Bar soap, the most basic form of personal cleanser, is ideal for air travelers. It can be checked into luggage or carried on board planes without restrictions, and it will never leak or damage the rest of your belongings. It’s inexpensive and found in any drugstore or airport shop. At four ounces, most bar soaps might be too big and heavy for ultra-lightweight travelers, though; they also take up a significant amount of space in your toiletry bag. Bar soap is best for those who want a dependable cleanser and have the space for it in their luggage.
Ideal for frequent travelers and hardcore backpackers, soap leaves are a feather-light alternative to common bar soap. The small, paper-thin sheets are sold in booklet form or in small plastic containers. To use them on the road, remove a leaf with dry hands and lather under running water. Because they contain no liquid, they’re a convenient option for carry-on baggage during long flights.
Small bottles of concentrated liquid soap are ideal for any class of traveler. A 3-oz. or smaller container is TSA-approved for carry-on baggage, and also fits snugly in a hiker’s backpack, sunseeker’s beach bag or rental car glove box. The liquid soap can be diluted with water, so a little goes a long way. A good-quality concentrated soap suits many purposes: hand cleaner, shampoo, dish detergent, laundry soap and more. Ultra-concentrated brands of liquid soap cut through dirt and grease with ease.
For people traveling in remote areas where water is scarce -- or for long-haul drivers who don’t want to pull over to rest stops -- pre-moistened wipes can be used to clean hands, face or body. Each towelette contains antibacterial ingredients to kill germs as well as moisturizers to condition the skin. Supermarkets and drugstores sell no-rinse wipes in resealable plastic packages that can be tucked in the outside pocket of a backpack or suitcase.
