Hygiene Hacks Every Backpacker Should Know

[@jc9371]

Honestly really appreciate the bidet visual tutorial 😂. Not kidding.

[@TieWolf]

The eye contact while you were brushing your teeth was unnecessary and exactly the chaotic energy I dig. Thank you for being weird 😂

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

No prob. I try to do my part 😉

[@mattkolberg2409]

Best comment ever.

[@aaroncarapace8054]

14:27

[@ciscoB2183]

Thought it was funny

[@cassidywilliams9142]

Agreed

[@SugarFreeTargets]

One thing I do is swap my socks mid hike. Since I wear wool, I clean my dirty socks in a lake or stream and slip the wet socks over my smart water bottle. This will not only insulate my freshly filtered water to keep it cool in the hot sun but also create convection and help *cool* the water inside. It's a very old military trick that's almost forgotten when military canteens used to have wool covers.

[@nicoleandjoshbaldwin4228]

Underrated comment

[@michaelbutler1557]

Poor fish.

[@danielsingh9415]

Evaporation "cool" tip, very effective, I do the same with my long camp towel around my neck. I often wondered how it's possible to get cold feet, colder than ambient air, and then I used it for my advantage

[@davidcarothers3311]

​@@michaelbutler1557Why? Does She Smell??😮😮

[@josephbastian3204]

Please dont throw your dirty wash water back into the lake

[@jimburger9418]

I live in far northern California in a town where PCT thru-hikers come to resupply. There are more and more reports of hikers getting sick, on trail, with norovirus. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers do not work for norovirus and good old fashioned hand washing with soap and water is recommended. Keeping your hands away from your face is important too.

[@asmodiusjones9563]

I live in northern Washington and have a few friends who trail Angel on the PCT. I’ve heard the same thing. It’s crazy, I did the northern parts of the PCT 20 years ago and it was so sparsely done that you usually wouldn’t see any other hikers for days at a time. Now it’s like Disneyland or something.

[@marktraylor6315]

My hygiene tip is to wear long sleeves and long pants, no sunscreen to capture and hold the dirt all over my arms and legs, then just jump in the lake at the end of the day too rinse off the sweat. Well worth feeling a little hotter on the trail, knowing you're looking forward to a refreshing plunge and a good night sleep with a clean body.

[@Kiki-D-Kimono]

What do you do if there's no body of water near?

[@dapodix]

Ahh, OK, that explains the stench when you cross some hikers on the trail! 😅

[@danielpittman889]

Same. No sunscreen for me. Loose long-sleeve shirt and wide-brim Tilley hat.

[@NormanDimmick]

As someone who works in the desert a lot and frequently has to camp out on projects: this is the way. Loose, breathable long sleeves are cooler in everything except extreme humidity, and keep SO much grime off. Better protection against ticks, poison oak, and sharp brush too. Kinda boggles my mind that people still hike in shorts.

[@mrroboto18]

Same, but include a buff for neck/ears if I'm in direct sun for long periods. I'm down to sunscreen on just my nose, upper cheeks and hands if any, don't feel nearly as gross at the end of the day

[@jendrikwunsch1164]

Nice and funny video.. I use a myog-bidet on trail. In german we call it: "Spritzi".. it is make from a Lid of a PET-Bottle. You pierce seven symmetrically arranged holes in the lid with a glowing needle. Then you can use the lid as a bidet, as a shower and for washing up. Weight: 2 grams. The lid fits most threads on PET bottles... at least in Europe. It also fits the threads of the Platypus bottles. Good no-budget alternative to the ultra-light bidets. Greetings from Germany.

[@cariiinen]

Great advice!

[@matthewvelo]

Clean feet = happy hiker. One of the first things learned in basic was how to keep your body clean and clear, and it surprises me how few people on trails look after themselves. Thanks for the great video.

[@krazywulf1983]

thank you . sadly it comes down to like me i dont put 2 and 2 together for 20 years i neglected my body and i wish i hadent. i wish someone would have taught me these things or helped me to learn common sense and problum solving and out of box thinking but i stayed in a box for 20 years or longer. now that im out of my box omg my eyes are open and stuff like this will save my life. i just lost my home so ill be on streets for awhile. i ive in bushy area videos ike these are amazing for me. every little common sense secret tip may not be common sense to someone else. and or in time will develope diy problum solving skills again. sadly alot of people ony teach you do this. not this is why we do this. so in the long run no one learns anything just to be a slave which i was for 40 years

[@robertgriffiths9605]

Small drybag full of baby talc. Put each foot in at the start and end of day and/or before changing socks. Ok, there's weight there but it keeps blisters away and promotes comfort. Also use it to dust the "delicates" before putting on underwear. Thanks for making the video; always good to share ideas, especially when you've learned things the hard way.

[@Mr7h21]

I bought 10 50ml dropper bottles on Amazon for less than the cost of one Visine bottle. I use one for soap. One for hot sauce to spice up dehydrated meals. In my first-aid kit I keep one with peroxide and one with alcohol.

