Women's Tips & Tricks

You mentioned the difficulty (and potential embarrassment) of packing out sanitary supplies. Yuck. I use a product called The Keeper, which would eliminate this altogether. Easily found online, it's a small rubber cup (a bit like a diaphragm). Benefits:

  • No monthly supplies to purchase; I have not spent money on disposable supplies in more than six years. I've recouped the purchase price of $35 several times over, and it's guaranteed to last at least 10 years.
  • No supplies to carry or send to landfills; you simply dump out the contents and use the cup again.
  • Safer than tampons; no possibility of toxic-shock syndrome.
  • Fewer changes; if a tampon usually lasts 2 hours, The Keeper will last at least 4.
  • More comfortable to wear, though it does take some practice to learn to use it.

Theresa

 

  • For chafing, I use a product called Body Glide™. It comes in a deodorant-like applicator, and goes on like chap stick—just rub it onto the areas that are chafing. I have heard that vaseline works well, too, but am not sure it will retain its non-liquid state in the high heat of the Inner Gorge in summer. Body Glide™ definitely does—mine stayed solid even at the river in August when the thermometer said 120 degrees.
  • Sometimes I get yeast infections or other vaginal itchies when I am on a longer trip, especially in cooler months when I am wearing Capliene® long underwear. Bathing helps, but sometimes not enough—Capliene® simply doesn't breathe as well as cotton. One solution is to wear Capliene® while hiking, but have some cotton undies for evening and night wear, or to simply go undieless, at least in the tent. Another is to wear silk, which seems to breathe better than Capliene®, but still insulates in cool wet conditions.

Sarah

 

  • If you end up dealing with your menstrual cycle on the trail, you'll have to carry out your used feminine hygiene products such as tampons and napkins. By placing these in a plastic Ziploc® bag with baking soda inside, you can greatly minimize the odor. Also be sure to place the bag well out of reach from rodents and other creatures during the night while you are asleep. Properly securing these things will prevent a mess and pure embarrassment in the morning!

Denise

 

For a site devoted to women in the outdoors, I recommend visiting The Hiking Lady. HikingLady.com is a website dedicated to women who love the outdoors, and choose to explore it by hiking, backpacking, and camping.  Additionally, the blog is an up-to-date resource with articles of interest, events, environmental issues, book and movie reviews, organizations to join, and deals on hiking gear and apparel. The site is geared mostly towards mountain and cold weather hiking but there is still some excellent advice for gear and other information.