The RinseKit is one of those outdoor products that at first glance seems a little unnecessary—until you use it. I had one of these sitting on my shelf in the garage for a while before I actually took the time to bring it out on a climbing trip. I used it every single day.
Retail: $89.99
The concept of this product is relatively simple: it offers a pressurized waterspout with seven different settings, ranging from “mist” to “jet”. It holds two gallons of water and takes up about as much room as a five-gallon water jug in your vehicle. It is filled up using an attachment to a water spigot or a home sink, and holds water pressure for a full month.
The first thing I realized was this would be a great way to take a shower in the middle of a climbing trip without going into the nearest town. I tried it out in Indian Creek in the middle of a long stretch without a shower. Though it can’t replace the feeling of an actual shower, it did do the trick for cleaning up. I personally liked the “mist” setting the best, conserving water while also having an unfamiliar feeling of refreshment after using it.
In addition to the closest thing you’ll get to a shower while camping, the RinseKit works well for washing your hands and washing dishes. It’s certainly a luxury, but it makes washing your hands a little simpler, and it seems to save water as well. Same with dishes, especially if you’re lazy like I am and often just wait until the next meal to do the dishes from the previous meal; a little rinse after the meal with this thing goes a long way. Though I haven’t used it for this purpose yet, I’ve talked to friends who use the RinseKit to spray off their bikes on multiple day trips. They have also introduced a new Heater accessory (due out in October) for those wanting a warm shower on a cool day.
Bottom line: the RinseKit is actually one of those luxurious products that a penny-pinching climber would find worth every dollar. Plus, if you’re on a trip with a significant other it makes the experience cleaner and sexier, and doesn’t that sound refreshing?
The RinseKit on Backcountry.com
Note: We are now on Backcountry.com affiliate links program, by purchasing the product through the link we provide we get a percentage of the sales, so if you’d like to support The Zine and get some great gear clicking on the provided link helps us out greatly!
In the vertical world, quality gear is as important as good weather or the right partner. At the Climbing Zine, we review gear that we put to the test in our personal climbing pursuits, over months of use. If we like it we’ll tell you, and if we don’t we’ll tell you. That’s our policy…If you have gear for us to consider for a review please contact us at luke@climbingzine.com.
Please consider subscribing to The Climbing Zine. It’s $17.99 a year for two issues, and this greatly helps us produce free web content like this. Check out the FREE preview.
About us: The Climbing Zine was started in 2010 by Al Smith III and Luke Mehall. It continues to the day with the mission of representing the true essence of climbing. Our crown jewel is our printed version, but we also do the interweb thing, and Kindle.
We have also published three books: American Climber, The Great American Dirtbags and Climbing Out of Bed, written by publisher, Luke Mehall.