Travel Shaving

[Sunsi]

Hi All

I just got back from a week travelling around Italy on business, and I thought I would share my straight experiences with you.

I took a basic kit with me;
7/8 Clauss razor (Giveaway winner)
4/8 Solingen generic (very good little shaver)
Muehle pinsel travel brush
Tabula Rasa shaving soap
Bottle of aftershave
Girlfriends "secret formula" moisturiser/balm
Solingen generic leather/linen strop

As I was in Italy I did buy some Prorasso soap (€1.25 for a tub) and there was a special offer on Alum Blocks, but I have yet to try that.

The first day was a disaster - my aftershave had come open in the bag, and my strop was soaked in aftershave. The bottom third was unusable. I had to dry it out carefully, but this still left the bottom third in a state.

4 nights, 4 different hotels and 4 shaves later, my face is still alive to tell the tale, and although I never got BBS on any of the shaves (single pass wtg and a bit of touch up if required) I was able to shave enjoyably and without injury every morning.

Lessons learnt;
Shaving in strange bathrooms was fine, and in fact I found the little shaving mirrors with the magnifying side to be really useful - I may have to get one for my bathroom.
Take only as much aftershave as you will need, not a full bottle, in a sealable container.
Next time I will take a stainless steel bowl for soap, as it was cold every morning.
SAD, RAD, HAD, CAD and all the other AD's get you wherever you are in the world.

Travelling with a straight is easier then expected, and on a business trip like I generally have, you need something to look forward to when waking up, and it makes for the perfect start to the day.

Si

[majurey]

Yep, I tend to pack a straight if I'm away for more than 2 nights. The last time was a visit to NY 2 weeks ago. I took my American Barber 6/8 spike point (via Joe/Josh/Gary), my T&H super badger travel brush (via Forestry Prof), soap (via Colleen), and a small German loom strop which is ideal for travel (red paste one side, soft tan leather other side). Oh, and Coral skin food of course.

Managed BBS. In fact, too much BBS because those magnifying mirrors in hotels mean I see more closely and try to shave more closely. Can end up with a little irritation as a result. But the concept of a mirror which moves out from the wall and is backlit is great and I'll probably also invest in one, but without magnification if possible.

The downside to travelling with a straight -- having to check the luggage in the hold.

[JoshEarl]

Tony ships his bottles of strop conditioner in a little ziplock bag--might be a good idea for products like AS that could leak.

I think when I travel I will probably take my Feather. I don't want to have any misadventures with my nice Tony Miller strop...

Glad to hear it can be done, though!

Josh

[Lynn]

I always take a straight when traveling. I really like the little TI paddle strop with case that holds my razor. ClassicShaving still carries these. This is really the only time I ever use the little paddle but it works fine and the kit fits in my bag (which obviously gets checked) very well.

Lynn

[raZor]

i just had my shaving kit stolen from baggage---no travelers insurance so i am at the mercy of the airport and what they are willing to compensate me

got some positive feedback from them since i send them an itemized receipt from Mr. Ayers

i will be traveling within the next couple of weeks and i am definitely going to get travelers insurance

[Jimbo]

I also only ever take straights when travelling - my leather strop fits perfectly in my check-through baggage, and I've never had an issue (well, not yet) with lost luggage. I always take a minimum of three striaghts with me and always make sure I refresh the paste on the embossed side of the (hanging) strop. I spend the week before I travel refreshing the edges on the blades I want to take and shave testing them. I never take my best blades in case my baggage is lost or stolen or whatever.

When I pack my toilet bag, everything gets put in separate plastic bags in case of leakage. Also, I wrap rubber bands around my straights inside their coffins in case the lids work loose during flights (unlikely, but possible I suppose).

The only thing I've missed taking on recent trips is my hone - I bought a few old razors from antiques places while away and it is pretty frustrating to have to wait until you get home to sharpen them.

James.