I'm only mentioning this as I know a lot of backpackers that don't know about Kirk's Castile BAr Soap.

It's great for backpacking because:

1) It has no fragrance so doesn't attract bugs nor critters
2) No nasty chemicals, doesn't polute like detergents
3) Can be used to clean almost everything, body, clothes, dishes,...
4) Concentrated hard soap. Liquid soap sucks in a backpack
5) Nothing to cause allergic reactions, just plain old soap

I don't know how many times I've seen people with a cloud of insects swarming around them because they bathed with perfumed soap, Dr. Bronners included.

You can get it at many supermarkets and on the web:
http://www.kirksnatural.com/barsoap.html

I use Dr Bronners Tea Tree Oil Soap (Actually Every Day, Not just when Hiking) and here in new jersey, our state bird is the Mosquito. I haven't noticed an increase since I've switched.

I only brought a little film canister of unscented castile soap for the two outside showers at the shelters (parternship and 501). Other than that, I found it unnecessary as towns, hostels etc are only a few days away.

Wait, I'm supposed to carry soap?
I thought that was one of the four things that town is for.
Soap and TV and cold beer and hot pizza.
Why would you want to drag any of those out into the woods?

My wife and I have come to appreciate this product (http://www.minimus.biz/detail.aspx?ID=8134). One bar, weighing only 1 ounce, can easily be shared by two people. It does a great job and lasts a couple of weeks.

Maybe we are hiking wimps, but we often find it nice to clean up once in camp after a long day of hiking.

Got something called tea tree oil paper soap. Little sheets that dissolve when wet. Not much scent, very convenient.

Wait, I'm supposed to carry soap?
I thought that was one of the four things that town is for.
Soap and TV and cold beer and hot pizza.
Why would you want to drag any of those out into the woods?

If you are a girl, it is good to wash yourself even when you are not in town. Helps avoid itchiness and yuckiness in the nether regions.

If you are a girl, it is good to wash yourself even when you are not in town. Helps avoid itchiness and yuckiness in the nether regions.

Not just for girls, boys as well. Plain old water works, but a little soap make it much easier. And clothes clean much easier as well with soap than just plain creek water.

Town stops get really cheap when you can occasionally pass a shower and laundry in town. A few bucks here and there really add up. Means more beer and pizza!

no soaps of any kind are needed on the AT. you're never in the woods long enough.

Patchouli. 'nuff said.

that's the worst smellin' **** in the world. nuf said

So. What does it smell like?

Not bathing is one of my 10-year old son's favorite things about backpacking.

I wash my hands and face every day when I'm on the trail even if its cold. But I use the little bars of soap (weight 1.3 ounces) that I save when I get a hotel room. I don't want to carry a full size bar of soap, there too heavy.

Panzer

god didnt invent soap. man did..............no soap , towns are for soap, pizza and beer.... amen to trail towns

no soaps of any kind are needed on the AT. you're never in the woods long enough.

What do you mean? You could easily be in the woods for 4 or 5 days at a time between towns.

Panzer

What do you mean? You could easily be in the woods for 4 or 5 days at a time between towns.

Panzer

seems he means what you just said!!!every 4 or 5 days...hello:eek:

just like the charger, use it only in rooms you pay for....hello:eek:

Use "wipes" at night/in the mornings, purell type stuff during the day. Save the soap/shampoo for town/hostel stops.

Use "wipes" at night/in the mornings......Yep, dry 'em out before hand and then add water to them to reactivate. Feels great with warm water on a cool night right before you turn in.

Yep, dry 'em out before hand and then add water to them to reactivate. Feels great with warm water on a cool night right before you turn in.

never thought of the warm water trick. thanks i will have to try:) that one......

What do you mean? You could easily be in the woods for 4 or 5 days at a time between towns.

Panzer

whatever. 4 or 5 days ain't a long time to go without bathing. i guess you don't do much LD walking

Patchouli. 'nuff said.

I knew some folks casually that I thought were complete stoners:cool: - they always smelled like they had a cloud of pot smoke around them. Turns out it was patchouli. 'Splain that when Sheriff Bubba pulls you over!

I bring a small bar of Ivory or Nutragena soap - unscented and available anywhere. When it's hot, an evening sponge bath and a shot of Tinactin powder keeps the crotch from getting nasty. If I don't take care of the nether region, it gets red and raw after a couple days, or less. Frankly, I don't like the way I smell when I'm out for a while, and keeping clean helps keeps my stuff a little cleaner, too. One of the few things I don't like about long distance hiking, is that I always feel damp, and washing up helps alleviate that feeling. I just plain feel better, and sleep better, when I'm cleaned up a little. We all have our quirks - I guess that's mine. YMMV.

