A camping trip allows you to enjoy the outdoors and explore what you can make out of what’s in there. It teaches you ingenuity with the things around that also makes you appreciate what you already have back in your home. But of course, with innovation, a camping trip can be not all about losing all the comforts of your home. If you are going somewhere off-grid, carrying essentials like a water heater for camping is possible.
A water heater for camping makes it easier for you to access warm or hot water for food preparation, washing, or even coffee. It relies on batteries and propane as a fuel source, thus, making it portable and compact to bring.
A portable water heater makes a great addition to any camping trip, especially when you have kids around. It allows you to bathe or clean them up without getting uncomfortable about the water temperature. If you are traveling on an RV, a portable hot water heater (tankless) can be tapped on your in-house power source for continuous supply.
Now, for camping, an outdoor water heater will suffice. Though the supply is limited (because of its capacity), you can do more with its portability. A water heater for camping is also easy to set up – no need for tools so you can immediately use the water after it heats up. It is also okay to bring during camping due to its size.
Are you planning your next outdoor trip? Make sure to include a water heater for camping in your essentials. If you need help in buying the right one for your needs, check our recommendations here.
Best Portable Water Heater for Camping – (Comparison)
| Name | Key Feature | |
| Coleman Hot Water on Demand H2Oasis Portable Water Heater – (Editor’s Choice) | Comes with a collapsible 5-gallon water container | Check Price |
| Onsen – 7L Portable Tankless Propane Water Heater | Utilizes dual-ignition system – batteries and direct from a 12-volt source | Check Price |
| Camplux 2.64 GPM Tankless Propane Water Heater | Has an anti-freezing technology that uses an anti-drain plug to complete discharge residual water | Check Price |
Coleman Hot Water on Demand H2Oasis Portable Water Heater – Editor’s Choice
This water heater for camping is compact and reliable to bring along your next adventure. It heats water fast, has an intuitive operation, and is also compact and portable.
The Coleman Hot Water on Demand is powered by propane for efficient and steady temperatures. It heats up the water up to 125 degrees Fahrenheit in just about 30 seconds. Simply connect the pump to the included water carrier, fill the carrier with water, set up the temperature between 54 to 125 degrees Fahrenheit. It comes with a rotary knob dial for the temperature setting and an LED panel so you can monitor the status of your heater and the water.
This water heater for camping comes in a collapsible water carrier with a capacity of 5 gallons. Fill it up with potable water, connect to the heater, and have an ample supply of hot water at a time. Simply collapse and store in your camping bag or the included mesh bag before you go.
What I also like about this Coleman camping hot water heater is it already comes with a handheld showerhead. This allows it to be more flexible with your needs and activities. You can use this water heater for camping to have a quick shower even outdoors with the silicone hose’s non-kinking design.
The hose measures 6-foot long and is definitely a useful accessory to have in camping. The included shower head holder can also be positioned to your liking, with the height can be adjusted as well.
Meanwhile, this portable hot water shower is easy to operate with reliable results. It comes with an Instastart ignition system for fast startup. The Perfectflow technology allows for a consistent and steady hot water supply regardless of the weather condition outdoors. This water heater for camping also comes with a submersible pump for continuous and strong water flow.
There is also no need for an electric source to operate this portable electric water heater. It comes with a built-in Lithium-Ion battery so you can simply connect your water heater for camping to your car to charge. The battery powers the LEDs and pump, while the propane fuels the heat.
Pros
- Propane as a heat source; built-in Li-Ion rechargeable battery for the pump and electronics
- Adjustable water temperature from 54 to 125 degrees Fahrenheit in 30 seconds
- Comes with a collapsible 5-gallon water container
- Comes with a submersible pump
- Comes with a shower head with an adjustable (height and position) shower head holder
- Includes a 6-foot, non-kinking silicon hose connected to the showerhead
- Utilizes Instastart ignition system
- Utilizes the Perfectflow technology
Cons
- Limited water supply at a time
Conclusion
The Coleman Hot Water on Demand H2Oasis Portable Water Heater is a great companion during camping because of its portability, reliability, and performance.
