Toptun shower: product features, principle of operation and reviews. Do-it-yourself shower-treadmill: device and main characteristics How to make a portable shower with your own hands
Walks in nature, night hikes, tent camps or just an unfinished dacha... What do these seemingly completely incompatible places have in common? One little nuance, from which it is difficult to refuse a person accustomed to the benefits of civilization. Namely - in any, as they say, Spartan conditions, it is impossible to accept water procedures. In a simple way, you can’t take a shower in nature or in unfinished infrastructure. Sometimes this becomes a problem that does not allow you to relax normally and plunge into the atmosphere of a real holiday. Without looking ahead, we can say: the problem is being solved! How? Another, no less interesting question.
Camping shower
Yes, what inventive people just do not come up with. Camping country shower is no exception. Why "dacha"? The fact is that often, looking behind the fences of gardeners, you can see a simple structure that is taken out every evening and brought into the house. That's why they called her the dacha.
But the lack of benefits on a favorite piece of land does not limit the possibilities of the above invention. Hiking, long walks, overnight stays - such a necessary thing like a camping shower.
An easy choice
The needs do not go unnoticed, so the "smart" Chinese have learned how to mass-produce these designs. A camping shower can take any form, for every taste and for every preference. Need closed type- Please. The tent with a built-in tank is already ready for use. It remains to pour water. Ten, fifteen and even twenty liters are at the disposal of a clean traveler. There are also lighter designs: a frame with cellophane curtains, at the top of which you can see a small barrel.
A camping shower of this type has no disadvantages. Among the advantages can be considered lightness and low cost. All of these options are good for hiking and commuting, but it begs the question, “Why buy?” It's no secret that the need for invention is cunning. Don't pay money for something you can build yourself. For example, you can make a camping shower with your own hands. He will perform his functions as well as his commercial "brother".
How to make a camping shower with your own hands
You should not reinvent the wheel in this matter, everything has long been invented and tried. There is only one task - to make a good do-it-yourself camping shower, which should have such properties as ease of construction, low cost (it is desirable that all materials for the construction are at hand) and relative comfort.
First building
How to make a camping shower when there is almost nothing around, only nature itself? It doesn't matter, simple options will always find their use. Everything ingenious is elementary. The same can be said about the designs of the soul. The first thing that comes to mind for such a case is plastic bottles. Yes, there are no limits to fantasy. To build a camping shower from plastic bottles, a lot of material is not required.
First and foremost is capacity. The bigger it is, the better. After all, the water will flow longer, which means that the soul will be enough for a leisurely bath. Ten or five liters with proper and rational use enough. So, there is an eggplant. We need to start building. This option will be the most comfortable, so you have to work. An empty container should be placed just above your own height. Otherwise, when taking a shower, you will have to bend down, which is not very pleasant. But here it is important not to overdo it, otherwise the procedure for filling the eggplant with water will take a lot of time and effort. In the "shower" capacity you need to make a small hole. Water will flow out of it. You need to insert a small hose into this hole, it will be easier to take a shower with it. There will be no need to wriggle in front of the jet. It is desirable to process the joints well with resin or plasticine so that water does not seep through. The first do-it-yourself camping shower is made. Of course, you can add something of your own to it, it's up to fantasy.
Second building
There is the most reliable and proven method, which, probably, everyone used. This is a bucket. No, you should not pour it in one gulp: there will be little effect. This design worth redoing. A couple of actions - and from the bucket you get a camping shower. For this design, you will need a few tools and materials: a drill, a large and long bolt, emery, a nail and a nut (of course, the same size as the bolt). So, in a bucket with a drill, you need to make a hole. If such a thin tool is not at hand, a hole can be made with a nail.
But it will not be neat, so the edges should be further processed with emery. It remains for small: to thread the bolt into the hole and not completely tighten the nut. Thus, a large washbasin turned out. Raise the bolt - water flows, release - water does not flow. This is very convenient, because the liquid does not run in vain, only when it is needed.
How to arrange a shower
Usually a camping shower is built for a short time. Day, two - no more. Therefore, many are not too worried about the arrangement of the structure. But if it comes down to permanent use, here it is necessary to count on convenience. For example, shower curtains.
