After a swim in the sea or a dusty day on the tracks, clean hair makes camp a lot more comfortable. The Sea to Summit shampoo with conditioner is a small, concentrated travel shampoo that does that with very little water. We’ve used it on trips across NSW, from the Blue Mountains to Jervis Bay, and it cost us $8.
What’s in the box
A 100 ml bottle of biodegradable, phosphate-free shampoo and conditioner in one, with aloe vera and jojoba oil. It’s unscented and concentrated, and comes in a leak-proof bottle with a screw lid, small enough for carry-on luggage. The newer bottles are labelled Trek & Travel Shampoo with Conditioner.
What we like
- Shampoo and conditioner in one
- A pea-sized drop is enough
- Aloe vera and jojoba oil
- Leak-proof, carry-on size
- Unscented
- Biodegradable, phosphate-free
What we don’t
- Lathers less in cold water
- Runs out on long trips
- Pricey for 100 ml
Quick Specs
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Sea to Summit |
| Weight | 116 g |
| Size | 100 ml |
| Formula | BiodegradablePhosphate-free concentrate |
| Ingredients | Aloe veraJojoba oil |
| Scent | Unscented |
Using It
Wet your hair, squeeze out a pea-sized drop and work it in. It foams up easily with warm water from a camp shower like our San Hima, and the aloe vera and jojoba oil leave your hair soft without a separate conditioner. In cold water it lathers less, so you need to work it in for longer. Because you use so little, a quick rinse is enough, which saves water when you carry it all in water containers.
At Camp and on the Coast
On the coast it washes the salt out of your hair after a swim, and on dusty tracks it gets the dirt out without stripping your hair. The unscented formula doesn’t leave a smell around camp. It’s biodegradable, but like any soap, use it at least 100 m away from creeks and lakes. For dishes and washing clothes we carry the Sea to Summit Wilderness Wash next to it.
In the Car
The bottle has been tossed around in the back of our Prado without leaking or cracking, and it lives in the cargo net with our other wash bottles. The catch is the size: 100 ml goes quickly when two people wash their hair every day, so it’s best for short trips, or refill it from a bigger bottle at home. For 100 ml it’s also pricey.
Conclusion: Sea to Summit Liquid Conditioning Shampoo 100 mlConclusion
The Sea to Summit shampoo with conditioner keeps your hair clean and soft off-grid with very little water. It’s concentrated, unscented and biodegradable, and the leak-proof 100 ml bottle fits anywhere in the car or on a plane. It lathers less in cold water, it’s pricey for its size and it runs out on long trips, so it’s best for weekends and short trips.
Clean, soft hair with very little water.
A pea-sized drop washes out salt after a swim and dust after a day on the tracks, and the bottle has never leaked in the car. It lathers less in cold water, and 100 ml is pricey and won’t last a long trip.
- Hikers
- Campers
- Travellers
For short trips, yes. It’s leak-proof, biodegradable and works with very little water, but it’s pricey for 100 ml and runs out on longer trips.
