LightBackpacking.com

Just because you have escaped the city doesn’t mean you want to escape basic personal care on the trail. Actually, flossing and brushing can be refreshing when you’re covered with trail dust.

My floss, toothpaste and brush weigh in at 1 ounce. You could go lighter by eliminating the brush and using your finger. But hey, we don’t need to get too crazy — just a little — to be lightbackpackers.

I buy the travel size Tom’s of Maine toothpaste (there are lots of other choices); travel size Glide floss (about the size of a dime) and a “Go Go” thumb tooth brush. You don’t have trim handles or drill holes because it is already a third of the normal size.

You can find all of these items at your local drugstore.