They will add home comfort. Curtains must be waterproof. The tape fits perfectly. How to fix it? Around the tree, with the help of branches, you can pull a rope, and hang a curtain on it. You should carefully examine the place near the shower. There should be no extra branches, needles, thorns, splinters and cigarette butts. Taking a bath next to garbage is not only unpleasant, it can be harmful to health.
In our time, it is not at all necessary to relax in nature or while traveling to deny yourself such pleasure as bathing in the shower. Indeed, on sale you can find a camping shower - 12 volts from the car will power water pump so that you can wash. And for backpackers, compact portable devices are offered that are completely non-volatile, and below we will get acquainted with all the most common types of camping showers that will make your stay in nature more comfortable and enjoyable.
Types of camping showers
Depending on the type of construction, all existing types of showers can be divided into several types:
- Portable cabins with tanks;
- Portable containers without booths;
- Shower pumps.
Below we will take a closer look at all of the above types of devices.
Camping cabins
A camping shower cabin is a collapsible structure covered with an awning like a tourist tent. This option is excellent choice for people who love long time relax in nature "savages". In addition, camping cabins received wide use among summer residents who visit suburban area in summer time.
As a rule, such booths are equipped with tanks of 20 liters or 40 liters. Some models are equipped with a pump for pumping water into a container from a source, such as a bucket or even a reservoir.
Most often, the water in the tank is heated natural way, i.e. due to the energy of the sun, or the container is filled with preheated water. True, on sale you can find tanks with electric heating. They are more comfortable to use, but their disadvantage is volatility.
Camping showers usually weigh 2.5 - 3 kg, and when assembled, the product takes up little space, which is especially important for travel lovers.
Advice!
When choosing a camping cabin, you should pay attention to its equipment.
Often, a clothing rug and other accessories are attached to the product.
Portable containers
Portable shower tanks are the most simple devices, which consist of only two main elements:
- A 25 liter tank, usually soft, made of PVC.
- Hose with sprayer.
To use such a device, you only need to hang it with your own hands on a tree, pole or fix it in a booth. It should be noted that portable containers also come with and without a water heating function.
As for the volume of the tank, as a rule, 20-25 liters is enough for one person to bathe. The advantage of such products is the low price and minimum dimensions.
Shower pumps
A distinctive feature of these products from the above-described shower systems is that they do not require installation of a container at a certain height, since water is supplied to the watering can using a pump.
It should be noted that these systems are of two types:
- Electric, working from 12V- products were originally designed for motorists, so they can work from the cigarette lighter. The design is a small electric pump with a watering can. As a container for water, you can use any bucket, canister or barrel.
- Mechanical ("toptun")– This hiking shower is a rubber mat with two built-in pumps. In the process of bathing, a person steps from one foot to the other, resulting in water from under a certain pressure. The advantage of such a system is energy independence, however, such a device is less convenient in operation.
Note!
The instruction manual for the car shower implies its use from the cigarette lighter with the engine running.
Otherwise, battery discharge may occur.
In the photo - a mechanical shower "toptun"
Homemade construction
If you do not have a portable shower device ready, then to accept water procedures you can make the easiest shower in field conditions with your own hands.
For this you will need:
- Plastic bottle with a capacity of 5 liters;
- Wire;
- Hose;
- Curtain.
The design is made as follows.
- A hole is cut in the bottle cap and a hose is inserted. To fix it, inside caps in the hose, make a hole perpendicular to the walls of the tube and insert a nail or wire.
- Then in the bottle you need to cut the bottom and make two holes in the walls.
- Next, you need to make a handle or hook from the wire and fix it in the holes, which will allow you to hang the bottle on a tree branch.
- Then, at the tip of the hose, you need to make a hook from the wire, which will allow you to cling to the wall of the container and thereby block the water supply.
- After making the shower, you just need to hang a curtain, which will allow you to hide from prying eyes.
You can also make a do-it-yourself shower with a pump like a “treadmill”.
For this you will need:
- Car foot pump;
- Hermetically sealed container;
- Hose, preferably with a shower head.
