Thread: Razors for Camping?

Originally Posted by Big Red

I have thought a lot though about a "combat razor" not for combat, but for the trenches so to speak. one that is durable as hell and go anywhere. i thought a good stainless blade with stainless pins and washers and g10 or carbon fiber handle would be best.

Red

I have one on order from Robert WIlliams (and it's getting near the top of his list!!)
S30V steel, 15/16, jimps, thumb notch, micarta scales. He refers to it as "the razor that would thrive on neglect." Not sure I'll ever actuially NEGLECT it, but if going to the trenches with a razor (and time/desire to shave) this would be the one I would want.

Originally Posted by mparker762

The idea of only using a straight while camping seems odd to me too, but some people are really in to the idea of "roughing it".

Yeah that's it. I just don't think of using one as 'roughing it', quite the reverse. Hence my puzzlement.

I have not done much camping since my Boy Scout days, but if I eventually try it again a straight razor would add to the rustic experience. I'd probably take along my more moderately priced razor in case of loss or other possible mishaps.

I don't get why you would 'only' use it while camping lol. If you like the way it shaves you why not use in back at home too? I would be more scared to use a straight razor if I was in the woods than if I was at home. Well I guess you could always use it as a weapon if a big ass bear sneak up on you :P

Since the weather is getting better I have been shaving outdoors. I do more so for better light and I'm a outdoors person. Nothing like shaving to the sounds of song birds singing.

Now real tough mountain men would strop it on the inside of the hide they just skinned of the deer hanging at the edge of camp.

I don't normally shave when I'm up there, I just don't take the time to make the water. however, I haven't been since I started using the straight, if I have one that seems camp appropriate I might take it with me this next time. In fact, I've got a de-fi I was given that just needs cleanup, it has the faux wood scales. it's carbon, but might work out till I find a stainless blade.

Red

Or if a real tough mountain man happened not to have skinned a deer just yet, he would strop on the inside of his own forearm.

I would think a Wapi would make a good camping razor.

Rich

Originally Posted by rastewart

I would think a Wapi would make a good camping razor.

And whaddaya know - there's one for sale in the classifieds right now. Hmmmm...

the idea of shaving while camping AT ALL is odd to me... half the fun of a long stint in the wilderness is the way you look and smell at the end... like a filthy filthy hobo.

i remember a few years back, my dad and i were backpacking along the AT, we got to a part of the trail where there were a bunch of dayhikers, and they could instantly tell that we were thruhikers. whether it was the stench or the beards, i'll never know but there you have it.

i might consider shaving it i am carcamping, but never ever for backpacking. every ounce you add that isn't vital is an ounce of food or water you don't get to bring along. for car camping it might be fun; heat up water with a stove, shave in the reflection of one of your car's mirrors or something. but when i'm backpacking i don't even bring a stove usually, let alone a bunch of toiletries. plus i'd be worried about the scent of the soap. most of the rangers i've spoken to advise not using ANY scent, not even deoderant, for fear of attracting bears.

Exactly!

I think we should distinguish between 'civilized' camping (think car, caravaning, paid camp sites with hot running water etc) and 'bush' camping (think boy scouts, hunting, backpacking). For the latter: less is more.

But I'm one of those people that uses a straight razor especially when car camping: unlike the rest of the year, that's when I've got all the time in the world to endulge in a good shave and all it entails. What's nicer than slowly waking up from sunlight instead of an alarm clock, taking a dive for morning shower while water for tea and shave gets heated on the revived grill fire, and taking a lazy hour to shave in a tiny mirror dangling from a tree, amidst a sunny mediterranean landscape, accompanied by happy unkown bird songs?

There are times when I shave with something other than a straight - but certainly not in circumstances described above.