Travel Dop Kit

[Beefdrippings]

This is what I’m bringing to Italy. I know I’m going to be able to find Proraso and, cross my fingers, other supplies as well. So, I’m packing pretty light: AP and Grizzly Bay brushes, Muhle R89 and RR Mamba 70 on Timeless crown handle for brushes. Tabac stick and a/s for software and, a pack of Kai blades to complete. Some might even say I’m bringing too much but, it’s stuff I love and I know if it had to last me the whole 17 days I’d be totally fine with that.What are you bringing for travel? Does the destination play a factor? For example, if I’m going to NY I won’t bring much cause I know I’ll be shopping at Pasteur.

 

[velocityboy]

Looks like a very nice travel kit. Have a great trip!

 

[EclipseRedRing]

I am in Istanbul right now for a week, here is my kit.

 

[Tomo]

I was went to Germany for three weeks this year with this.

 

[Beefdrippings]

Is it easy to find shaving supplies over there?

I am in Istanbul right now for a week, here is my kit.

View attachment 1909973

 

[EclipseRedRing]

Is it easy to find shaving supplies over there?

There are the typical Gillette razors and canned foam/gel, and also own brand disposables, but I have not seen DE supplies. I am glad I bought my Palmolive as I have not seen a single stick of Arko!

 

[Tomo]

There are the typical Gillette razors and canned foam/gel, and also own brand disposables, but I have not seen DE supplies. I am glad I bought my Palmolive as I have not seen a single stick of Arko!

That’s the funny thing. I went to Germany and expected to see Tabac everywhere. I searched high and low and wasn’t able to find any at all. I was told that no one uses shaving soaps anymore. Speick and Palmolive creams were readily available.

We expect to see these international products everywhere when we travel. The truth is that they are often very niche even in their own country.

 

[BigJ]

First, NICE KIT!! Enjoy your trip!!

To answer your question, my travel kit is minimalist and designed for ‘one bag’ travel.
Simpsons Wee Scot brush
La Toja shave stick
Small plastic bottle of AS

My razor choice depends on whether I will be moving around (an old Trac 2 with blades) or if I will stay in one place (Lord L6 with blades mailed to my hotel).

 

[Beefdrippings]

Interesting. I was under the impression Arko was quite common there.

In Italy you can find Proraso soaps, creams, splashes and balms at most grocery stores and tobacconists. Palmolive cream isn’t hard to find either. I did also see Denim aftershave. Other more artisan brands like SV I did not see.

There are the typical Gillette razors and canned foam/gel, and also own brand disposables, but I have not seen DE supplies. I am glad I bought my Palmolive as I have not seen a single stick of Arko!

 

[sarimento1]

This is what I’m bringing to Italy. I know I’m going to be able to find Proraso and, cross my fingers, other supplies as well. So, I’m packing pretty light: AP and Grizzly Bay brushes, Muhle R89 and RR Mamba 70 on Timeless crown handle for brushes. Tabac stick and a/s for software and, a pack of Kai blades to complete. Some might even say I’m bringing too much but, it’s stuff I love and I know if it had to last me the whole 17 days I’d be totally fine with that.What are you bringing for travel? Does the destination play a factor? For example, if I’m going to NY I won’t bring much cause I know I’ll be shopping at Pasteur.
View attachment 1909952

nice! where 'bouts will you be in Italy?
have a great trip!!

 

[Beefdrippings]

Thanks! A bit of a northern tour: Florence, Lucca, Venice and Milan before heading to Calabria for the bulk of the trip, ending with two nights in Rome. Might stop in Naples on the way to Rome.

Last year we did Rome, Calabria Naples and Rome again. Next year I think we’ll do Sicily and Puglia/Calabria.
Looking forward to eating and relaxing!

nice! where 'bouts will you be in Italy?
have a great trip!!

 

[sarimento1]

Thanks! A bit of a northern tour: Florence, Lucca, Venice and Milan before heading to Calabria for the bulk of the trip, ending with two nights in Rome. Might stop in Naples on the way to Rome.

Last year we did Rome, Calabria Naples and Rome again. Next year I think we’ll do Sicily and Puglia/Calabria.
Looking forward to eating and relaxing!

Wow! Great itinerary! I'm sure there will be a few nice shave shops in those places, you'll have to ask local guide!
Have a fun and safe trip!!

 

[Jens]

Nice thread.
I have been experimenting a lot with travel outfits, haven't settled on a perfect solution yet.
But based on plenty of experience, I have found a need to prioritize low volume and weight, we are talking about traveling after all.
So, current outfit looks like this:
Razor: Henson aluminum, mild (+)
Brush: Muhle synthetic travel brush
Soap: La Toja, shave stick, fit into my bar soap container, along with a bar of hand soap
Blades: ideally a ten-pack of sharper blades, e.g. Feather but most blades will do
AS: I sometimes bring a small Osma block of alum, and always a lotion
The AS lotion is often my big dilemma (vanity..!), and I often end up bringing more than one..!

