Thread: TRAVELING WITH A STRAIGHT RAZOR

I have a question about traveling with a straight razor. For those who dont know I am currently active duty in the military and I do alot of traveling for training and deployments. Currently when I travel I take a can of edge shaving cream and a gillete fushion. The shave isn't bad, but I just get severe razor burn and irritation on my neck. After i started using my straight razor the irritation and razor burn has stopped. So i am looking for away to travel with my razor, does any one know if there is a kit just for traveling or should I just continue to use my Fushion on the road. This question is more for when I deploy back to Iraq, but it would be nice for when i am traveling for training. Thanks for the help.

I've travelled with straights a few times. What in particular are you concerned about?

I've switched to using a Feather AC (disposable straight) for when I travel, just to cut down on the number of items I bring. That's an option. The shave is closer than with a straight (it's a little scary, to be honest).

Before that I would carry a razor in a travel box strop. That's a small wooden box with a pivot lid big enough to hold a razor, and two lengths of stropping leather attached. That did the trick for a strop.

Your travel arrangements may be a bit different than those of us that fly commercial. you obviously cannot take a straight onto a airplane so it must be checked in baggage. The reports of crooked TSA people pilfering luggage for valuables is also troubling.

Most of my travel is by car so I just pack the kit in a cigar box. I will take one of my good razors, but if I had to check it in baggage, I would take one of the lesser expensive blades for fear of someone lifting the entire box form my luggage. I put my razor in one little wrap of bubble wrap and put a twist tie around it to keep it closed and the wrap on the razor. I put it, my brush, and soap in the cigar box along with a small strop. I put some bubble wrap in the box to fill the voids and put the entire thing in my bag. I had purchased a small shave cream from the gentlemen’s quarter, it is enough for a month of shaving and comes in a silver dollar sized container with a screw on lid. Perfect for traveling.

In your case, with a looming Iraq deployment, you may want to throw in the kitchen sink. A couple of razors, two or three shaving soaps, strop, even a hone to keep the edge shaving sharp for an extended deployment. Again, a cigar box works well, they are sturdy, just the right size and readily available. For clarification, I use a wood cigar box, not the cardboard ones. There are also purpose built shaving boxes with fitted linings to hold everything, and mirrors on the lids for shaving, but they are too pricey for my blood. One day I will cut a Styrofoam insert for the box and felt line it to make it a little nicer, but for now, a plain old heavy wood cigar box and bubble wrap works good. If a mirror is not always available, a small hand mirror, or cut to size mirror, and some double stick tape and you can put one on the inside of the box lid.

For travel, I use plastic toothbrush containers to hold my razors. Depending on the fit, I'll add newspaper to keep the razors from knocking around too much. I have a 2 sided paddle strop from Tony Miller that fits in an overnight bag. This way, I don't have to worry about creasing my hanging strop. I like shave sticks because they take up less room and bought a travel "tube" from emsplace to hold my brush. You can also use a large prescription bottle for this - drill holes to allow air. You might want to consider a small coticule or barber hone for touch ups. Thank you for serving and best of luck!

Jordan

I am over in afghanistan, and brought my straights along. I used a small lugage case and some foam. I brought my scuttle, strop, hone, brush, cream, oil, and one straight. Now since ive been over here, I picked up a feather DX japanese non folding style, that uses replaceable blades. i found it just worked easier, I still use my real straight here or there, but I find the feather does quite well. When i put them in the small bag, I cut the foam to contour of each items, so they were held secure, and protected from banging around. I however, travel by c130, since im a mechanic on them, so going I normally dont have to go through any sort of customs or checked baggage.

Originally Posted by Fallick87

I have a question about traveling with a straight razor. For those who dont know I am currently active duty in the military and I do alot of traveling for training and deployments. Currently when I travel I take a can of edge shaving cream and a gillete fushion. The shave isn't bad, but I just get severe razor burn and irritation on my neck. After i started using my straight razor the irritation and razor burn has stopped. So i am looking for away to travel with my razor, does any one know if there is a kit just for traveling or should I just continue to use my Fushion on the road. This question is more for when I deploy back to Iraq, but it would be nice for when i am traveling for training. Thanks for the help.

I've been in the same situation for some of the same reasons, for a long time. I've had luck just bringing a small hone or two (I used to bring barber hones and a Norton until I broke it, now I just pack a small yellow coticule and a barber hone) inside my shave kit, and pack a strop as flat as possible in with my uniforms. The straights themselves I pack in their respective case if possible and put in my shave kit in my checked baggage (even airlift as you know, sometimes we have to go through the screeners-if not, keep it in the carry on). A small paddle strop is also a possibility-I have a strop-back hone Tony Miller put leather on, that I carry quite often.
I've had no problems with my straights at all. If I have to go through screening, it goes in checked baggage, if not, inside my carry-on.
As for soaps, brushes, and creams, etc. Use what you want pretty much. Ziploc freezer bags are your friend (just in case-but I've never had a problem), and my brushes have also survived well inside ziploc bags, if dry first.
I'm also a big fan of the Omega syntex synthetic brushes for this purpose. They travel extremely well, are dirt cheap, and clean up easily.

Hope this helps.
John P.
edit: a length of 550 cord is also good, helps so you can tie off your strop quite a few places (door knobs, trees, vehicles etc).

I am currently using a Dovo Shavette, Body shop shave cream, Omega brush, and small botttle of aftershave cream. These items travel quite easily, but I dont think a strop would, and I would hate to ruin one by jamming it in my bag, I would recommend a shavette or similar for travel. The blades are always going to be sharp, and your kit will be smaller.
Stu

RMC-SS-LDO and I were just talking about this. He has been tapped for deployment to Iraq and is currently trying to fabricate a "to go" box out of lexan. You might drop him a line and see what he is planning. I know that TI makes one that is available at classicshaving.com. It is pretty pricey is the drawback. I like the cigarbox idea best. Check this one out! Good luck!

I want to thank every one for the input. I like the cigar box idea, I think im going to give it a try. Once again Thanks

Originally Posted by Fallick87

I want to thank every one for the input. I like the cigar box idea, I think im going to give it a try. Once again Thanks

I keep all my razors in a wooden cigar box in the bathroom. No rust