Deodorant/Anti-Perspirant… what do you use?

Why not drill a hole in a roll-on bottle and put the liquid into a balm or dropper container? I guess you could do the same if you use a solid deod, just take apart a stick and take what you need.

For me I wash frequently and use whatever deodorant is available…. crushed evergreens smell good, so does sassafras leaves. Some commercial products use lichen for its antibiotic properties … I think specifically Old Man's Beard, although I never have mixed up a paste on the trail to try it yet.

I still use those, the smallest travel size I have 1.25 oz. (Dove and Degree). Years ago on a ski trip to Lake Tahoe, I found tiny lip balm containers, no more than an inch long. For years, I scraped lip balm from larger tubes into these small containers. I always planned on applying the same idea to AP, perhaps using a larger "Chapstick" dispenser (some sunblock is sold this way), but never got around to it.

Get a clear jel, express what you need and wipe off into the bpl container. That's what I'd do with a significant other along. Apply it with your fingers or a cheapo plastic knife OR the handle end of your spoon.

Mitchium unscented gel. It lasts 3 days even in georgia humidity.

I use Speed Stick 24/7 and wear wool. Like the previous poster's experience with Mitchum, it lasts 2-3 days. For longer trips, I bring travel sizes…but this thread has some great initial ideas, I think we're all trying to find a good repackaging solution (I like the gel suggestion).

I bought one of those Crystal Rock natural deodorants at a whole foods store and tried it – they work but it takes some fiddling: you need to apply it dampened, you cannot skip any applications, may need to apply it 2x/day, and it simply may not work for your body chemistry. For me, it works sometimes and not others. It's $2, so give it a shot. If it works for you, though, it's odorless, all-natural (no nasty synthetic aluminum byproducts going down the drain), and you can hack off a small chunk to bring with you. It got one favorable review over at BackpackGearTest.

I know that many minimalists swear by using alcohol, and especially alcohol prep pads, to control odor – I have, with some success. Since it's basically alcohol in a gel medium, has anyone tried using Purell as a deodorant?

Another vote for mitchum unscented except I use it on my feet inside plastic mountaineering boots.

Deodorant?! LOL :P

i read somewhere on the forums a while back about a zinc oxide paste or something like that that lasted a week or so if im not mistaken. i dont use anything and just try to bath regularly. Scented versions can attract bugs too. significant others should definitely be exposed to the most horrid of smells you can produce. it'll put hair on her chest :)

I don't take deodorant. Especially when I'm solo. If I'm with a group and get too funky I just use Campsuds. No worries.

I've never tried it, but somewhere I read that if you treat your pits with an iodine solution it will kill all the bugs that cause the stink for a few days. Has anyone tried this?

I for years had a major problem with underarm perspiration (regular anti-perspirants and deodorants never worked) until I ran across a product (available in drugstores) called "Certain Dri Anti-Perspirant" from Numark Laboratories. Active ingredient is Aluminum Chloride and it comes as a liquid roll-on. It "closes up" the sweat glands and pretty much kills perspiration. It is effective for many days and time between applications actually increases as the sweat pores stay inactive or suppressed.

I use this periodically and have found no need for other deodorants or anti-perspirants. Daily washing is, of course, essential but otherwise I haven't had people complaining about my odor.

This product should also work well on feet. Some people's chemistry may result in rashes or other adverse reaction; I had some rash when I first started using it but my skin adjusted and now is no problem and very effective. The key advantage for backpacking is that daily applications are not necessary; no need to carry it along.

At home (and for travel as it’s non-liquid) I use Crystal Body Deodorant – Crystal Stick $5.99. It’s unscented, lasts a long time (multiple+ months of daily use from a single stick) and now (it just came out, I’ve yet to get the smaller one) comes in a Crystal Travel Stick $2.29, alternately for short trips one could also breakup a piece of a Crystal 3oz Rock $2.49 (also comes in 5 and 9 oz sizes). Can be rubbed on your feet as well.

Note, it’s just deodorant, not anti-perspirant, but if you’re hiking AP is kind of a joke as you’re gonna be perspiring all over and trying to keep just your pits dry is rather odd.

Also, you could EASILY repackage a number of deodorants that come in liquid form (crystal liquid, burt’s bees, some others) that you can get from Whole Foods or other ‘health food stores’ as they come in containers that the spray applicator will unscrew (aka non-aerosol spray bottles).

