The Deodorant I Take on Every Long Summer Hike
There’s a specific moment on every long summer hike – usually around mile nine, on the exposed section, with the sun directly overhead – where you find out whether your deodorant was up to the job. For years, mine wasn’t. I’d tried everything from sport-branded aerosols to a natural cream a friend swore by, and by the time we reached the pub at the end I was keeping a polite distance from the group.
In This Article
This summer that stopped, and the reason is a roll-on I nearly didn’t bother trying.
The Test: Proper Hill Days
I walk most weekends between May and September – Peak District mostly, the odd trip to Snowdonia. These aren’t gentle strolls. Fifteen miles, 800 metres of ascent, a pack on your back and nowhere to freshen up except a stream if you’re lucky. It’s about the harshest everyday test you can set an antiperspirant, short of running a marathon in it.
Wild’s antiperspirant roll-on claims 72 hour sweat and odour protection. I’ll be honest, I read that number with a raised eyebrow. Every brand makes big claims; the hills sort them out.
How It Held Up
Remarkably well. One morning application before setting off, and I got through full hill days without the mid-afternoon moment I’d come to accept as inevitable. Sweat reduced noticeably – it’s a proper antiperspirant, with aluminium salts in a formula that’s 90% naturally derived – and odour just didn’t develop, even under a rucksack strap, which is the true torture test.
The bit that surprised me most: the second day. On a weekend camping trip I didn’t reapply, mostly to see what would happen. Still fine the next afternoon. I’m not saying skip your morning routine, but the 72 hour claim clearly isn’t fantasy.
Lifestyle Reviewer readers get money off a first order with code WILDANTIP at wearewild.com.
Small Things That Matter on the Trail
The roll-on dries quickly, so you’re not standing around in a tent waiting to put a shirt on. No white marks on dark base layers. The refillable aluminium case has survived being dropped on rock twice, which is more than I can say for most things in my pack. And the Fresh Cotton & Sea Salt scent is clean without being perfumey – nobody wants to smell like a fragrance counter on a ridgeline.
It’s also light enough that it just lives in the side pocket now. Not because I need to reapply, but old habits.
The Verdict
Best deodorant I’ve taken up a hill, and it isn’t close. If your summer involves long days, big climbs and warm weather, this is the one that keeps up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it actually an antiperspirant or just a deodorant?
A true antiperspirant – it reduces sweat with aluminium salts as well as controlling odour, in a 90% naturally derived formula.
Do I need to reapply during a long hike?
I never have. One morning application has covered full hill days and, on one camping weekend, most of the next day too.
Does it work in hot weather?
That’s where it earns its keep. My testing was June to August, mostly in full sun.
Put it through your own hill test – code WILDANTIP gets you money off your first order at wearewild.com.
