One of the joys of camping is a hot evening shower, but that can be difficult because not all campgrounds provide a shower or hot water. In that case, all you need is a camp shower, which consists of a 5-gallon plastic bag that is clear on one side and black on the other, a cord to hang the bag, and a spout with a closure to control the flow of water.

Before you leave the campsite for the day, fill the camping shower with water and lay it on the ground where the sun will hit it. Be sure to leave the clear side up. The sun penetrates the clear side and the heat is absorbed by the black side underneath. Since heat rises, it is reflected back into the water. When you return at the end of the day, you will have plenty of hot water for your shower. Use the attached cord to hang the camping shower, making sure to get it high enough so that you can stand under the spout, open the closure so that gravity can do its thing, and enjoy. You can find camp showers for less than $10.00 wherever they sell camping supplies.

(Photo © 2000 David Sweet licensed to About.com, Inc.)