Traveling the backwaters and byways in your RV can be a great adventure. However, after a long day, you might find your shower isn’t as soothing as you’d like. To add to the pain, the water dribbles out and it takes forever to wash soap off… so frustrating!
It doesn’t have to be that way, though. Ensuring your shower is equipped with the best RV shower head can mean increased pressure and less water usage. You’ll be able to wash away the day and feel rejuvenated and refreshed.
If you’re unsure which models are the best and what to look for when upgrading yours, this is where we come in. We’ve got all the info you need to make an informed decision.
Is an RV Shower Head Any Different from a Home Version?
A shower head in an RV is much the same as the one you would find in your home. However, they might be made from inferior materials like low-grade plastics. The issue then is they might not be durable and could easily spring leaks.
Depending on how well they’re affixed during transport, they can fall from their seating and break on impact. This makes going for a higher grade material a good option.
The other issue with an RV shower head is water pressure. This is especially the case if you’re dry camping (or boondocking). You won’t have a municipal supply to hook up to and will be reliant on the water tank in your RV.
For these reasons, many RV owners upgrade their shower heads to ensure they last and provide for better water flow and pressure.
How to Choose the Best RV Shower Head
Investing in an RV shower head isn’t as simple as picking the first one you like the look of. If only it were that easy! Consider the following factors to make sure you’re getting the best value for your money:
Ease of Installation
It’s so frustrating when you think you’ve found the perfect shower head, only to discover that it’s a real pain to install.
To make the process easier, look for ones that come with all parts included. More specifically, washers, Teflon tape, and additional fittings. This will hopefully mean you don’t need to enlist the help of a plumber, resulting in a hefty bill.
Many shower heads screw into your existing wall fitting or hose; no complicated installation is required with these. Simply untwist your old shower head and put a new one in its place.
Ease of Use
Sometimes buying a simple shower head without lots of features can be the best solution. This is especially the case when space is restricted in an RV. Consider these features:
- Easy toggle: Changing the spray settings with ease as a must-have. Many are designed so you can grip them easily with one hand, even when your hands are wet and slippery. Additionally, there might be an easy lever to flick, grooves that fit your fingers or on/off switches to cut the water flow.
- Hose flexibility: A shower head that has a flexible hose will allow you to remove the shower from where it’s fitted and direct it at hard to reach parts of your body.
- Pivotable attachment: If you can’t remove the head, a model with a pivoting option will at least provide you with some flexibility.
Water Flow
Many RV shower heads are now produced as “low flow.” These regulate your water flow, so it doesn’t feel like your supply has low pressure. They usually have smaller nozzles in the shower head, which can increase the pressure of your shower.
If you think about the effect popping a finger over the end of a garden hose has, this is similar. You cut down the area the water can escape from so it comes out quicker — the same amount of water is trying to come out of a smaller opening.
These shower heads are usually water saving as well, restricting the amount of water used and keeping it within guidelines. While some are set for 2.5 GPM (gallons per minute), some are a lot less (1).
Design
You could send yourself in circles when looking at different designs. Here’s a summary of your options:
- Sizing: Some are small and compact, others are larger and more of a statement piece. Make sure you check the area available in your shower unit before buying a larger model.
- Finishing: The most popular options are polished chrome, brushed nickel, white durable plastics, and more. This comes down to personal taste, but the metal finishes are usually more expensive.
- Fixing: Another design aspect you should consider is wall mounted (fixed) or handheld. A handheld design provides more flexibility, but a wall-mounted option leaves your hands free.
Look for a shower head that is aesthetically pleasing to you, and that will match your RV’s bathroom decor.
Durability
The less durable the materials your shower head is made from, the more often you’ll be replacing it. Look for things like brass fittings, stainless steel hoses, strong ABS plastics, and anti-corrosion and rust-resistant finishes.
These materials might help your shower head last longer, and keep it looking good.
Adjustable Flows
Many newer shower head models have adjustable sprays. You could choose from a soft, gentle flow to a strong massaging one, or even a mix of both.
Some come with a pause button so you can stop the flow of water when you want. This is great for lathering up, shampooing your hair, and then unpausing to rinse off the soap. This feature could also save on water usage, especially if you’re hooked to a campsite supply with high pressure.
Efficiency
When RVing, especially in “off-campsites,” you’ll want your shower to be efficient. You’ll need enough water to give you a comfortable shower with minimum wastage.
Look for models that specifically mention conserving your water while still providing you with enough water pressure to wash away the grime of the day. For example, The Oxygenics model in our fourth spot has a pause button, which is excellent for saving water.
