Ditto on the small bottle of alcohol - Although sometimes I like the gel and have been known to take a small bottle of purell - since I carry an alcohol stove using a little as hand sanitizer is fine.
I don't *wash* hands with it - I use good old water and sand/rocks/whatever for that. The only time I use it is upon leaving the toilet area after a poop. Not eating your own or someone else's feces is usually a lot more important in preventing gastrointestinal upset on the trail than treating your water.
Ditto on the small bottle of alcohol - Although sometimes I like the gel and have been known to take a small bottle of purell - since I carry an alcohol stove using a little as hand sanitizer is fine.
I don't *wash* hands with it - I use good old water and sand/rocks/whatever for that. The only time I use it is upon leaving the toilet area after a poop. Not eating your own or someone else's feces is usually a lot more important in preventing gastrointestinal upset on the trail than treating your water.
And of course...it's a great fire starter (the gel) in wet conditions. Something I learned here!
I generally use Band-Aid Cleansing Foam, but not to be used more than three times daily. Doesn't dry out your hands and provides good sanitation. I agree with Phat that this is more important than water treatment.
I find it amusing to watch backpackers wash their hands in a creek (with no soap) and then eat dinner with their hands, but yet will not drink water from that same creek without treating it.
I have found the alcohol gel that I used burns, but is not a great fire started. It burns for a short time and with a tiny flame that is hard to see in daylight.
A flint (ferrocerium rod) and dry paper towel works much better. Or a match or lighter works too.
On a similar note, why not carry extra 90% alcohol and spray it on your hands? Then you don't have the perfume issue. It might dry your skin out in the winter though.
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