I knew some folks casually that I thought were complete stoners:cool: - they always smelled like they had a cloud of pot smoke around them. Turns out it was patchouli. 'Splain that when Sheriff Bubba pulls you over!

I bring a small bar of Ivory or Nutragena soap - unscented and available anywhere. When it's hot, an evening sponge bath and a shot of Tinactin powder keeps the crotch from getting nasty. If I don't take care of the nether region, it gets red and raw after a couple days, or less. Frankly, I don't like the way I smell when I'm out for a while, and keeping clean helps keeps my stuff a little cleaner, too. One of the few things I don't like about long distance hiking, is that I always feel damp, and washing up helps alleviate that feeling. I just plain feel better, and sleep better, when I'm cleaned up a little. We all have our quirks - I guess that's mine. YMMV.


baby wipes are a godsend and with the warm water trick, heaven....ahhhhhhh:D

never thought of the warm water trick. thanks i will have to try:) that one......

baby wipes are a godsend and with the warm water trick, heaven....ahhhhhhh:DYou must be really bored to go try something like that. :D

good thing about the bronners is you can use as toothpaste as well...and laundry...pro bronners...

If you are a girl, it is good to wash yourself even when you are not in town. Helps avoid itchiness and yuckiness in the nether regions.
Would you believe that even some, (maybe most) males find it nice to wash up, one way or the other, everyday or so?

Which soap really doesn't matter. A sliver off of a large bar of Ivory works for me -- and my dishes, and occasional hankerchief, even to wash an occasional pair of socks, between laundromats. Ivory is as biodegradable and unpolluting as any soap on the market -- and much, much cheaper than the competitors.

I tend to wash important body parts (think pits) or at least wipe them with an anti-bacterial body wipe (wet ones) daily. It makes me feel better -- and those clean section hikers I encounter.

Weary

whatever. 4 or 5 days ain't a long time to go without bathing.

ha ha ha ha haaa

Panzer (lmao):D:D:D

You must be really bored to go try something like that. :D

thanks for the dig, but i am always willing to try new things. i have not used the warm water trick yet but it sounds like it could work. no need for soap if u have the baby wipes and hand sanatizer. get the soap in town when paying for a room......hooch, "time is what you make it".

peace out, nitewalker:D

One of the many advantages of Kirk's Castile Soap is that it is more concentrated than other soaps, especially Ivory. So you don't need to carry as much.
I believe it is even more compact than Dr. Bronner's bar soap. It is definitely cheaper and can be found at many small town drug stores.

Even though some of the Dr. Bronner scents don't attract bugs, I don't know if I'd like the scent on my cooking pot and spoon, if used to wash dishes. I usually don't use soap on my dishes, but some do.

stevie

I use dial soap. I did use some bio-degradable soap at one time but after a trip to Colorado the guides no longer asked you to pack bio-degradable soap because the other soap did not impact the water that much.

Sea to Summit makes soap sheets that come in a plastic carry case for around 4.50. They work pretty good

Not just for girls, boys as well. Plain old water works, but a little soap make it much easier. And clothes clean much easier as well with soap than just plain creek water.
All true, as is the previous post: "If you are a girl, it is good to wash yourself even when you are not in town. Helps avoid itchiness and yuckiness in the nether regions."

I have yet to hear a sensible, fact-based, argument for not carrying soap, or valid reasons for not "using soap on a trail."

Weary

no soaps of any kind are needed on the AT. you're never in the woods long enough.
Certainly, along most of the trail, one can get to town every other day, often sooner. But that doesn't mean one should or must escape frome the towns that easily.

Every 5 or 6 days worked for me.
Weasry (six+, most usually'

If your hiking in the summer and get poison ivy you will need soap to wash the poison ivy off. If you don't wash it off it will just get worse.

Panzer

no soaps of any kind are needed on the AT. you're never in the woods long enough.
Certainly, along most of the trail, one can get to town every other day, often sooner. But that doesn't mean one should or must escape frome the towns that easily.

