ACTION WIPES packet
Nic said they are made with a proprietary formula that uses Tea Tree Oil, so they are an alcohol free body cleanse, are completely natural and additionally have bug-repellent qualities...I especially like that! Nic gave me 2 wipes to try out. I checked out the company's website and it stated the wipes were invented by Martha Van Inwegen after she recognized the need for, "a natural wet wipe to clean and refresh the body after a ride, run, hike or a long plane ride."
Skipping ahead, this past weekend, me and my buddy Chris hiked into the Santa Lucia Wilderness to do an overnight camp out, so I took the packets of ACTION WIPES along to give them a try in the field. Water can be scarce and/or suspect where we were headed due to Mercury mining operations in the region, and we had to conserve the water we carried for consumption; there would be no trail bathing with water.
On the Trail
My pack load...46 pounds
The hike in was warm, about 82 degrees and we were mostly hiking sun-exposed trails. I had a 46 pound pack load, and it wasn't long before I was breaking a decent sweat. After a couple of hours of hiking we arrived at out campsite and set up for the night. Winds were strong and sustained all throughout the day, so there was a fair amount of dust in the air.
My tarp shelter
Having established our camp, we set about to have some fun. We spent some time throwing knives at a target plank I'd brought along, as well as exploring the local terrain and mineral rich rock formations in the area, which hosted a Cinnabar mining operation.
Throwing blades [I broke the target plank...whoops!]
Interesting rock formation with a Yucca
Plant [also called The Lord's Candle
And Spanish Bayonet].
As evening fell I decided to wash up and change into some dry socks and clean moisture wicking long underwear. I cannot stand to sleep dirty and itching in a sleeping bag, so I was anxious to try out the ACTION WIPES and get a comfortable night's sleep. I stripped down and opened the package, removed the wipe, and unfolded it. It opened into a large 9" X 10" square wipe, and was saturated with the solution. The wipe itself is a very soft fabric material, not that abrasive paper one usually gets in a typical foil wrapped wet-nap. I also later discovered the wipe is very tough...more to follow on that.
The unfolded ACTION WIPE
I found the Tea Tree Oil fragrance very pleasant and began wiping myself down, top to bottom. The wipe was completely adequate for cleansing my entire body and I also rubbed my scalp/hair to ensure no hitch-hikers were hiding there. The ACTION WIPES web page bills each wipe as having the cleansing equivalence of a 25 gallon shower. Given the drought, it's been a long time since I helped myself to a 25 gallon shower, but I will say I felt completely clean after wiping down. Clean again, I enjoyed a very pleasant and itch-free sleep that night.
Packing out the next morning, I took the spent wipe and placed it in my pack. Upon arrival home I began cleaning my gear, which had been soaked and dirtied by a thick fog that had rolled in during the night. I used the fabric wipe with a bucket of soap to clean my camp tarps and other gear. It not only held up, but it retained the Tea Tree Oil scent even after 2 bucket loads of soapy water. It occurred to me that I probably could have dampened the wipe with fresh water and re-constituted or at least extended the life of the wipe, and thus my camp bath, the night before had I wished to. The spent wipe certainly would've functioned as a camp kitchen scrub for my mess kit and utensils.
Having cleaned my gear, I then placed the wipe on the dashboard of my truck and allowed it to completely dry. I then decided to see if it would take a spark from a ferrocerium rod and function as an emergency tinder for lighting a fire. On the third strike, the dried cloth ignited and burned very well for about 1 minute.
ACTION WIPE as fire tinder
Even after the wipe appeared consumed, it continued to smolder with bright red embers for a few minutes, and likely could have been blown back into flame.
Red-hot embers still glowing in fabric
In conclusion, I think this is an excellent product of great use to the outdoors enthusiast who wishes to perform personal hygiene at the end of a trail run or a day's hiking and where water is not abundant or need be conserved. Plus, it is compact, lightweight, and easily stowed in a pack. I am convinced of this product's utility and will definitely be adding some to my pack kit for future trail outings.
If you wish to purchase some ACTION WIPES and are not in the local area and thus are unable to visit S.L.O. Camp `N Pack, not to worry! You can order ACTION WIPES online direct from the company, or you can visit Nic's excellent online business CNP TACTICAL and order through them, as well as peruse their quality line of outdoor and tactical gear products.
Happy Hiking!
GOBLIN RANGER/
FACEBOOK: BUSHCRAFT WOODS DEVIL
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