Showering in an RV has its challenges. The showers run small, they usually don’t have a seat, they haven’t any real shelves to put soap/shampoo bottles on, and hot water isn’t easy to come by. Plus there isn’t a bathtub to soak in.

The only thing you have control over is what kind of showerhead you want. In an RV, getting the biggest bang for your buck is important. You also need a showerhead that will serve its purpose especially when you run into a low water pressure situation in an RV park.

Most RV’s have small (6 to 12gal) water heaters, and you have to be quick when it comes to showering, unless if you have the option of an “on-demand” water heater. Having a good showerhead will counteract the low pressure and limited amount of hot water. You’ll feel clean in less time.

According to the situation and facts, this guide will help you to choose either a fixed or a hand-held model. I will also present you with the top showerheads in each category. Prices range from $10 to $110

How to Buy a RV Showerhead

Along with price and value, in other words “getting the biggest bang for your buck,” there are things to look for when buying a showerhead, be it fixed or hand-held. In general, RV or home, things you need to know and should look at are:

• Consider Your height

Taller than average usually need to use the hand-held

• Spay pattern

Do you want a gentle spray or a heavy pour

• Multiple settings for water speed

If you share a bathroom, “different strokes for different folks”

• Know water pressure status

Normal showerheads are rated at 2.5 gallons per minute

• Type of showerhead

Rain shower effect or one position showerheads

• Flexibility

Spray entire body or just one part

• Low/high flow

Smaller water bills; uses only 1.5 – 2.0 gpm

• Specialty showerheads

LED (lighted), solar(outdoors), Bluetooth(music) or sliding bar(disabled)

What to Look For

In an RV, the amount of water and the amount of pressure is not always constant. Different parks, different issues:

Know the water pressure:

This constantly changes while on the road. Normal showerheads are rated at 2.5 gpm:

1. The hand-held showerhead gives more flexibility. You can aim it where you need it, and hold it close to your body for an increased flow pressure. Customizes water flow
2. Low-flow showerhead: 1.5 to 2.0 gpm, leads to a decrease in water usage which leads to less energy consumed and the electric bill gets cut because you’re not constantly running the water heater
3. High-pressure showerhead: if you have lower water pressure this brings in a more constant flow

The spray pattern can make or break a showerhead:

• Directed hole, regular spray
• Rain shower
• Massage
• Full body
• Jet spray
• Aeration water spray
• Mist spray

RV Shower Brands

The following showerheads that can also be used in RV’s, are the best reviewed and most popular. You can purchase them at places like Camping World, Amazon and Home Depot. This list contains both fixed and handheld versions. Pros and cons are based on actual customer reviews. Units contain items such as hoses, valves, wall mounts, 3M commercial strength tape, and plumber’s tape.

Fury Handheld Shower, White

Features:

• Five distinctive spray settings including the Oxygenics setting
• Non-slip rubber finger grips
• Ample 72-inch hose
• Designed to prevent clogging or corrosion
• WaterSense certified at 2.0 GPM

Pros:

• Easy to install
• Excellent showerhead flow
• Great shower
• Attractive appearance
• Great pressure

Cons:

• Water Dribble
• Miserable performance

You can purchase the Fury Handheld Shower, White on Amazon where it’s currently listed for $54.99.

BodySpa RV Shower Kit, Brushed Nickel

Features:

• Innovative Oxygenics technology
• SmartPause valve
• Reduces shower time
• Achieves maximum performance within tank size and pressure limits
• Non-stick internal parts prevent mineral buildup and clogging
• Limited lifetime performance warranty
• WaterSense certified saving up to $85+ per year

Pros:

• Excellent showerhead flow
• Great volume
• Powerful pressure
• Great shower
• Attractive appearance

Cons:

• Hose coupling

You can purchase the BodySpa RV Shower Kit on Amazon, or at CampingWorld where it’s currently listed for $54.99.

Camco RV/Marine Showerhead Kit, White

Features:

• Heavy-duty construction
• Flexible 60” shower hose
• Built-in connectors for easy installation to a standard 1/2″ shower arm
• Reinforced construction to eliminate hose kinking

Pros:

• Nice spray patterns
• Excellent water shut-off
• Good price
• Flow rate
• Easy on/off sliding
• Improved water flow
• Easy to install
• Inexpensive upgrade

Cons:

• Cheap feel and short-lived durability

You can purchase the Camco RV/Marine Showerhead Kit on Amazon, or at CampingWorld where it’s currently listed for $29.99.