Every 5 or 6 days worked for me.
Weary (six+, most usually')

Another good thing about soap on the trail is to get the grease out of your pot with some meals. Ramen for example is pretty oily. A guy I hiked with would eat ramen every day, usually two packs for lunch every day. After 2 or 3 days he would have a heavy coating of the grease from the flavor packets in his pot that would get thicker when he used just water to try to clean it. Not really a health issue or anything, but sometimes you just don't want your morning cereal to taste like chicken ramen.

there is no need for any kind soap on the trail

No need for MOST of the things we spoiled Americans consider necessities.

That doesn't mean that people shouldn't consider others (nearly all non-hikers) who might be offended by their stench after 4-5 days without a "proper" shower.

Still, I find that rinsing myself and clothes certainly does cut down the funk to what I consider reasonable levels (whether it's "reasonable" for others is for them to decide).
I carry a tiny bottle of biodegradable liquid soap (in a tiny, single use hotel shampoo bottle) when I do hikes longer than a weekend. Up to three days and I don't worry about washing myself or even my pots and pans (just scrape and rinse out pot between each meal, next boil will sterilize it). In the summer, though, when it's hot and you get sweaty where the sun don't shine, you might want to clean up before you get a nasty rash or chafing :o.

If your hiking in the summer and get poison ivy you will need soap to wash the poison ivy off. If you don't wash it off it will just get worse.

Panzer

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY GOOD REASON TO CARRY SOAP!

(I thought it bore repeating with emphasis).:jump

there is no need for any kind soap on the trail
Of course. Humans lived for millennia before the invention of soap. But most humans liked soap once it was invented. Soap serves a purpose -- both on and off trails. Soap washes away germs, and smells, and makes one feel clean and refreshed. That's why, for instance, I always use soap with my daily showers, and carry it on the trails to wash me, my pot, and whatever else appears to need it.

There is absolutely no reason for not using soap, on trails, or off. You should try it sometime, Lone Wolf. You may find you also like soap.

Weary

no need for soaps on the trail

Ms Baggins is correct. Purell wipes are light-weight, antiseptic, and excellent for several things, esp. cleaning hands after using the latrine. Their alcohol smell overrides food smells in your trash bag, and they also make excellent firestarters if needed.

no need for soaps on the trail

a little something between catholes and eating helps, also something to prevent chafing is nice... wet ones does it for me

Of course. Humans lived for millennia before the invention of soap. But most humans liked soap once it was invented. Soap serves a purpose -- both on and off trails. Soap washes away germs, and smells, and makes one feel clean and refreshed. That's why, for instance, I always use soap with my daily showers, and carry it on the trails to wash me, my pot, and whatever else appears to need it.

There is absolutely no reason for not using soap, on trails, or off. You should try it sometime, Lone Wolf. You may find you also like soap.

Weary

This is the only place I know where you have to lecture people about using soap.:D

Panzer

This is the only place I know where you have to lecture people about using soap.:DPanzer
Just remember, one has to do what one has to do to improve society. It's a burden that only the selfish don't have to share.

Weary

Just remember, one has to do what one has to do to improve society. It's a burden that only the selfish don't have to share.

Weary

stand tall on that soapbox, by all means :)

There is absolutely no reason for not using soap, on trails, or off. You should try it sometime, Lone Wolf. You may find you also like soap.


If you don't use it at home, why would you use it on the trail?

If you are a girl, it is good to wash yourself even when you are not in town. Helps avoid itchiness and yuckiness in the nether regions.

Guys too, I hope the soapless guy was joking. Although you know when one is around because you smell them before you see them. No one stays stench free, however some smell like death at 50 feet. Some stench is too much and causes people to not want pick us up or feed us.:banana

By the way Wolf smells good without soap, thats why he does not carry it. Women flock to him.:eek:

good thing about the bronners is you can use as toothpaste as well...and laundry...pro bronners...

I like Dr. Bronner's soap and use it, but as a toothpaste no. It tastes like.....soap. It's disgusting.

This is the only place I know where you have to lecture people about using soap.:D

Panzer

You must not work with IT guys!

Does Dr. Bronners wash off the oil residue from poison ivy? I thought you had to have some special soap for that. Just curious.

I know that there is no scientific proof to this...but I was considering taking some "plain" bronners and adding some lemon grass oil and citronella oils to this. Make like a bug repellant soap for the summer months.....
I am new and just learnin so I will carry a "little" soap...plain bronners.

I know that there is no scientific proof to this...but I was considering taking some "plain" bronners and adding some lemon grass oil and citronella oils to this. Make like a bug repellant soap for the summer months.....
I am new and just learnin so I will carry a "little" soap...plain bronners.

