Squatting behind a bush and rinsing off with a solar bag that barely hit 70 degrees is a solved problem - the gear exists, it just takes knowing which products are worth hauling. Five options under $110 cover everything from a genuine flush toilet to a pressurized electric shower with an 80-minute battery.
| Photo |
Top Pick
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Versatile
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Budget
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Best Value
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Best for Reliability
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| Product | Camco 5.3-Gallon Portable Toilet | Reliance Products Luggable Loo 5-Gallon Portable Toilet | KIPIDA Solar Shower Bag 5 Gallons | DR.PREPARE Portable Shower with Foldable Bucket | WolfWise Pop Up Privacy Shower Tent |
| Weight | 11.5 lbs | 3 lbs | Under 1 lb | Under 2 lbs | 3.6 lbs |
| Capacity | 5.3 gal waste / 2.5 gal flush | 5 gal | 5 gal / 20L | 4.5 gal / 17L bucket | — |
| Flush type | Bellows pump flush | None - bag-based | — | — | — |
| Max load | 330 lbs | 300+ lbs | — | — | — |
| Buy Now | Check Price → | Check Price → | Check Price → | Check Price → | Check Price → |
Quick Tips
Hang your solar shower bag by 10am in direct sun - water temperature peaks around 3-4 hours later, giving you a genuinely warm rinse by afternoon.
Use double-wall waste bags in any bucket-style toilet - the inner bag gels liquid on contact, making odor control far better than relying on the lid alone.
Stake down your privacy tent even in calm conditions - pop-up frames catch wind easily and the tent will blow over mid-shower if unanchored.
Empty a flush toilet's holding tank at campground dump stations before they reach capacity - a full tank is harder to seal and much messier to transport.
Camco 5.3-Gallon Portable Toilet
Best for car campers who want a genuine flush experience
Camco 5.3-Gallon Portable Toilet
Best for car campers who want a genuine flush experience
What we like
- Detachable holding tank with a slide-seal valve locks in odors between empties reliably.
- Bellows-type flush rinses the bowl completely with minimal water use.
- Supports up to 330 lbs on a compact frame that fits in a car trunk.
- Comes with TST Orange Drop-In treatment samples to get you started without an extra purchase.
What we don't
- At 11.5 lbs empty it is too heavy to justify packing for backpacking trips.
- The 5.3-gallon tank needs emptying every 2-3 days for a couple, which requires finding a dump station.
- No built-in odor indicator so you have to monitor the tank manually.
If you have ever used a campground porta-potty and thought - there has to be something better for my own site - this is the answer. The detachable holding tank seals completely so you can carry it to a dump station without the smell traveling with you through camp.
This is built for car campers who stay 3-5 nights at established or primitive sites and want something closer to a home toilet than a bucket. If you are overlanding solo for one night and packing light, move to the folding option instead.
Reliance Products Luggable Loo 5-Gallon Portable Toilet
Best budget toilet for first-time car campers
Reliance Products Luggable Loo 5-Gallon Portable Toilet
Best budget toilet for first-time car campers
What we like
- At under $25 it is the cheapest functional camping toilet with a proper snap-on seat on the market.
- Weighs only 3 lbs and doubles as a water or gear storage bucket when not in use.
- Compatible with standard Double Doodie and most other 5-gallon bucket waste bags.
- Rugged enough for hunting camp, festival use, and emergency preparedness kits.
What we don't
- No flush mechanism means you are relying entirely on waste bags for odor control.
- The snap-on seat is less comfortable than a full toilet seat on an extended trip.
- Requires separate purchase of waste bags to function - budget for that ongoing cost.
It is a 5-gallon bucket with a toilet seat and no one is pretending otherwise - but for under $25 it solves the problem completely for a weekend car camping trip. Drop in a gelling waste bag, snap the lid, and you have a functional campsite toilet in 10 seconds.
This is for the camper who just wants something cheap, light, and that works - not for anyone expecting comfort on a 5-day trip. If you plan to camp more than a couple of times a year, the Camco flush toilet is a better long-term investment.
KIPIDA Solar Shower Bag 5 Gallons
Best solar shower for sunny-climate camping
KIPIDA Solar Shower Bag 5 Gallons
Best solar shower for sunny-climate camping
What we like
- Heats water to 113F in about 3 hours of direct sun - genuinely hot, not just lukewarm.
- Temperature indicator on the back tells you exactly how warm the water is before you start.
- Five-gallon capacity covers two to three full showers per fill.
- Removable hose and switchable shower head make it easy to control water flow mid-rinse.
What we don't
- Requires consistent direct sunlight to reach full temperature - unreliable on overcast days.
- You need a tree branch or pole to hang it from, which is not always available at open campsites.
- No pump means water flow is gravity-driven - pressure drops noticeably as the bag empties.
Fill it at camp, lay it in the sun by 10am, and by early afternoon you have genuinely hot water waiting for you. For desert camping, summer trips, or any trip where the sun is reliable, this is the cheapest shower setup that actually works - and at under $25 it is easier to justify than any alternative.
If your trip involves overcast weather, a Pacific Northwest forest, or you camp in the fall, skip this and go electric. This bag requires sun the way your phone requires a charger - without it you are rinsing with cold water.