[@martharunstheworld]

Just don't mix them up! :)

[@Mr7h21]

@@martharunstheworld lol. I actually bought 15ml bottles not 50ml. but maybe a 50ml with single malt might be therapeutic.

[@martharunstheworld]

@@Mr7h21 Haha!

[@elisebrown5157]

I just checked Amazon and all the dropper bottles I see are round. Did you find any that are flat like the Visine ones? I think that would pack a bit better.

[@GaiaCarney]

@Mr7h21 - great idea!

[@theamazingjay161]

A topic most people don't wanna talk about. However, so important. Thx for that.

[@praetoria_]

The bidet guide actually changed my mind on using a bidet. Couldn’t picture how you would do it before seeing this.

[@ivofriedburg294]

Actually Darwin’s method seems a little odd - around the world millions of people still don’t use toilet paper and live just fine. And in a public toilet nobody would ever do a „break dancer“ - squat all the way down to your haunches, hold the bottle in your dominant hand and spray water from a safe distance and do use your non-dominant hand to wipe until everything is clean. Non-dominant hand should then be cleaned, sanitized and not used for putting food in your mouth. As a matter of fact that is why there is traditionally a stigma for the left hand: it would have been used to wipe ones cabooze.

[@bredlify3079]

Could one also use it from behind the back? Thats what seems intuitive to me.

[@farstrider79]

​@@bredlify3079 If you're squatting for a dump and try to reach behind you that far, your going to fall backwards. You'll also be spraying towards your pants.

[@nigelgunn_W8IFF]

And how do you dry your crack after squirting with water?

[@russellmoore8187]

@@farstrider79 False, for me at least. I do a full-depth squat and it's not an issue at all to reach behind. You also could wrap your other hand around a knee/leg if you need to brace.

[@dr.froghopper6711]

I had a friend that called elevating his feet “going Lodi”. I have no idea why he called it that. He hated Lodi, California. But on long term back country missions, every time we stopped his routine was much like yours. Even if all you can elevate your feet on is your backpack, getting them above your heart really helps. And a cold water soak in a stream is pure heaven!

[@chemistryflavored]

I also switched to a bidet and do the true backcountry method but I do every so often bring dried out baby wipes since I am female who does have to deal with my period and they help in dire situations where water is scarce. I’ve found if you do need to pack out gross wipes, an old opaque Mylar bag is the best. I have even used old coffee bean bags whcih are foil lined and keeps the smell at bay. Just a tip for those who do need to pack out! But please pack out no matter what, I’m so tired of hearing burying is fine, so few do it correctly and the soil needs to be right to compose it. I’m tired of coming across Charmin and Scott on the trail.

[@d.thorpe2046]

The Charmin bloom in the spring. :-(

[@mikaylascott9414]

Coffee bag is SO smart!

[@SammyMaeQ]

If you take a freeze dried meal and use it in the first day, those bags work very well for the same purpose.

[@bruce.KAY-bike-drifter]

Yes, I too use empty old coffee bean bags to carry out my waste. At the beginning of my journey, I have an old dry bag which is a different colour to all my other dry bags,. In it I carry coffee bean bags, collapsed and folded down tightly; one for each day on the trail. I place all the trash from my food packaging and wipes and toileting in the coffee bag and seal it up tightly. Then when I get home or get to a re-supply township, I dispose of the coffee bags.

[@jeffreynickolson4680]

a piece of charmin cloth covered in feces is literally only good for the soil around it.

[@RussoRich11]

A motto of many triathletes/cyclists is similar to what I learned in the Army Infantry. "Don't stand, sit. If you are sitting, lie down. If you are lying down, sleep." Conserve your energy whenever you can!

[@sturmykins]

Since I havent seen it yet- kula cloth (or other pee cloth) for those of us who squat to pee. Like the bidet, it gets rid of the need for toilet paper. Similarly, a cup or disk for menstration. Can just rinse/wash it out in a cathole and not have to deal with packing used products out.

[@GypsyGirl317]

I have a NZ made pee cloth (same as Kula). I also carry dehydrated towelettes which are super light, and with a tiny amount of water they swell to a nice little washcloth. Great instead of loo paper! 😊 They're easy to purchase online. Each one looks like a peppermint at first glance. 😁

[@YogaHippie70]

Yaaaaaasssssss KULA CLOTH!! Spread the word!!

[@nadinekunz4492]

I just use a chux cloth, cheap, easy to rinse, quick to dry, ultralight

[@YogaHippie70]

⁠@@nadinekunz4492what is a chux cloth??

[@felicianwood2305]

Great video, my tip for staying cleaner or at least not making your sleeping bag dirty is sleeping liner. Takes a bit of weight but I feel much more comfortable and sometimes it can add few extra degrees to your bag

[@e.k.4508]

Yes, it feels cleaner and helps the sleeping bag from wearing down. Silk liners are very lightweight.

