Buying guide
Water & Hygiene
Updated How we research
Clean water and a place to wash up. The page is split into four sections (Water storage containers; Water filters; Portable toilets and showers; Portable camp showers), followed by every pick ranked by our score so you can compare them in one place.
The short version
We compared 12 picks. Our scores range from 5.4 to 8.6 out of 10, across $$, $$$, See on Amazon price bands.
- Best overall:Sawyer Products SP131 Squeeze Water Filtration System. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.6/10.
- Also great value:Sawyer Micro Squeeze Water Filtration System. Value score of 9/10, overall 8.0/10.
- Solid build:LifeStraw Peak Series Gravity Water Filter System 3L. Build and materials score of 8/10, overall 8.4/10.
- Feature-rich:NEMO Helio Portable Pressure Camp Shower 11L. Features score of 8/10, overall 8.2/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
Water storage containers
- Rightline Gear Sport 2 Waterproof Rooftop Cargo Carrier 15 Cu FtOur score6.2/10
- Rightline Gear Sport 3 Waterproof Rooftop Cargo Carrier 18 Cu FtOur score6.2/10
- Amazon Basics Waterproof Rooftop Cargo Carrier Bag 15 Cu FtOur score5.9/10
- Rightline Gear Waterproof Rear Car Cargo Carrier Bag 13 Cu FtOur score5.4/10
Water filters
- Sawyer Products SP131 Squeeze Water Filtration SystemOur score8.6/10
- LifeStraw Peak Series Gravity Water Filter System 3LOur score8.4/10
- Sawyer Micro Squeeze Water Filtration SystemOur score8.0/10
- Katadyn BeFree Collapsible Water Filter BottleOur score7.5/10
Portable toilets and showers
- NEMO Helio Portable Pressure Camp Shower 11LOur score8.2/10
- NEMO Equipment Helio Portable Camp Shower - Fortress/Silt/Black - 22L | Pressurized, Built-in Foot Pump, Large Capacity, Packable, Beach, PetOur score8.0/10
- Advanced Elements 2.5 Gallon Summer Solar ShowerOur score7.8/10
- Coleman 5-Gallon Solar ShowerOur score7.3/10
Portable camp showers
- NEMO Helio Portable Pressure Camp Shower 11LOur score8.2/10
- NEMO Equipment Helio Portable Camp Shower - Fortress/Silt/Black - 22L | Pressurized, Built-in Foot Pump, Large Capacity, Packable, Beach, PetOur score8.0/10
- Advanced Elements 2.5 Gallon Summer Solar ShowerOur score7.8/10
- Coleman 5-Gallon Solar ShowerOur score7.3/10
All 12 picks, ranked by our score
Every product from the sections above, listed once. Sort by the criterion you care about most, or tick up to three to compare.
#1The Sawyer Products SP131 Squeeze Water Filtration System is a light, versatile filter for treating stream or lake water at camp.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + Filters water from pouches or bottles by simply squeezing
- + Can screw onto bottles or be used inline with a gravity setup
- + Very light filter barely adds weight to a camp kit
- - Squeezing large volumes for a group gets tiring
- - Filter must be protected from freezing, which can damage it
#2LifeStraw Peak Series Gravity Water Filter System 3L is a hang-and-flow filter for campers who want hands-free water for a group.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Gravity setup filters water without pumping or squeezing
- + 3L bag handles cooking and drinking water for small groups
- + Peak Series is designed to be more durable than earlier LifeStraw bags
- - Needs a branch or hook to hang the bag at camp
- - Refilling for large groups still takes several batches
#3NEMO Helio portable pressure camp shower 11L uses foot-pumped pressure for a satisfying rinse without electricity.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + 11L capacity provides a good rinse for one or two people
- + Pressure design gives a stronger spray than gravity bags
- + Useful for rinsing gear, dogs and dishes too
- - Water is not heated, so warm it in the sun or add hot water
- - Pumping pressure takes a little effort during use
#4Sawyer Micro Squeeze is a smaller version of the Squeeze filter for campers wanting a compact water filter for bottles and pouches.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + Smaller body packs into pockets and small kits
- + Works with pouches or screws onto many standard bottles
- + Lower price than the full-size Squeeze while using the same squeeze method
- - Smaller filter flows slower than the full-size Sawyer Squeeze
- - Not ideal for filtering large amounts of camp cooking water
