Been camping

[richmondesi]

So, I took my nephew on his Webelo camping trip this weekend. It was about 26 degrees, but we had a really good time.

After the campfire, the lack of shower, and below freezing weather, last night's shave with my 8/8s Friodur and Czech & Speake Oxford & Cambridge was even more luxurious than normal...

It was a really good time, but it left me determined to figure out the best way to go camping/hiking without missing my shaves.

Do any of you guys do this? What's your routine?

I think I've got a good plan, but I want to know what you guys do.

I'm thinking:

• small brush
• single razor
• small stone (just in case the razor needs attention)
• shave stick
• small shaving mirror (I think I can easily fit this in without adding too much weight for my pack

My biggest concern is doing it in the cold... Might warm water over a fire, or may have to pass on the idea.

Thoughts?

[CableDawg]

I've never considered shaving while camping......I guess because it's just too much trouble...for me, anyway. My shave den is great, I have my routine set and I'm just too darn lazy and having a good time while camping to figure out the best way to do it!

I stumbled on to this site last year: Cold Water Shaving: The Benefits and Pleasures of a Splash of Cold Water | The Art of Manliness

It's pretty well written. It links to a thread here started by our forum's own JimmyHAD.....and I would imagine that the author could have easily based his entire article on that thread alone (I never did read the entire thread, so please forgive me: http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...orst-ever.html ).

I think your kit for camping is a great idea! The only problem with hiking is that you need extra water just for shaving.....and water is pretty heavy. I would suppose if you could do it with a single canteen and a small, lightweight pot for warming the water it would absolutely be feasible.....and with a good camera the members here would appreciate the whole "frontier" and rugged individual theme. My only concern would be in the cold with the wind whipping my face to a pulp, but there's probably good stuff out there that would minimize the wind burn.

Great thread! Thanks!

[richmondesi]

Yeah, I actually do the cold water shave pretty regularly, but there's zero chance I'm doing it with the temps in the 20s...

In the spring and summer, I'll get my wife to take some pics on one of our trips... I think that would be pretty awesome (my plan is using water from a stream).

[Muirtach]

I have a small vintage paddle strop that has a slide-out drawer for a razor sotrage. I've taken that with me while camping a number of times. The amount of water you need is minimal actually. I do my lather a bit wet at first and let it soak in and then re-apply and go to town.

Not backpacking by any stretch, but my avatar is me shaving in the Black Rock desert at some hippie festival thingy

[roughkype]

I've got a 4/8 E.A. Berg frameback that seems like it was made for backpacking. Its construction seems almost chintzy--no grind at all to the steel, and a slotted tube for the back--but it's still a darn fine shaver, packs tiny, and it weighs almost nothing. It will be my camping razor. Will strop on jeans & forgo honing. Photos attached, with a Dovo 5/8 for comparison:

[milehiscott]

As long as you're not drinking it, I would think stream water would be just fine. For a mirror, you could use the survival signal mirror type mirror. They reflect well, are small and light. If you have a good belt, you might be able to use it as a strop, but don't hold me to that one.
Please post a follow-up and let us know how you did.

[Pops!]

i go basic when camping.. a de is all that's really needed.. for lather i use dr. bronners magic soap.. i hand apply it and basically all it does is provide a lubricant between the blade and my face.. i use a cup of water to hold my water that i use to rinse the blade and do a final rinse in the stream or use bottled water.. no aftershave..

also.. i usually borrow a mirror off one of the ladies...

it's a simple, no nonsense shave.. not the extended ritual we are all used to.

sure feels a lot better than walking around looking like a bum.

[whitebar]

I'm thinking:

• small brush
• single razor
• small stone (just in case the razor needs attention)
• shave stick
• small shaving mirror (I think I can easily fit this in without adding too much weight for my pack

Thoughts?

Since weight is an issue when backpacking I'd leave the stone at home. Otherwise, this list should work quite well. For the mirror, I've seen small metal mirrors (approx 3"x4" and made of highly polished stainless steel) that have a hole near the top. You could use a push pin or tack to hang it from a tree. As already mentioned, don't use stream water unless you filter it first as a precaution.

[Nightblade]

I like your idea....I think one problem is that when we camp nowadays ,we camp in small little tiny tents and carry packs unlike our more caravan nomadic type bretheren of yore who had horses,nomadic size tents and such.But then one must consider how the troops during WW 1 and the War of independence and the civil war went about it.I think a paddle strop is good.and old cup Tin maybe or a Sierra mug,and cheap Boar brush.Razor of course(kept in some sort of hard case) and soap(Could be kept in the cup).a camp mirror is a very good idea as it's reflective metal as opposed to glass. And maybe a Micro fiber towel,I use these at home for shaving and they are grand .They are very absorbent,easy cleaning and compact . Oh yes..as for the water,camp near water and welcome to the world of cold water shaving.

[richmondesi]

Thanks for the responses.

My thoughts were that I'd probably boil stream water which serves two purposes: warmth and sanitation.

Also, regarding he stone, it'll also help keep my knife sharp after batoning through wood and other things that are rough on it .