I should offer just a bit of context:
I am normally NOT a fan of synthetic brushes, and NOT a fan of Henson razors ...!
On both accounts I challenge myself to try something different when traveling.
As for the brush, the synthetic Muhle is just damned convenient because it dries fast, and is super small, handle also serves as built in container.
In fact, I usually end up mostly hand/lathering with this brush, face lathering feels almost as if I used a toothbrush for a shaving brush..!
I simply don't get why anyone would want a synthetic brush, for anything other than traveling...
As for the Henson razor, it's three piece (compact, packs well), it's light (aluminum), and I paid a dear amount for that bloody Henson razor, so at least I found some use for it. And, it actually is capable of giving me a damned close shave, if I press hard with it, cartridge style. Interesting..
So the bottom line priority is, low volume, low weight, and yet a kit I manage to get good shaves with. And, not a disaster if I loose it ....

 

[Jens]

I am in Istanbul right now for a week, here is my kit.

View attachment 1909973

I would love to try that aftershave (Cussons, Imperial Leather), where did you find it ..?

 

[EclipseRedRing]

I would love to try that aftershave (Cussons, Imperial Leather), where did you find it ..?

On the Bay, I have many bottles and sets, two of which are shown below including my travel bottle. Sometimes the AS is supplied with a soap stick, soap bowl, talc, or brilliantine. This is the original yellow Imperial Leather which has a slightly medicinal scent, nothing like you would expect if you have used any modern Imperial Leather products.

 

[Beefdrippings]

Thank you! I’ve actually had very little finding anything in Florence or Lucca or even getting a shave at a barber shop! Pretty bummed about that. Tried making an appointment at BisB barbershop in Lucca but they were full and, now that it’s Sunday no shops are open. The Conad stores in the city are city or mini versions so less selection. However after not shaving for three days I bought some Proraso green and got it done. Would’ve rather had a barbershop shave but oh well, maybe in Milan. The good news is the water in our hotel made for the best lather. It was effortless to get an incredible lather compared to home where I have hard water.

We stumbled across some large outdoor flea markets and did see some razors but all were in poor shape ie bent teeth etc. . Evidently my phone pics are too large to post but I’ll update when I fix that.

Wow! Great itinerary! I'm sure there will be a few nice shave shops in those places, you'll have to ask local guide!
Have a fun and safe trip!!

 

[JCinPA]

I'm on a 2-night stay in Chicago, carry-on, very minimalist kit. La Toja stick, reknotted vintage small brush, BIC Metal disposable, the small bottles hold Thayer's Witch Hazel and Floid A/S.

 

[Jens]

Thank you! I’ve actually had very little finding anything in Florence or Lucca or even getting a shave at a barber shop! Pretty bummed about that. Tried making an appointment at BisB barbershop in Lucca but they were full and, now that it’s Sunday no shops are open. The Conad stores in the city are city or mini versions so less selection. However after not shaving for three days I bought some Proraso green and got it done. Would’ve rather had a barbershop shave but oh well, maybe in Milan. The good news is the water in our hotel made for the best lather. It was effortless to get an incredible lather compared to home where I have hard water.

We stumbled across some large outdoor flea markets and did see some razors but all were in poor shape ie bent teeth etc. . Evidently my phone pics are too large to post but I’ll update when I fix that.

I have found it challenging to locate good selections of shaving products in Portugal, Spain and Italy. But, it's around. I have had best results in bigger outlets, the equivalent of Boots in the UK, or London Drugs and Shoppers Drugmart in Canada -- don't know what big vendors of this sort are around in the US, and I don't recall what they are called in Italy either. But I found some in Milan (close to the San Siro football stadium), that had a huge selection of everything, at rock bottom prices too. Like, I pick up several 400 ml bottles of Floid aftershave for a total of less than 20 €, a variety of nice Omega brushes for less than 5 € a piece, and all kinds of shaving creams and sticks for a steal too.
On the other hand, in both Spain and France, I was only able to locate specialty shaving stores, that charged a killing for just one stick of Velobra and Musgo Real tube of shaving cream. So instead of the scenic tourist stroll, try going for the bigger pharmacy type outlets, typically located in boring suburban neighborhoods, or industrial or "mall" like urban landscapes. It's an interesting way to get outside of the beaten tourist track too.

 

[jesseix]

I just got back from a 2 week trip and I kept it super minimal:
1 razor (40's superspeed with a couple different blades)
1 brush (AP Shave Co synth, for easy lathering and quick drying)
1 shave stick
2 aftershave splash samples and 1 travel size balm
2 cologne samples

I usually bring a couple shave sticks but this worked out great, less space and had the added bonus of letting me finish off a couple of samples that have been lingering. And it's a good reminder that all this other stuff I've got really isn't necessary when it comes down to it (but sure is fun to have and use )

 

[RangerReady23]

I actually had a thread about my own some time back, but I carry a light kit myself when I'm traveling, which I built from some everyday and different specialty items too.

This kit traveled with me to the recording studio this past weekend, and performed very well. My shave bowl is a Walmart salsa bowl which seems to be made of a very thick, high-impact plastic, nigh indestructible (and only cost $1 at that). I didn't carry the A/S bottle itself--I have two small sprayer bottles I picked up at $1 each in the Walmart travel section, which each hold my Aqua Velva and my Humphrey's witch hazel toner. The razor is a Bevel disposable safety (which gives a very comfy, smooth shave), and my Barbasol lathers very well in the bowl with my shave brush--which is a pop-up cap type that I got from my late mother's cosmetics stash, and it works a treat. Everything tucks comfortably in the little side pocket of the knapsack I inherited from my dad, and off I go.