#5NEMO Helio is a pressurized camp shower with a built-in foot pump, in a larger 22 liter (5.8 gallon) size. A bigger option next to the 11L Helio in this guide.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 6/10
- + 22 liter capacity, about twice the 11L Helio, for longer showers or sharing between campers
- + 7 foot neoprene hose and a two-stage spray nozzle that can be set to continuous spray
- + Designed for 7 to 10 minutes of steady pressure, with a large screw-cap opening that fills without a hose
- - Priced at the high end for camp showers, and above the 11L model
- - Water is not heated, and 22 liters is bulkier to carry and store than 11L
#6Advanced Elements 2.5 Gallon Summer Solar Shower heats water in the sun, a simple gravity shower for solo campers.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + Solar heating warms water without fuel or power
- + 2.5 Gallon size is easy to hang from a tree or roof rack
- + Very low price for a camp shower, easy to leave in the car all summer
- - Gravity flow gives a gentle stream, not a strong spray
- - Needs several hours of sun to heat water
#7The Katadyn BeFree Collapsible Water Filter Bottle combines a soft flask and fast filter for drinking straight from clean-looking sources.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Collapsible bottle rolls up tiny when empty
- + Fast flow filter lets you drink straight from the bottle
- + Easy to clean filter by shaking or swishing
- - Soft flask is less durable than rigid bottles
- - Personal bottle size is not practical for group water supply
#8Coleman 5-Gallon Solar Shower is a hanging solar-heated shower bag with an on/off valve at the shower head and a strong handle. A budget option for camp rinses.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 9/10
- + Holds 5 gallons, which the listing says is enough for multiple showers
- + Uses the sun to heat the water, so no stove or fuel is needed
- + Strong handle for hanging and carrying, with an on/off valve on the shower head
- - Water heating depends on sun and weather, so shaded campsites will give cooler water
- - Gravity-fed, so pressure is limited compared with pump showers
#9The Rightline Gear Sport 2 waterproof rooftop cargo carrier holds 15 Cu Ft, a roof bag for hauling soft gear on camping trips.
Fit for the job 4/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + 15 Cu Ft capacity carries tents, sleeping bags and chairs
- + Rightline Gear designs work on cars with or without roof racks
- + Waterproof construction keeps soft gear dry at highway speed
- - A cargo carrier, not a water container, so it does not fit this job
- - Roof loading adds wind noise and lowers fuel economy
#10The Rightline Gear Sport 3 waterproof rooftop cargo carrier offers 18 Cu Ft for families who need maximum soft roof storage.
Fit for the job 4/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + 18 Cu Ft is the largest Rightline Sport size for big family loads
- + Waterproof bag protects bulky bedding and clothing on the roof
- + Folds down for storage when the trip is over
- - Cargo bag rather than a water container, so pair it with separate jugs
- - Large loaded bag is heavy to lift up to an SUV roof
#11Amazon Basics' 15 Cu Ft waterproof rooftop cargo carrier bag adds roof storage for bulky camp gear, not a water container.
Fit for the job 4/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 8/10
- + 15 Cu Ft of roof space frees the cabin for passengers
- + Waterproof fabric protects sleeping bags and clothes from rain
- + Soft bag folds small when not in use and stores on a garage shelf
- - Listed under water containers but is actually a cargo bag, so it will not store water
- - Needs roof rails or straps through door frames, so check vehicle fit
#12Rightline Gear's 13 Cu Ft waterproof rear car cargo carrier bag mounts at the back for extra storage, not water carrying.
Fit for the job 3/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10
- + Rear mounting keeps loading at waist height instead of on the roof
- + 13 Cu Ft adds useful space for duffels and camp chairs
- + Waterproof fabric protects gear in rain and road spray
- - Does not hold water, so it does not answer the water container need
- - Requires a hitch cargo tray or rack setup to mount properly
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Based on the last 28 days of search and visitor data.
Car Camp Picks curates picks for US shoppers. Scores are our editorial assessment. We may earn a commission from links on this page.