Trying Out Our New Solar Shower 

I have always had so much respect for you and your transparency about so many things, but girlfriend, anyone who washes their hair online for all the world to see, not to help themselves but to help others is a hero in my book!! 🚿

I watched this with mouth agape. Pam, our recently retired science methodology professor, accepted the unexpected challenge to wash her hair, unscripted, right before our eyes. There went that always beautifully coifed red hair under a solar shower. That's quite a testament to her dedication to teaching us how to prepare to be self reliant during difficult times.

You are so brave to wash your hair online for us all to watch - but the video is great. You and Jim are so amazing. My husband & I are about the same age as you. You remind me that getting older doesn’t mean we have to stop being adventurous. Thanks for all you do.

I would suggest a small pulley system so you don’t strain getting the reservoir high enough.

Drs. Cantrell, you both rock! Thank you for your integrity and mission to help all of us.As much as we want you to enjoy retirement, we're thankful for your videos too.

I’d like to ask everyone, to please pray for me and my family. I’m in my most desperate hour. Thank you!

Well, I am now seriously considering a solar shower. Pam, you LIED to us before; you are gorgeous even without your makeup! (I would ld not be as brave as you in this!)

Pam, you are such a trooper! You certainly go the extra mile for your students. I love your channel!

Pam, you are such a good sport. Thank you for that impressive demonstration. 👍🏼

Dear Miss Pam, YOU are an AWESOME warrior ! Thank you both for the demo!🥰

😂 Love this video😂 Pam has a fall-back job as a shampoo girl😂😂😂😂😂😂

You out do yourself all the time..I just loved the demonstration. I believe a turn off valve at the end of the hose would make life easier. You and Jim are gems. ❤️❤️

Now that’s a review! Actually washing your hair on video! Thank you for going to the trouble of showing us how this product works.

Love this demo! Jim, next time hang up the empty bag then fill it with the hose. 🇨🇦

Thank you for allowing comments. I have had genuine questions in the past about what this is all about because I simply did not know and couldn’t imagine what in the world. You answered me, and because your answer was pleasant and not defensive, I realized for the first time ever the importance of the topics you cover and have begun to learn more on these topics and increase my preparedness. I no longer think it’s strange. In fact, we were taught the basics of this in school during the Cold War years. It was called “civil defense.” I just hadn’t connected the dots.

i was fortunate to find these at dollar store (not same brand) i hooked them to my garden pots to water them. also got one on my porch to wash my hands before going in after playing in the dirt

Awesome video. I would hang it before filling it and point to sun. Reuse the water you wet hair with for first rinse. Thanks, we all love you dearly!

Maybe you could set up a pulley at the height you want it and use a rope to lift it up. That would make it lighter to lift and you wouldn’t need to climb a ladder holding the bag.

This is why I love watching you guys! You never know what is coming next! Great video!

I used a camp shower like this after hurricanes in '04 and '05, to wash my dishes. Now I have a 5 gallon jug with a tap on it for washing dishes. I bought a two gallon bug sprayer for showers. I can heat water on my Ecozoom rocket stove. I still have a brand new solar shower and also one that is usb charged that drops into a bucket of water. Back ups for the backups. Hurricanes happen during the hottest weather. Being sticky and sweaty is not fun! I think it will be a great morale booster to be able to get clean and to cool off! I was without power after Hurricane Andrew for more than three weeks. It was miserable. That was when my passion for being prepared began. I am always updating too! I appreciate your videos so much. Thank you!

I agree! You guys are such troopers and aren't afraid of much. This is my 1st time commenting. I absolutely adore your channel plus appreciate your level of experience, education, science, and expertise in all that you present.

AdventureVanMan utilizes a yard sprayer bottle that he has painted black for showers, so that he can heat it up and add pressure to the tank for the stream of water. This also makes it so that you don’t have to lift the container up. It just sits on the ground int he sun. Maybe that might work better for many.

We used them camping all the time! What we had was a tree strap to hang it from. We'd fill it in the morning, so it was ready for us after we'd been out for the day. 5 gallons was plenty for the 4 of us to get a nice clean shower. The trick is to wet down, go lather up and shampoo, then use the majority of water to rinse. We did upgrade to a poly container eventually. It took more space, but we never had to replace it due to a puncture. You will want that long leader on it - you may not have an optimal height to hang it from where you might end up. Other note - invest in some extra gaskets. They fit perfectly inside an rx bottle! Sorry for all of the edits - my phone doesn't register as fast as my typing.