DR.PREPARE Portable Shower with Foldable Bucket
Best electric shower for campers who can't count on sun
DR.PREPARE Portable Shower with Foldable Bucket
Best electric shower for campers who can't count on sun
What we like
- Electric pump delivers consistent water pressure from start to finish, unlike gravity bags that trail off.
- 80-minute battery runtime on a full charge handles multiple showers before needing a recharge.
- The collapsible 4.5-gallon bucket doubles as a dishwash basin, gear rinse station, or camp water carrier.
- Two spray modes - constant flow and manual lever - let you dial in exactly how much water you use.
What we don't
- Requires you to pre-heat water separately if you want warm showers - no solar warming built in.
- The charging port requires a clean, dry connection or charging becomes unreliable in muddy camp conditions.
- At $45-65 it costs more than a solar bag, which may heat water better on sunny trips anyway.
You fill the collapsible bucket with water from any source - a river, a jug, whatever you carried in - drop the pump in, press the button, and you have steady shower pressure in seconds. No tree branch required, no sun needed, no gravity issues.
For fall camping, cloudy climates, or overlanders who park in the shade, this is the more reliable system. The trade-off is that warm showers require pre-heating the water separately - a camp pot on a stove, or mixing hot and cold.
If you want solar-heated water without that extra step, pair this with the KIPIDA bag or just buy the solar bag if your trips are mostly sunny.
WolfWise Pop Up Privacy Shower Tent
Best privacy enclosure for primitive campsite setups
WolfWise Pop Up Privacy Shower Tent
Best privacy enclosure for primitive campsite setups
What we like
- Pops up in seconds and requires no assembly - fully functional before you finish unlocking your tent.
- 75-inch height means adults can stand upright comfortably during a full shower or toilet visit.
- Ventilation window allows shower hose pass-through so you never have to hold the hose over the top.
- Galvanized steel frame with 8 ground stakes holds the tent stable in wind without sagging.
What we don't
- At 3.6 lbs it adds real weight if you are combining it with other gear for a packed-in campsite.
- The 21-inch folded disc is awkward to fit in a standard backpack - best suited to car camping.
- Bottom is open, so mud and water from showering pools on the ground around your feet.
Without a privacy tent, your portable toilet and shower setup is only half functional at any campsite without tree cover. This tent pops up before you can second-guess whether you need it, and 75 inches means you are standing fully upright - not hunched over like every other privacy tent design.
This is a car camping essential, not a backpacking item. If you are overlanding, truck camping, or doing multi-night primitive stays, pack it.
If you are hiking in for one night with everything on your back, leave it and find a tree.
What to Look For
Toilet style is the first decision you need to make. Bucket toilets are the lightest and cheapest, but require waste bags and have no flush mechanism.
Flush-style toilets with detachable holding tanks are more comfortable and better for multi-day trips where repeated use is expected. Shower capacity determines how many people you can clean up.
A 5-gallon solar bag covers two to three showers per fill, while a 4-5 gallon electric pump system offers more consistent pressure regardless of sun exposure. For groups of four or more, plan on refilling once per day.
Privacy is the piece most campers skip and immediately regret. A pop-up privacy tent works with both your toilet and shower, and packs down to a 21-inch disc that fits behind a car seat.
If you are at a primitive site with no facilities, the privacy tent is as important as the toilet itself.
Who Should Skip This
Backpackers covering serious mileage should skip flush toilets and privacy tents entirely - the combined weight and packed size makes no sense for single-night stops. Stick to a folding toilet with waste bags and do your showering at a trail head.
Ultralight hikers already know this.
What the Community Actually Uses
On r/CampingGear, the solar shower vs. electric pump debate comes up constantly - the consensus leans toward solar bags for car camping where you can leave the bag in the sun all day, and electric pumps for cloudy climates or anyone who has been burned by a lukewarm rinse after an overcast afternoon.
The Luggable Loo also has a loyal following as a no-nonsense first toilet for people who have never camped without hookups before.
Quick Picks — In Case You've Already Decided
Reliance Products Luggable Loo 5-Gallon Portable Toilet
Check Price on AmazonFrequently Asked Questions
How do you empty a portable camping toilet?
Detach the holding tank, carry it to the nearest dump station or RV dump point, open the slide valve, and rinse with fresh water. Never empty into a regular trash receptacle or leave waste at a campsite.
Can a solar shower bag heat water on a cloudy day?
Weakly. You will get lukewarm water at best without direct sun. An electric pump shower is a better choice for overcast climates or trips where reliable hot water matters more than cost.
How private is a pop-up shower tent really?
Black or dark-colored tents provide full privacy even in direct sunlight. Light-colored or tan tents can silhouette your shape when backlit - always choose black if privacy is the priority.
What waste bags should I use with a bucket toilet?
Double-wall bags with a gelling powder liner are the standard. The inner layer gels liquid on contact so the bag is solid and sealed when you dispose of it. Camco and Reliance both make compatible bags.
Do I need a privacy tent if I am camping at an established campground?
Not always - many campgrounds have bathhouses. But if you are at a primitive site or want to shower at your own campsite rather than walk to the facilities, a pop-up tent is worth the extra 3-4 lbs.
Buying Guide
You need to decide whether you are car camping or backpacking before anything else, because that one choice eliminates half the options. A flush toilet is pointless if you pack it on your back.
A lightweight folding toilet is annoying at a basecamp where weight does not matter. Match the gear to the trip and you will not regret the purchase.