My 15 year old daughter is joining my son and me for the first time this year, one week trip, and is insisting on being able to shower at least a couple of times. This is an activity that is foreign to my son and me.

I picked up a Sea to Summit pocket shower for her. My question is, for those of you who do take a quick shower, are you filtering all that water? Or just using water out of the lake? Seems like a waste to filter 8-10 liters of water and then see it all used in two minutes.

Just go swimming

No need to filter it, just fill it up from the lake, put it out in the sun to heat up, and then tie up to whatever tree. If you have unused hot water left from cooking, you can always add that for a warmer shower. Won't be drinking it, and assume you'll be using soap. So no need to filter.

I would recommend having some sturdier cord for hanging that when it's full. Also, maybe a piece of foam mat or section of tarp as a shower "floor" to make it more comfortable for her.

Brought a Sea to Summit last year to entice my wife to join me again. I did not filter the water. I did, however, boil about 2 gallons and mixed that with cold water.

It was very, very nice! Basecamping again with my wife in August, and I can say I look forward to the shower!

We just go swimming. But first we filter the water in the lake.

AmarilloJim: "Just go swimming"

Bingo.

To avoid soap in the water, have a bucket of water in camp and at the ready, well away from the shore. Jump in the lake, get good and soaked, get back on shore and walk up to where the bucket is, soap up thoroughly, use the water in the bucket to rinse well, then go for another swim.

Done.

p.s. Yes, I've brought a sun shower for my wife and she likes it.

2/3 bag of unfiltered lake water + 1 liter boiled water = a tepid shower. Love that pocket shower! For a mat, I pack a 2'x 3' section of mesh liner made for tool chest drawers.

mjmkjun: "2/3 bag of unfiltered lake water + 1 liter boiled water = a tepid shower. Love that pocket shower! "

This is the perfect formula. Be careful and don't over-tighten the nozzle. Just turn it until the water stops running out or you will tear the O-ring. I bought a cheap footprint to use as a 3-sided shelter, it really helps if you can block the wind. It also provides some privacy.

johndku: "My 15 year old daughter is joining my son and me for the first time this year, one week trip, and is insisting on being able to shower at least a couple of times. This is an activity that is foreign to my son and me.

I picked up a Sea to Summit pocket shower for her. My question is, for those of you who do take a quick shower, are you filtering all that water? Or just using water out of the lake? Seems like a waste to filter 8-10 liters of water and then see it all used in two minutes. "

Not sure why you would filter it. Its almost certainly cleaner than what comes out of your tap at home.

arctic: "

johndku: "My 15 year old daughter is joining my son and me for the first time this year, one week trip, and is insisting on being able to shower at least a couple of times. This is an activity that is foreign to my son and me.


I picked up a Sea to Summit pocket shower for her. My question is, for those of you who do take a quick shower, are you filtering all that water? Or just using water out of the lake? Seems like a waste to filter 8-10 liters of water and then see it all used in two minutes. "

Not sure why you would filter it. Its almost certainly cleaner than what comes out of your tap at home."

Yes, pretty redundent to filter. But the pocket shower is a good investment. Women and children love it. But if used right it is a great tool for all.

We always take 2 sun showers and 2 gravity water filters. One of the filters is connected to a shower to use for drinking water and the other filter is for the sun shower. It is quick to fill and heat on a rock if camping in summer. This works well for 2 to 3 people and I would take an extra of each for 5 or more campers. In any event, a back up is in place if any problems with either develop. We pack all this in a plastic bucket for security along the travel route.

andym: "We just go swimming. But first we filter the water in the lake."

Touche'

Those solar showers are likely one of those things you dismiss with a wave of your hand until you try it and quickly admit, "hey, this is sort of nice". As per filtering before use I can only shake my head, knot my forehead up and mumble incoherently.

thanks for this thread!

mastertangler: "

andym: "We just go swimming. But first we filter the water in the lake."

Touche'

Those solar showers are likely one of those things you dismiss with a wave of your hand until you try it and quickly admit, "hey, this is sort of nice". As per filtering before use I can only shake my head, knot my forehead up and mumble incoherently. "

And they weigh next to nothing and take very little space. Bought it for my wife now I take it for us guys.

Never thought about filtering, but I'm one of the last dinosaurs that doesn't filter my drinking water either.

I trip with my wife and 4 daughters. We always take a sun shower. I say that it is for them but I like it too.

We don't filter the water. But that would be pretty easy to shop if you had a gravity first system. I sayto do whatever makes her more comfortable at first.

Couldn't agree more. I shower at the end of every day, without exception, using unfiltered lake water. I get wet in the lake, get all pepperminty with Dr. Bronner, rinse using my pocket shower. I seldom heat the water and, if I do, it's at the end of the trip when I know I still have fuel left (I'm not much of a campfire guy.)

As mentioned by some above, showering occurs well away from the water.

