Zodi Quick Models Comparison & Review - Hot Tap VS ZIP VS Extreme

[kilimats]

Let me start this thread by saying that ZODI failed at naming their product for the consumer market, some product are not even advertised on their website but sold actively though distributor like the ZIP Shower model, some are called something but the product printed model name is different (like Hot Tap on the website but the logo says hot camp) and finally they have a gazillion of model number for each model but fail at explaining in what way they differ....facepalm

Anyways, back to the thread topic, I wanted to share my experience quickly about the three Zodi model my wife and I used few times last year, I'll give a pros and cons for each and some pics, hope you enjoy


Hot Tap On-Demand Hot Shower (red color) http://www.zodi.com/Consumer/zodihottaptravelshower.html

PROS: A sturdy carrying box is included, constant pressure with electric pump, push button ignition
CONS: The burner design is bulky (square type), about $60 more expensive than the ZIP shower, the pump is powered by D cells (can be replaced by AA battery holder from Ebay for $3), the shower head is useless (can be upgraded easily with home depot parts)

ZIP Hot Shower (black color) (not advertised on website, go figure)

PROS: Elegant burner design, constant pressure with electric pump, push button ignition, cheapest of the three models compared here, robust flexible transport bag
CONS: The pump is powered by D cells (can be replaced by AA battery holder from Ebay for $3), the shower head is useless (can be upgraded easily with home depot parts)

Extreme Water heater (Stainless Steel tank) http://www.zodi.com/Consumer/zodiextremeshower.html

PROS: Elegant design, made of Stainless Steel so won't rust and is very light, the propane stand can be used for cooking as well
CONS: hand pumped so you'll have to pump about 5 times after every 15 seconds to maintain proper water pressure, the shower head is useless (can be upgraded easily with home depot parts), the transport bag is cheaply made and will crack very easily, the tank holds about 3 gallons and will give you a very brief and rushed shower (ZODI don't advertised the real capacity anywhere, go figure), good luck completing a full body and hair wash if you are a women with long hair !!!

CONCLUSION: my favorite of the three is the ZIP for the cost, nice design and mainly because it allows me to use my own HUGE tank to have a REAL COMFORTABLE shower, something that the extreme model won't give you. The Hot Tap model seems like a bulky version of the ZIP model, they both have the same heating performance too so thats why it comes second on my list with Extreme in third position due to the constant manual pumping required and small tank size

And here are the picture as promised, share your comment and opinion if you own one of those ! :ylsmoke:

 

[StumpXJ]

The Zodi extreme is made out of stainless steel, not aluminum. I have had my padded bag it came with for 6 years now, and have never had an issue. The burner is phenomenal for its intended purpose, and even better for cooking with large pots/woks. The hand pump is dead simple, and requires virtually zero maintenance. If you cant take a shower with 3 gallons of water, you're doing something wrong. I usually get two out of one tank. My wife also has long thick hair and has never used the full tank to shower when used as intended (turn it on only when you need the water). Batteries not needed...

All of them have crappy shower heads, but are easily fixed.

Just my opinion though... no more or less subjective than your own.

Also, you never said which one was your favorite? You just said "my favorite of the three is the ZODI" (???)

Pretty pictures though!

 

[kilimats]

^ thanks for the corrections, i've updated my first post.

I'm amazed that you were able to get two showers out of one tank, My wife and I probably are a little slower, I always tried to keep the water shut when not needed and ran out of water less than a minute after completing my wash so it was tight ! (I like to use the water while washing to keep me warm, I hate washing my whole body without using water in the cold, prob OK in summer though) My wife have to skip the hair wash for the second tank, rinsing is critical for her. Different people different needs i guess

Thats one issue though, let's not forget the constant pumping required which gets annoying quick (especially for the wife), I'm sure it would be easy to install an electric pump though, but in that case, i would rather use the ZIP shower model with a bigger thank

All model have big drawbacks imo but they are still great showers, beats the hell out of PUBLIC showering haha

 

[Corey]

We have gotten two showers out of my Extreme also.
Having a kitchen type sprayer on it really conserves the water too.

And the bag is fine on mine too after having it since 2008.

 

[rotti]

I have been considering this one:http://www.duckworksbbs.com/gear/shower/index.htm

I like the option of solar use, and if needed, I already have a stove to heat water to add if needed.
The best part is the price $39.
Any actual users?

 

[shogun]

I have been considering this one:http://www.duckworksbbs.com/gear/shower/index.htm

I like the option of solar use, and if needed, I already have a stove to heat water to add if needed.
The best part is the price $39.
Any actual users?

Thats kinda pricey. A visit to your local hardware store should yield a variety of sizes from 1-5 gallons and probably cost starting about $10. Just spray it black. We use it for kitchen cleanup.

SK

 

[MANUCHAO]

We have used the Zodi Extreme..
Its been great for us as well..
Plenty of water in one tank..
The bag we got has been crap but I think it was our own doing..
The shower head went out the first day we bought it...
Its been an easy and great solutions to taking showers in the middle of nowhere..
No heating the water neeeded when you are in the middle of the desert on the summer months...
We usually dont use the burner to heat up the water but rather the stove we got.. it puts out twice as much BTU's thus heating in half the time...
As stated also great to wash dishes if needed be.

 

[kilimats]

^ All those positive opinion on the Extreme tank size goes to show how water hungry we were lol

I just purchased a all in one shower head + pump kit from asia ($40 shipped), I'll post a quick review when i get a chance to play with it, it's called "Campmaster 12V Shower Set" and best of all works on 12v!

It does 3.5liters/min so that equals to about 10min shower at max flow using our 8 gallons portable water tank, beauty !!!

 

[EricGagne]

Nice review, thanks for writing it. Could you expand a bit on the showerheads ? What makes them useless ?

 

[LosAngeles]

Nice review, thanks for writing it. Could you expand a bit on the showerheads ? What makes them useless ?

I am curious too. Looking at a Zodi of some sort now.