I’ve definitely been there with the “not freezing” but not exactly “warm” shower.
Couldn’t agree more. My first solar shower was basically a glorified water balloon—hung it from a tree branch, and the only thing that got hot was my patience. Ended up wrapping it in a black trash bag and propping it on my car roof. Not elegant, but hey, lukewarm beats hypothermia. If I learned anything, it’s that sunlight is free but not always generous.“Honestly, it’s all about managing expectations. You’re not getting a spa experience out there, but with a bit of effort, you can at least avoid that icy shock.”
Tried the “solar shower bag in a black trash bag” trick myself—honestly, it’s better than nothing, but I wouldn’t call it a hot shower. What’s worked best for me is using a coil of black irrigation tubing (about 50 feet) laid out on the roof of my shed. Fill it up, let it sit in the sun for a couple hours, and you’ll get water that’s actually warm enough to feel decent. Not fancy, but way more reliable than those flimsy bags. Just gotta watch out for scalding if you forget about it on a really sunny day...
Tried the “solar shower bag in a black trash bag” trick myself—honestly, it’s better than nothing, but I wouldn’t call it a hot shower. What’s worked best for me is using a coil of blac...
That black irrigation tubing trick is hands-down more effective than any of those cheap solar shower bags. I’ve tried both, and honestly, those bags just don’t hold up—either they spring a leak or barely get tepid unless it’s a scorcher outside. The tubing, on the other hand, actually gets the water hot enough that you have to be careful, like you said.
One thing I’d add: if you want to up your game a bit, try coiling the tubing tighter and putting it under a clear plastic sheet or even an old window pane. Creates a mini-greenhouse effect and boosts the temp even more. It’s not pretty, but it works. Just be mindful of the plastic off-gassing if you’re using really cheap tubing—some of that stuff smells weird when it gets hot.
I get that some folks like the convenience of the bags, but for actual warm showers? Tubing wins every time. Just wish someone would make a decent kit that combines durability with real heat retention...
Honestly, I’ve seen way too many of those solar bags split at the seams or just turn into lukewarm disappointment. The tubing hack is clever—plus, you can rig it up with a cheap garden sprayer for some real water pressure. Just don’t leave it out too long or you’ll end up with scalding water... learned that the hard way once.
I hear you on those solar bags—they’re just not built for the long haul. I tried patching one with duct tape once, but it just made a mess and leaked worse. The garden sprayer trick is genius though. I’ve been thinking about using some old black irrigation pipe coiled up on the shed roof instead of a bag. Has anyone tried that? Wondering if it holds up better or just ends up making the water way too hot...