Where/how often do you shower?

[Fireman78]

I try to get under that nice Zodi at least every day. Unless there are creeks I can dip into. Not showering is just gross. Smelly, nasty butt. Seriously gross, the longer one goes, longer he won't smell himself. (Olfactory fatigue). I had enough time going without in the Army and US Forest Service. I don't even like being on trips where others have an opportunity to, but simply don't.

 

[Corey]

At home I have to shower at least twice a day, just comes with the job.

Camping every day.
Makes it easy with a Zodi Hotman Extreme and a Porta-Privy shelter.

When backcountry camping out in the woods, I always camp near a water source such as a creek or river, and can fill the Zodi there.

Also if no one is near, I will dip into the stream and bathe, sans soap of course.

And I agree, not cleaning up is gross.
Been around a few who do not keep clean while camping, and my nose takes offense to it.
Not much difference than smelling a bad fart.
I hate being around stinky people.

I can see having to not shower for prolonged periods such as the military (I have heard stories from my oldest son and others) but if out camping and you have the room for the gear, use it

 

[Purple People Eater]

I just use a wet hand towel and wipe off a couple times a day. What really gets to me though, is my hair. I have super thick hair so sweat and dirt just stay in there. After 2 or three days, it gets stinky and itchy, so I fill a cup with water and pour it over my head, scrub down with a small bottle of hotel shampoo and rinse it out again with the cup. Works for me. My body odor has never really been a problem, especially when I'm very liberal with the deodorant.

Although, if you're on a trip with me and this proves to be inadequate, please tell me. I'll figure something else out. :victory:

 

[jim65wagon]

With four people packed in the Tundra on a trip it gets rank if we skipped showering. We have been known to use the wipes if we have plans to move out early in the morning, but we usually shower in the morning while the coffees brewing.

If we get really gross after a day hike or some other mucky adventure we'll shower in the evening....unless there's a creek, river, lake, ocean etc, then we swimNwash....

The Triton portable hot water heater works great if you've got the water

 

[The Swiss]

Really depends on the situation.A lot of out-door activities involve water anyhow :sombrero: But as a general rule:

• Hot weather or after a dusty/dirty day: Thoroughly wash myself before dinner camp and in the morning.
• Cold weather and "clean" day. Just the thorough morning wash.

If showers are available, I like to shower daily. If there are no showers, good personal daily hygiene and regular change of your base layer clothing will keep you socially acceptable for a long time. However, after 4 to 6 days I like start looking for a shower - at a truck stop for example - as my scalp would start itching; I always have the feeling that I don't get all the shampoo out of my hair if I don't have lots of hot water. However, my progressing bolding process will solve that problem over time :elkgrin:

 

[zimm]

im not one for winter trips so, its easy.

sponge, bucket, chair ='s clean me and CLEAN SHEETS at the end of the day. cold water on my head in the morning.

 

[Fireman78]

I remember being without a shower for about two weeks while on a string of fires in Nevada. Eventually the entire crew took my lead and showered with the tank water, the booster line and used Silvex (firefighting foam) for shampoo. Another was in the Army, we used to pass a jar around the bay and pluck ticks off of us after a field excersize. Most I ever had was 28. I think the record was 40. Pretty gross indeed!

 

[Christophe Noel]

I've done so many 10-14 day trips sans shower, I couldn't count them all. Many of those trips were as a mountain guide or sea kayak guide. On some of my longer trips, I've gone as long as 50-75 days without a shower. This doesn't mean I'm unclean. I'm the Howard Hughes of the backcountry. That's helpful in the sense I do my best to stay clean, which makes getting clean easier. In warmer climates, the best thing in the world is a well timed rain shower. Love that.

I remember on one trip I arrived at day 20 of 97 days with my last baby wipe in hand. I distinctly remember feeling depressed there would be no more baby wipes.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

I don't.

I jump in the lake. Good enough for me.

It's one of the things that's different about camping up here. You're always within spitting distance of a fresh water lake.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Depending on the temperature and the time of year I'll do a "whore's bath" from the waist up on a daily basis: Water and a washcloth and soap. If it's cold I'll heat some water up on the stove. If I'm on or near a highway, I'm not shy about using rest areas or truck stop restrooms for my daily clean up, either.

I'm a bit obsessive about my hair as well (hey, at 48 I figure I'm lucky to have hair so I want to take care of it - my brother is only a year older than me and he's been balding since he was in his 30's :elkgrin: )

Even though I spent a lot of time in the Army I don't like being too grungy.

Actually, that's why the trip I took last year to Nevada was one of the best ones I've ever been on. I went with Bob and Jan (CanuckMariner on this forum) and Bob's girlfriend Sue and we trekked our way across Nevada. What was cool about it was that every night but one we stopped at a natural hot spring. So no matter how dirty, dusty and sweaty we were, we would end the day by bathing in a nice hot spring!

Then, the next morning, I'd take my canvas bucket and a towel down by the spring and give myself a "shower" with the hot water, rinse off real well and then jump back into the spring again. It meant that I started every day fresh and clean. Of course, you have to be pretty comfortable with nudity if you're traveling in a group like we were, but for the 4 of us it was no big deal. Not sure my wife would have been as enthusiastic about it if she was there.

It was so great that now whenever I go anywhere I want to check and see if there are any natural hot springs there. It basically made a primitive camping trip downright "civilized!" :sombrero:

 

[Lichen]

One of the nice things about camping is that you don't have to take no stinking shower. Wet wash cloth, or baby wipes, or baby powder. If I stink too much, move farther away from me. Camping showers - good grief.

 

[Maximus Ram]

ok, so for those that have a portable shower - either the eccotemp or the zodi - how well do they work ? do you run the pump off of your truck battery or have a seperate one ? I've looked at both and for the price, the eccotemp seems to be good.

 

[Corey]

My Zodiac is hand pump powered, that is the one I reccomend.
Search Cabelas site for Zodiac Hotman Extreme.
I retrofitted a kitchen faucet sprayer to it, and it works very well.

Sorry my Droid picks the words as I type, need to turn off that feature.
Zodi not zodiac.

 

[UK4X4]

Shower.......replaced

with unscented baby wipes

Rivers

Ponds

the sea

wet towel rub down etc etc

usually soap not included unless required


hair if left unwashed after a month it cleans its self, the greasy feel disappears and the hair looks great...
in the last two weeks before the miracle effect it does look a tad gross though - push through the boundry and it looks great !

 

[SWbySWesty]

I run a $15 solar shower. But I'm in California and the desert so temps are decent with lots of sunshine. Take the shower BEFORE dark. Just strap it to the roof while you drive your trail during the day and POOF, HOT SHOWER after rolling into camp. (or as mentioned, heat it up and pour into bag)

I hang it on a tree usually with some rope. I generally camp away from campgrounds so the nudity thing is no problemo.

One of the best parts of a trip was showering, then climbing to the roof of my Jeep overlooking a valley and yelling since nobody could hear me! Very liberating! The gf got jealous and joined me up there.............

(yes, that nail was previously there...I would never nail a tree)