I used to use chap stick year round even at home. But I weaned myself from it and rarely use it at home anymore.
Being outside for a day or more almost always makes my lips feel chapped. I guess humid conditions aren’t as bad for it. But wind, sun, and cold will all provoke it. Sometimes my lips remain split for a week even after returning home – in spite of using chap stick.
We’ve all heard about the need for caution on keeping any scented items in our tent overnight if there is any chance of bear activity. I have yet to see a bear but I still try to avoid keeping chap stick in my tent. One alternative is rubbing one of my vaseline cottonball firestarters on my lips before bed. But chap stick is more pleasant to use.
I’m sure once one spends even time outside often enough, you can probably get beyond the issue of chapped lips except for in extreme conditions.
What do you all do for chapped lips? Do you worry about having chap stick in your tent because of possibly attracting bears? Do you use any sort of lip balm – scented or unscented? Unscented chap stick seems safe. I would hope bears can’t smell it. Do many of you find you no longer get chapped lips from even multi day trips in extreme conditions? Do any of you find you’ve never gotten chapped lips from camping outside?
