Hi Lasthorn,

You could always use the roots of a soaptree.

For shave oils in the U.S. try:

http://www.groominglounge.com/preshave.html

I usually go scruffy in the field unless teaching a class

I don't normally shave when in the woods. If there were a reason to shave, I just use normal soap and a safety razor.

I have a straight razor with me when I go camping but it is NOT for shaving! No, you don't want to know and I am not going to say!

I have shaved with my pocket knife, YES I normally keep it that sharp. Usually I don't shave while camping, but a bar of regular soap, and some time working up a lather with your finger tips works fine - does work better with WARM water - gad I hate bathing with COLD water out of the stream

I don’t see this as any kind of real issue as I do take soap with me when in the wild. So to answer, I would use soap for soap. Shaving is no problem with a disposable razor & soap. Plan ahead and lay in a supply and take some with you in any kit you have. The dollar store has 4-packs of Ivory bar soap for $1.00; $20.00 or $30.00 will buy a lot of soap to put away. No need to ever run out. I’m coming up on 50-years old, never had to do without soap in that time, I don’t realistically expect to have to do it in the remainder of my life.

But then I never ran into a pack of 20 wild dogs either…

I tried to shave with a straight razor many many years ago, and almost bled to death. I have shaved more times than I like to recall with a Gillette safety razor and water, and don't like it one little bit. Nowadays I use a Norelco. I guess I could rig up a solar panel to charge it if needed...

There are plants that will get you a decent lather and grease cutting effect. A friend pointed them out. Not real common in my neck of the woods.

Personally I simply use a tiny bottle of lemon Joy. No phosphates, works in hard and salt water, rinses clean and is both strong enough to clean jeans that are dirty enough to stand on their own and gentle enough to do the girlfriend's hair. trick for hair is to make a solution of a half-pint of water with just a few drops of detergent in it so it doesn't strip her hair.

In a pinch I have used clean sand and clay to wash with. Clay does a remarkably good job of removing skin oils and dirt from a body. And fun to roll in the clay with a friend. Not so good on clothes.

Cromwell & Cruthers Shave Oil. Great Googlie Mooglie. Next you will demand white Zinfidel to wash down the pan-fried rat.

You can get Shave Secret for a dollar less and without shipping for 30% more oil at just about any drugstore or Wal-Mart. Similar product concept as the C&C without the fancy name and label. Made with menthol and clove oils. A bottle lasts, at three drops per shave and shaving every day, most of a year.

Good stuff.
http://www.shavesecret.com/

Works well with the old double edge:
http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/shopp...iProductID=5413

After you use it up you have a handy little bottle. I use them to repackage Lemon Joy and other materials. Just don't get them mixed up.

I've used those double edged safety razors ever since I had enough fluff worth shaving. It's the only thing I use. Blades are way cheaper than the 3 or now 5 bladed plastic things you get now, plus blades like that can always be used in a kit as a back-up blade.

In the US, King of Shaves makes a decent shave oil in a handy travel size, a little goes a long way with this stuff.

http://www.amazon.com/King-Shaves-Formul...422&sr=1-11

Magellans sells an all natural one, but I haven't tried it.

http://www.magellans.com/store/Health___Personal_Care___ToiletriesKR381?Args=

I normally rubberband a couple of spare blades to the handle of a Gillette Mach3 (best razor ever), which packs small. Though I suppose if you want to get all fancy, you could get this travel razor (though I haven't seen it sold in the US):

http://www.avid4.co.uk/

Guess you don't go co-ed backpacking... (as I did in my younger days)