A List of Grooming Essentials for the Traveling Gentleman

It has happened to you before. You packed for a long trip, making sure that you have all your grooming essentials — your body care products, shaving kit, sunglasses, etc. But then you reach the beach, and you couldn’t find your sunscreen anywhere. Or you stepped out in the incredible cold and realized that you did not pack any soothing balm. You know immediately that your skin would be painful and raw in the next few days. It won’t just feel bad; your skin would look bad, as well.

So, we’ve put together a foolproof list of all the grooming travel essentials for the modern gentleman. It’s quite a lengthy list, but we believe that it’s better to be prepared. This way, you don’t have to timidly ask your companions for a bottle of shampoo. Trust us, it’s better to be the gentleman that’s depended on by his peers. 

Grooming Kit

It’s advisable to have a grooming kit that fits in your carry-on, so as much as possible, carry small containers for your grooming essentials. It’s better to buy small vessels and decant the contents of your regular-sized products instead of buying travel-sized versions. It will save you more, as you don’t have to buy new things. It’s more eco-friendly, too, since you can reuse the small vessels for a long time instead of buying travel-sized versions for every trip.

TSA Rules

Take note of the 3-1-1 TSA liquid rules. A passenger may carry liquids, aerosols, and gels in travel-sized containers that are, at most, 3.4 ounces or 100mL. The passenger should only carry one quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, and gels in the carry-on bag. Containers larger than 3.4 ounces must be in the checked baggage.

Grooming Kit

Here are the must-have items in every gentleman’s kit:

• Toothpaste — Hotel rooms are usually stocked with small tubes of toothpaste. Collect these tubes if you can because these are already travel-sized. Pack at least one. Toothpaste is available everywhere, but to save you the hassle of going out and buying a tube, make sure you have one ready.
• Toothbrush — Leave the electric toothbrush at home. Opt for a slim-handle toothbrush.
• Deodorant — This is your bulkiest but most important product.
• Wet Wipes — You never know when you need to quickly freshen up.
• Shaving Kit — Disposable razors and electric razors are permitted in carry-on bags. There are also companies that produce travel-sized shaving creams.
• All-in-One — It’s better to use multi-purpose products, like body gels that serve as both shampoo and body wash. Hotel rooms also have shampoo and body soap on hand, so you don’t have to bring a lot of these with you. But just to be sure, pack at least one.
• Sunscreen — Extremely important when you’re lounging on the French Riviera or joining a fishing charter in the Gold Coast. Pack at least SPF 30.

Your Personal Essentials — Some men need soothing balms, salves, and moisturizers to keep inflammation at bay. If you need any of these, make sure they’re in a travel-friendly amount.

Essentials for Business Trips

We’ve covered grooming essentials for leisure activities, but what about the essentials for business trips? When you’re attending a conference or representing your company at an event, grooming becomes much more important.

There are many things that men overlook when they’re packing grooming essentials for a business trip. Your beard may be shaved, and your hair may be combed, but do you smell nice? Are your clothes well-pressed, or are your shoes buffed and polished?

For Shoe Care

You can polish your shoes the night before the trip. But if you’re attending multiple events, you might want to pack shoe care essentials to make sure that your footwear gleams all the time.

• Polish Cream — Pack a neutral shoe polish that works for both brown and black shoes.
• Shoe Brush — Horsehair brushes are ideal, but a soft cloth would do as well.
• Extra Laces — If you’re serious about being prepared, bring extra laces in case the current set snags and breaks.

For Fragrance

A gentleman has a signature scent, so bring a travel-sized bottle of your perfume. Take it one step further and pack a mouthwash. Business events can be hectic, and you might not have a few minutes to spare to brush your teeth (you’re only supposed to brush your teeth twice a day, anyway). Mouthwash is also convenient if you had a drink or enjoyed a pint of charcoal ice cream before meeting someone. 

It’s the manners that make a man, but grooming is no less important. Keep this list handy whenever you’re packing for a leisure or business trip, so you can always put your best foot forward.