[@GypsyGirl317]

Excellent strategy 👍🏽

[@Lliamhd]

Solution for feeling sticky and icky after a long day - hot towel baths, no soap needed. Heat up a cup or a bowl worth of water to just hot enough, and then just wipe yourself down on the sticky areas (not your whole body). Rinse it, repeat it in the same areas. Do this loop a couple times, and you'll feel much better. It will use more water, so plan accordingly. Maybe you just carry more, maybe you do this more when there are more water refill available and do it less when there's less available water. I personally mainly do this for my neck, my pits, behind my knees and that's it. Maybe other areas after more days.

[@iambobwhoru]

Ah, we call this a whores bath!

[@TNavarro66]

Love the Redd Foxx cameo. Those are all awesome tips. I have done the needle and thread through a blister hack a few times. It works very well. My daily soap hack has been when I change out the last bit of bar soap in the shower, to a new big bar, I save that last little bit of the old bar soap to put into my hygiene kit. I can make that last little bit of bar go a week or so. But I really like your concentrated liquid soap trick because you can use it on dishes and laundry.

[@dennisengland5956]

Summer gaiters keep pebbles and dust out of my shoes, keeps socks cleaner for several days, and keeps my feet cleaner. Rotating socks to dry them helps. Long pants and shirt helps with sun, bugs, dirt, and keeping sunscreen and bug repellant out of lakes and streams and out of my sleeping bag.

[@maryvought9244]

OMG! The bidet tip was brilliant! I have always WONDERED how to use one. Thank you!❤

[@mikevargas809]

blister advice is gold

[@Wanderew]

Excellent practical advice that nobody normally discusses. Always useful to see how somebody else does the normal things we all do. Thanks

[@darrenshutt1070]

Finally some really useful tips that literally EVERYONE can use! Thx.

[@pollyjazz]

For blisters I always carry a little tube of super glue. Drain the blister, dry, squeeze a drop of glue into the opening and press down. For hands that's it, for a foot blister I'll cover with a bandaid or some tape. Blisters only hurt if the skin comes off and worse if it gets infected. The glue keeps the skin on while the new layer heals underneath. Remember, super glue was first created to seal wounds in combat situations, and less is more. Don't glob it on or you'll just provoke another blister. Just a drop. It's an old drummers hack.

[@bruce.KAY-bike-drifter]

I have a small tube of spray bandage. Works like superglue, but puts a layer of spray skin over the wound. It works for small cuts, burns, and scrapes too.

[@RosieGamgee]

I love that these tips are super cheap or free :) I didn't know why elevating your feet is so important--I'll have to try that!

[@brianbailey7128]

Great info. Bonus points for the Raygun clip. Your breakdance ground move was looking much better.

[@goodnatureart]

I have hiked for decades and just love the bidet tip. TP packing out grosses me out, too. Plus Dr. Bronner's, the needle and thread for blisters is genius.

[@SammyMaeQ]

Thank you for this! Everyone just says to embrace the stink, but I feel so refreshed by getting clean!

[@GetOutWithRuss]

While I hate the extra bulk (and cost), I carry individual packets of unscented Dude Wipes for cleaning the nether regions and under carriage at the end of the day. I also use a WYSI Wipe with unscented Dr. Bronner's to clean my pits at the end of the day (even off trail, this has helped me get away from using antiperspirant and switch to just natural deodorant). Between these two hygiene habits, I was picked up after four days on the trail in 90+ degree weather and was told that I didn't smell like I had been out there for a day, lol.

[@Jaypher]

The bidet method is the best option. If you don't want to buy that 3D printed attachment, you can just keep a spare water bottle cap with you with a punctured hole in it.

[@mikestowe1973]

Hey Darwin...Ive rock climbed for years...ALWAYS had issues with my big toe nails and ingrown issues. Finally pulled my two big toes nails. Made a HUGE difference...Painful for like a 2-3 weeks when it heals. The procedure was easy. No more issues.

[@BeeBop1029]

Ewwwww. I like it!

[@trailtocamp]

Bidet's are simply a must have carry. Sometimes on warm days and big miles covered ya butt exit can get a little warm and horrible. It's nice to pull over and freshen your self up. It's surprising how much just by doing this will make you feel so much better and get back to enjoying and putting in the miles.

[@malachi-]

And don't bring peanuts as a snack on the trail.

[@muleface1066]

Here's a weird little tip. The Klingons are less likely to stay on Uranus if you do a pre-bidet (a pre-det?), especially if you use a little soap. A little lubrication improves the quality of your post-bidet.

[@malachi-]

Just use a funnel. 😉

[@BeeBop1029]

@@malachi-😂

[@alainaarrhodge5900]

Great video. Thank you for sharing. The message about elevating your legs is good, but it's more about lymph than blood, the valves in your vessels in conjunction with your muscles should be moving the blood and if your heart is healthy, it keep the blood circulating. Re glasses: is use the alcohol lense wipes multiple uses on the trail and great for fire starter when they're dry. Love the videos!