A shower at the end of the day in the BWCA.... can't beat it.

Mike

andym: "We just go swimming. But first we filter the water in the lake."

Wouldn't it just be easier to dump 8 tons of iodine tablets in the lake rather than filtering it?

My wife insists on a shower every other day. It's no trouble at all with a flat rock and a sunny day.

mjmkjun: "2/3 bag of unfiltered lake water + 1 liter boiled water = a tepid shower. Love that pocket shower! For a mat, I pack a 2'x 3' section of mesh liner made for tool chest drawers.
"

This...sea to summit shower is the best. After day 3 my hair (even when short) gets funky & a shower or just washing my hair makes me feel brand new again. My mat is a piece of Tyvek, but the mesh liner is a great idea. Make sure to reapply your bug spray when you're done.

AmarilloJim: "Just go swimming"

I think you already have your answer. Cannot imagine filtering BWCA water for a shower. I swim even when it's cold - if it's TOO cold (which is rare), then I wouldn't shower either!

MikeinMpls: I get wet in the lake, get all pepperminty with Dr. Bronner, rinse using my pocket shower.


Mike"

I have always looked longingly at that Peppermint soap. But in getting ready to hike in the backcountry of Glacier National Park I read the book "Bear Attacks, causes and avoidance" (twice actually) and it forever changed the way I look at anything scented.

Crazy I know............but now I would be thinking "oh, great, i'm a Peppermint Paddy here in my sleeping bag".

mastertangler: "

MikeinMpls: I get wet in the lake, get all pepperminty with Dr. Bronner, rinse using my pocket shower.



Mike"

I have always looked longingly at that Peppermint soap. But in getting ready to hike in the backcountry of Glacier National Park I read the book "Bear Attacks, causes and avoidance" (twice actually) and it forever changed the way I look at anything scented.


Crazy I know............but now I would be thinking "oh, great, i'm a Peppermint Paddy here in my sleeping bag". "

I guess I've never thought of the scent that way, but haven't had a problem in 30+ years of it.

Mostly I use Bronners as supplemental reading material. The label is an interesting read.

Mike

We go early to mid June and swimming is quite brisk. We use exactly what your talking about and we filter no water for a shower. A couple other things we have found work well.

Pick a nice sunny warm afternoon if you can.
Take a small piece of Tyvek for a shower mat so your not standing in mud.
Take 20' piece of cord to string over tree branch.
Heat at least one large pan of water to take a luke warm shower(put lake temp water in the dry bag first) . Wet up, soap up, rinse. Its only 1.5 gallons of water.
Take the super lightweight washcloths (Amazon) and bio soap.
Take micro fabric towels (you don't need a very big one)
We take a shower about every 3rd day when we change clothes.
At the same day I use a UL drybag for washing clothes so we have a reasonable clean set in another 3 days.
Repeat. You'll feel like a new man in the wilderness.

This system works very well for us weighs very little, takes up negligible pack space and is waaaayyy better than 50 degree lake water in early June. We even take this set up on single portage trips. BTW, the solar showers are way too bulky compared to the Sea to Summit pocket shower. Heat the water on a campfire no fuel or sunshine required.

Those Coleman Biowipes are good for a before bed wipe-down too

johndku: "

andym: "We just go swimming. But first we filter the water in the lake."

Wouldn't it just be easier to dump 8 tons of iodine tablets in the lake rather than filtering it?"

But then you have to wait 40 minutes.

We have thought of bringing a solar shower. Just haven’t gotten around to it. And my wife loves swimming and is very tolerant of cold water. Still, I’m sure it is nice.

We do carry a little Dr. Bonner’s but I can’t remember which scent. Except that it is not eucalyptus. My sister-in-law sent my wife into the Alaska wilderness, for a month, with a bottle of that for all cleaning needs including toothpaste. Needless to say, my wife will never go near it again.

Maybe I missed it. But the one word I have not seen in this thread is Giardia, a small Protozoa that lives mostly in the shallow waters. If not for Giardia, almost no one would filter, boil, or treat water in the BWCA. Some still don't treat water, but tend to get drinking water out of the deep water where Giardia is less likely.

Swimming presents about the same risk to Giardia as showering with unfiltered water. The one possible difference is if you scoop up water in a very shallow place where Giardia may be more prevalent. Still, if one uses unfiltered water to shower, it's just a matter of not allowing much water to get into the mouth.

Showering might provide warmer water than swimming, but it's important to shower with biodegradable soap 150 feet away from the shore.

I wouldn’t filter the water for a shower. But don’t ever brush your teeth with unfiltered water. That’s how I got the big G. Not something I care to relive.

Following up on Jaywalkers comment:
I will just add around home on the Pine River I was putting a dock in and splashed water on my lips a few times just while pounding the dock in and splashing and it was enough to get Giardia,so there are some risks.