We used to pull our garden hose out and let it lay in the sun, and use the water in it.

Someone suggested a pulley system. This is exactly what I use for my tiered solar dehydrator. I attach the rope to a carabiner and the free end to a post so I can lower the dehydrator or detach it completely as needed. I’m 5’ so I know all kinds of work arounds. 😄

Hi, Jim & Pam! Thank you for testing out the solar shower. You went over and above by sharing your live test! 😊

The things you do for your fans :). Thank you for demonstrating.

Please, please, please make sure you have that bag well secured when hanging. A man camping with us had one drop on his head and knock him unconscious. EMTs were called and hospitalization ensued. We have one of those in our kit but it's only a last resort. We use a USB rechargeable shower with a bucket. No more 40 lb bags overhead.

I've washed my hair and showered countless times with these showers. They worked great for camping! Here in southern Arizona with temps heading into the 100s, I dont think it's going to take long to heat up.

Somewhat reminding ,e of my mother, I've enjoyed your videos as you tend to research much as I do so when I saw this post photo I said to ,self ...she isn't really going to shower on RU-vid is she, I just can't imagine. There will be no stories for grandkids about Grandma getting two dollar bills tossed at her ... thank God, blessings to you both.

I start my garden seeds every year in January and February. My lights start getting heavy mostly because I'm old haha! Anyways, i use small pulleys to hike them up now. The best!!! And i have had to emergency milk jug shower in my lifetime. But i didnt have a device to heat them. Only sun on my porch. They got warm enough for a 25 year old.

Hello, What I did was add a faucet sprayer to mine so I can turn it on and off without the use of the upper switch. It has worked for a long time now without any worries. Dishes, showers, everything. Love mine..

I used to have a solar shower. I had a pulley, to lift the bag, and tied it off to the side. That way you can get the height you want. My father was 6 foot 6 inches tall, so I had to be able to raise it higher.

OK just recently made purchase in these products. I had to change it up. I can't lift 5 gallons of water. I bought the solar bags for heating but also bought a hand held pump with a switch. The plan is to heat in the bag and transfer to a 5 gl bucket and use the hand held spray pump.

Maybe hang the bag first and then fill it? Or, build a small shower stall in a dedicated space, hang the bag, and then fill it? I don’t know, but I gotta get something like this. Love this video, thank you!👍👏👏👏

My family used one of those fir yearly trips into the Boundary Water Canoe Area. When not using a little dilute bleach solution inside to avoid algae.

You can buy a small USB rechargeable pump with a shower head. It might work better to heat the water in the bag, let it run into a 5 gallon bucket and then use the shower pump combo.

It would be nice if the on off valve was down by the sprayer or have one in addition down by the sprayer which would make it much easier for the turn on turn off and not waste a lot of water

I used a watering pot for years.I have a outdoor shower stall with a shelf in the corner. Fill the pot set in sun to heat sit it on shelf and tip by the spout wala warm shower 😀

Thank you so much for the demo and for all yall do for the channel. I enjoy watching the videos. I have learned alot.

I have a solar shower if I have nothing else to use but I also have an outdoor propane water heater that is awesome.

What a trooper Pam, loved it. When we used ours, we put ours on a rope and pulley so I could lift it easily then we pulled it up high to stand under it to shower. Great video guys 🌷🇨🇦

Great Demonstration on the shower bag! Something i take for granted and for got to put in my preps! Thank you Pam & Jim, this will work! ❤

I've used this camping. We always laid it flat with the black side down, clear side up. That way the sun rays can get into the bag. I believe the first one we bought probably around 1980? had directions to do it that way.

Y'all are awesome!!! Thank you for trying it out, and showing everyone!!!❤❤❤

How precious! Pam and Jim, you are rare gems. 🔹

I think that having a valve near the sprayer would make it easier to work with. It would also save water. If you can remove the sprayer you could easily add a valve of some kind or even cut the tube and insert the valve. I would suggest an aquarium valve since they would be light weight. Of course that would depend on the hose diameter. Thank you for all your hard work. Love your videos.

