Simplehuman Makes the Only Shower Caddies Worth Getting
Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your account’s‘Saved for Later’section.
Comment
Every time I visit an Airbnb, I am reminded of just how many different ways there are to make a shower caddy that fails to accomplish the seemingly basic task of holding bottles of shampoo and conditioner in place. One brand stands out from the dozens of rickety, rusting, or otherwise corroded designs I’ve had the displeasure of using in my lifetime:Simplehuman’s line of adjustable caddiescost more than twice as much as many best-selling alternatives, but they are the only ones worth buying. They come with a five-year warranty, but I’ve now had mine for over a decade with no signs of deterioration.
Instead of hanging loosely by a hook from the shower arm, Simplehuman caddies have a screw-tightened clamp at the top that grips the pipe as if welded in place. At the bottom, two suction cups prevent it from swaying laterally. Crucially, these cups are attached to the main anodized aluminum support beam by a swiveling bar that can be rotated to avoid grout or other rough patches that might hinder an airtight seal. Once secured, it feels as solid as a built-in shelf.
I got my first Simplehuman adjustable shower caddy in late 2014 — around the time it was first released — and it’s only ever budged due to cleaning or moving house. Through 11 years of continuous use, spanning three apartments and five roommates, there is still not a single spot of rust or corrosion, and it cleans up as if new with a bit of elbow grease and bleach spray. Some slight discoloration in the suction cups (which are as sticky as ever) is the only sign of its true age.
Simplehuman offers the hanging caddy in medium, large, and extra-large sizes. On each, the top and middle stainless-steel shelves are individually height adjustable to accommodate bottles of varying shapes and heights — including salon-size pump tops. The tubing is spaced closely enough such that even sample-size bottles are unlikely to fall through the cracks. There’s also a soap dish on the bottom shelf, hooks on the side for a razor, and another on the bottom for a loofah or brush. The largest models add a clip-on cup for a toothbrush or other accessories. Overall, this is enough storage for two adults, with room to spare for guests or a roommate.
New! You can now save this product for later.
For regular showerheads.
New! You can now save this product for later.
For wand showerheads.
Anyone without a wand showerhead should opt for the large, as it’s the most adjustable. The medium is fixed-length, so it may not fit in a new location if moved (and at 26.4 inches tall, it’s only 1.2 inches shorter than the large and XL at their shortest settings). Meanwhile, the XL’s shelves have a cutout in the middle to accommodate the dangling hose of a wand showerhead — but they lose out on lateral adjustability. Although I’ve happily used the large with a wand showerhead for most of the past ten years without issue, I ended up getting the XL for a different shower more recently, and I appreciate how much less cluttered the stall feels when the hose has a permanent resting place.
If your shower arm isn’t suitable for hanging a caddy because it’s too high or too wobbly, Simplehuman also offers a few other configurations that may work better in your space.
New! You can now save this product for later.
The over-door version has the same design and shelves as the medium caddy, but it clips to the top of a glass shower door instead of screwing onto the shower arm.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Strategist senior writerLauren Rohas had the Simplehuman corner caddy since 2021, which stands on three legs with no suction cups or clamping required. This does require you to bend down to reach the soaps, but if your shower is bigger than a phone booth (wish it were me), it’s a good way to make use of dead space without adding visual clutter at chest height.
And if a tension-pole design is better suited to your space, Simplehuman’s can reach ceilings as tall as nine feet high. Strategist senior editorWinnie Yanghas owned two of these in two different apartments, each of which lasted at least three years until rendered obsolete by a move. “They were easy to install, stay put once installed until we uninstalled them, and didn’t tend to grow mold,” said Yang of her caddies. However, she did note that the design has many crevices that require regular cleaning and that curious kids might entertain themselves by messing with the adjustable height shelves since they’re not childproofed in any meaningful way. Overall, though, she said they look and feel nicer than any of the other options available at big retailers, and she wouldn’t hesitate to buy another if needed.
New! You can now save this product for later.
For six-to-nine-foot gaps between the tub edge/shower pan and ceiling.
New! You can now save this product for later.
For five-to-eight-foot gaps between the tub edge/shower pan and ceiling.
More From The Strategist
- The Strategist Fall 100
- The Best Things Strategist Editors Have Bought This Year (So Far)
- The Strategist Summer 100
- I Replaced My Tretinoin With This $30 Retinal Cream
The Strategistis designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read abouthere. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
