This is quite odd I know - anyhow... I like to keep clean and tidy on the road - I consider it a particular pride that how-ever long I've been on the road I don't smell, I look tidy and I'm always clean shaven.

What this means is that I've developed a quite well equipped (but small) wash kit - but I'm always on the look out to make it smaller.

Yesterday I bought a very neat little razor that folds down to almost nothing - much better than my last effort - but it got me thinking about shaving foam - currently I use the little travel jobs - just enough for about 3 weeks - but has anyone got any experience of using shaving oil? Does it work? Is it any good? If so that would be brilliant as it comes in tiny little bottles.

The other thing I've seen recently is shaving foam paper - tiny little pack of 30 strips of paper that dissolve into shaving foam - anyone give them a try?

Finally towels - I'm using the standard micro towel effort at the moment - very small but manages to dry me off completely and dry off itself nice and smart too - but are there any other options?

I'll sit down and some point and write up exactly what I've got in my kit - it just occurred to me that this as a neglected area and perhaps you guys have some hard earned advice that would help

Cheers

m

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Hi Matt,

I carry a simple bar of 'aloe vera' soap and use it for everything from washing my hair and body; and I also use it as shaving foam. Works a treat.

As for storage, I keep it in a 'zip lock' bag.

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ahh good idea - I've already replaced my shower gel etc with one bar of soap - takes up much less space and also lasts much longer....

Will give that a try today.

m

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I have found something in my local Wilkinson (the modern equivalent of Woolworths of old!) called Shaving Oil made by King of Shaves. It is a small plastic bottle just over 1 inch high.

I've tried it once or twice. It is odd to the feel and the razor seems to drag a little but it is better than nothing, and small and light

How it works in a cold mountain stream I have no idea!

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OK, when I want to travel light, as in riding, I ditch the washbag and put the bare essentials into a polythene bag (as given away by supermarkets, but maybe not for much longer!). As in another post, one bar of soap does for everything and I use disposable razors or I may choose to grow a beard/designer stubble depending on the journey duration. Also out with the washbag goes the shaving mirror which is already on the bike as a wing mirror. The absolute essential is the toothbrush, but toothpaste is optional.

Any towel torn into half or even thirds will do for the purpose - overall I aim to have at least two uses for everything; if it doesn't have at least a second use then why carry it is my approach in packing.

Cheers,

Dave

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Dave

Here in France we have a shaving foam that comes in a small tube, just like toothpaste. You rub it up to a lather with a brush or your fingers. One of these lasts me several months. I find that the act of lathering softens the hairs - unlike the oil - and thus helps with the shave. Used it on the road, and still do now.

Isn't it great us that chaps can talk so easily about personal grooming these days eh?

Simon

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Simon Kennedy
Around the world 2000-2004, on a 1993 Honda Transalp

On this issue, I have had the solution for more than 45 years. I carry a small shaving mug with two rounds of shaving soap (good for about a year, but any decent soap will do) a set of straight razors, two special stones and a small piece of leather for a strop. It takes about the same room as a small can of foam and will never run out, be too dull to shave with, and can't break down. Old Spice makes a non-allergenic soap for a buck a round. Edge makes a stube of brush soap that is hypoallergenic for 2.50 a tube. For me, there is something relaxing about the routine of stropping the razor and going through the ritual of "the shave" that sets the pattern for a relaxed day. BTW, every western movie where the barber is shown stropping--he (she) is doing it ass-backwards. Always turn the razor over, not under the movement or you just remove the edge instead of polishing it.

Yes, now we've got our own thread! How about a forum for 'good back, sack & crack waxes' on the road to go alongside 'good mechanics'?

Referring to the original point, I was going to be the first respondent earlier today and suggest using soap for shaving but I didn't want to seem like a weirdo or cheapskate. Seems like I'm not alone though.
Stephan

Soap definately seems to be the best option so far - it has two uses - is small - and lathers up well.

Would love to carry my cut throat with me, but I've never mastered the sharpening on leather thing - i always end up blunting it.

But you're quite right - there is something about shaving on top of a mountain outside your tent that restores you and makes you ready for the day ahead. Don't know what it is - but I guess it's a pretty personal thing - I also love a barber shave and treat myself once a month.

Anyhow... yes rather glad we can talk about these things in this modern age ;-) Perhaps we should organise a facial at the meet in June!

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Just kidding - but then again, maybe you haven't been on the road long enough yet. After a while, dirt, grim and odors start winning the war and keeping clean, smelling good just doesn't seem all that important some days.

I just check in with a barber about every 4-6 weeks - I couldn't handle agonizing over what to carry in the shaving kit.

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quastdog
Chiang Mai, Thailand

I feel I'm carrying the flag a little when I'm out and about - and a British Man is never unclean or unshaven... or at least that's what my dad taught me - but he was army so a little biased I guess!

m

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Hi
I have tried the shaving oil and did not like it. If you have much stuble its pretty useless, it also breaks open while in the wash bag covering every thing in oil.
I have since bought a good travel shaving brush through e bay its got a cannister not much bigger then a film cannister I also bought some good shaving soap which I plan to just fill a film cannister with as alittle bit goes a long way.
This might not be the smallest set up but I think is the best if you want a nice shave.
I recently bought a towel from army surlpus for £1 which is a very good towel.
john

As I have always used electic razors, I carry a battery powered electric razor, maybe heavier than wet razor and kit, but your face seems to get used to one or the other, and I find on the few occasions I've tried wet razors, apart from looking silly with bits of paper all over my face to stem the flows of blood, I always end up with a rash.
Do you wet razor users carry a styptic pencil to seal any cuts?

I am using shaving oil whenever I travel. Works fine for me. But soap also will do. My dad was also in the army and thougt me that a "gentlement" should be clean and tidy even in a war situation.
Towel issue... I carry small towel like hand drying towel. Enough for everything for me..

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"king of shaves" gel, comes in different styles (aloe vera=nice and cool, menthol=napalm, and various ones in between)

shaves very well, and you only need a small amount, so decant what you need into a small squeezy bottle.


if im using those disposables with 3+ blades and slime strip then i just use water.

towelwise i use one of those microfibre travel towels, amazing how a postage stamp can soak up so much water! they feel dead weird to use but work a treat and dry from wrung out to bone dry in 20mins or so

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dave