[@cariiinen]

Make your own toothpaste tablets: Put dots of toothpaste on some aluminum foil and air dry for a few days. It doesn't dissolve perfectly, but it's much cheaper than specialty tablets

[@Berttheturt314]

🐐 Great tip

[@Paula_Limberg]

Ooh I wonder if the dehydrator would work too!

[@cariiinen]

@@Paula_Limberg I'm sure it would! :) Maybe on low temperature so as not to melt it/affect the taste?

[@melissag3420]

Great video and comments too! As a knitter/hand spinner I have Kookaburra rinse free wool wash that has a light tea tree scent. Couple drops with some water in a zip lock bag freshens clothes to then dry overnight. Now I have the eye drop bottle tip for carrying- thanks!

[@vorontsovski]

upgrade for bidet advice 4 years ago I shaved my hairy legs (and arms) for the first time before a triathlon and then went hiking. My life will never be the same again. This is my #1 method of taking care of my hygiene during the summer. I spend 40 minutes on my entire body twice a month, but it's worth it!! Do I need to tell you how much more convenient it will be to use a bidet?

[@d.thorpe2046]

Do you find there is extra chafing when you are hairless? I haven't done it in 20 years because I remember regretting it.

[@vorontsovski]

@@d.thorpe2046 depends on a way you shave. I end up with electric trimmer for 0.5mm so feels good and quiet friendly for a skin

[@susan53226]

Down there… electric or manual? How to manage the tricky contortions of access, reaching, seeing? Yeah, this would be a tricky video anyone to do tastefully. And eye contact would make it doubly weird.

[@ashmaybe9634]

Depends on how your skin reacts to being bald and the stubble as your hair grows back. I wouldn't try this the day before a long hike, you may end up in utter misery.

[@haliphax-]

Might make bidet use easier to deal with, but would be like hiking with sandpaper between your cheeks after day one

[@geokite]

Bronners gets thick when cold, so I use soap powder. Also tooth paste powder is great. Litesmith has a great selection of containers.

[@pikaoutdoors7414]

Also a fan of the powdered soap, but I'm biased 😉

[@JonathanThrift]

Same

[@boredandagitated]

@@pikaoutdoors7414any tips for what to carry it in for a short trip?

[@pikaoutdoors7414]

@@boredandagitated repurposing a small travel size hand sanitizer bottle works well. People have told us that they use a tic-tac container. You can also buy it in a 1oz bottle instead of the 3oz pouch.

[@karldied]

Thanks!! Agree with many of your tips! The video at minute 5:25 shows trimming toenails with the swiss army knife in the wrong direction: it should be left-to-right so that the downward shearing blade is closer to the foot and the upward shearing blade is outward toward the end of the toenail. Much more effective than the reverse.

[@tillw2367]

Best and Most important outdoorsy video on the Platform!

[@glueckschpilz]

Couple of days ago ive been given the advice to use fresh still greasy sheep/alpaca wool for the blisters. It's antibacterial and you can use it for several days just fluffing it up again at the end of the day. It connects with your socks and stays in place. Shall feel way nicer then the tape

[@amydelpiere9315]

Now that is an eco-friendly and cheap solution! I have unwashed cashmere from my goats, maybe there's a market for that as backpackers blister rescue lol!

[@archangelcharlie]

Thanks for the video. As far as soap goes, I use a No-Rinse style soap. Originally formulated to assist the elderly and disabled folks (and astronauts, if the legends are true) . You just lather up a wash cloth, scrub yourself down, then dry, no need to rinse off afterwards. It's not as good for your hair, but it beats sawing away at your nether regions with a wet wipe, or going through a lot of water to rinse. Been using it for over a decade, and it never fails. It's very welcome at festivals too, because... my god....

[@johnkerber9578]

This is a GREAT topic! Stuff I don’t always think about enough being a beginner, until I’m on the trail.

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

Glad you enjoyed it! Hope it helps!

[@mendyviola]

A little soap, water, and a microfiber glasses cloth is what I use on the daily for my glasses. Not risking scratching my glasses. They aren’t cheap.

[@bruce.KAY-bike-drifter]

Just one drop of the soap concentrate Darwin demonstrated on the tip of your finger, rub it all over both sides of the lens. Then rinse off with water. Shake dry. Then a final wipe with the microfibre glasses cloth.

[@bjbeck11]

Great Tips - Thx. Saw your soap hack on one of your other videos and been using it for about a year. Works great! Only thing is I tend to loose the little bottle, easy to leave behind. So I put a hi viz piece of tape on the bottle and I stands out more.

[@mattkolberg2409]

I did my first paperless hike this year. The bidet is the best. Sometimes you need a rock or a stick for any hangers-on.

[@cathythielen3182]

Thank you so much for the instructions for using the bottle bidet!

[@divineinpurple9058]

I carried soap for the first time ever while backpacking this season and it came in handy to help another hiker who accidentally sprayed themselves in the face with bear spray! I've always wondered how to use a bidet on the trail, thank you for the very clear instructions!

