Razors for Camping?

I was thinking today about something I heard my dad say a few months ago. Now, he knows nothing about straight razors except he doesn't use them nor will he try. We were in a restaurant and told someone about what I do and he mentioned that he had heard some people use them while on long camping trips. Later talking with one of his friend who is an avid camper and outdoorsman said that he only used one when camping. Has anyone heard or done this? I know I have heard some weird things in life (mostly tall tales) but this one seemed to be researchable. I would love to hear opinions on this to find out if this is real or if I have been snipe hunting (for the southerners that may be here).

I use one everytime I shave, whats unusual about using one outdoors?

My stepfather is 65, when he was early to mid teens they'd do big hunting trips. one friend of his dad's would get up EARLY, start breakfast, and shave every morning with a straight razor. I'm guessing though he probably shaved with one all the time. I have no idea why a person would only use it camping though, that doesn't really make sense.

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

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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.

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I like the way you think. :D

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Originally Posted by Big Red

My stepfather is 65, when he was early to mid teens they'd do big hunting trips. one friend of his dad's would get up EARLY, start breakfast, and shave every morning with a straight razor. I'm guessing though he probably shaved with one all the time. I have no idea why a person would only use it camping though, that doesn't really make sense.

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

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X is right, youre on the money.

I don't think it's unusual.

I may not shave every day while camping, but if I'm headed towards civilization during the trip, or more likely wrapping the trip up to head home, I enjoy getting a really good shave beforehand.

The shaving kit doesn't take up much space, whether you're backpacking or car-camping. Brush and soap fits in mug, razor can go most anywhere.

And, come on, what's more manly than sitting next to the campfire shaving with a straight while the coffee is brewing over the fire?

Thanks for all the replies. I just wanted to make sure someone wasn't pulling my leg so to speak. I guess the next time I go camping I will take one with me and try it out.

I shave with one when camping. I normally take either a stainless or chrome plated model, and one of the small narrow Streich-Riemen paddles.

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Originally Posted by mparker762

I shave with one when camping. I normally take either a stainless or chrome plated model, and one of the small narrow Streich-Riemen paddles.

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Do you take a mirror along or shave 'blind'? I'm assuming that if yes, it's fairly small. If so, how do you find it?

As regards the rest, seems a bit strange to me that someone would choose only to use a straight when camping. I'd have thought that convenience would win out. Unfortunately I have no anecdote that could throw further light on this.

After you've been using a straight for awhile you don't need the mirror as much. The steel mirror in your emergency kit will do fine. Just prop it up on a stob, or tape it to the tree trunk with a strip of duct tape.

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".

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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

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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.

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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".

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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.:tu

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. :D

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

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Originally Posted by rastewart

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

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

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 :rofl2: 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.

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Originally Posted by rastewart

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

Rich

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Wasn't the Wapi the Polish issue army razor? Thus the combat razor! I'm about to head carcamping, thought i'd bring along the razor. Nice wonderful time to enjoy outdoors and the simplicity of a sharp blade and soap lather. None of this electricity for me!

Resurrecting an old thread here... interesting...

I can't imagine somebody who doesn't shave with a straight razor bringing one along on a camping trip and trying one out. That sounds like a painful experience.

Having said that, though, I was camping just last week and shaved with a straight razor. Going camping this weekend and will be shaving with a straight razor... gotta remember to bring a camera.

As a former soldier I can tell you that I didn't ever shave with a straight, and didn't know anybody who did. The idea of taking a razor sharp combat blade (knife) and shaving with that is all hollywood. I suppose a properly sharpened knife would do the trip, and if you use your straight razor knowledge, you could probably make it work. But that's a hell of a lot of work. I'd just bring a bic or three. (now that i'm into straight razors, i'd still just bring a bic or three if i were going into combat. too much straight razor stuff to bring along with 'ya).

Much more pleasant to think about shaving and camping than figuring out how to shave in Afghanistan...

Camping pics to follow next week sometime...

:D

Nobody I know shaves while backpacking or canoeing. Maybe we're uncivilized...

I occaisionally use a SR when base-camping with the scouts, but it's mostly to broaden their perspectives. It's pretty inconvenient to pack a mirror, strop, brush, soap and cup.

I think one of the major benefits of a SR, is that you can shave off a weeks worth of beard growth with no problems when you get back.

I might consider bringing a SR on a long hike like the AT so that I could shave once every few weeks when I decided to spend the night in town. I'd have to shave with some shampoo or soap worked into a lather with my hand and forgoe stropping though. (I'm sure the strop and brush would get ruined jostling around in the pack over the weeks).

Man, you *are* uncivilized...! :D

Yeah, my camping typically includes scouts as well. Just want to give them a different perspective.

