Touring doesn’t get much better these days – you can easily have hot water at the flick of a switch and a simple turn of a tap. We’re talking portable hot water units here, as they’re one accessory that’s becoming increasing popular for a range of travelling styles. When the Companion Aquaheat Lithium Gas Shower appeared on our radar, we took a unit with us on a recent trip to see how it measured up.
ABOUT THE AQUAHEAT
The Aquaheat comes with two snap-lock, silicone, coil-free hoses. One of these hoses is 2.5m in length and has a showerhead that has an on/off tap at the head. The other is an inlet hose that’s 2m in length and of similar construction, but is fitted with a brushless submersible pump and a 12V lead that plugs into the unit.
A control panel is located on the front of the shower and comprises a range of indicators. Here, you’ll find an electronic ignition for lighting the burner that’s a single one-touch on/off button. There’s also a knob to dial-up the heat to suit the desired temperature (a maximum of 50∞C), as well as a screen that provides both the inlet and outlet water temperature readings.
Other information displayed includes the status of the burner flame that also doubles as a fault code display. This is designed to help diagnose any problems with the burner due to a lack of water, gas, or the unit being unbalanced.
On the power front, the Aquaheat runs on a built-in lithium battery that lasts an average run time of 45-50 minutes. The battery can be recharged via a 12V cig socket plug that’s supplied, or a 240V adapter that can be purchased separately. It takes about four to five hours to fullyrecharge the battery.
The Aquaheat heats water via its built-in gas regulator, which runs off a 468g large screw-on style propane cartridge. However, it’s also possible to use the unit with a normal gas cylinder if you source your own adaptor hose.
A detailed user manual is also supplied with the unit that has easy to follow and illustrated step-by-step instructions. This includes a troubleshooting guide for any error codes. In total, the unit weighs about 7.5kg, which includes its accessories, and has dimensions of 442x163x380mm (LxWxH).
HOW AQUAHEAT WORKS
Setting up the Aquaheat is a relatively quick process. After ensuring the battery is charged, simply fit the gas canister and connect the hoses. Then, it’s just a matter of dropping the supply hose that has the pump attached to it into a bucket of water.
Once the unit is switched on, check the battery level is sufficient; otherwise, you can connect the 12V adaptor to charge the unit while it’s in use. Position the gas temperature control somewhere in between ‘min’ and ‘max’ before pressing the ‘start’ button to get the water flowing. This is when the electronic ignition that lights the burner kicks in and the outlet water temperature reading will start to increase.
All you then need to do is adjust the gas control knob to reach the desired water temperature. The water flows at a rate of 2-2.5L per minute. It be stopped at any time by sliding the flow switch to the ‘off’ position on the showerhead. This causes the burner to turn off while the pump continues to operate.
Water flow can be started again by simply sliding the flow switch to the ’on’ position. This in turn will reignite the burner and warm water flows. When you no longer need any water, just press the ‘power’ button, which will stop the pump and any water flowing, and switch the unit off.
HOW IT WENT
We found the unit was quite intuitive to use, taking just a couple of minutes to set-up. As far as gas usage goes, we found a gas canister generally lasted the two of us for several showers. We’re not the types to have lengthy showers anyway, especially when travelling remote and water is hard to come by.
So, when we found the shower head wasn’t a pressure washer, that suited us to a tee. The head is designed with ‘soft flow’ capabilities, and that allows us to have a good shower while helping conserve water.
For peace of mind, we also like the inbuilt tilt switch and fuse protection features, which ensure the unit cuts out when conditions aren’t right for the unit. When it came to storing it in our setup, we found the Aquaheat’s size and weight weren’t over the top, so we could comfortably accommodate this new addition to our vehicle.
SUMMING UP
Having the Companion Aquaheat Lithium Gas Shower means cold showers are a thing of the past. Whether showering at camp, needing hot water for the dishes, or simply wanting to squirt ourselves down after a salty beach swim, the portable Aquaheat has delivered all the hot water we need wherever we are. Now that’s camping in comfort.
More information: https://companionoutdoor.com