Now let's look at how to make a shower on a hike with a foot pump:
- First of all, you need to cut two holes in the container lid and insert the hoses. Moreover, the connections must be tight, so you should use rubber gaskets or other seals.
- Then a car pump is connected to one hose, and a shower head to the other.
- After that, you need to fill the container with water and you can check the device in action. In order for water to enter the watering can, you need to perform several strokes with the pump.
This design is more complex, however, more convenient to use, especially if you use the shower together. In this case, one person can take a shower, and the other can pump water with a pump.
Conclusion
Portable showers can significantly increase the comfort of outdoor recreation or travel. Moreover, they can be both extremely simple containers with a watering can, and folding showers. True, as we found out, in the absence of a portable shower, you can make a bathing device yourself from improvised means.
From the video in this article you can see some additional information on this topic.
A modern resident of a metropolis does not consider it possible for himself to give up his usual household amenities. Leaving for the country or just for a picnic, he does not want to sacrifice any comfortable conditions. Not to mention important hygiene procedures. But not always outside the city there is an opportunity to swim normally. The demand for devices for water procedures in a mobile version is great. And if there is no ordinary bathroom in the country house, with all the necessary attributes, you can always take a portable shower with you, thereby compensating for the absence of its stationary counterpart. What attracts buyers to this product:
Types of portable showers and their installation
Products differ from each other in price, performance characteristics and a set of options. All of them are maximally adapted for easy installation and are easy to manage. They can be divided according to the principle of work and into two main types:
Convenience and ease of use were appreciated by the owners of these devices. It can be used not only in the country, but also as a portable shower for a hike, where it can be very useful. The lack of electricity forces us to abandon heated products, but there are very interesting models that are ideal for individual use in unsuitable places.
For example, a portable shower "toptun" does not even have to be hung somewhere. The water supply will be provided by a pump built into a special mechanism. Stepping from foot to foot, the user puts it into action. Two pistons create the necessary pressure to supply it to the hose. By the way, this design was appreciated by motorists who are happy to use it to wash the car. Ideal output in the absence of electricity and water. Filled capacity warm water and use the device where it is needed.
Products without forced heating have a dark body to effectively absorb the heat energy of the sun. If such a shower is filled with water and hung up, then in sunny weather it will be possible to use it in a couple of hours. If the container is placed on a hot surface (concrete, asphalt, metal), then the time will be reduced. The standard capacity that comes with a portable shower is 20 liters, which is enough to use it for up to 10 minutes.
If you plan to travel by car, then it would be wise to purchase a heated portable shower that is powered by a car "cigarette lighter". In this case, warm water will be guaranteed anywhere and at any time of the day.
A camping or recreation area on the site will be much more comfortable if you install a good portable shower for a heated cottage and equip it with a light cabin made of synthetic fabric on a metal frame. As a rule, a place is provided inside for fixing the hose. The throughput of such a design is high, and it is capable of serving many people. There will be no need to leave the recreation area. The Fanline portable shower, which is available in various power modifications, has excellent prospects for these purposes.
In addition to the direct purpose, some models of this type of product are used for other purposes. For example, if you need to move liquid from one container to another. Or pump water out of the basement. These tasks are easily handled by a portable shower pump for a summer residence, which processes up to 5500 liters per hour.
Home craftsmen are often smart and use products own production. It's great when the owner is a jack of all trades. But it is strongly not recommended to make a portable water heater for a shower for a house and a summer residence on your own. Using heating elements or other similar elements operating from the network is dangerous to life and health. When designing and manufacturing original factory products, a large margin of reliability is laid. The connection scheme and design were worked out for a long time on experimental samples, until the designers were convinced that a portable shower with a water heater for giving this design could be put into series. IN this case to invent oneself is to endanger not only one's own life, but also the health of relatives and others.
Love to be in nature? Can't imagine life without hiking native land? Are you building a cottage while you have nowhere to wash? Or maybe you just like extreme sports? You will have to learn how to build a camping shower with your own hands. You can make it from almost any improvised containers. wash in warm water, in a warm room is not only pleasant: in cold weather, health can depend on such a shower. Even novice conquerors of nature can build a camping shower.
