PSA: That $45 solar shower bag I bought froze solid on a 40 degree morning

Last October I drove up to Shenandoah for a weekend and figured I'd be fancy with a solar shower. Paid $45 for a 12 liter black bag, hung it on a tree at noon, water felt great by 3pm. Next morning I went to rinse off and the hose nozzle was a block of ice. The bag itself was fine but the little plastic valve cracked when I forced it. Tried to patch it with tape, then it leaked all over my boots. Ended up just using baby wipes for the rest of the trip. Anyone else lost money on gear that only works in perfect weather? What do you actually use for a cold morning rinse without spending $200 on a pump setup?

1 comments

1 Comment

beth_hunt9d ago

Oh buddy, I feel your pain. Same thing happened to me with a cheaper knockoff up in the Adirondacks, valve cracked right at the threads. Now I just carry a one gallon garden sprayer from the hardware store, the kind with the hand pump. Cost me about twelve bucks, I fill it with warm water from my camp stove kettle and it gives a solid two minute rinse with real pressure. For the face and pits on a cold morning, that beats a wet wipe every time. Just make sure you empty the line after each use or you will be back here posting the same story.