A personal hygiene kit may not be as exciting as a new knife or backpack, but it’s just as essential. Good hygiene prevents illness, boosts morale, and helps you feel human—even when you’re deep in the woods. Next time you pack for an outdoor trip, don’t overlook the items that keep you clean and healthy. Your future self will thank you.
Woods Monkey BLOG
Building a Personal Hygiene Kit for the Outdoors
By George Nikolakopoulos
When preparing for a camping or extended outdoor adventure, we often focus on key gear—backpacks, knives, saws, axes, firearms and ammo (if on a hunting trip), or cooking utensils. However, one vital kit tends to get overlooked: the personal hygiene kit.
Most people think “hygiene kit” just means toilet paper and baby wipes. While those are useful, a well-thought-out hygiene kit goes far beyond that. Its real purpose is to prevent infections, maintain good physical health, and help you stay comfortable and confident in the backcountry.
Dental Care: Small Tools, Big Relief
One of the first things to pack is a toothbrush and toothpaste. Dental hygiene is critical—nobody wants to deal with a toothache on a week-long hike or hunting trip. Brushing your teeth not only prevents infections and freshens your breath, but it can also be a surprising morale boost, especially when you can’t shower.
If you like, include dental floss or toothpicks to remove debris after meals. These small additions can go a long way in maintaining oral hygiene.
Body Care: Keep Clean, Stay Healthy
For washing up, you can carry either shower gel or a soap bar. I personally prefer olive oil-based or Marseille soap bars—they’re versatile and can be used for both body and clothes. A bar of soap is compact, long-lasting, and doesn’t leak like liquid soap can.
If you have a beard, a small tin of wax-based beard balm can help keep it groomed. If you prefer shaving, toss in a couple of disposable razors.
Other must-haves include:
- Nail clippers – prevent painful nail issues, especially on your feet.
- Insect repellent – essential for keeping mosquitoes and ticks at bay.
- Hand sanitizer – quick and effective hand cleaning when water is scarce. Remember: around 99% of germs that cause infections are on your hands.
Toilet Hygiene: Don’t Cut Corners
Two staples for any hygiene kit are toilet paper and baby wipes. Baby wipes are especially useful when water isn’t available—you can wipe down your armpits and sensitive areas to prevent irritation and infection.
If there are no toilet facilities nearby, carry a small shovel or trowel to dig a “cat hole”. Always pack out used baby wipes in a sealed plastic bag—they’re not biodegradable like toilet paper or waste.
Simple Daily Routine for Cleanliness
Maintaining hygiene in the wild doesn’t require a lot of time or effort—just consistency. Here’s a simple routine:
- Morning: Wash your face and beard. Use water and soap if available.
- Evening: Brush your teeth after dinner, before bed. Wash or wipe your feet to prevent blisters and fungal infections.
- Before meals: Wash or sanitize your hands.
These habits are simple, even familiar—they’re the same rules we were taught as kids. And as much as we rolled our eyes back then, our parents were right: staying clean, especially before meals and bed, makes all the difference.
George Spent nine years in the Greek Army Raiders where he learned survival skills. Since being honorably discharged, he has been working in the tourism industry. After every season ends, you will find him at his olive field harvesting olives to make oil. In his free time, George loves spending time outdoors hunting, camping, and practicing traditional archery. He enjoys writing articles, sharing his experiences of his trips to the woods, gear reviews, recipes and survival tips. George was a a contributing writer to Self-Reliance Illustrated magazine and has a YouTube and Blog under the name Mountain Raider.