Joolca’s portable hot shower earns praise despite a $700-plus setup cost
The Hottap Go pairs a 12-liter tank with recirculating heat, but The Verge found its battery setup pushes the cost well above $700.
By Maya Lindqvist · Senior Technology Correspondent
3 min read
Joolca’s Hottap Go portable shower drew a positive review from The Verge for turning a hot rinse into a self-contained camping and van-life appliance. The review matters for travelers, festival campers and remote workers because the system aims to replace more awkward portable shower setups with a single case-based unit.
The Verge’s Thomas Ricker tested the Hottap Go while living out of a van, using it after surfing and for cleanup after cooking. Ricker described the product as an all-in-one hot water system from Australia-based Joolca, built around an integrated 12-liter water tank.
According to The Verge, that built-in tank is the main change from portable showers that rely on a separate water container and a longer hose. Ricker wrote that the Hottap Go also circulates water through the system until it reaches the user’s selected temperature, a design that takes more time than “instant” portable shower heaters but avoids dumping an initial burst of cold water onto the ground.
Price and power setup
The Verge listed the Hottap Go at $554 at Joolca, down from $599 at the time of the review. Ricker reported that the shower still needs an outside 12V power source, making the full setup more expensive for buyers who do not already have compatible power gear.
In the U.S., according to The Verge, Joolca sells a 12V / 5A battery pack for $165 that attaches magnetically to the shower’s case. That would put the Hottap Go and Joolca’s battery at about $719 before any other costs.
Ricker said he used a different power bank in Europe because the Joolca option was not the one he bought there. The Verge reported that his Amazon-sourced battery cost €85, or about $100, and turned the system into a fully self-contained hot water setup.
What The Verge liked and disliked
The Verge gave the Joolca Hottap Go a score of 8. The review praised the unit for combining the parts needed for a hot shower in one package, storing accessories and attachments inside the case, maintaining steady temperature and avoiding the water waste Ricker associated with competing systems.
The review also said the 12-liter tank can supply enough water for two showers. That capacity is central to the product’s appeal for people who need washing water away from household plumbing, including campers, overlanders and people working at remote sites.
The trade-offs, according to The Verge, start with cost. Ricker also cited the optional battery’s exterior mounting, the wait while water heats and only fair water pressure as drawbacks.
Ricker’s assessment framed the Hottap Go as a premium product for people who expect to use a portable shower often enough to justify the price. For occasional campers, The Verge’s review suggests the cost may be harder to defend, especially once a battery is added.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.