Thread: Travel strop for BIG razor

OK, so I'll take up the "Mean-spirited barbs meant to hurt my feelings" gauntlet. I may even stoop to browbeating!

Is your suitcase any smaller when you bring a Mach 3 razor and a can of goo? Is your suitcase any larger when you happen to pack a regular strop (thickness, oh about 1/8")???

I'm here to vent about a pet peeve of mine: the idea that one should have a "travel" version of their shave stuff.

A travel brush? Why in the name of Sam Hill do you need a brush that is ever so slightly smaller for when you go on the road? Take a brush you like (not a top of the line $$$ brush, I realize) put it in a toilet paper tube and stick it in your dopp kit. Enjoy the same brush wonderfulness on the road that you do at home!

Now, if one were mounting an assault on the north face of Everest, I can see where every once may help, and space would be at a premium. But I am assuming that most guys when they travel have a standard size suitcase that they fill up with stuff to bring with them on the trip, and sleep in a hotel, not bivowacked on a rocky ledge at an elevation of 15,000 feet. If space is really such an issue, don't pack a change of underwear, or such other uneccesary items (or simply go "commando" for the duration of the trip!). But why, WHY deprive yourself of the usual shave experience?

Perhaps men enjoy stropping on a paddle strop/box such as you are describing. I have never used one of those box strops, so I can't speak to the feel when using them. But I will say the idea of using one does not appeal to me. But, I for one fully enjoy the feeling of grasping that latigo handle of a traditional hanging strop and having at that razor as I prepare for my shave "shhhhhhhhip! shhhhhhhhip! shhhhhhhhip! " Ahhh, I love the smell of latigo in the morning!


Since you are looking for an excuse to buy more stuff: go out and buy a second HANGING STROP! Go ahead....this is the justification you have been looking for!

And go to Amazon and buy a $29 dopp kit, see pics below, if you do not already own a proper dopp kit. I can fit a bowl of my favorite shave soap, an aftershave balm of choice, my brush (in the svelte toilet paper tube) all in the lower compartment. In the top compartment is my 2 razor modified "Cigar Caddy" tarvel case, bath soap, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, sundry items and refuse....I had it here at my desk, as I used it this morning for shaving at the gym.

I find that when I travel on business having my usual shave stuff is a nice luxury. And also being able to spend as much time as I so choose hogging the bathroom is a nice bonus as well.

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Blah blah blah blah blah

Good points, all. You mean a FOURTH hanging strop of course. Then perhaps one of the little balsa strops for CrOx should it be neccesary (it shouldn't...but better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
I guess I could...but I like the neat devices. I really like the idea of the TI strop.

I do travel with a full sized brush, bowl, and soap, but I repackage some aftershave (usually three choices) into small squirt bottles. Good call on the cigar caddy, though, I have an extra at home I could use for just this purpose. Perhaps I'll just abandon the idea altogether, use an old strop,a nd use the moeny to buy a new razor.

Originally Posted by smokelaw1

Good points, all. You mean a FOURTH hanging strop of course. Then perhaps one of the little balsa strops for CrOx should it be neccesary (it shouldn't...but better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
I guess I could...but I like the neat devices. I really like the idea of the TI strop.

I do travel with a full sized brush, bowl, and soap, but I repackage some aftershave (usually three choices) into small squirt bottles. Good call on the cigar caddy, though, I have an extra at home I could use for just this purpose. Perhaps I'll just abandon the idea altogether, use an old strop,a nd use the moeny to buy a new razor.

Balsa, I would imagine wil not be good for travel, as it is so easily dinged/dented up.

Go buy a new razor, and a travel shave soap or two. Perhaps Penhaligon's English Fern, or C&S No. 88....

My modified Caddy:

Originally Posted by Seraphim

My modified Caddy:

Very nice. I hope you don't mind me appropriating this idea immediately.

Originally Posted by Bill S

Very nice. I hope you don't mind me appropriating this idea immediately.

My liscensing fees are quite reasonable!

Originally Posted by smokelaw1

Good points, all. You mean a FOURTH hanging strop of course. Then perhaps one of the little balsa strops for CrOx should it be neccesary (it shouldn't...but better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
I guess I could...but I like the neat devices. I really like the idea of the TI strop.

I do travel with a full sized brush, bowl, and soap, but I repackage some aftershave (usually three choices) into small squirt bottles. Good call on the cigar caddy, though, I have an extra at home I could use for just this purpose. Perhaps I'll just abandon the idea altogether, use an old strop,a nd use the moeny to buy a new razor.

Or maybe you're looking to class-up your travel shave kit itself?

Col. Littleton

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Or maybe you're looking to class-up your travel shave kit itself?

Col. Littleton

<deleted picture>

Wow, that is a beautiful thing. Horribly expensive, but it tells me to buy it.

And where did you get that Caddy thing from? That looks like a good idea.

Originally Posted by Hillie

Wow, that is a beautiful thing. Horribly expensive, but it tells me to buy it.

And where did you get that Caddy thing from? That looks like a good idea.

You can get them from Amazon, or Ebay. The foam interior is my rather rough handywork.

I have a double, and a quad. I should get another couple,as I certainly have more than 6 razors currently....

I have a few laying around, from two cigars up through at least 30 or more...I will likely not need more than two razors on vacation, nor do I want to risk more than one really nice razor going through the system.

Originally Posted by smokelaw1

I have a few laying around, from two cigars up through at least 30 or more...I will likely not need more than two razors on vacation, nor do I want to risk more than one really nice razor going through the system.

I usually limit myself to two razors (one as "backup/change of pace"), each having cost me $50 or less to take with me when travelling by air.