BodySpa Adventure RV Handheld Shower, Brushed Nickel

Features:

• Extra-long 72-inch hose and an articulated handle
• Three distinctive spray settings
• Integrated SmartPause
• Constructed of commercial-grade components and materials
• Limited lifetime performance warranty against failure or clogging
• WaterSense certified at 2.0 GPM to conserve both water and energy
• 72-inch hose

Pros:

• Easy to install
• Excellent showerhead flow
• Great pressure
• Performs as advertised
• Attractive appearance

Cons:

• Miserable performance
• Not usable
• Water Dribble

You can purchase the BodySpa Adventure RV Handheld Shower on Amazon where it’s currently listed for $55.

Empire Brass LED Personal Showerhead Chrome Finish

Features:

• LED personal showerhead
• Five spray functions
• 3 LED colors blue, red, green
• Volume control dial
• Digital temperature gauge

Pros:

• Attractive appearance
• Easy to install
• Great pressure
• Ultimate shower experience

Cons:

N/A

You can purchase the Empire Brass LED on Amazon or at CampingWorld where it’s currently listed for $65.99.

Glacier Bay Fixed Showerhead in Chrome

Features:

• 3-spray settings; full, pulse/full and full/pulse combination
• Chrome finish
• Rub clean nozzles
• Easy, tool-free maintenance
• Limited lifetime warranty
• 1.8 GPM
• Saves 20% more water than standard showerheads

Pros:

• Durable
• It’s Easy to Clean
• Easy to Install
• Easy to Use
• Good Size & Weight
• High Quality
• Nice Design
• Sturdy
• Stylish

Cons:

• Cannot adjust which direction this showerhead points
• Broke after a month
• Low flow

You can purchase the Glacier Bay Fixed Shower Head at Homedepot where it’s currently listed for $10.

Culligan RDSH-C115 RainDisc Filtered Shower Head

Features:

• Rain showerhead with the renowned filtering of Culligan
• Reduces rust removes chlorine and scale for cleaner skin and cleaner hair
• WHR-140 filter cartridge
• Filters sulfur odor, chlorine, and scale for a full 10,000 gallons or 6 months
• Patented filter media bacteriostatic*, limits passage and growth of bacteria for a cleaner shower experience
• System tested and certified by NSF International against ANSI Standard 177
• Optional RDA-150 Hi-Low adjustment arm available

Pros:

• Comes with removable water saver
• Easy installation
• Soft, large volume of water
• Chlorine remover really works
• Softer skin and hair
• Keeps shower itself cleaner
• No sulfur smell

Cons:

• No effect on hard water
• Replacing the water filter is difficult
• Not enough water pressure even after taking water saver out
• No difference in hair
• Water pressure slow and uneven

You can purchase the Culligan RainDisc Filtered Shower Head on Amazon or at Homedepot where it’s currently listed for $65.99.

Aquasana AQ-4100 Deluxe Shower Water Filter System with Adjustable Showerhead

Features:

• Filtered Water
• Combines coconut shell carbon and a KDF copper/zinc oxidation process to remove harsh chemicals
• Enhances the taste and smell of your water
• Includes a shower filter and a premium massaging showerhead with multiple settings
• Upflow design prevents media channeling and clogging
• Retains showerhead height and water pressure
• Increases water contact time

Pros:

• Stronger, healthier hair
• Softer, moisturized skin
• Enhances hair/skin products

Cons:

• Water test strips show no improvement in the quality of water
• For the tall person with a BIG shower area, not for the average height person with a normal space to shower in
• Not worth the expense
• Does not work on hard water

You can purchase the Aquasana AQ-4100 Deluxe Shower Water Filter System on Amazon or at Aquasana – their official website, where it’s currently listed for $59.50.

KOHLER K-9245-CP 2.5 GPM Moxie Showerhead and Wireless Speaker

Features:

• Polished chrome
• Bluetooth speaker
• Syncs with Bluetooth-enabled devices
• Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery
• Rain spray pattern
• 60 angled nozzles., 2.5 gpm spray
• The silicone spray face makes it easy to wipe away mineral buildup

Pros:

• Good spray
• Great battery life
• Relaxing shower

Cons:

• Sound not loud enough
• Only one level spray
• After a year or so showerhead started to mold
• Nightmare connecting Bluetooth to multiple devices

You can purchase the KOHLER K-9245-CP 2.5 GPM Moxie Showerhead on Amazon or at Kohler – their official website where it’s currently listed for $94.

HOMELODY Handheld RV Showerhead

Features:

• Water saving push button
• Showerhead with handheld
• Five water settings: Pulsating Massage, Power Mist, Rain Massage, Power Spray + Massage
• Easy to install
• 10-year warranty
• Chrome finish

Pros:

• Great for kids and pets
• Powerful spray
• Good value

Cons:

• Not durable
• Broken after only couple months use

You can purchase the HOMELODY Handheld RV Showerhead on Amazon where it’s currently listed for $20.