..I finally found this stuff after searching like previous posters have. Repackages as small as you want/need to go. I take it on group trips. "Anything else would be uncivilized." to quote some old tv commercial..
http://www.discountwholesaleonline.com/product.cfm/hurl/Personal-Care/DEODERANTS/Creams-and-Other/Arrid-Extra-Dry-Antiperspirant-Deodorant-Cream-1-Oz-019661.html
sorry, don't have my instructions on embedding proper links with me here..

I did try iodine as a deodorant on a backcountry trip in July. It seemed to work OK. I used the Povidine ioodine prep pads that are a part of an old first aid kit. YMMV. It's probably a good idea to try iodine on a little bit of skin at home before wiping yourself down in the field for the first time.

Deodorant?
For heavens sake!
We sometimes have a quick wash in a creek to remove the sweat, before going to bed. Pretty brief wash if the creek is cold!

I used to bring along a travel stick of Right Guard I believe it was. I haven't brought it in a long time though. I go mostly solo and I can stand my odor for a weekend. Usually I give myself a little rinse when I go through a creek but that's about the extent of it.

Adam

After several days hiking without washing, sticking deodorant on your armpits is just lipstick on a pig surely. Also I find that after a certain amount of time the smell stabilizes somewhat (perhaps as your body gets used to not having all it's skin oils stripped off by soap each day?)

Tried a few different products, and now I use none.

Best approach is to just get over it and except that you are escaping civilization during your hikes.

You earned the right to stink.

A recent study showed that most men lightweight-backpackers prefer sweaty women (72%). Although women liked freshly showered men (81%) in town, sweaty women backpackers favored sweaty men (87%) out on the trail.

The other 13% of sweaty women backpackers must have met sweaty men backpackers with an outdoor "aroma that could level Tacoma".

I also use no deodorant/anti-perspirant backpacking. I go solo but wash up every night so I can deal with it. A little Dr. Bronner's unscented soap and a bandanna goes a long way to cutting the reek of underarms.

I truly believe that for the great majority of us, this is nothing but a marketing gimmick!

In town, a shower every other day (or daily if sweating) with shampoo, soap and water works beautifully for most people. And out in the wilds, wash up nightly with Dr. Bonner soap, or use anti-bacterial wipes.

–In town, a shower every other day (or daily if sweating) with shampoo, soap and water works beautifully for most people.–

I must be one of the exceptions. You should see/smell me in the morning :). If I don't shower everyday my hair gets really greasy and looks horrible (well, worse than normal at least). As for my odor… My girlfriend can tell if I forgot to put some on by the end of the day. I envy those of you that, like my girlfriend, can shower every other day and not drive people away from your immediate vicinity.
Its no wonder that the first place I head after a trip is the shower. No one wants to talk to me about it until after I'm cleaned up!

Adam

Ditto Benjamin. The only time I need deodorant is if I start using it.

That is to say that if I start putting on deodorant regularly, I start to stink when I'm not wearing it. (I am 6', 185, with plenty o' hair.) I don't suffer from B-O, (confirmed by my girlfriend of 3 years,) and I avoid deodorant like the plague. I think my current stick is a year old.

Just like those acne creams that give teenagers temporary relief but dry their skin out so that the next breakout is worse. I think deodorant is a scam.

Try going without for a month and see for yourself. Shower every day and wear clean clothes, of course.

To combat a showerless week of hiking, shave your pits. No one will know, it's more comfortable, and you won't have those knock-yourself-out moments in the sleeping bag.

In fact, your pits aren't the only thing worth shaving. Hair holds in sweat and is a great place for stink bacteria to grow. Get yourself a fresh razor and go to town; by day 5 of your next hike you'll thank me!

How do you deal with the itchiness of the hair growing back in?

After fermenting a three day backpacking, carrion-funk, I returned to my car, took off my shirt, wiped off, and put on a fresh shirt. Maintaining my efficiency, I hopped in my car and, after driving down from the mountains, closed the windows and cranked up the air conditioning, turned on the radio: Golden Earring's Radar Love: I've been drivin' all night, my hand's wet on the wheel…

I drove nearly five hours to get back home. My wife was not home, but had left a note that she'd be home soon and wanted to dine out. I immediately took a shower, dressed and waited for her. Shortly thereafter she arrived and was glad that I was ready to go out. We walked over to my car and I opened the door for her. Whamo! A wave of foul, monstrous fumes engulfed us. Without uttering a word, we walked over and got in her car.

My theory: a cloud of stink is dormant to a man until some point in time after he experiences soap and water. Therefore, stinkliness does not exist unless you capture it.