Like washing hair with an eye dropper. Thanks for sacrificing your perfect blow dry! ❤

We’ e had a smaller solar showers for years for camping. When our power was out for a week last winter it worked well inside, heated water on the grill & hung it over the shower head

Pam, what a good sport you are! But actually it’s good to see it work. Like you, I think it would be great for use in an outdoor kitchen. I was surprised how little water it took to wash and condition your hair. It appears that it holds enough water to take a complete shower if you’re careful. Great deal for $10. It would make good addition to our hurricane preparedness stash. Thanks for all you do.

You guys are such a cute couple! Love how you try stuff out yourselves!!

My niece is a Ginger. Whatever comes after “Auntie Auntie Auntie” - I have insurance and just roll with it. Personal floatation is a must. And GPS.

Just need one of the pop up shower tents to go with it!

Thank you so much. Love your channel! Appreciate that you test everything

That would make camping much nicer! Thank you for trying it out.

We got 2, 3 gallon solar shower bags last year for a 4 day camping outing. We also bought a popup shower/change room where we also put our portable potty. Used the potty lid to sit on while showering. Also have a roll up bamboo mat for the ground . Worked fantastic. Ours does not have the thermometer . They just take a couple uses and you will be a pro!

Seems the on /off would be better nearer the discharge point. But it worked.

You are so awesome to wash your hair on video. Excellent video and review of the product! I have been in the market for one, so this really helps a lot! I think I would like this one.

You are so brave do do this on video. I so enjoy you and Jim. Yall put so much in for your community. Thank you for all you do

Good sport, Pam. In a grid-down, scarce water situation , I would use the collected water to wash my body, and then rinse with the water remaining in the bag.

I am so glad to see this! We had city water disaster a couple of summers ago. We were using our outside well water & I seriously was considering getting one of these. Walmart doesn't have em. Also, why not? I go camping & wash the dogs also. Never hurts to have portable warm water.

You are fantastic to go to the length to demonstrate the product

You are a brave soul, Miss Rose! Awesome demonstration on outdoor hair washing! Jim is awesome, too!

The shower needs a clamp near the end so you can shut the water off easily because it is a natural location right where you hold it. You looked like you were struggling to find the shut off valve. If you hang it higher it will be harder to find that valve.

I really love your scientific/ evidence-based look at everything. I teach science as well.

That was fun! I love the idea of this. I see some other applications for it, like bathing my dog. I've been using small tubs filled with warm water...one for bathing and one for rinsing. This would make that much easier. Also, keeping one of these in the garden area for washing hands or a quick clean of an injury could be beneficial. On the deck for rinsing grassy feet, too. (We don't camp. This would be wonderful for emergency use at home. We live in an area of NC sometimes affected by hurricanes, so the possibility of losing electricity is real. We usually still have water, so we just take cold showers. This would be so lovely to be able to take a warm shower.) As a child, my dad took us camping a lot. Back in the 60s there weren't many campgrounds that were equipped with showers. Dad would take each of us out in the water so we could bathe. He made it seem so fun and such an adventure. I can remember being wrapped in a fluffy towel, sitting by the campfire while our hair dried. Best memory. Y'all did such a good job with this video. I loved the practical application...washing and conditioning your hair. I enjoy seeing you guys work together. Thank you.

What a great sport you are Pam! Your hair is beautiful!

I’ve use this many times my hubby uses a pulley system so he doesn’t need to lift at any time . Throw a rope over a high enough branch and pull-up. 5 gallons is a great shower for two. Wet body, Lather body and hair , rinse. 😊 just need to remember to turn on and turn off so you don’t waste the water.

You both know that I LOVE your hearts. It's deeper now 😊. You have GORGEOUS hearts. One of the things that occurred when Hurricane Wilma knocked S Florida for a loop, no power for weeks! We did have a generator but not for whole house. One of the things we did was fill the garden hose and left it in the sun and when we felt it was ready scooted the hose through the bathroom window. It was a lovely shower [very long hose].. Suggestion for the future, Hang the solar pack in the spot you plan to refresh your you. Filll it whilest hanging up and let the sun do it's lovely job. Thank you both for sharing this wonderful adventure, your doing this is fantastic! ❤❤❤

congratulation on more than 300K subs! YAY~ I love these types of showers, I have 2 of them. I will say as an older person, I find it difficult to raise it up high enough to use as a regular shower, so we have a tiny block and tackle which we throw over a limb and pull it on up! I can lay it flat to heat it up and then transfer into a bucket for dishes etc...for an actual shower one needs ingenuity or upper body strength. Finally I usually fill 3/4ers just incase we need to add some cold water to make it useable. Good job you Jim & Pam

It needs to have an off/on button where the water comes out of the shower head.