Luxsego Ionic Shower Head

Features:

• Special mineral balls: Infrared mineral stone and negative ion mineral stones
• General size
• Three spray patterns: Rainfall, Jetting, Massage
• Eco-friendly
• Solid and durable design
• Brushed Chrome

Pros:

• Water pressure
• Saves water
• Soothing

Cons:

• Had to turn the cold water off completely to have a warm shower
• Showerhead cracked two months after use
• Spraying water where it shouldn’t

You can purchase the Luxsego Ionic Shower Head on Amazon where it’s currently listed for $20.

Ecocamel Orbit SoftWater Shower Head

Features:

• Built-in SoftWater Technology
• Increases the solubility of hard water leading to better lathering with soaps and improved cleaning abilities
• Helps rid one of dry/itchy skin and scalp
• Helps reduce scaly film in the shower itself and on a showerhead
• Prevents calcium carbonate from depositing as hard scale
• Prevents minerals from building up
• Wipe clean rubber nodules
• More water pressure, less water usage

Pros:

• Can add: a shut-off valve, a massaging attachment, stainless steel flexi hose, and an adjustable showerhead holder
•  Feels like a house shower
• Conserves water with on/off switch attachment
• Skin stimulation
• Alleviates hard water problems

Cons:

N/A

You can purchase the Ecocamel Orbit SoftWater Shower Head on their official website listed for $110.

Alternatives

If you’re ever in an emergency situation or camping outdoors, you can still shower using this Black Solar Shower. I have used one while camping, and it did the job; it was warmer than a mountain stream and cleaner than a pond.

If you are boondocking in an RV and conserving water, this is an easy answer for your shower needs, until you can take a real shower. It works!

Ultimate Survival Technologies Black Solar Shower

Features:

• Warm shower outdoors or in emergency situations
• Holds 5 gallons for multiple showers per fill
• Black material absorbs heat from sun & warms water
• Easy-to-use: fill w/ water warm in the sun & hang up

You can purchase the UST Black Solar Shower on Amazon or at USTBrands – their official website where it’s currently listed for $10.

Recommendations

When we moved into our RV one of the first things we changed was the showerhead. The one that came with the RV was a cheap knockoff showerhead. We wanted something that would be full power, not use up all the hot water, and have an on/off button to conserve water, and we also wanted something that felt like a home shower and would give us a totally clean feeling. We purchased an:

Oxygenics 26481 Brushed Nickel Body Spa RV Shower Kit

We’ve had it for over four years and couldn’t be happier. When you are living in an RV, you don’t have the luxury of steady water pressure and endless hot water. We got our needed pressure, and the button afforded us all the hot water we needed.

If we want a really long, hot shower with lots of elbow room, we have to go to the bathhouse to have one. Luckily, with this showerhead, we don’t have to. It was very affordable. Lastly, I have long, thick and curly hair and I am happy with it; that says a lot. We are very happy with this showerhead.

We also have a full RV water filtration system which includes soft water filtration which helps immensely. That and the Oxygenics technology showerhead leave our skin and hair feeling clean and properly nourished.

Features:

• Patented Oxygenics technology amplifies existing water pressure and widens coverage while minimizing water use and extending the life of water tanks
• SmartPause valve helps preserve tank levels by quickly limiting water flow during soaping while keeping water temperatures consistent
• Reduces shower time with a special spray pattern that makes washing and rinsing faster, especially for those with long hair
• Non-stick internal parts prevent mineral buildup and clogging, even in hard water conditions

Conclusion

Showering in an RV doesn’t have to be impossible, especially if you have the right shower head. The three most important aspects to getting a great shower are water flow, enough hot water and actually feeling clean, all which we have mastered.

It does help immensely if the showerhead has an on/off switch which saves hot water and that is important in an RV setting. On/off switches can be added as they sometimes come separate from the original packaging.

The showerheads mentioned in this guide are all decent answers to having a great RV shower. You will have plenty of water flow, hot water, and cleanliness even with the limited water pressure at different parks and boondocking and the limited hot water tank sizes. Adding a handheld showerhead, you can target body areas as needed.

You can find more advice about showering and showerheads at RV Forums such as the following:

Here are some related articles you may be interested in:

• A Complete Guide to RV / Camper Models and Classes
• How to Find the Best RV Water Filters
• RV Gift Guide – The Best Gift Ideas For Every RV Lover
• The Ultimate Guide to RV Living