WUZombies
Adventurist
I have the Helio and I like it for that class/style of shower (especially since you pump it up and don't have to hang it), but there are limitations. If it is hot outside, you may need to keep it in the shade, it will over heat the water significantly. In Big Bend back in July we resorted to sunning it in the morning and leaving it in the shade for the afternoon for evening showers.
In cold weather it is hard as hell to get it to heat up very well. In Big Bend the previous November (we really like BBNP) the night temps were in the 20s and highs were in the mid-to-high 30s. We couldn't get it to get hot at all...or even warm, but it didn't freeze during the day which is nice.
In hot but cloudy weather we had to supplement the water with a kettle of near boiling water poured into it. In GSMNP this past June we were chasing the sun with it in our camp for the day (Chatalooche, which has heavy tree cover). It would get warm but still be fairly cold come evening. Regardless it was still MUCH warmer than the creek we were swimming in.
What I like about it is that it is simple to use, simple enough that my 3 year old and 5 year old can use it, although my 3 year old has trouble pushing the pump pad by her self because she just isn't heavy enough yet. I have a cheapo popup privacy tent that has no bottom. A $10 outdoor door mat works like a champ to keep our feet from being a muddy mess.
For a low-ish cost, non-mounted solution I'm happy with the performance of the Helio. Sure it would be mo-better to have pressurized hot water straight from the van, but that is more involved and costs more to implement than what I paid for a neat little shower that packs away in a small space.
In cold weather it is hard as hell to get it to heat up very well. In Big Bend the previous November (we really like BBNP) the night temps were in the 20s and highs were in the mid-to-high 30s. We couldn't get it to get hot at all...or even warm, but it didn't freeze during the day which is nice.
In hot but cloudy weather we had to supplement the water with a kettle of near boiling water poured into it. In GSMNP this past June we were chasing the sun with it in our camp for the day (Chatalooche, which has heavy tree cover). It would get warm but still be fairly cold come evening. Regardless it was still MUCH warmer than the creek we were swimming in.
What I like about it is that it is simple to use, simple enough that my 3 year old and 5 year old can use it, although my 3 year old has trouble pushing the pump pad by her self because she just isn't heavy enough yet. I have a cheapo popup privacy tent that has no bottom. A $10 outdoor door mat works like a champ to keep our feet from being a muddy mess.
For a low-ish cost, non-mounted solution I'm happy with the performance of the Helio. Sure it would be mo-better to have pressurized hot water straight from the van, but that is more involved and costs more to implement than what I paid for a neat little shower that packs away in a small space.