Onsen – 7L Portable Tankless Propane Water Heater
This water heater for camping is your flexible companion for on-demand and continuous water supply during outdoor trips and camping. It is also portable and mobile so whichever location you’d like to settle, you can still make it work.
This camping tankless water heater utilizes a dual-ignition system that allows you to draw power either from batteries or direct from a 12-volt power source. You can use two D batteries or use the included alligator clips to temporarily tap directly from the power source. This allows you to be more flexible with your location, even go off-grid. Though remember that the ignition system is pressure-driven, meaning, it will only work if the water that runs through it reaches and sustains pressure anywhere between 10 to 80 PSI, otherwise, it will not work.
The Onsen – 7L Portable Tankless Propane Water Heater utilizes propane as a fuel source to heat up 7 liters of water per minute for up to 14 hours. You can connect several water outlets with two users drawing water from them at the same time. This water heater for camping heats water at 50,000 BTUs per hour so you get continuous supply for all of your needs. This water heater for camping connects to a 20-pound liquid propane gas tank, or what typical barbecues use.
This propane water heater camping comes with an intuitive control panel with rotary adjustment knobs for the gas output and water flow. You can adjust the temperature by working on the gas output. The temperature and the battery life are displayed digitally on the panel screen.
This Onsen water heater also comes with a propane camp shower that utilizes a stainless-steel hose that makes you more flexible with applications. This water heater for camping set also includes a garden hose adaptor and a complete gas hose and regulator assembly.
Pros
- Tankless water heater system for continuous water supply
- Utilizes dual-ignition system – batteries and direct from a 12-volt source
- Heats water up to 7 liters per minute for up to 14 hours of use; 50,000 BTUs per hour
- Rotary adjustment knobs for gas output and water flow
- Comes with a multi-axis shower head with stainless steel hose
- Digital display for battery life and temperature
Cons
- Uses a bulky 20-pound LPG tank as an alternative power source
Conclusion
Camping trips with more companions need a more reliable water heater for camping for multiple applications. And the Onsen – 7L Portable Tankless Propane Water Heater will not disappoint you on this.
Camplux 2.64 GPM Tankless Propane Water Heater
If you know that a heated camping shower is an absolute essential, then make sure to invest in a water heater for camping like this one. It draws power from cell batteries for ignition and propane for heat. It is portable, compact, and versatile for all of your heated water needs outdoors and even in off-grid locations.
The Camplux water heater utilizes a tankless design for that continuous water supply for multiple applications. Though this water heater for camping does not require a direct electrical connection, using tankless water heaters needs you to have access to a water supply with pressures within 3.6 to 110 PSI for this model. Given that it runs on that ideal operating range, you can now enjoy outdoor hot showers with its 1.58 gallons per minute water flow at a maximum of 68,000 BTU per hour. The overall system runs quietly while running efficiently to conserve energy.
This outdoor tankless water heater follows the CSA Safety Testing Standard to ensure safe and reliable performance. This portable propane water heater comes with overheating protection that shuts of the system when the water reaches 167 degrees Fahrenheit.
Meanwhile, this water heater for camping also has an anti-freezing technology that uses an anti-drain plug to complete discharge residual water. This reduces tendency of breakdown or frequency of maintenance.
Pros
- Tankless design for that continuous water supply
- 1.58 gallons per minute water flow at a maximum of 68,000 BTU per hour
- Has an anti-freezing technology that uses an anti-drain plug to complete discharge residual water
- Follows the CSA Safety Testing Standard
- Comes with a shower head with 3 spray outputs
Cons
- Uses plastic and brass fittings
Conclusion
The Camplux 2.64 GPM Tankless Propane Water Heater is portable, easy to set up, and provides reliable performance.
Final Verdict
The best portable hot water shower for camping should be easy to set up, use, and is also to carry along camping trips and outdoors. When it comes to design and performance, I like the Coleman Hot Water on Demand H2Oasis Portable Water Heater.
The Coleman Hot Water on Demand H2Oasis Portable Water Heater comes with a collapsible container, which for me, makes it easier to use this equipment outdoors. It is one true portable water heater for camping that also provides reliable and consistent performance.