Hygiene Gear

Even in the backcountry, you should still brush your teeth twice a day and go to the bathroom.  But in the backcountry, you may not have a toilet or facility provided toilet paper. 

You Need the Following Kits

• Personal Hygiene Kit

• Human Waste Kit (one of the following):

  • Cathole Kit

  • Poo Bag Kit

Personal Hygiene Kit

Summer Camp, Lodging and Car Camping with Rest Rooms

• Personal Hygiene Bag (aka shaving bag)

  • Groovy zippered Shaving Bag 

  • Quart size freezer bag

  • Toothbrush 

    • Protect bristles with cover

  • Toothpaste 

    • You can refill a travel sized tube from a bigger tube before your trip

  • Soap 

    • In soap container

    • Pack second bar for trip greater than 5 days

  • Floss

    • Multiple uses:

      • Thread for clothing/gear repair (tape needle to side of floss)

      • Remove ticks

      • Mini twine

      • Flossing teeth

• Optional

  • Antiperspirant

  • Bottle of mouth wash

  • Hand sanitizer

  • Comb

  • Shampoo

  • Hair product

  • Nail clippers

  • Wet wipes

  • Razor

  • Small flashlight

  • Toilet paper in freezer bag stored in duffle bag - just in case

• Note that Axe Body Spray is NOT on this list

Backcountry Hygiene Kit

• Hygiene bag - small freezer bag

  • Toothbrush 

    • Ideally with cap

  • Toothpaste

    • Small tube

    • Tablets

  • Soap 

    • Soap sheets are easy to pack 

      • Sea to Summit Pocket Wilderness Wash

    • Hand sanitizer is great - but does NOT deactivate norovirus 

Human Waste Kit

The Backcountry often doesn't have toilets for use.  Plan on packing either a cathole kit, where burying human waste is appropriate or a Poo Bag Kit where you need to pack out your waste. 

Cathole Kit