Warranty
Although we hope it never happens, sometimes things break when they shouldn’t. Having a manufacturer’s warranty can give you peace of mind when something goes wrong as a result of the materials or workmanship.
Lifetime warranties are the pinnacle here since they’re a sign that the manufacturer believes nothing will ever break on their products.
Best RV Shower Head Reviews of 2020
We’ve consulted industry experts and looked at customer feedback to narrow down the many choices of shower heads available. The result is our top 7 best RV shower heads.
1. PIH High-Pressure RV Handheld Shower Head
This shower head is a favorite with many RV and camper van owners. It’s a handheld unit that has a 59-inch flexible hose. Included are a small, fixing sleeve for the hose and an adjustable, wall-mounted bracket for the shower head.
The hose fixing sleeve helps prevent the shower head from falling onto the floor of your RV shower stall if you mount it high enough.
If you have a family of differing heights, this is an option to consider. You can tilt the head to different angles, so the water falls exactly where you want it to.
Why We Love It
Powerful Spray
PIH has placed a proprietary 2XP turbocharge inside this shower head. The idea behind this is to increase the spray when your RV has low water pressure; perfect for an RV!
Water-Saving
While there’s no flow rate specified for this shower head, the company claims it works to conserve water. This could be an advantage when you park up away from campsites with a municipal water supply and have to rely on what you have in your tanks.
Different Flow Settings
There are three flow settings you can choose from when using this shower head: massage, full spray, and pause. The pause option means you can stop the flow at any time, letting you apply shampoo or lather up your shower gel.
This handy feature combines with the water-saving aspect we talked about. You can then turn the shower back on to rinse by flicking back the lever on the shower head.
Keep In Mind
Hose Might Be Stiff
Some find the hose supplied with this shower head not as flexible as they’d like. Although it could become more supple with time, there’s no guarantee this will happen.
Additional Specs
| Fixed or Handheld | Handheld with wall-mounting bracket. |
| Size | 6.6 inches x 3.3 inches x 8.4 inches; 59-inch hose |
| Weight | 1 pound |
| Warranty | None specified |
| Flow Rate | Not specified |
2. AquaBliss TheraSpa Hand Shower
This AquaBliss TheraSpa model could be the spa experience you want in your RV shower. The stand-out features are the five settings for different sprays and a water-saving mode.
The pulsating massage aims to relieve muscle tension and tight knots — great after a day exploring the wilds around your RV. You could then switch to rain and soft massage for the feel of a rainforest waterfall.
Maybe you want the rain setting alone for a more gentle, soothing shower. Our point is, there’s lots to choose from here, making this model a very popular option.
While showering, you can switch to a water-saving mode while you lather up, and then back to your chosen spray to rinse off again. The company tells us this will save between 80 and 90 percent on water flow, but will still provide enough water to keep you warm.
Why We Love It
Long, Flexible Hose
The supplied hose measures 78 inches and is designed to be leak-free. It will rotate through 360 degrees, helping to eliminate tangles. The company is so confident in its design that it guarantees the hose won’t leak or tangle.
Quality Materials
Although the exact type of plastic isn’t specified, the entire product is water-resistant. The hose is stainless steel, and the nuts are brass, which makes for a durable, low maintenance, and hygienic product (2) (3).
Easy Assembly
No tools are required to install this shower head. It has a standard fitting and should be compatible with your existing situation. Full instructions are included to help, and plumber’s tape is supplied to help seal the joints.
Keep In Mind
Slipping O-Ring
Users report that the O-ring seated in the wall-mounted holder is prone to slipping. Once out of place, the shower head doesn’t sit well in the holder and could fall out. Although the O-ring does push back into place, some find this an unnecessary inconvenience.
Additional Specs
| Fixed or Handheld | Handheld with wall mounting bracket. |
| Size | 5.8 inches x 3.2 inches x 10.9 inches |
| Weight | 1.75 pounds |
| Warranty | 30-day money-back guarantee; 1-year warranty |
| Flow Rate | 2.5 GPM |
3. YOO.MEE High-Pressure Handheld Shower Head
This stunning shower head from YOO.MEE is a handheld model with an adjustable bracket for wall mounting. With a choice of brushed nickel or chrome finishes on engineered-grade plastic, you can decide which will match your RV’s decor.
A 79-inch flexible, stainless steel hose and brass connections help give this unit strength, preventing splitting or cracking. Note that a water flow regulator and two extra hose gaskets are included with your purchase.
