Are you dirty enough to buy a $700 portable shower?

Hot showers, like electricity, are an easy luxury to take for granted. That all changes after camping out for a few nights at a music festival, working hard for a week at the back yard, or spending the summer in the wild. Itchy skin and the vague smell of suddenly warm clams make the idea of ​​spending hundreds on a portable shower seem less ridiculous.

I’ve been testing the Hottap Go from Australia-based Joolca for my post-surfing and post-cooking showers. It features an integrated 12L water tank which is an improvement over other portable showers that require an external container and a long, heavy hose that is easy to trip over. The Hottap Go recirculates the water until it reaches the temperature you choose. This slows things down a bit, compared to “quick” portable showers, but it doesn’t waste water because it won’t produce the initial shock of cold water that is often sprayed on the ground.

The $554 Hottap Go requires an external 12V power source, but in the US Joolca sells a $165 12V / 5A power bank that is magnetically attached to the case. In Europe I had to roll mine with a €85 (about $100) power bank from Amazon. The result is a true, fully self-contained hot water system that can be taken anywhere.

To clear up any confusion quickly: the Hottap Go requires electricity to power the integrated water pump and display but heats water with propane gas. It works with standard 1lb propane cans out of the box, as well as larger tanks with a hose and regulator to provide.

One thing I like about the Hottap Go is that the hoses, battery, shower, and gas cap can all be stored inside the water tank when not in use for easy portability and storage. I also like that the adjustable flow showerhead comes with a magnetic holder. Combined with its method of preheating the water by recirculation, it’s clear that Joolca’s product designers have learned from the shortcomings of the current crop of portable propane showers.

To take a shower, first attach the gas quick release hoses to the shower head, connect the shower to a 12V power source (power bank, power station, or cigarette plug inside your car), set the temperature you want and wait. The unit will start heating and circulating the water until a series of beeps indicate that the target temperature has been reached. I brought the tap water up to 47C / 117F hot (per display) in exactly four minutes, which was enough time to gather everything I needed to shower outside my van with my modesty preserved.

One windy day at the beach, I realized that the Hottap Go should continue to dominate, despite its entry into the wind. It failed so many times that I saw the E3 error message on the screen. Repositioning the shower without air kept the flame burning. The top handle makes it easy to move, and the seal around the lid ensures that water won’t slide down or your power bank. Otherwise, the Hottap Go stayed on and stayed on without issue during my testing.

Joolca says the Hottap Go is perfect for two “nice showers” or one “long, fancy one.” I was able to take two laborious yet satisfying showers from its full 12L (3.2 gal) water tank, liberally using the on/off button on the showerhead to save water while getting dirty.

Water flow is good, even in high conditions. It’s strong enough to go through long, thick hair when I shampoo but won’t jettison grime from my mountain bike, for example. The magnetic holder is strong and the shower feels good in the hand with a well positioned on/off switch. Adjusting the flow rate dial is a two handed job, but mostly I just left it on high.

If you’re only going to use it once or twice a year, spending over $554 for a Hottap Go portable shower doesn’t make a lot of sense, especially when portable tankless showers like BougeRV’s cost half that. I much prefer the Hottap Go’s recirculating water tank, performance, and overall convenience, though I wish the optional $165 magnetic power bank was included in that price. Still, for vanlifers like me and anyone who often spends days away from plumbing, $719 can be easily forgiven for what could be the best portable hot water shower available.

Photos by Thomas Ricker / The Verge