The Ultimate Solution To Hiking Showers and more!
I’ve read so many blogs about how to take a shower or go to the toilet in the backcountry and they are all messy options that require extra stamina after exerting yourself the whole day. I’m seriously wondering why more people are not catching onto the most convenient, amazing, seriously revolutionary thing I’ve come across for camping and hiking: Natural wet wipes that decompose quickly.
So I thought, since we love convenience, that I would compile (for YOUR convenience) a list of what the perfect wet wipe should consist of:
There are 2 things you do not want to attract while hiking in the woods. Insects and bears. Soaps, deodorants, and shampoos send out a sweet fragrance of attraction picked up by animals with heightened olfactory superpowers (a great sense of smell!). Vanilla is especially attractive to bears, and while no one is baking a cake in the camp, you could be cleaning yourself with a vanilla scent and unknowingly placing a “bulls-eye” on your body (not to be dramatic or anything). So, for bears, insects, and mosquitos, you REALLY want to be odorless and sweat-free.
When I buy towels, I go for bath sheets – because bigger is better right? It makes a huge difference if you have something sturdy in your hand while you’re vigorously trying to clean your body. You’ll also want a wipe that’s big enough to do the job and not have to use 20 small wipes that will end up on a garbage pile somewhere that your great-grandchildren will still likely be trying to rid the world of.
If you’ve been a part of this world for any length of time you’ll know we’re dealing with a huge environmental crisis and it amazes me how few people care. Soapbox moment: The moment we are born, we are appointed stewards of this world and it begs the question as to whether we’ve done our job well?
Having a light backpack is all-important on a hike and you’re often asking yourself what you can sacrifice on a weekend ramble to lighten your pack. It seems like guys care much less about hygiene than girls, am I right? Seriously though guys … if you ever want to have sex again… please, keep a biodegradable single wipe in your pocket at least! That’s all it takes, back pocket hiking chick magnet!
So what do we want? Scent-free, extra-large, decomposing, easy to carry, AND hypo-allergenic! Yip, I want all of the above. The best hypoallergenic wipes contain a formula that actually nourishes your skin. Get those.
What’s the verdict?
Far and wide Surviveware wet wipes are fantastic. There are a few options, so I thought I’d help you choose the best option in whatever scenario life has thrown at you:
Scenario 1:
It’s a family camping trip and you’re a family of four and Johnny will not share anything of his with big sister Sarah, dad is over 6 feet tall and will use more than one wipe, thereby depleting your wet wipe ration and mom just wants some time to herself without having to search for who put the wet wipes where.
You’ll need this: A box of 4 packs (15 pieces per pack)
Scenario 2:
You’re a family of five going on a road trip. Three kids on the backseat, one is sucking on a lollipop, the dregs of which are clinging to her hair ends and forming a sticky mess around her lips. The kid on the left just lost control of his juice bottle and kid on the right is crying because she needs a number 2 NOW! Dad just finished his toasted sandwich and his fingers are oil-slicked and mom is reaching for the wet wipes and telling dad to pull over.
You’ll need this: A Large Pack of wet wipes (32 pieces)
Scenario 3:
You’re going on a weekend hiking trip with your partner, there are no showers to speak of and toilet facilities are nothing more than a hole in the ground. You have limited space in your backpack (you’ve packed seriously light to impress him) and you need at least one shower a day per person, plus some extras for when nature calls ... loudly.
You’ll need this: A Small pack of wet wipes (15 pieces)
Scenario 4:
You’re going on a day hike with a bunch of college friends. Three of them have forgotten to pack toilet paper, one of them falls down a slope into a river of mud, another scrapes their leg on a rock while another has a bout of diarrhea. Who’s the hero then with their 40 pack box of individually wrapped singles? With a few stuffed in the back pocket of Diarrhea Doug.
Scenario 5:
The entire extended family is meeting for a camping weekend of hiking, outdoor games, fireside ghost stories, and hilarity. When you get there, whoever planned the trip is in trouble because of the lack of shower facilities, and no one was warned. But you save the day as you bring out the very thing everyone needs – cue angel music as a bright light shines on your pack of Compressed wipes with 200 pieces of coin tissue (you local hero you)
Stock up people, this could happen to anyone!
And just for fun, please comment and tell me which scenario fits you best - we all need a good laugh at ourselves.
