Customer Reviews

Advanced Elements 3 Gallon Summer Shower / Solar Shower

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The only reason I didn't see the review before mine is because I had read the reviews for the 2.5 and 5 gallon versions and didn't feel I needed to reference the reviews for this "3 gallon" shower. I wish I had so I would have seen how this really isn't a 3 gallon bag - it has the same capacity as the 2.5 gallon bag, so save yourself a few dollars and get that one instead - seriously. Even the box itself says that the 2.5 and 3 gallon versions have a capacity of 9.5 liters. It would cost me more to send it back and get the 2.5 gallon version, so I am keeping it.

That being said, I was pleased with the quality of this product. I was skeptical that the shower head would be strong enough to really rinse my hair thoroughly, but it really did a great job. It heated up in a very reasonable amount of time and retained the heat for a while when removed from the sunlight. The material has been durable thus far and should last if treated with care. If the capacity wasn't deceptive I would have given this one more star.

UPDATE: July 2011. My solar shower finally sprung a slow leak this past weekend and I unfortunately had to get rid of it. The leak was where the hose connects to the bag which happens to be the weakest/least durable part of the bag. It gave me 3 solid years of use with well over 100 days worth of service. I would not hesitate to purchase this brand of solar shower again and hope that the manufacturer has actually made this a true 3 gallon bag by now.

I replaced my retired and worn out Solar Shower with this unit. It does its job as expected. The clear plastic tube came with a mild kink, which may impede water flow. The shower head works well. Overall fit and finish are good. It heats water well. It is superior to a simple black water sack in its ability to heat up with passive solar radiation. The screw-on filler cap, accessory pocket, mirror, and thermometer are nice additions. The handle is comfortable to carry. I prefer this size to larger capacity units, as they get heavy pretty quickly at 8 pounds per gallon. Overall, this is a good product, priced reasonably.

This solar shower is great - the right size (not too heavy to hang) and the "shower head" works well. It heats up relatively fast and I am very pleased with this purchase.

We used these for eleven days in the Black Rock Desert last year during Burning Man. I've used other bags before and the Advanced Elements Summer Shower is hands down the best. Sturdy, well constructed and heats fast. The nozzle is very easy to operate and functions perfectly to turn on and off with ease. Hanger is heavy duty and I'm not worried about it breaking. The three gallon size is perfect for a nice shower and hair wash, even with long hair. I highly recommend this product.

This is a nice 1-person shower - but, in fact, it only holds 2 gallons, not three. But that's not a bad thing, as a compact shower with a lot of water is hard to hang, so small is beautiful, if you can overlook the gross mislabeling.

I bought the 3 gallon version mainly because the 2.5 gallon and 5 gallon shower bags by Advanced Elements were highly reviewed, and the 3 gallon capacity was right for me. I couldn't have been more wrong about the capacity. I noticed that it looked way too small to fit 3 gallons when I removed it from the box. This is clearly advertised as a 3 gallon bag, the box says it's 3 gallons, but I could barely fit 2 gallons into it without overfilling and spilling. It is also clumsy to fill as all shower bags are. The handle is sturdy for holding and hanging but is not the best for filling. A handle just below the fill hole, like the large-mouthed Camelbak hydration packs, would remedy that. I'm not upset enough to bother returning it. I mainly bought it as a during-the-day preheater for another shower system I have, the Zodi Extreme, or as a backup for the Zodi system. I'm really happy with the Zodi Extreme, but it takes a while for the burner to heat up 2.5 gallons of water, and it must be monitored, hence the desire for the bag to heat up the water through the day. I can't comment on the actual thermal performance of this shower bag as it's too difficult to heat up anything in Cleveland, OH in February. Reviews for the other Advanced Elements showers rate them well in actually heating the water. Be warned about the capacity!

The most durable solar shower we've found. It's made of heavy gauge materials meant to take more than the average wear and tear. Workmanship is good with seams welded right. Love the wide mouth opening and quality handle.

The only issue we've had with these products is a joint failure right where the hose exits the bag. The 90 degree elbow fitting started to leak meaning we'd loose significant amounts of water while trying to heat it up for a shower! Frustrating to say the least. We fixed it with silicone caulking. Not pretty but it works.

So, i am picky about what i buy, it HAS to be top quality, and not cheap, as i beleive you get what you pay for.
This item does exactlly what it says, it is durable, it ACTUALLY heats up to 120 degress after 5 hours in direct sun, i was surprised. The nozel is a medium pressure pull/push nozzle, the bag will not rip, it is thick and durable.
This WILL NOT hang from a camp shower shelter though, i made a make shift steel pole sticking out of my truck where my tow ball goes to hold it up for camping, its pretty heavy once filled. But, i have since bought 2 because i was so impressed. Dont doubt yourself, BUY IT, for reals.

I got this back in August of 2010 and took it up to New England with me on a road trip. On that trip, I only used it twice but the water was nice and hot after 3-5 hours in the front dash of my car. I was down in Nicaragua for 5 weeks working as a wildlife guide at a eco-lodge and they only had cold shower. This was a life saver as I really hate cold showers and the water at the lodge is spring-fed so it's extra cold.

I usually put the bag in the sun in the morning and by the time I got back from the hike in the afternoon, it's nice and hot - as hot as how I take showers back in the States. Even if it's partly cloudy, it's still gets a little warm - enough for the tropical climate down there.

You really need to get something to hang this on to have it work like a shower though. I didn't find any use for the mesh pocket or the mirror. Some water might dribble out on the dash so I got a small rubbermaid tub that is about the same size as the filled bag so I don't have to worry about accidental spillage on the dash - it also prevents the bag from rolling around.

Great product. I would by again. Works perfect for 2 person 1 night camping trip. I took 1 star away because I wish the water came out a little faster. The shower head is a little small.