Thread: straight shaving over-seas

so i just wanted to know if anyone has had experience with being deployed to the middle east, and straight shaved while they were. i want to know if it would be better to use a real straight or a feather style. if using a real straight did you have time for the up-keep (stropping and honing etc.) between your missions, or should i just go with the disposable straights?

I did. And yes you will have time.. The biggest problem was stropping. Ifound it was just easier to hand strop.

im fairly new to wet shaving so what the difference between stropping and hand stopping?

I'm not sure I'd want to hassle with it. I'd constantly be worrying about dinging the blade, or cracking the scales in my ruck, or having it confiscated by TSA when I went through the airports. They make you stow all your gear and knives in the belly of the plane. I've been on those baggage details, and I can tell you there's no way I'd leave my blade to them. Not even if it was packed inside something sturdy. A couple hours on a baggage detail and those kids start cheering when a duffle goes tumbling ten feet off a truck. One the other hand, once you get there it's not really going to be any big deal. You'd probably want to buy a paddle strop before you go. So if you decide to do it, pack your straight inside a box full of cottonballs, inside a wooden box, inside a waterproof box, inside a steel box. Then again, maybe I place too much importance on shiny stuff. Be safe brother!

I've used my straights on all my deployments and of course planning to bring on my next one coming up shortly. If you do with a real straight I recommend adding at least a barber hone to your set to keep it sharp. And if this is your first trip over there remember most places you will be sharing large shower trailers, so without a doubt you will get a few funny looks. If you pack them decently you shouldn't have a problem with the baggage handlers. Good luck and try to enjoy your trip, you can really have some fun there you just have to use your imagination.

thanks for all the info guys and i think ill go with the disposable then really get into real straights when i get back considering that i dont even have a real one yet

From someone who could not serve (medical reasons) Thank you.
Now back to your regularly scheduled thread.