They make a Citrus Smelling dr bronner's (http://www.drbronner.com/DBMS/OLCT02/CitrusLiquidSoap.htm). I was under the impression citronella really had to be burned to be effective

Does Dr. Bronners wash off the oil residue from poison ivy? I thought you had to have some special soap for that. Just curious.

I'm sure that special soaps do a better job at washing off poison ivy residue, but any soap is better than nothing.

I wouldn't bother carrying a special soap just for poison ivy. Its too much trouble.

Panzer

no need for soaps on the trail

LW, we all know that you carry soap to wash down your Leki poles at night with filtered water! :D

in shelters

He keeps it(soap) in his bear bag.

I wonder if LW's present medical state would require him to stay clean on any hikes undertaken...requiring, oh I don't know...Soap?

I wonder if LW's present medical state would require him to stay clean on any hikes undertaken...requiring, oh I don't know...Soap?

nope. no need

Does Dr. Bronners wash off the oil residue from poison ivy? I thought you had to have some special soap for that. Just curious.
All simple soaps wash off poison ivy oils. I would be suspicious, however, of sophisticated soaps containing extra skin conditioning oils. I haven't seen any studies, but would worry that such soaps would leave behind both the skin conditioning oils and the poison ivy.

There's no special reason not to cary Dr. Bronners -- other than its extra cost. But any simple soap like Ivory works as well without any negative drawbacks, and at a much lower cost. Overall the cost difference is insignificant. But so are all other purchases. It all adds up for hikers on a tight budget.

Weary

no soaps of any kind are needed on the AT. you're never in the woods long enough.
It depends on whether you are enjoying a long green party, or a long green tunnel.

Weary

never took soap and never intend to. wipes and purell or similar for after privy time.

not washing and smelling bad is what makes some town people dislike hikers. They don't understand why some hikers don't wash.

Panzer

not washing and smelling bad is what makes some town people dislike hikers. They don't understand why some hikers don't wash.

Panzer

cuz you shouldn't put soap and cosmetics and crap into potential water sources??

cuz you shouldn't put soap and cosmetics and crap into potential water sources??

Then wash an appropriate distance away from water sources. Washing is not rocket science.

Panzer

cuz you shouldn't put soap and cosmetics and crap into potential water sources??
Of course. But that has nothing to do with carrying and using soap on the trail.

You also shouldn't put food scraps into potential water sources, but a lot of us still carry food and manage to avoid polluting water. Carrying soap and avoiding pollution is equally easy.

Weary

Then wash an appropriate distance away from water sources. Washing is not rocket science.

Panzer

Of course. But that has nothing to do with carrying and using soap on the trail.

You also shouldn't put food scraps into potential water sources, but a lot of us still carry food and manage to avoid polluting water. Carrying soap and avoiding pollution is equally easy.

Weary

my only point was that there are people on this thread talking about washing out their clothes and such. where you think they're going to do it? in their nalgene? their cook pot? and i intentionally said "potential" water sources because people also may not always realize what may be downstream.

Patchouli. 'nuff said.
Exactly. . . :)

my only point was that there are people on this thread talking about washing out their clothes and such. where you think they're going to do it? in their nalgene? their cook pot? and i intentionally said "potential" water sources because people also may not always realize what may be downstream.

A gallon size ziplock works really well for washing and rinsing small clothing items like socks or underwear.

A gallon size ziplock works really well for washing and rinsing small clothing items like socks or underwear.

1/2 and 1 gallon milk jugs work nicely too. Cut an opening near the top big enough for your undies and you're good to go. Another neat trick I've seen is taking a circle of silnylon and adding a drawstring. Make a very handy water tote or basin.

1/2 and 1 gallon milk jugs work nicely too. Cut an opening near the top big enough for your undies and you're good to go. Another neat trick I've seen is taking a circle of silnylon and adding a drawstring. Make a very handy water tote or basin.

I use my silnylon sleeping bag drybag.

Exactly. . . :)

but then you're not just a dirty stinky hiker, you're a dirty stinky GOL DANG HIPPIE hiker.:banana

but then you're not just a dirty stinky hiker, you're a dirty stinky GOL DANG HIPPIE hiker.:banana

I'm OK with Patchouli and I'm OK with BO, but both combined makes me want to vomit. I've known others who've had the same reaction.
The combination is one of the worst smells on earth.