[@Yeagizzo]

I make sure to clean up every night and after a poop. Anytime I’m getting water (almost always a lake or river) I take off my socks, remove my insoles, wash my feet, and let everything dry for maybe 10 minutes. No blisters or chaffing since.

[@sparkyswearsalot]

I just love that you talk in depth about how you use your bidet.

[@MissyQ12345]

I want to know what the little gadget that he calls his bidet is or where he got it. I like it, but don’t know how or where to get it. I would use it at home instead of some fancy and expensive one. I need to know!!

[@lauracooskey9481]

Cool stuff! Thank you. A few little additions: I, too, love the mini-Victorinox Swiss Army Knives. You can use the emery-board tip as a screwdriver and of course constantly file your nails, as well as cut everything and enjoy a tiny pair of tweezers. My suggestion is to take advantage of the color selection and get yourself a red, bright pink, or turquoise SAK. Many a time i have dropped mine on the ground and (before i learned) lost it forever; the bright color eliminates that possibility. Second, when you shake out your socks or have to re-use, turn them inside out and get the fresher outdoor world-side toward your skin. Maybe that doesn't work with fancy multiple-layered hiking socks but it definitely helps with plain old wool or cotton socks. For toothbrushing, a tiny bag of baking soda goes a long way. Anything dry is lighter than wet. Last but not least (and this one is so obvious you may have covered it): If you're going to have plastic containers of any liquids, make one a misting-top bottle of water (I use a 4-oz size for my home and car, but i bet you could find a smaller one that would still last for weeks) and use spray quantities to clean your face, pits, feet (if not near a stream), etc., and also to wash a dish and utensil or two (spray--wipe with large leaf or a cloth/sponge-- spray again-- wipe again-- let dry). You use SO much less water when spraying it in a mist! And of course, the spritzer bottle also can cool you off quickly, whether on the trail or in an old truck like mine with no AC-- just a quick spray on the face and arms, then into the breeze!

[@t4you4]

or just tape it, with securetrape (you'll need to repair)

[@wychan9722]

Good tips. I really like them. Even if I don’t use all of them all, your reasoning helps me learn and build up my own kit. More adequate to my skills and needs. My tip to share is use of foot wraps/foot rugs instead of socks. People think it’s archaic and I’ve got lots of smiles while putting them on. However, most of us never tried, nor don’t know anyone who tried wearing foot wraps. How then we can justify its usefulness? Just by it’s look? It takes some practice to learn how to wrap your feet correctly. Once it’s done my feet feel very well cushioned. Each wrap has four corners, meaning it could be wrapped in four (at least four) different ways. The part of fabric close to the ankle is drying from your body heat. While part over the feet is absorbing sweat. You can re wrap your feet couple times a day, each time feeling like putting on a fresh socks on. When unwrapped it’s just flat piece of fabric drying much faster than same weight thick sock. At this moment I’m using just a thin cotton flannel. We compared it to various socks my wife was wearing during our hikes. Wash the set and see what dries faster. Obviously you could use more fancy, fast drying fabrics with some special blend of fibres. So far during one week hiking, one pair of foot wraps is enough to keep my feet in good condition. I have a spare socks - for sleeping, for the journey home in a car or train, in case of long rain or if I’d have to wash the wraps. It’s worth to adjust shoe size - mine are about half size bigger than usual size I wear. Wraps may take a bit more space if you use thick fabric. Not sure how would them work on a hot desert. In cold and wet mountain climate foot wraps are great. I wished to learn how to use them earlier. Hope someone will find this useful.

[@josephbastian3204]

You sold me on this. Love to see yu do a posting on it

[@RobertHopkinsArt]

I'm headed out today on my first BP trip, ever! Into the ANST I go. Wish me luck! Besides being cold in the morning (I'm prepared) the weather will be great and the trees are changing!

[@daven.7685]

I’ve had good success with Sea to Summit’s Wilderness Wash soap sheets. But, my overall best hack is baking soda! I use it for tooth brushing, shampoo (I’m a NoPoo practitioner), trail laundry, bug bites, all kinds of stuff.

[@BigW-y8f]

Lol. I thought nopoo practitioner meant holding it till u get home 😂

[@daven.7685]

@@BigW-y8f Yeah, it definitely needs a better descriptor! 😉

[@CanCanHikes]

I second the bamboo baby toothbrush suggestion. I’ve used them for years on trail too

[@JiTiKeRo]

Those were some fresh ideas, Darwin! I love the breakdance pose for using the bidet. One of the best things I've seen about backwoods camping/hiking. I do the sock thing from watching you over the years. I just hiked Mount Timpanogos and took my shoes and socks off when I reached the top. Very refreshing for the feet. Ty.

[@marianneschroeder7889]

Your recent series for backpacking is great. I use a nalgene dropper bottle 0.5 mL with Dr Bronners. Slightly bigger but works great and lasts longer for longer hikes. Another hack I do is round the corners of sharp bags such as the toothpaste or advil packets or alcohol wipes. Ive had so many times where the sharp corners pierce a hole in something and leaks everywhere spoiling medicine in a shared baggie.

