Rocket Shower

By Paul Smith

HOT!

• A little goes a long way
• Easy to use
• Eliminates odor
• Works as advertised
• Ideal for when no shower is available

NOT!

• More expensive than a sponge bath
• Doesn’t work for your hair

No shower in sight – No sweat

Rocket Shower is a product that claims to eliminate the need for a shower. It’s a spray containing, among other things, vitamin E, witch hazel, peppermint oil and grapefruit peel oil. It’s targeted at active athletes and anyone who needs a shower alternative.
The company website makes clear that the ingredients don’t just mask body odor, but rather kill odor-causing bacteria and clean the skin.

Commuter cleanup

I commute to work two or three times a week, about 12 miles each way. I work in an open office environment, the kind where you need to make sure that you are presentable and odor-free (I’m guessing that applies to most of us in the workforce).

Despite it being a large multi-national company, the facilities available to cycling commuters like me are poor, with no easily available showers. A couple of us have commandeered a janitorial closet to change in — which is less than ideal. With those
restrictions in mind, I was very interested in seeing how Rocket Shower would work out for me.

The review sample contained two smaller 4-ounce (118-ml) spray bottles and one larger 8.5-ounce bottle with a trigger applicator. The company has smaller, 2-oz. bottles, as well.

It couldn’t be simpler to use: You just spray it on and then wipe it off. I used paper towels from the restroom and found they worked just fine. (Complete “kits” are available online that include a carrying case, microfiber towel, etc.) If you allow it
to stay on your skin for a little while before wiping off, it has a nice cooling effect.

Rocket Shower can be used everywhere on your body (including your “nether region”) and has no stinging sensation. This ensured I was able to clean all of my body without concern. Once I’d wiped everywhere, I was clean, and any sweaty smells had been eliminated.
I was ready to dress in office wear and face the workday. One caveat: the product does not work for your hair, so you’llhave to find an alternative solution for the top of your head. Everything else is fair game.

I’ve found I only needed to use a relatively small amount for my replacement “shower.” Having used the product around eight times before writing this review, I would estimate I have used around 2 ounces.

Other uses

For cyclists, it’s easy to see that a good use might be as a take-along for any tours, just in case you need a quick clean-up for an off-the-bike excursion or an evening of camping with no shower available. It would also be great for one-day events no
showers after the ride. As you’re changing out of your kit, a quick Rocket Shower could certainly make the drive home a littlemore pleasant.

The website identifies all kinds of non-cycling uses for the product, as well. It would be ideal for bringing on long air journeys to ensure you arrive feeling fresher. Other possibilities listed are backpack camping, cleaning hands on road trips and
— my personal favorite — to spray down a boys basketball team so that the minivan doesn’t require fumigation.

Worth it?

The bottom line: the product works. It prevents odors and gets you clean quickly. It’s easier than a strip-down sponge bath. An 8.5-oz. bottle costs $12 plus shipping. There are a variety of “packages” available online;
the company does not sell directly, so just Google Rocket Shower to see the choices. Based on my normal usage, I would estimate that the 8.5-oz. bottle would provide approximately 40 uses. It’s a worthwhile alternative for cyclists who need to get clean
quick — without being able to get to a shower.

 

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Paul Smith regularly reviews products for RBR. He’s an avid recreational roadie who lives in thePiedmont area of North Carolina. He commutes often, and his car is worth less than any of his bikes. Click to read Paul’s full bio.