Some people developed their love for the outdoors early because they grew up with parents or family friends who took them camping for fun.听They didn鈥檛 spend college mystified by the thought of pitching a tent or operating a camp stove, and they definitely don鈥檛 throw all hygiene best practices out after six hours in the woods.
That鈥檚 nice. Some of us need some more help, though,听and have had to conduct our own experiments on how to keep (relatively) clean and healthy while traipsing about the backcountry.听The good news is it鈥檚 not that hard. Over the years, I鈥檝e听perfected my hygiene听camping kit to balance the wonders of getting filthy and muddy in nature without totally ditching modern cleanliness.
Camp Comb 22 Titanium听(From $45)
Unless you鈥檙e going for Instagram-selfie stardom, it鈥檚 worth it to mostly let your hair do its thing in the backcountry, the one place where it can get greasy without eliciting societal shame. But you鈥檝e got to stay up on grooming, and massaging your scalp with a good comb after days in braids, hats, and helmets is ecstasy.听I love Metal Comb Works鈥 titanium-alloy . It鈥檚 light, won鈥檛 break even if you stuff it in the bottom of your pack, sports a whimsical cutout design, and feels so good after a sweaty hike. Measuring just five听inches by one听inch, it鈥檚 not cumbersome tied to听a toiletry bag or a strap.
Primal Pit Paste PoPo Powder听(From $13)
Women are mostly onto the much touted pee rag (a reusable cloth rag kept on the outside of a pack) to help keep odors at bay in a simple, hygienic way. But powders made for the nether regions complete听the aroma-fighting one-two punch on outings that last longer听than a couple of days. Primal Pit Paste鈥檚 all-natural 听does just the trick by absorbing moisture. I鈥檝e used it year-round鈥攊n hiking shorts, long underwear, and sports bras鈥攁nd it also helps reduce chafing.
PackTowl Nano听($10) and听Epic Wipes听($25 for a Ten-Pack)
Rinsing off in the wild sounds exhilarating and primal, but sometimes听it鈥檚 cold, and you don鈥檛 want to go anywhere near a frigid snowmelt creek. Nonetheless, a wipe down is refreshing, plus听you won鈥檛 fill your sleeping bag with dirt. If you鈥檙e near water, a small, quick-dry听washcloth like the face-size听 is sufficient. If you鈥檙e not, can get the job done. These reusable cloths are ample听(large is 26 inches by 12 inches and extra large听is听about 32 inches by 20 inches) and听made with natural bamboo fibers and oils. You can also cut them into smaller cloths and听store them in a resealable bag. Epic Wipes are biodegradable, but obviously pack them out anyway.
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Osprey Ultralight Roll Organizer听($30)
Organization is key when it comes to听making backcountry hygiene as seamless as possible. If you鈥檙e like me, you just want to cocoon yourself in your sleeping bag at the end of a long day, not rummage through a pack looking for your toothbrush. I still see people using Ziplocs for toiletries, but isn鈥檛 it time we听ditch plastic bags? Osprey鈥檚 is the solution. I insist on 鈥渆xcess鈥 stuff:听the aforementioned comb,听a small听mirror to help me with听my contacts, a tiny container of face cream, floss, and whatever little comforts I think are worth hauling into the wilderness. That鈥檚 on top of typical stuff听people pack,听like toothpaste and a brush, sanitizer, ibuprofen, hair ties, aspirin, and eye drops. All are nicely contained in here鈥攏o rummaging required.
Patagonia Sunshade Hoodie ($69) and听Icebreaker Cool-Lite Long Sleeve Crewe听($110)
You know what听the best way is to get filmy, sticky, dirt-speckled sunblock off your skin? Don鈥檛 apply it in the first place. I wouldn鈥檛 ditch it altogether, but I鈥檝e found myself moving away from dipping my whole body in sunscreen. Having biked epics with a friend who, after a bout of skin cancer,听wears sun shirts during her outdoor activities, I鈥檝e taken to the garments, too. There鈥檚 less to haul, less to worry about when it comes to reapplication, and better overall protection. I have friends who use button-ups from the thrift store, but you can upgrade to something like 听or鈥攎y new favorite鈥攖he 听(made with natural wool and Tencel so you won鈥檛 even leave听plastic microfibers behind). I love the听drape of the Crewe鈥檚 fabric听and the soft, light feel, almost like air on your skin, so you鈥檙e not tempted to strip it off in the heat.
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