Action Wipes: The Essential Adventure Life Element
Earlier this year while working a five day cycling camp for Heidi Rentz & Zander Ault of The Cyclist’s Menu, I was introduced to Action Wipes. Riding bikes for a better part of the day in the dusty shadows of the Arizona / Mexico border causes the accumulation of a rather large amount of dirt on the body. Immediately i was very impressed at what these individually wrapped wipes could do against sweat, sun screen, and dust when a shower isn't available.
As gravel camp in Sonita concluded, the Arizona Trail race and final preparation was the major thing on my mind. Over the last year i have built and tested what i believed would be an appropriate set up for a self supported race. I have been lucky enough to test this kit in a variety of locations over the past year, including the towering San Juan mountains of south western Colorado, the high country and plateaus of the south rim of the Grand Canyon, and low desert landscapes of southern Arizona.
One of the major things i have read about with bikepacking is hygiene. Nobody tends to go into great detail about what they carry but nearly every pack list and report emphasizes the importance of a well thought out kit. My hygiene kit has always been minimal due to the lengths of my trips being shorter then three days. Under the conditions i expected to experience on the Arizona Trail, i would need to change that. After experiencing the effectiveness of Action Wipes, i wanted to include the single packs in my kit. Luckily with the help of Zander and Heidi, i was able to get in contact with Curt and Martha, the crew at Action wipes and Life Element products, and they generously supplied me with everything i would need and more!
Every one of these items earned their weight in my frame bag along the adventure. Here is a list of the items i carried and why:
- Action wipes (Single Packages):
Carrying 4 Action wipes in individual packages would give me the ability to wipe off two times a day for the duration of the race. Being preventative with hygiene helps more then one would imagine mentally and physically. It is rather convenient that you can cover your whole body with one 9x5” sheet.
- Healing Honey stick:
I found out quickly that the Healing Honey Stick is your best friend during bikepacking races or long training days in the saddle. Chafing can put a halt on forward progress rather quickly, and causes unpleasant conditions.This product has the ability to be used on rashes, wounds, and stings, which are certainly possibilities on a multi day adventure. All of these benefits packed into a tube of natural ingredients make it a great option for a multi use healing remedy.
- Ache & Pain Relief Honey Stick:
The Ache & Pain Relief stick proved to be my favorite of the three sticks produced by life elements. It includes many of the same ingredients as the Healing stick plus some magic that soothes your skin while treating achy muscles in the process. I was very skeptical about a product like this, but tried it out on different muscles as they began to ache. Immediately the pain went away, and i felt great again! It's also nice to keep around the house and rub on sore muscles after a hard day on the bike. I will defiantly carry this on every adventure from here on out.
- SPF 30 Sunscreen:
Living in Arizona and spending long days in the saddle means sunscreen needs to be applied generously and frequently. Feeling sticky and having to reapply throughout a ride are two of my least favorite parts of these adventures although i have learned sunburns are far more painful. I was rather impressed with the ability this sunscreen had to stick. Over the 26 hours i was out on the trail, it didn't wash away or collect a ton of dirt and leave me feeling sticky like i generally experience. You'll find this 30 SPF sunscreen in a tube slightly larger then a chapstick, which packs conveniently into a backpack or frame bag.
Overall thoughts:
As i've tried to push my personal boundaries on the adventure front, one of the major things i have learned is you are only as good as your gear allows you to be. Going into a event prepared will make the experience so much more enjoyable and successful. I don't want you to think that by simply carrying these hygiene items you will accomplish all of your goals. What these items will do is help you feel good during and after your adventures. That goes a long way in my book! While I've focused on how they performed during a cycling event, their uses are endless and whenever you find yourself needing to clean up they are a great option. Learn more and check out all of their products at www.actionwipes.com
