Camplux Pro Series 6L Review

The Camplux is not the most ideal for camping, but it can level up any backyard or RV. We love that we don't have to wait for the heated water and that we can adjust the temperature. The setup can be a bit heinous depending on how you do it, but you don't mind some projecting, this could be a good shower for you. That said, if you're looking for something portable and easy, look elsewhere.

Comfort

In a direct comparison to the showerhead inside your house, the Camplux is seriously impressive. It provides a full spray that's 2.2 inches from side to side. It has three modes of water output: the regular wide coverage, a center coverage that's ideal for spot washing and dog bathing, and one that combines the two for serious cleaning. One of just two knobs on the wall-mounted unit controls the pressure, helping you to find your perfect level. It's somewhat constrained by the pressure of the water going into the unit, but most outdoor hoses provide more than adequate pressure to allow a very usable and functional level of control.

Functionality

It's difficult to specify exactly what flow rate you can expect to get from this unit, as it's dependent on a huge variety of factors. Different Camplux models advertise different maximum rates, but all are influenced by the pressure coming in from your hose. You'll also get different pressure and output as you play with the settings on the actual unit, twisting the blue knob to change the pressure and toggling between modes that output different amounts of water.

Beyond the considerations of your water input, this model also requires a propane tank to heat the water and two D batteries to ignite the propane every time you turn it on. The warmer your shower, the faster it burns through propane. And while the unit itself is technically portable, it requires a stable mounting surface—either through screws on the shower's body or a hangar on a flat surface that hooks securely to the metal handle on the top. The Camplux Pro comes with a propane line (regulator included), though it's just 5 feet long, meaning your propane tank has to remain very close to wherever you're showering.

A huge gripe we have with this unit is that it doesn't come with a water pump, which makes it incredibly difficult to camp anywhere you want with it. Camplux does sell a water pump separately, but it's fairly pricey. For reference, the pump on this unit that is sold separately costs the same or more than many of the showers in this review that already come with a water pump. So, we only recommend buying a unit like this if you plan to mount it in your backyard or possibly an RV. But, without the expensive water pump sold separately, it won't work at a campsite that doesn't already have a water pump (and don't forget to bring a separate water hose along and pray that it all connects properly).

Something we also don't love is how short the hose is (a mere 5 feet), which made it impossible to stretch into our privacy shelter without the right stand (which is also not included). If the stand you choose is set closer to the ground, you'll likely have to crouch down to spray your head, which was pretty uncomfortable compared to the others we tested. Most showers we used easily fit on our shower hook in the privacy tent, allowing us to have a hands-free shower. Though, if you're not reliant on a tall stand and are able to mount this shower up high, the shorter spray hose is less of an issue.

Ease of Set Up

After you've set the whole thing up once, it's very simple to replicate the process. In reality, it's about having all the right hookups and components, as well as the appropriate space to mount everything. Unlike most camping showers that are self-contained units (just add water!), the Camplux Pro requires multiple extra inputs that you have to supply yourself. Namely, the tank full of propane, a constant stream of fresh water via a standard garden hose, a stand to hang it on, or a non-flammable spot to mount it (not easy to find), and two D batteries to ignite the propane. So if you want to go car camping with this setup, don't forget to take the propane, check the batteries are fresh, pack a hose (and camp at a site that allows you to use a hose), and have a way to securely mount or hang the whole thing.

Even with all the parts it doesn't come with, the Camplux Pro still comes with a bunch of accessories, attachments, and extra pieces to handle the basics. The initial setup can feel overwhelming at first when looking at all the pieces, but we found the instructions to be fairly straightforward, and there are labels on the unit itself that help guide you through the process.

Our biggest struggle was that our garden hose was a bit crusty with age and couldn't attach well enough to the unit to not spray water everywhere. It's also important to note that this unit cannot freeze. So if you live in a place with seasons, be sure not to leave this shower outside or even in a cold garage when temperatures dip below 33 degrees.

Durability

The bulk of this shower is sturdy, and we had no issues using it during our several months of testing. However, unlike many other camping showers that are made to take a beating, this one is likely to break internally if you were to drop it, particularly on the many connection points exposed on the bottom of the unit.

Our only issues with this unit are with some of its external components, made from unimpressively flimsy plastic. We had particular problems using the quick-connect pieces. More than once, though it looked fully attached, turning on the water supply to this shower exposed a sloppy job connecting components, resulting in the quick-connect becoming a disconnect due to high pressure as we tried to fix it. As mentioned before, we also had issues getting our old backyard hose to connect without leaking.

Portability

Though technically portable, the number of components and inputs required to run this unit make it one of the least portable units we tested. There's no way to use this without a garden hose and a giant propane tank. And it's seriously heavy compared to other options we tested at 12.6 pounds, not to mention the even heavier propane tank you'll have to haul around. Needless to say, our hands were full of heavy and bulky items when transporting and setting this unit up.

Even if you're an RVer spending time touring the country at campsites with full water hookups, mounting this shower securely and stably is extremely important, again hampering its overall level of portability. It's not impossible, but it will require your ingenuity to develop a system to do so—whether that's a metal stand to hang on outside or a large hook to mount it to the outside of your camper. Because it runs on propane, this unit can also never be operated safely indoors due to the potential build-up of harmful fumes.

Should You Buy the Camplux Pro?

If you're looking for a shower that you can securely mount in your backyard for hosing off after getting out of the pool or hot tub, we think this is a great option. What sets this unit apart from other showers we tested is its ability to heat our water immediately. So, if you're someone who wants their water hot and wants it hot right now, this could be a great option. But, be prepared to do some projecting and research to ensure you mount it safely and away from anything flammable and in a well-ventilated area during the installation.

What Other Camping Showers Should You Consider?