Needing Travel Advice

[deGator]

I'm about to hit a stretch of heavy travel for work. I'll be taking trips 8 out of the next 10 weeks, starting next week. Part of me thinks that I won't want to deal with building lather and making multiple passes when I'm on the road. But the other part thinks that this will be the perfect opportunity to have some dedicated time to hone my technique without the distractions of home. I am thinking that I'll take my HD but I'll need some sort of case. Or I might as well just get a Merkur travel razor since the incremental cost isn't that much and I won't risk losing my HD. The real dilemma is what to do for shave cream. I doubt I'll have anything more than a coffee mug to make lather in. Should I just skip trying to make lather and use a brushless cream? Any other options that I should consider? Also, is it worth buying a travel brush at this time or just getting a decent container to carry my regular brush in.

My main concern is to conserve suitcase space by keeping my travel gear at a minimum. Other than that I am open to any ideas... and I don't think that I'll be too upset if I need to acquire some new tools!

[Leisureguy]

When I took a trip I used the Simpson Major travel brush. The lathering bowl I packed arrived broken, but I discovered that the small brush size made building a lather in my cupped hand and even directly on my face worked just fine: I got excellent lather both ways, and the travel brush held plenty of lather for multiple passes. I took a tube of Proraso, but found that I really preferred making the lather using one of the QED soaps (not a soap stick---I'm just going to try that). I used Thayers Extra Strength aftershave because it has no fragrance, and in my opinion, that's what you want when traveling. I took the Vision---I really wasn't worried about losing it (though you can be sure that I checked the bathrooms VERY carefully when I packed. :) )

[Leisureguy]

Oh: and I didn't use a case for the razor: just put it in my shaving kit. I also took the Classic Shaving Alum Bar (since it comes in a travel-tight plastic case) and a My Nik Is Sealed, which I used only once, I think.

[birchhook]

We travel practically non-stop, so this is something I'm really interested in.

When I first started with a DE I contacted Charles at www.qedusa.com about a razor case for the HD. He said the #767011 leather sheath is best for the HD. You can find it here: http://qedusa.com/cat_OtherProducts.htm .

I cheaped out and made a case for my brush using a toilet paper tube. I plan to make a nicer looking one from poster board when I get my new brush.

I also ordered 3 shave sticks from Charles for travel. The screw on top seems like a good choice, and being able to lather on my face means I can skip the bowl. Others have used the rubbermaid collapsible bowl as a shaving bowl for travel. Tupperware makes one too.

Let us know what you end up doing and how it works out.

[charleton]

We travel practically non-stop, so this is something I'm really interested in.

I cheaped out and made a case for my brush using a toilet paper tube. I plan to make a nicer looking one from poster board when I get my new brush.

I've been using one of the plastic tubes from Em's Place for my traveling brush for several years. It's not expensive, protects the brush and lets in a certain amount of air to help the brush dry. I may put some additional holes in the cap and base to help with drying, however.

Gene.

[russellnyc]

I make lather on my face, so not having a bowl isn't a problem. I find this the best and fastest way to get good hot lather on my skin, and if you haven't done this yet, give it a try, the exfoliation is good, plus your face stays wet while making the lather = longer prep = an easier shave.

Here's my travel kit:

1. Merkur silvertip nickel travel brush. This is a gorgeous object that has to be seen/felt/hefted to be believed. I bought this after carrying a full sized brush in a toilet paper tube on my last trip, and I can't wait to go away again!

2. Travel-sized tub of Art of Shaving Lavender cream. Future trips will either include a sealable soap case, a tube of Trumper's, or a tube of Proraso. I like tubs, but since I no longer dip the brush in the tub (opting instead to use myk finger), I may as well be using a tube.

3. For my razors, I broke down and bought black or brown leather Merkur/Dovo cases for ALL 7 of my straight razors and BOTH of my DEs. So no matter what razor I bring with me, it will be tidy, safe, and dry. I store them in the cases at home, and having all matching cases really makes me happy, for some reason. I'll take a pic if of my "razor box" if you're interested.

4. Pinaud nick stop / Col. Conk Styptic Pencil / Art of Shaving Alum Block. I don't much get nicks anymore, but you never know, so I always bring one of these.

5. Cetaphil in a travel bottle (I decanted this myself into an empty Art of Shaving pre-shave oil bottle, it's beautiful and a perfect size) as combo facial cleanser and pre-shave. I can't recommend Cetaphil as a pre-shave highly enough.

6. Travel bottle with aftershave of choice. Either buy a travel size, or decant yourself. As above, I found that my AoS pre-shave oil bottle works great and looks great (nearly opaque dark green glass, label easily removed), especially now that I no longer use pre-shave oil.

7. Small travel-sized paddle strop for straight razors (if I take one). I do not have a case for this, so I have a little trouble packing it. I have a hanging travel strop that's nicked to death, if I can manage to smooth it out, I can start taking that instead.

8. Case of Merkur platinum blades

[boboakalfb]

For Travel I usually bring along...

C&E Best Badger in a Brush Travel Tube from Em's Place...
QED Juniper EO Mini Shave Stick...
Mini Cade ASB tube from L'Occitane...I think it was only a couple of bucks and doesn't take up any space at all. A bit bigger then tube of chapstick.
Clubman Styptic...just in case...you never know.
Merkur HD

[Elmo]

well, I worked 30 years at a job with 80% travel. I ended up with

Gillette Excel Sensor with a 5 pack of blades
Coates Rose in a tube
Art of shaving travel brush
alum block

As a rule of thumb: no glass, travel light, remember current air travel restrictions, you can buy "stuff" whereever you are.

[Dennis]

I have the original plastic cases for my old Gillettes and they are perfect for traveling. I take my 1960 Adjustable Fat Boy in the plastic case, I would throw in a pack or two of Derbys and Feathers, a couple QED shave sticks and some Feather aftershave lotion decanted to a small plastic bottle. Cologne is up to you. The brush (Vulfix 2234) goes in a pill bottle from my pharmacist with holes drilled in it. This is aside from the other stuff like toothbrush and all that, obviously...


Dennis

[mantic]

Luckily I have several brushes so I don't worry *too* much about breaking/losing something good. When I travel for extended periods by flying and weight is an issue I go with my cheap Tweezerman brush in a plastic prescription pill bottle (with a few holes drilled in it for airflow), my cheap plastic Zorrik DE, a QED shave stick, and a sample bottle with Trumper's Skin Food.

If I'm going to drive, not fly, weight is less of a concern so I'll go with my Parker 90R razor and Savile Row brush. I'll still stick with soaps, either a glycerin round in a covered container I got from Em's Place or a QED shave stick.

Overnights I use a disposable razor, a brushless cream like Sharps Kid Glove or Cremo Cream, and a little sample bottle of Nivea a/s balm.

--Mark