Why We Love It
Company Backed Patented Design
YOO.MEE promises its patented turbo-design will provide a powerful spray even when water pressure is low. The company is confident enough to guarantee this 100 percent, and offers a 1-year warranty on any quality issues with the shower head. The information needed for a claim is on a service warranty card supplied with this unit.
Different Spray Settings
There are three different spray settings to choose from: massage mode, powerful spray or a combination of the two. A toggle placed on the circular part of the shower head lets you make your selection easily — even with slippery wet hands.
Silicon Rubber Nozzles
The manufacturer has used silicon rubber jets for this model. These are reportedly easy to clean and can help prevent scale and mineral buildup from hard water.
Keep In Mind
Pressure Can Be Too Strong
It seems this product packs some power, so much so that some customers report the water stings. This could be due to different levels of skin sensitivity since not everyone has this problem.
Additional Specs
| Fixed or Handheld | Handheld with fixed wall mount |
| Size | 8.9 inches x 3.3 inches x 1.8 inches; 79-inch hose. |
| Weight | 1.1 pounds |
| Warranty | 1 year |
| Flow Rate | Not specified |
4. Oxygenics White Handheld Sprayer Kit
Oxygenics bring us an RV shower head that can help preserve the water levels in your supply and waste tanks by limiting the water flow. This is achieved by a SmartPause button on the base of the shower head, allowing you to pause the flow while you lather up.
The shower head has also been designed to make the most of low water pressure by combining a low 2.0 GPM with a high 80 PSI (pressure per square inch). The result is a high level of water flow from the shower without increasing the amount of water used.
Why We Love It
Guaranteed Against Clogging
The internal parts of this shower head are non-stick and will help prevent mineral buildup. The company is so confident the unit won’t clog that a lifetime warranty against performance failures and clogging of any kind comes with each purchase.
Wide Spray Coverage
While there’s only one spray setting on this shower head, we’re promised that it provides a wide overage. This helps make it easier to rinse off in the shower and keep your body warm — no more having to move in and out of the cold air!
Multiple Finishes
If you’re looking for a water-saving RV shower head to match in with the decor, this one comes in a choice of finishes. Consider upgrading from the standard white plastic to a brushed nickel or polished chrome finish.
Keep In Mind
Inflexible Hose
Many find the hose supplied with this unit very inflexible. This could make it hard to use as a handheld shower as opposed to when it’s on the wall mount.
Shut Off Valve Dribbles
The pause button for the shower spray doesn’t appear to shut off the water completely. Water still dribbles through, which some find annoying.
Additional Specs
| Fixed or Handheld | Handheld with wall-mounting bracket |
| Size | 12.1 inches x 6.5 inches x 4.4 inches |
| Weight | 1.4 pounds |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime warranty against clogging or performance failures of any kind |
| Flow Rate | 2 GPM |
5. Homelody High-Pressure Handheld Shower Head
You might be quite happy with the hose in your shower, but not so with the performance of your showerhead. If that’s the case, this could be the product for you.
This Homelody shower head is a chrome-plated, ABS plastic model. The fitting is a standard half-inch connector, which should be compatible with most shower hoses. You can buy a hose and wall mount separately if you wish.
The unit is cUPC-certified, meaning it meets with plumbing standards for North America and Canada (4). We’re also told the unit is tested for lead and meets the standard of less than 0.2 percent.
Why We Love It
Varied Settings
There are five different spray settings to choose from with this shower head:
- Pulsating massage.
- Rain massage.
- Power spray.
- Power mist.
- Massage.
You can choose the option to suit your mood with an easy-to-grip rotating base.
Pause Button
When you’re lathering up in a confined space, not being able to avoid the water flow can be annoying. This shower head has an on/off pause switch that you depress to stop the flow when you want. This could also help conserve water.
Keep In Mind
On/Off Button Might Stick
While many love the convenience of a push-button to stop the water flow, some find that, over time, this button can start sticking. This could make it more difficult to operate, but isn’t reported on every purchase.
Additional Specs
| Fixed or Handheld | Handheld with wall-mounting bracket |
| Size | 9.3 inches x 3.1 inches x 2.4 inches |
| Weight | 12.3 ounces |
| Warranty | 10 years |
| Flow Rate | Not specified |
6. Dura Faucet RV Shower Head and Hose Kit
Sometimes, a generic model just won’t suit your needs. If you want to match the shower head with the rest of the RV’s shower, this Dura Faucet model could fit the bill.
