Hello fellow outdoor enthusiasts! Anyone who hikes, climbs, or cycles for extended periods will sweat. This is perfectly natural and happens to everyone, but it doesn’t mean you have to spend the entire trip drenched in sweat and smelling a bit. Quite the opposite, in fact. Especially when you’re out in nature, you should pay particular attention to hygiene. Your hands, which get dirty so quickly, should be washed regularly, at least before eating or going to sleep. Not only do you never know exactly which bush or mushroom you’ve touched and whether it might have poisonous leaves or fruit that could seriously affect your health, but your hands also need periods of regeneration, for example, while you sleep, during which small scratches, abrasions, blisters, or calluses can heal.
All hairy parts of your body should also be checked daily; there might be small injuries or creatures like lice or ticks that need to be removed. Of course, there isn’t a coin-operated shower or a clean toilet at every poplar tree, but some bottled water and outdoor soap from a specialist retailer can go a long way. Of course, you don’t need to carry around a complete makeup kit, and you can even do without soap and replace it with clean leaves or a few collected flowers (such as chamomile or calendula), but a small amount of toothpaste is a luxury you shouldn’t (but of course, you can) do without.
These days, there are also small wipes soaked in toothpaste or mouthwash that you can use to conveniently clean your teeth on the go. If you don’t have any of that, you can also chew on a stick and keep it in your mouth, chewing it into fibrous pieces like chewing gum. Toothpaste is also effective as a pain reliever for insect bites, so it’s worth having a little bit with you.
Even good old toilet paper isn’t entirely out of place in an outdoor backpack, but large leaves or moss also make good alternatives. In the warmer months, a dip or two in a refreshing river or clean lake is also recommended. Anyone swimming in the sea should rinse thoroughly afterward (unless someone has eczema, in which case seawater works wonders).
If you want to do something good for your skin if you have eczema, pimples, or even a fungal infection (for example, caused by excessive sweating and rubbing), you can lie in the warming morning sun for a few minutes. Of course, not for too long; eczema is a bad trade for sunburn.
Keeping your body clean during an outdoor adventure also helps you stay comfortable and enjoy every moment of your journey. Pack a small towel, spare socks, and lightweight clothing that dries quickly after washing. Change out of wet clothes as soon as possible to reduce skin irritation and unpleasant odours. Remember to protect the natural environment by using biodegradable washing products away from rivers and lakes. Dispose of rubbish properly, and never leave personal hygiene products behind at your campsite. A little preparation and regular care can make a long hiking or camping trip much more pleasant, healthy, and enjoyable.