Building a watering can
The simplest shower arranges like this. A curtain is attached to the tree (if you want to wash alone). A hole is made in the cap of a large plastic bottle, where a piece of hose is inserted. The lid itself is attached to the bottle with electrical tape (if there is a hose). If it is not there, then in order for water to pour, it is enough to unscrew the lid. For a large capacity, any thin hose is suitable, for a "one and a half" - a tube from a dropper. It must be securely fastened in the opening of the cover. To prevent water from flowing spontaneously, you can pinch the hose with a stopper or use a wire hook to attach the end at the top. Next - cut the bottom of the bottle, close the lid, strengthen it on a high branch. For convenience, you can place the bottle in a net or simply attach it to a branch with a wire. The simplest camping shower is ready. A heating pad, etc. can be used instead of a plastic bottle. Such a device is quite suitable for summer time.
But what if you are on a hike, around the mountain and -20 ° C, but you really want to wash? Actually, it is the next building that will be what is called a “real camping shower”. Naturally, you can make it anywhere, but, they say, it was the climbers who came up with this method of hygiene.
We build a portable camping shower
Actually, only the curtain will be portable and we assemble all other parts right at the halt. We will need:
- Devices for kindling a fire.
- Boulders the size of a three-year-old boy's head, but a bucket of ordinary pebbles or other stones can also be used.
- Curtain.
- Plastic bottle with stopper and hose.
- A tent or film stretched over a frame. The frame can be carried with you, or you can build between trees.
In order to construct warm shower camping, kindle a fire, put stones in it, heat water over the fire. While everything is warming up, we mount a kind of wigwam from cellophane (if there is no empty tent). You can use branches, etc.
We make a mount above the wigwam: we will hang here plastic bottle(see device above) with water. When the stones warm up, carefully lay them around the perimeter of the "wigwam". This is the most dangerous part of the procedure: you can burn yourself. Boulders or pebbles must cool in the "wigwam" so that they can be stood on. In the process of cooling, they warm the air very much. Then we hang the bottle with hot water and… with light steam! Usually, stones allow 4-5 tourists to take a camping shower, and only after that the “room” begins to cool down. If you do everything quickly, and take more boulders, then even a group of 15 people will have time to complete the prescribed bath procedures.
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Camping toilet and shower: urban comfort in the field
Greetings, comrades. Rest in nature is known to be useful - 2-3 hours per day. fresh air no one will be disturbed. But longer events, such as a multi-day hike, will require participants to provide effective method maintaining personal hygiene. Indeed, even in the forest it is not always possible to find a secluded place for these purposes, not to mention a tourist camp in the open.
And today we will look at what a camping version of the toilet can be, and get acquainted with its multifunctional portable counterparts in the form of a tent, which can be both a room for natural needs and a shower.
Personal hygiene
Of course, you can object that 1-2 days you can do without a shower on a hiking trip, but experienced tourists will object to you and argue their arguments:
- On a hike, you can get dirty much faster than at home;
- Dirty skin will not allow your body to fully recover overnight;
- Lunch shower invigorates, which is important during long transitions;
- In extreme heat, you just need to cool off.
The situation is the same with the toilet:
- It is not safe to go far from the camp for natural needs every time, especially at night;
- It is unhygienic to adapt bushes right at the place of lodging for the night;
- In open areas, the problem of arranging a secluded place only intensifies.
Captain Evidence informs: in the treasury of arguments about the need to take a camping bathroom with you, you can add protection from adverse weather conditions. Agree, it is unlikely that anyone will like the rain dripping down the collar and the soggy ground under their feet.
Constructive tandem
In the apartment, as you know, the shower and toilet are separated. On a hike, where every kilogram of weight matters, the most preferred would be a joint design - a camping shower-toilet.
What it is?
- Waterproof tent with dimensions 100x100x250 cm;
- Container for water made of rubberized fabric with shower head and hose;
- Holding fixtures toilet paper(inside) and coat hooks (outside).
With a shower, everything is more or less clear: they hung a bag-tank filled with water, went inside and you can wash. And the toilet?
