Costco's Useful Outdoor Item Is A Portable Upgrade For Your Summer Camping Trips

Camping is a marvelous way to enjoy the great outdoors. Immersing yourself in nature overnight allows you the opportunity to relax and unplug. There's nothing quite like waking up in a tent to the sound of birds singing, or the late night conversations that happen around the campfire.

There are so many reasons to love camping, but it's not all rainbows and sunshine. If you're someone who enjoys the comforts of home, spending a few nights outdoors without modern amenities can become a little taxing. You may have to cope with dirt, bugs, and unpredictable weather – so it's a good idea to invest in some gear to make the experience more comfortable. Costco, a popular warehouse membership club, has some great camping essentials. One of the best deals is the RinseKit Pro Portable Shower.

Going days without a shower is one of the more challenging aspects of camping. Sure, you could stay at a fancy campground with shower houses — but if you're hoping to travel off the beaten path you usually have to do without a shower. Going to bed dirty can make it hard for some campers to sleep, so this is a total game-changer for extended camping trips. There's no longer a need to sacrifice cleanliness for the sake of adventure. Nothing beats a refreshing shower after a day of sweating, hiking, and exploring.​​

It's amazing how luxurious something as simple as a shower feels after a few days of camping – especially during the warm summer months. The RinseKit Pro Portable Shower was designed with outdoor recreation enthusiasts in mind. The founder, Chris Crawford, grew up in SoCal where he fell in love with surfing. Surfing was his passion, but he built swimming pools for a living. He'd often head straight from a morning surf session to work, and the feeling of being covered with ocean salt and tiny bits of sand was a constant annoyance.

The idea for the RinseKit Pro Portable Shower was born from his desire to spend more time surfing, and less time running home to clean up before work. He built his first shower, and soon other surfers took notice. He began taking orders and building early models in his garage. He relied on crowdfunding to grow his business. You may recognize Chris and his RinesKit from the TV show "Shark Tank." 

By the time The RinseKit Pro Portable Shower was pitched on the show, business had already begun to boom, so ultimately Chris and his team decided not to work with the "Shark Tank" investor. Instead, they went on to make deals with a variety of retailers, including Costco. On the official RinseKit website, the 3.5-gallon model costs $225, but if you purchase from Costco you can get it for $160.

The Rinsekit Pro Portable Shower in the 3.5 gallon model can go wherever you go, because it's battery powered. Wild camping excursions aren't the right fit for everyone, but with a portable shower they can become a bit less intimidating and much more comfortable. According to the Rinsekit website, it is the first battery powered model they've created. The shower itself kind of looks like a small plastic cooler with a hose and shower head attached. It is 17 inches long, 11.5 inches wide, and 14 inches high. When empty, it weighs just 13 pounds. Its small size and lightweight design make it easy to bring with you on your next road trip or camping adventure. When filled with water it still only weighs 42 pounds.

Other portable showers on the market use gravity to create water pressure, meaning you'll have to suspend it from something or have a friend hold it for you. Some also use a pump. The RinseKit Pro uses a battery to create powerful water pressure. There is also a separate HyperHeater that can heat the water for a nice warm shower.

If you're car camping, spending a long weekend at the beach, or going to a music festival the RinseKit Pro could be an excellent investment. At the time of writing it is available in store and online at Costco.