There’s a choice of six finishes, providing you with an excellent choice of options:
- Metallic polished chrome.
- Brushed nickel.
- Antique-looking oil-rubbed bronze.
- Black.
- White.
- Creamy bisque parchment.
The shower head, 60-inch hose, and wall brackets are supplied, and all come in the same chosen finish as the shower head. They’re made from synthetic resins, which are lightweight, and fade- and corrosion-resistant.
Why We Love It
Easy to Hold
There’s an easy grip area placed on the wand-style handle of the shower head. It has grooves to fit your fingers and could help to stop the shower head from slipping in your hand.
Trickle Switch
There’s a trickle switch for when you don’t want water coming out at full power. This water-saving feature is perfect for when you need to wash your hair, body or shave, and don’t want the water running over you.
Keep In Mind
Might Leak
Some find the showerhead leaks water when turned off, either from the head itself or at the handle. We’re unsure as to whether this was caused by a fault or is deterioration over time. In such a circumstance, we suggest you contact the manufacturer immediately.
Additional Specs
| Fixed or Handheld | Handheld with wall mounting bracket. |
| Size | 8 inches x 2.3 inches x 7.9 inches |
| Weight | 13.6 ounces |
| Warranty | None specified |
| Flow Rate | 2.2 GPM |
7. Oxygenics Fury Handheld Sprayer
Gripping a handheld shower with soapy, slippery hands can be a juggling act. Oxygenics has you covered with this shower head.
There’s a rubber grip with grooves shaped to fit your fingers, making it much easier and more ergonomic to hold.
The convenience doesn’t stop there, though. A comfort control lever at the base of the shower head allows easy rotation to change spray settings.
Why We Love It
Long, Flexible Hose
Included with the shower head is a 72-inch flexible hose. This is an exceptional length and makes it easier to reach all over when rinsing off.
Different Spray Settings
Five different spray options can be selected on this shower head:
- Patented Oxygenics setting.
- Wide stream.
- Focus stream.
- Combined wide and focus stream.
- Massage.
Keep In Mind
Longevity Might Be Questionable
While many find this shower head works great at first, over time, they find it can spring leaks. Get in touch with the manufacturer if you experience this after using yours.
Additional Specs
| Fixed or Handheld | Handheld with wall-mounting bracket. |
| Size | 12.4 inches x 5.5 inches x 4.1 inches |
| Weight | 12.8 ounces |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime against failure and clogging |
| Flow Rate | 1.8 GPM |
Detailed Comparison Chart
| Product | Best | Fixed or Handheld | Size | Weight | Warranty | Flow Rate |
| PIH High-Pressure Handheld Shower | Overall | Handheld with wall-mounting bracket. | 6.6″ x 3.3″ x 8.4″ | 1 lb | N/A | N/A |
| AquaBliss TheraSpa Hand Shower | Different Settings | Handheld with wall mounting bracket. | 5.8″ x 3.2″ x 10.9″ | 1.75 lbs | 1-year | 2.5 GPM |
| YOO.MEE Handheld Shower Head | Design | Handheld with fixed wall mount | 8.9″ x 3.3″ x 1.8″ | 1.1 lbs | 1 year | N/A |
| Oxygenics Handheld Sprayer Kit | Smart Pause Valve | Handheld with wall-mounting bracket | 12.1″ x 6.5″ x 4.4″ | 1.4 lbs | Limited lifetime | 2 GPM |
| Homelody Handheld Shower Head | Installation | Handheld with wall-mounting bracket | 9.3″ x 3.1″ x 2.4″ | 12.3 oz | 10 years | N/A |
| Dura Faucet RV Shower Head Kit | Choice Of Colors | Handheld with wall mounting bracket. | 8″ x 2.3″ x 7.9″ | 13.6 oz | N/A | 2.2 GPM |
| Oxygenics Fury Handheld Sprayer | Ease of Use | Handheld with wall-mounting bracket. | 12.4″ x 5.5″ x 4.1″ | 12.8 oz | Limited lifetime | 1.8 GPM |
Ready to Hit the Road
When you’re away from home and RVing, compromises sometimes have to be made. But don’t let this be the case when it comes to keeping clean and enjoying your shower time. Choosing the best RV shower head could help improve your shower experience and save on water.
As you can see, there are lots to choose from, and plenty of different features. Consider your decor, the spray settings you like, and your hose length requirements.
Don’t forget to factor in water flow and pressure, which are pivotal when out boondocking. Any of the shower heads we’ve selected could enhance your life on the road and make you happy campers indeed.