Most of the time, the tent is used precisely as a toilet - a latrine is equipped inside it.
What it will be - you decide. It could be:
- Peat dry closet;
- Folding toilet seat;
- Tourist cardboard toilet box.
Alternative
Experienced tourists can tell you many ways to arrange a latrine while parking. Instead of a portable toilet, you can dig a hole and set up a tent on top. For such cases, there are folding toilet seats, but their design provides for securing bags, which is much simpler and more convenient than arranging a pit.
Captain Evidence informs: if you do not want to combine a shower with a toilet, then you can arrange a tandem, for example, set up 2 tents together. They should not be separated from each other - water for washing hands after visiting the toilet can be taken from the shower.
How to choose
It is clear that it is best to buy camping equipment in specialized stores. But before you go shopping, you should determine the acceptable parameters for yourself:
- If you are going to travel by car, then you have practically no weight restrictions. If the trunk allows, and you like comfort, feel free to take a full dry closet and a tent. If there is not enough space in the car, choose folding options;
A tent is necessary not only to create privacy, but also to protect from rain, wind and the scorching sun. You can’t refuse it, if only because it weighs 1.5 kg and is installed in a couple of minutes.
- For traveling on motorcycles or bicycles, only folding options are suitable. Why? Lack of a spacious trunk;
- For hiking, you need models with a minimum weight and dimensions.
Let's take a closer look at which toilet models can be purchased for travel.
For autotourists
For autotourists in shops selling tourist equipment, the following models of camping toilets and shower devices are offered.
As I said, on long trips, it is most important to have a full-fledged toilet available. First of all, these are:
- dry closets;
- Toilet-bucket;
- Folding seats with waste container.
I won’t talk about dry closets in detail - such information is in other articles on our website. I will focus on highly specialized models designed exclusively for travel.
My verdict: the best simple model, the idea for which is borrowed from the classic chamber pot. It is enough to remove the lid with your own hands, fix the waste bag and you can use it.
My verdict: to combine a latrine with a stool, in my opinion, is debatable. If we consider the model solely as a toilet, then overall it’s not bad. Of the pluses, I note the possibility of using ordinary plastic bags.
As for the soul, everything is simple here:
- The tent should have a hole for the hose to enter and an eyelet for attaching a shower head;
- Choose the color of the water bag in black - in it the water heats up faster;
- For a company of 3-4 people, 40 liter bags are preferred.
The instructions for the tent-toilet contain information about the maximum possible load. If the weight of a rubberized water bag exceeds the allowable value, set up a tent near a tree from which you can hang it.
For motorcycle and cyclists
My verdict: it is clear that you have to pay for compactness, but, in my opinion, the price is too high.
My verdict: the model is interesting due to its compact size and the presence of a lid. Its appearance is more classic, maintenance is the simplest.
Another one interesting model for transportation - a toilet suitcase from an American manufacturer. When assembled, it does not look much like a bathroom.
My verdict: original solution. The cost is justified by the versatility.
For hiking
Tourists who go hiking “on their own two feet” prefer secluded places for relaxation, climbing into the very wilderness. Accordingly, tents of "hidden" colors are chosen.
Regardless of the model of a folding toilet you choose, you need to deal with odor issues on a hike. Having a bathroom at a great distance from the camp is not an option, so it is more logical to use special kits for the disposal of human waste.
What is included in such a kit?
- Double bag for disposal made of durable material:
- The outer bag is used to transport waste;
- The inner contains a filler - a disposal agent that absorbs odors;
- Toilet paper set - 4 meters;
- Hand sanitizer in a plastic bag.
Captain Evidence informs: the cost of such a solution is 1400 rubles per pack of 12 bags. As for me, for such a complete set - quite reasonable money.
For construction lovers
A couple of tips on how even in field conditions you can bring yourself closer to civilization:
- Take a strong and opaque polyethylene film on a hike;
- Make a rectangular one from branches and cover it with a film;
- Hang it from a tree for wind resistance;
- Secure the lower part with stakes;
- Install a folding toilet inside or hang a rubber bag with a watering can and use it.