I was a infatry guy and used one when in the field...We had to shave every day and the regular gillette type razors always got gunked up with camo...A st8 cut through all the crud and was easy to pack away in the ruck sack...Still have that razor too...Red imp...

Glad to hear that Wintchase. I wish I was using cut-throats when I was infantry. The bics were just utter cr@p. I cart a razor, strop (2"x18" 'roo), (cheap) brush and tube of shave cream, whenever I'm off on the bike. I have no problems with that gear. I do want a better brush though, as the cheap one I currently take with me, molts worse than a mongrel cat. I might make a rough and ready slim paddle strop to try out one day, but for now I don't have a problem rolling up my 'roo strop, it seems to handle it with no ill effects.


Mick

Car camping? Horse packing? Motorcycle? Not a problem.
However...

If you have to carry it on your back, every ounce...every
fraction of an ounce...matters.

There's a limit as to how much you can carry in a back-
pack, or as to how much you are willing to carry.

Personally, it's "take what you have to take" (food,
shelter, cooking, survival gear); then "what you
want to take" (fishing/hunting gear, camera); then
the rest is optional, limited by what you can/will carry.

Shaving gear is way down the list, if you're backpacking.
Maybe there's "room" for a str8/strop/etc, but maybe a
single plastic Bic will have to do.

Of course, that all depends on whether or not there are
ladies in the group. :)

I agree Paul, but I have to say I backpacked for a few years around and about this wide brown land. I carried my razor and strop in my pack...It was, at that time, just extra weight, as I could never figure it out at that time, though I tried on and off. It can be done, but it may not be a priority.


Mick

Mick....I guess it just depends on how much weight you
are willing/able to carry on your back, and how long you
are going to be "out" and what you want to do while
you're out there.

A weekend hike is one thing, but a 2-3 week trek is quite
another....That's back-packing.

If I don't actually have to carry it on my back, then I'm
perfectly happy to pack whatever I want....but if the
weight of my pack is a consideration, then I'm perfectly
willing to forego all the shave gear!

You've been in the infantry...you know how much the
weight of your pack matters, right?

Frankly, at my age now, "roughing it" means having to
stay in a motel without a bar! :)

I drifted off topic...sorry.

I really would be interested in finding a razor that would
survive extreme conditions of heat/humidity, with minimal
maintenance.

Living on the beach, on the windward side of a tropical
island is murder on anything made out of metal, or
anything electronic...like a computer.

Air conditioning here is not an option. :)

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Originally Posted by PaulKidd

Mick....I guess it just depends on how much weight you are willing/able to carry on your back, and how long you
are going to be "out" and what you want to do while
you're out there.
I agree
A weekend hike is one thing, but a 2-3 week trek is quite
another....That's back-packing. I wouldn't bother carrying any extra (back-packing) for a weekend...And might not even for a few weeks, but I would if it were longer, especially if it was 'back-packing' in your terms, of having to physically lug that pack around everyday, all day, instead of just throwing it on a bus to the next destination.

If I don't actually have to carry it on my back, then I'm
perfectly happy to pack whatever I want....but if the
weight of my pack is a consideration, then I'm perfectly
willing to forego all the shave gear! That's me too, but I'm still limited, as most of my travel is by motorbike, and often when going camping/travelling in general, I have to resort to lugging some stuff in a small pack as well as whats loaded on the bike.

You've been in the infantry...you know how much the
weight of your pack matters, right? My bloody oath I do! And I'm glad I don't have to run around with that gear anymore...Too many physical ailments (tendons and joints) to do that for anything other than occassional recreation now anyway.

Frankly, at my age now, "roughing it" means having to
stay in a motel without a bar! I'm not there yet, but I feel I'm not too far behind you! :)

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Now I suppose I had better stop high-jacking the thread too.


Mick

I'm setting my Bicycle up for touring, getting all my gear set up and all. I'm hopeing to find a stainless blade to add to my kit but have issues with stainless blades... it's a problem I know...

So far I've got my heavy W&B tasked for the trip as it hines up good and shaves well :) Nice and durrable edge :)

Well I'd take my Joseph & Rodgers 4/5' near wedge, I recon that'd take a bit more of a beating. The roo strop I got from MickR for the same reasons he uses, probably won't crack from being rolled up. And the travel shaving soap I picked up from the chemist a couple days ago, just tried it and it works ok dries a little too quick for my liking but works and comes with 30 'leaves'.
I figure you could just take a decent enamelled cup that you could use for drinking and shaving and if you were going for a bit maybe paste the back of the strop but thats just my 2cents worth.

Oh just incase I thought I'd let you know what the soap looked like 45mm x 20mm x 70mm
Sea To Summit - Adventure, Outdoor, Camping, Hiking, Gear and Accessories, Perth, Australia

For camping I look at a stainless straight.