[@elisebrown5157]

Haven't tried the toothpaste tabs yet, but I've squeezed just a bit of toothpaste into a little 3-5ml plastic screw top "cosmetic container" and then just dabbed my toothbrush into it. It easily holds enough for a week. As for my glasses, which seem to constantly get dirty, I just have my spray cleaner in a smaller container (the visine one would work well for this) and a small microfiber cloth. I imagine you could simply use rubbing alcohol as well, and then you'd also have some on hand if needed for first aid

[@love3V07]

The eye drop bottle is a cool idea!

[@tanvach]

I find cutting nails with Victorinox scissors tend to leave sharp corners. I’ve switched to Victorinox nail clippers 580, basically a classic with built in nail clippers.

[@feldgraufox4927]

They have a file on them

[@tanvach]

@@feldgraufox4927 the file doesn’t work very well

[@CasioSilver]

I don't even really go backpacking or hiking much anymore but a lot of these tips are just good for life, I didn't know about those bottle bidet caps and those would be amazing to have when I have to use a public restroom! I love that you cut your nails with the small swiss army knife, I've been doing that since I was a kid! :D I appreciate the links as well

[@ragingtarrasque]

It's always cool to see super experienced guys recommending tips I've already come to on my own: bamboo toothbrush and eyedrop bottles. Recommend Blink eyedrop bottles as they're good sized and super durable. For the toothbrush (if you can't find the one he recommends) I buy an adult-size bamboo brush at Whole Foods and just cut it down to about 5.5" - short enough to not be a pain, long enough to feel like a real toothbrush. Takes two minutes to cut and 'sand' the edge (usually on the concrete of my garage floor). But a cheap bristle cover thing to go with it, like what Litesmith sells. Happy trails!

[@McBlamin]

Wow, so many good tips, I was pleasantly surprised! 2 questions: How do you dry after using bidet? Do you worry about infection from using thread that may be dirty from hands, etc?

[@malachi-]

And then you have to wash your hands, paying special attention to under the your nails... don't use toilet paper, covered with fertilizer, it will pollute the environment (PC), use even more soap so it seeps into the ground! 😂

[@shokot3546]

Thank youu for explaining how to properly use bidet 😂😂 i always wonder about that!! Omg the best vid!!

[@michaelb1761]

I'd recommend rinsing out your socks when you rinse your feet, provided you have a large enough water source to do this. I switch my socks back and forth as well with one drying on my pack. I do cut a little off my toothbrush handle, but only enough to fit it in the Ziploc sandwich bag that I use for my meds and toothbrush. I don't use toothpaste; just a moist toothbrush. My dentist (and I verified this was from an actual study) said toothpaste is just to make people feel good and fresh after brushing. Toothpaste can actually lead to poorer brushing technique because it can hide missed spots that would otherwise still feel like they were scummy if not for the slick toothpaste.

[@architennis]

Also, no minty breath to entice a bear into your tent at night!

[@cd6834]

CuloClean, works great. Dab dry so you don't get a rash from the moisture though. Good Video fella, thank you.

[@MarylandWearAndCarry]

One of the best ultralight videos I've ever seen!

[@Ryan-hw3xp]

The Bidet Crawl , that will be a dance move soon! 😂😂

[@bruce.KAY-bike-drifter]

Thank you for all these great ideas. They work for bikepacking too. I'm going to get myself one of those bamboo tooth brushes to give it a try.

[@vanzijlp]

Old dog learning new tricks - thanks for sharing

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

Thanks for Watching!

[@95bravo101st]

Who knew? These are good tips just to have on hand for day hiking. Thanks.

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

You bet! 🤙

[@HippieHikerChik]

Thanks for the great tips, Darwin. I need to rewatch it and take notes! 😃

[@stellaluna6247]

The Little victorinox knife is the best thing ever. I have it attached to my Keychain and Carry it with me everyday

[@Jasonnnnnnnnnnn-z8m]

Thank you so much

[@HansPetterBekeng]

Really cool to see that you're back, Mister Darwin. I use the good old dried up wet wipes, which you can get in like a disinfecting baby version or something, and that weighs almost nothing. I use to carry a couple of different types, like some utility cleaning wipes for dishwashing etc, and some baby wipes for body work. Did you see what happened to Joe Robinet ?? So tragic.

[@jmsantana1987]

I use the woobamboo toothbrush as well! I always hated the idea of taking my handle off and I exclusively use bamboo toothbrushes. So I opted for the kids bamboo toothbrush as well! Great minds think alike!

[@daniel.holbrook]

I appreciate this video a ton, it feels like a lot of backpacking/hiking/outdoorsy/etc channels just don't want to acknowledge the fact that it's an inherently dirty hobby, as if it's somehow something that shouldn't be talked about Do you have any tips for how to avoid getting your bare feet too dirty when you take socks off? I always feel like my feet end up dirtier whenever I try to "clean" them for that reason

[@feldgraufox4927]

1/8inch foam mat

[@hikerstl]

The bidet is a nice idea, I didn't know such an item was made. My method has been to use high quality paper towels (half sheets). Paper towels are studier than toilet paper and by folding in half with each wipe, you can get several wipes with one half sheet. I find that two half sheets per day is plenty. I like the bidet idea for the final rinse, however. Using paper towels also isn't nearly as messy for storage in a small plastic bag to carry out.

