A bottle of shampoo that bursts in your bag is a mess you only need once. The Sea to Summit Pocket Shampoo avoids that: it’s 50 dry shampoo leaves in a tiny flip-top case that weighs almost nothing. We paid $7 for it and have carried it on weekends in the Blue Mountains and longer 4WD trips across NSW.
What’s in the box
A hard plastic flip-top case with 50 thin, dry, biodegradable leaves of shampoo with conditioner. The leaves are slightly see-through, have a light green tea scent and turn into soap as soon as they get wet. The whole thing weighs about 14 g, and because it isn’t a liquid it can’t leak and is fine for carry-on luggage.
What we like
- Can’t leak or spill
- Tiny 14 g flip-top case
- 50 leaves in a pack
- Biodegradable
- Light green tea scent
- Fine for carry-on luggage
What we don’t
- Leaves clump if they get damp
- Thin lather for long hair
- Pricier than liquid soap
Quick Specs
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Sea to Summit |
| Weight | 14 g |
| Type | Dry shampoo leaves |
| Pack | 50 leaves |
| Scent | Light green tea |
Small Enough for Anywhere
The case is tiny, so it fits in a toiletry bag, the glovebox or the first-aid kit. Ours lives in the drawer with our other wash gear, and after months in there the leaves still work like new.
Using It at Camp
Take a leaf out with dry fingers, add a little water and rub it between your hands. It lathers even in cold water from a water container or a camp shower. One leaf is plenty for hands or a face wash at the tailgate; for hair, and especially long hair, you need two or three, because the lather is thin. In a pinch we’ve also used it to wash a few dishes.
Keep It Dry
The one thing to watch is moisture. If the case gets wet, or you reach in with wet fingers, the leaves stick together into a clump. On damp trips, keep the case in a zip-lock bag. Next to a bottle of liquid shampoo the leaves also cost more per wash, so they make the most sense when weight and space matter.
Shampoo, Body Wash or Hand Wash?Body Wash or Hand Wash?
Sea to Summit makes the same 50-leaf pocket case in three versions: this shampoo with conditioner, a body wash and a hand wash. They work the same way, so pick the one for the job you do most; the case colour tells them apart in your kit.
| TestedPocket Shampoo | For bodyPocket Body Wash | For handsPocket Hand Wash | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colour | Teal | Olive | Clear |
| Conditioner | Yes | No | No |
| For | Hair | Body | Hands |
| Leaves | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Shop | Check price at Wild Earth | Check price at Wild Earth | Check price at Wild Earth |
Conclusion: Sea To Summit Trek and Travel Pocket Shampoo with ConditionerConclusion
The Sea to Summit Pocket Shampoo puts 50 biodegradable shampoo leaves in a 14 g case that can’t leak, which makes it easy to keep in any kit for a quick wash at camp. The lather is thin, so long hair needs a few leaves, the leaves clump if they get damp, and it costs more per wash than liquid shampoo. For light packing and weekend trips, though, it’s a handy little thing to have.
Weighs nothing and can’t leak.
One leaf and a splash of water wash our hands at the tailgate, two or three do our hair, and the case has lived in our drawer for months. The lather is thin, and keep it dry: damp leaves clump together.
- Ultralight
- Hikers
- Campers
If space and weight matter, yes. $7 gets you 50 leak-proof leaves in a tiny case. For a family or long hair, a bottle of liquid shampoo goes further for the money.
