Colgate Wisp…the best backpacking toothbrush?

Don't know if you've tried them, but I find them useless, even for backpacking. The built in "toothpaste" is nothing more than a breath freshener, and the handle is too flimsy and short to be practical. Not to mention a huge and utter waste with all that packaging. But, that's just me!

I tried them once on a trip and thought they were lightweight for sure but not up to the job at hand. I was left without a SBE (Satisfying Brushing Experience) I carry a small toothbrush and a pack of the those tissue-like breath freshening leaves which I use for toothpaste. They don't foam and leave your mouth feeling very fresh. Only downside is that if they get wet they stick together and become difficult to handle.

Totally unsatisfactory,wasteful. Found the bristles to be too hard/short to do any real brushing. Get a baby toothbrush. Or just take a real one. Dry your own toothpaste drops.

-4 Thumbs down. WAY down.

G

Agree! I tried a couple at home; totally unsatisfactory. Too short, flimsy handle, very poor bristles, bad paste, etc.

What method do you use for drying your own toothpaste drops? Does one brand of toothpaste work better than another?

Thanks!

Mike Clelland! says the gel doesn't work as well as the paste. He just squirts it onto a plate in a long rope and lets it dry for a day, then cuts the rope into small sections. He then lets the pieces dry for another few days (or until dry). I've never done it, but I was JUST reading that thread where he talks about it.

Awesome. I will experiment with this. Would love to have some Tom's of Maine Spearmint out on the trail!!

Sorry for the partial thread derail..

I've tried it once so far. Better than a finger, I suppose. I couldn't get the pre-loaded toothpaste to dissolve, but it was probably just too cold that Michigan January morning.

John A

This one looks interesting. The"Presto" model is out of stock, but looks like best bet (and price). Both models have the same published weight (1.75oz empty).

http://www.go-ohso.com/index.html

I like the Wisp for one night out only trips—other then that I would bring a child's toothbrush, cut to length with a some tooth powder. The Wisp is quick and easy comes in at 3 grams…

I'll be the contrary opinion here. I have used the Wisp for trips under 3 nights for about two years now and love it. I would agree that the preloaded toothpaste is just a breath freshener but you can still put toothpaste on it. Also, the bristles do not hold up for more than a few days before they become ineffective, but for short trips that is fine. I also find the "tooth pick" end comes in very handy and is works really well as a rope awl on knots in small diameter ropes like guy lines.

"Also, the bristles do not hold up for more than a few days before they become ineffective".

Each to his or her own and my view is just mine. Having said that, the above is a show stopper right there! We already have more than enough 'throwaway' plastic products — esp. one that performs poorly unless you load it with additional (or real) toothpaste. Yeah, why not just get a baby toothbrush that you can keep reusing??

+1 on being a useless product.

Brush was not up to the task of doing a good job of cleaning my teeth.

The drop of tooth paste on it was like a pebble in my mouth.

Staying with my cut down tooth brush and baking soda & salt for tooth paste.

-Tony

Too much packaging, not enough toothbrush function.

You can carry toothpaste inside a soda straw-much better than dried drops. Just cut a wide soda straw to a length equivalent to 1/2 inch per each brushing (e.g. 2 inches for 4 brushings, hold one end in the end of a toothpaste tube (pierce it through a little cap of paper if the straw is too narrow in the opening), and squeeze the toothpaste in to fill the straw to the other end. To use it, just pinch/squeeze a little out onto your brush.

Dale

Guys – are we all getting a bit over the top on such a small light-weight item as a conventional toothbrush? Me, I prefer to look after my teeth properly. They have to last me a long time.

My 2c
Cheers