[@michelebouvet8074]

I can't live without my bidet

[@melissag3420]

Kula + Culo=😎

[@GypsyGirl317]

I purchase dehydrated towelettes online. Each one looks kind of like a peppermint. 😊 A little bit of water poured onto it on my hand and voilà, a handy wet cloth for everything I need! No more paper. 😁

[@mumhughes4591]

Disastrous environmentally speaking as they have plastic in them to make them strong. However you dispose of them they end up polluting the planet.

[@chrisfoxworth3228]

Man tons of knowledge brush. Experienced practical and realistic. This is helping me learn to live like a pro penny pincher!

[@thankyoudriver4219]

Blisters: prevention is better than cure. I put vaseline on vulnerable parts of my feet before putting my socks on. I also change socks half-way through the day. (The first pair get compressed after a while). This stuff stops blisters happening in the first place.

[@francoloma2971]

Lovely video. I do wish you would have shown the string in the blister before you bandaged it. Also, how long do you leave the string in? When do you remove it for healing? Cheers!

[@susan53226]

I was wondering, the same thing about the string, if it gets left double, cut off, etc.

[@e.k.4508]

I was wondering the same. Also: it's a strange object in a wound. Won't it get inflamed sooner?

[@josephbastian3204]

@@e.k.4508 Ya looks to me like setting yourself up for infection

[@e.k.4508]

@@josephbastian3204 I looked it up: the Red Cross advises this method. But with a sterilized needle and thread. Not possible to carry with you on a long journey. So sterilizing at least the blister afterwards seems a good idea. Nothing though on how long to keep the thread in. I'll try one time.

[@ahveganpizzabella]

​@@e.k.4508Lok closer he literally carries the needle and thread in a separate dime bag to keep it clean and dry. Sterilizing just means killing bacteria, so you just clean it off to kill bacteria. It's very easy to sterilize the needle and thread with regular soap or and sanitizer. You're not infecting anything because the blister is in your skin layer, not your flesh. The thread is there to lead the liquid out of the blister. Without the thread, the blister would grow over the hole and fill up with liquid again. Change the thread every few hours and clean the foot until the liquid stops coming from the blister and blister dries out and heals.

[@rushpinn]

When you thread your blisters, do you leave the thread in there for a while to continue to drain - over night, into the next day or is it enough until you actually see the blister first being drained enough?

[@JonHighsmith-pi3fh]

Great stuff! Will be saving this video and putting pen to paper.

[@timmo971]

My hack is 5:49 for the best ever toenail scissors (and other tools) while staying pretty light is the NEXTOOL Flagship Mini multitool. Tiny yet excellent scissors that cut nearly anything.

[@thruguru]

For those of us who preferred to be clean shaven on trail … I push the end of a multi use Razor cartridge (gillette) onto the other end of my chld bamboo toothbrush when I need to shave. Works perfectly lasts me 4-6 weeks. Weighs exactly 3g. Smaller, lighter, sharper. Clint🇦🇺

[@kimaman7202]

U post a pic

[@nancyst.john-smith3891]

I really like a Platy bag shower. I bought the travel bidet but haven’t tried it yet. I use a real bidet at home and love it!!

[@kellycarlen9605]

Oh man, the Redd Foxx flashback was gold! “I’m coming Elizabeth!” I’m unbearded and use a product called Shave Secret and reuse those plastic bottles for soap.

[@IntoTheWildernessBushcraft]

Darwin has eyes that make you feel one of 2 ways: 1) I wanna be your friend 2) I wanna wear your skin like a jumpsuit.

[@aaroncarapace8054]

14:26 gave me a real spook

[@GSK4EVER]

Any respectable skin jumpsuit relationship starts with friends first.

[@bambiyoung2315]

@@aaroncarapace8054😂😂

[@IntoTheWildernessBushcraft]

@@GSK4EVER 😂

[@ja2595]

Are those not interchangeable?

[@TheTastu]

This year, I came across the "Zwilling multi-tool" as an alternative to the "Victorinox knife." It’s the same size but, in addition to the knife, scissors, and nail file, it also includes a nail clipper. Amazing German quality

[@glenacord]

Thank you so much for being willing to give us the great detail we need to be optimal and comfortable. I’m going to change the way I backpack according to your tips, because I realize I would’ve been much more comfortable all these years had I taken better care of this stuff.

[@jcgoedkoop]

Hike with two pairs of socks: wrap the first sock around your ankle and pull on the second sock over it. Do the same with the other foot. Anytime the socks you are wearing get damp or wet, switch them. The damp socks wrapped around your ankles dry out quickly. Also, alternate the upside and downside of your socks. Any sweat on the downside will soon dry out when it's on the top of your ankle.