I cut the hose where kink is and it worked great, or just heat up the kink part and keep it straight and don't fold it in half anymore.

We lost our hot water tank for 5 days a few years ago. We warmed water on the stove and discovered that it only took ten cups of water to wash our hair! It’s amazing how much water we waste using the shower or kitchen faucet for hair washing. That looks like a handy device though!

You are amazing! Thank you for the courage to show how it actually works, real world. Good job

I tried one out and just took into the shower and hung it from the shower head. Worked like a charm.

Jim you gave me the cobby wobbles when you bent over the ladder in otherwords acared me 😂

I can see it needs an off mechanism at the shower head, maybe that same clip that’s on the steam canner would work. Thanks for the review!

You two are the A team! Pam, you are so pretty even in soaking hair! 😊 Im going to buy a similar shower! Right now in Az you just use your water hose thats been in the sun, but its actually dangerous in high heat.

Line a 5gallon bucket with black trash bag. Hang up by handle and insert a plastic tube. Same thing and cheaper.

What a trooper you are, Pam! THANK YOU!

This was great.. The shower would also work for hand washing and may be veg washing in an out door kitchen.. Thank-you for the demo and information.. Lochness Scottish Highlands..

Pam you and Jim are great. Thanks for all you bring to us.

Pam... "I'll try anything once!" 🤣 ❤

What a trooper you are Pam! Yes, great idea for camping and emergencies. You can also make a dry shampoo and use the water for dishes, washing, etc.

Bless you.

I absolutely luv you guys! What courage to wash your hair for the world to see!! I wonder if having the hose in the sun would soften it so that it wouldn't kink as bad? else, could you replace that hose with a regular flexible shower hose/head?

Kudos to you for washing your hair online for all the world to see! I have to say that I'm impressed with how easily the shampoo rinsed out of your hair with just a simple hose.

My wife and myself used one of these for a period of time, we used a pully and a cleat to hoist it up we also used a clevis for hooking the line onto for the bag. We would both shower together get each other wet and soap up and to rinse each other down using just the one.

Thank you so much for doing your reviews on products you have purchased yourself. I can’t count the number of times I’ve purchased products recommended by YT creators when they were given the products for free for their reviews. Several of the products didn’t live up to the favorable reviews of the YT creators so it was hard not to think that the fact of getting items for free did not influence the reviews.

In a grid down. This would make a great addition!

Thanks for this video. A great demonstration showing how to use. Always wise to test a new tool. We got one about 9 years ago but ours has a rigid tank. This video reminds me to get it back out and test again. We haven’t used in about 5 years. So your vid is a two-part helper. Silicone or vinyl tubing is easy to find and inexpensive if needed. After 9 years, we might need some replacement tubing.

I would like to see some kind of a clamp added to the hose, close to the shower head, so you can turn the water on and off without having to reach up to the bottom of the water bladder. I think it would be easy to cut that hose shorter, too.

you are so fun! I'm thinking "no way she's really going to wash her hair on camera" . . . great job!!!

Appreciate all the great information you give.

Thanks for the great demonstration!

Discovery of resources is a great idea!

thank you

I have an even simpler, smaller set-up, a shower head that attaches o a one- or two-liter plastic bottle (also fits most collapsible bottles and bladders). I put the water-filled bottle inside a black plastic bag and place it in the sun - it takes less time to warm the water, and it's enough for a quick shower and hair wash. I bought it to go with my shower toga, which allows me to fully shower and wash and dry my hair while keeping my body covered. I even used the toga once for privacy when I had to use the bathroom alongside a highway when my car broke down.

I love my solar shower!!! We have 6 big ones we take camping and use them all the time, the water gets up to temperature and they are easy to use. ❤

What a sport, Pam. I might have to get one of those.