Portable Propane Hot Water Heater for Camping [Top 8 In 2020 Reviewed]

If you are a camping enthusiast, you know how vital hot water can be. If you don’t have the extra budget for it, you can go camping without it, but having one makes your experience much better. Getting a portable propane hot water heater for camping can make this possible. With this heater, you are assured that you and the people with you will have access to hot water.

Buying this type of water heater is not that simple. There are things you need to consider before buying. These heaters are compact, portable and small. Just like any water heaters some of them have tanks, and some don’t have. To help you decide, we have reviewed 8 of the top models on the market. Here is a quick recap on what we think are the best.

Top 8 [Table Of Comparison]

We have designed a table below for your easy reference. However, it is important to note that the positions are in no particular order of importance. 

8 Best Portable Propane Hot Water Heaters for Camping reviews

1. Eccotemp L10 Portable Water Heater 

The Eccotemp L10 outdoor heater has a stainless steel rain cap, regulator and hose. It has an automatic shut off system with a timer for 20 minutes which makes this heater safe. You can have a hot shower while camping. You can also wash your car, pets and other items.

2. Camp Chef HWD10 Triton 10L Outdoor Water Heater 

This portable camping water heater can stand on its own, or you can use the brackets that are included in the package used in hanging up. This shower head has four different settings: shower, jet, off and mist. It also consists of an 8-foot water hose.

3. Camplux BW264 Portable Tankless Water Heater

The good thing about the Camplux 10L aside from the fact that it is a powerful water heater, it is also without a tank. This camping water heater is more powerful, more reliable and more portable. The water heater tank needs some constant maintenance and cleaning to make sure it will work properly longer.

4. ​EZ Tankless EZ202 Portable Water Heater

EZ 202 is the upgraded model of EZ 101. It can provide up to 3.2 GPM of hot water. This water heater is designed for outdoor use only since it requires the air surrounding it for proper combustion.

The EZ 202 model would be a good choice for camping or hunting trips. Because of its portability, you can easily carry it even in remote areas.

5. Costway Portable Outdoor Hot Water Heater    

Costway Propane portable gas water heater is ideal for any camping trip. You can accomplish many tasks using hot water, like dishwashing, showers and even cooking.

The overall dimensions of this propane camp shower is 13 x 10 x 11.5 inches, and it weighs around 17 lbs. Also if it weighs less, it still provides 18,000 BTU. It has an attractive minimalist design of the unit.

6. Camp Chef HWD5 Triton 5L Outdoor Water Heater    

This is also a small tankless water heater with great features. The Camp Chef HWD5 Triton is one of the best choices as it is packed with great power in such a small size. This type of water heater can fit just about anywhere you need to, and it is very reliable.

One thing that we like most about this water heater is the ease of setting it up. Unlike other water heaters that require expertise to set up, this one will only take you less than a minute to complete the assembly. You don’t need a wall to mount it. It has a handy stand and brackets that you can use to hang it.

7. Eccotemp L5 Portable Tankless Water Heater  

We have reviewed the L10 model earlier, and we think it is also worth it to include the L5 model in the list. It is known that Eccotemp is one of the biggest names when it comes to water heater and there are lots of reasons why. Aside from being a reliable tankless water heater, it has lots of remarkable features that campers will surely love.

The Gasland BE158 water heater is best for hiking, road trip, poolside, RV life, outdoor activity, caravan, stables, lakeshore, camping and a lot more. Setting it up is easy, thanks to its Snap-on hose fittings.

This water heater has lots of safety measures like anti-freezing protection, flame failure device, and overheating protection. These features will ensure your family is safe. Once it reaches the needed pressure, it automatically decreases the pressure. The anti-freezing feature discharges the residual water to prevent freezing in colder areas. During unexpected flameout, the gas supply shuts off automatically.

Buying Guide

If you love the outdoors, having a portable propane water heater is something you do not want to miss. It can help you boil the river water so that it is safe to consume. Other than that, a lot of campers also find it handy for shower, you do not need to shower in cold water anymore!

Propane tankless water heaters are usually preferred over an electric one especially in colder places. Due to the increasing demand for this product on the market today, there are factors you need to consider when choosing the right unit.

There are lots of brands to choose from, and each of them is a bit different from one another. There are some that are eco-friendly while others focus on power and efficiency. Therefore, you need to find the exact brand that matches your need. Here are some of the factors that you need to consider:

1. Temperature

To make sure you will get the right water heater that can heat the water properly, you need to figure out the average temperature of the water in your area. Through this, you will be able to find the water heater for that particular temperature. If in case you will be going to a place where the temperature is very cold, then you will need a stronger propane water heater.

2. Size

Choose the right size of the propane water heater based on your requirements. There are lots of them on the market available in different sizes and has different capacities. And because of this, you need to consider the size before buying any water heater to make sure it meets all the requirements.

3. Going Green

Choose a water heater model that with the best qualities and one that is safe on the environment. If you can afford to buy an eco-friendly water heater, then it’s even better. Some of the best units which offer these products are the Eccotemp and the Eco-smart tankless water heaters.

4. Source

If you are camping in colder areas, you should choose a natural gas or propane model because they are more powerful and efficient. If in case you are living in a place with a warm climate, the electric water heater is recommended. When using a propane water heater, it is essential that you are in an area with proper venting facility.

5. Gallons per Minute

Make sure that you will not surpass the maximum gallons per minute or GPM that the heater can produce. If you need to use a lot of water, you should evaluate the GPM for that particular time of the day. Checking at the water heater’s GPM is very important to avoid any faults while the heater is in use.

6. Other Criteria to Consider