[@sarahlikescanoes]

probably exccessive for some but I carry a tiny bottle of tea tree oil which I can massage my feet with after cleaning them and I also use to prevent rashes under and around my bra. I also add a few drops to my handwashed laundry and have used it on bug bites and bee stings. Tea tree has antibacterial and antifungal properties. You can add a drop to your toothpaste, or gargle with it in water for an extra fresh feeling. I've used it on zits and even on a saddle sore. I don't carry it on short (2-5 day) trips but for those longer multiweek trips where foot and other hygiene is key.

[@hawaiiangunner]

Feet and crotch are my biggest concerns. I carry a small bottle With a couple of grams of granulated chlorine from the pool cleaning store. I had a few granules to the water I plan on cleaning with. For me it's been a 100% game changer. Homemade Clorox wipe😊

[@quazster]

Dude, why not just soap? People working in microbiology laboratories have a regime to clean their hands with water and soap, not chlorine or hand sanitizer - because water and soap is the most efficient way to reduce bug count.

[@ahveganpizzabella]

Chlorine kills bacteria in swimming pools, because it's so poisonous and strong - but the strength of it is damaging for your skin, and breathing in the chlorine fumes is very toxic and dangerous for your lungs. And it's poisonous for wildlife like fish and water birds. Please don't use it on a daily basis and don't carry it on hikes. It bleaches, discolors and weakens your skin and hair as well. Use hypoallergenic face soap instead, some nice vegan organic brand, that has been created specifically for delicate human skin without too many industrial chemicals. Baby wipes are the most gentle for daily use.

[@majlosz21]

About the bidet hack, what do you wipe with after a wash? I find it hard to believe that a weak stream of water is going to clean everything by itself without you actually touching anything. Also what about drying up? Do you just squat until it dries out? Thanks 😄

[@jackjr1]

Yep you have to use your hand or clump of leaves/sticks. Or use a lot of water. As a backcountry bidet user, not sure how he's keeping dry though. I still need to use toilet paper with my bidet, but much less than without it.

[@ashmaybe9634]

Once everything is clean, you can dry off (if needed) with a dedicated cloth (e.g. a piece of liteload towel). Similar concept to a kula cloth. This cloth can be washed as needed, no need for disposable tissues that way.

[@majlosz21]

@@ashmaybe9634"once everything is cleaned" well said. Again I'm doubtful as to how a weak stream of water can get everything clean on its own without touching. Any tips on that?

[@billincolumbia]

@@majlosz21 Thanks for asking. I am also mystified by the bidet idea. I don't think it would get everything off, and then do I just squat naked for 10 minutes while I air dry?

[@DrewM91105]

You didn't mention carrying a shower bag with a small plastic shower head on it. Fill it with water, hot if you want to heat some up, hold it over your head and squeeze out a shower. You can also screw the small shower head on your water bottle -- like the bidet head -- and you get an actual shower spray of of it. It's amazing how quickly you can wash your entire body with a tiny bit of soap and one bottle of water if you try. To me, this is essential, and the weight of just a shower head or even the small shower bag is really very little. If you use wet-wipes, remember, you still have to carry those out with you. I dry off with a small washcloth, my bandana, or just let the breeze and sunshine dry me off. It's nice standing there buck naked and wet in the breeze or the sunshine.

[@christinaqueeno3874]

Learning about this bidet attachment for water bottles is going to be a game changer for me! Least favorite part of being away from home is being away from my bidet.

[@maxtryx8323]

Just putting it here. Rice was proven to not work SPECIFICALLY on joints, HOWEVER if there is some (very small and not proven yet) evidence that cooling palms works good and i found that cooling just the foot also works good. So elevate yes cool only something

[@russellmoore8187]

Not really a "hack" but rather a priority for me: I always bring and use floss. I've had at least one dentist say that flossing is even more important than brushing is for long-term oral health (though I brush too), plus I really like the feeling of healthy clean gums. Those tiny metal octagonal cans are much smaller than the plastic flip-top ones and have just as much floss. I wash my hands (just like you, with Dr. Bronner's) as part of my evening routine and then I floss right after. Used floss gets rolled between fingers and put in that day's food trash.

[@lol32scbw]

You can just rinse your mouth with water intensely and that's it. Your teeth won't fall apart without brushing for a week or two. Chewing young pine needles or dried fruit snacks is pretty nice cleaning for your teeth too.

[@mountaintrailventures]

Thank You Darwin. You breakdancer...lol. I greatly appreciate your explanation on the bidet use and all the other information you have provided over the years.

[@FranBunnyFFXII]

Excuse my womanly moment, but you have an absolutely wonderful looking beard. It's well kept so I can see why so many people would ask about it. And the keeping your hands away from your mouth thing that's pretty smart. a lot less of a chance of getting sick when out and about that way. I didnt think of that at first.

[@RobertLongWinters]

Curious to hear what your bidet system will be for the alpine environment. Pack it in, pack it out. No digging a hole and leaving it behind above the tree line.