What's the longest you've gone without taking a shower?
I've gone two days on a number of occasions and that's about when things begin to get uncomfortable. Smell, itch, you get the idea.
Sorry to be nasty but I can envision all sorts of SHTF events where personal hygiene will go out the window. Even quick wash-downs might become impossible.
How long have you ever gone? Any issues you ran into? What sort of contingencies have you planned for these situations (wipes, anti-itch creams, etc?)
If you think that come SHTF you are gonna jock up in all your kit and be a death-dealing one man army, you're an idiot - izzyscout
My personal record, if you can call this a record, was a tad over 2 weeks. When we were doing certain ops in Africa, a week prior to the mission and of course while performing the duties, all kind of soap or perfumes were totally forbidden and we had to keep the same clothes. We were allowed to wash only in the river using only the water.
Although a white man smell is different than a black man smell, any type of soap odors would have given our position away too easily.
You get used to it in a few days and it is not too bothersome. My troubles where on the hair side, so during these missions I shaved as much has possible. A shower at the end was very welcome.
More recently, while doing short tours in combat zones, I could do 2 or 3 days when needed but the wipes were welcomed.
My record is 12 days. Doing winter hikes a couple of times. Thankfully layering clothes help hold the odor in. I tried to wash up a little, but that was water only and as cold as it was I wasn't that thrilled about it. This was before I knew about wipes. That would have made things somewhat better. Actually a lot better.
Like RJ mentioned my hair bugged me as well. At the time I had pretty long hair and wearing a tobaggen most of the time for nearly 2 weeks was awful. I alwasy said the tobaggen made my hair hurt, must have been the scalp, but you get the gist.
The wife was at work when I got home and said she could smell me before she got it the house.
Another short story. the wife had a bad car wreck several years ago. She was left with a broken neck and after surgery she was placed in a neck brace that had to stay on for 30 days. Due to the brace and the incisions she couldn't take a shower the whole time. She was really over not being able to clean up. It was 3 months before the Dr released her to take a shower on her own. She was very happy that day.
I guess my bottom line to the thread. Other than the obvious health and sanitaion issues, It is rough and can be a PITA, but nothing that can't be dealt with. I'm sure many years ago it wasn't anything for folks to go for long periods without taking a true bath.
8 weeks, 3 days. I was rank.
WARNING: This post may contain material offensive to those who lack wit, humor, common sense and/or supporting factual or anecdotal evidence. All statements and assertions contained herein may be subject to but not limited to: irony, metaphor, allusion and dripping sarcasm.
32 days.
This is a REALLY STINKY thread.
I have gone about a week,3 days between dips in the river.
I carry a sea to summit compact shower. Its just a few ounces. I wil try to post a link later.
after a week I smell like the ass end of a petrified skunk.
I have went a couple weeks plus in my military days.....I wonder how long I could go now before work would send me home???HUMMMMMM
Be ready now, you won't have that chance later.
A little over four months, from January to early May 2005 in the Cascade Mountains. I was winter camping in the Snoqualmie National Forest northwest of Mt Rainier.
The 2004-2005 winter was a dry one for the first part of the season. I could drive my pickup to about the 7500 ft level. It was great camping, then March came around. On March 17th, it snowed heavily until mid April. But by May it began to melt, and I could get out.
Fun times.
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