“Keeping your hands clean is one of the best ways to keep from getting sick and spreading illnesses. Cleaning your hands gets rid of germs you pick up from other people . . . from the surfaces you touch . . . and from the animals you come in contact with.”

– Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website

Best soap for travelers

When traveling you are going to come in contact with a lot germs. There’s no way around it. Taxis, museums, restaurants, gyms, and nightclubs are all hotbeds for bacteria and illness.

It’s no surprise that most adventures get ill.

But it is surprising that travelers take very few precautions against getting sick.

Aside from a few medicines and some hand sanitizer most people have no defense against the germs that surround them.

I would have been in the same boat were it not for a fluke discovery.

At the end of February I contracted a terrible case of folliculitis.

My whole body looked like it was covered in acne.

It was gross and I was embarrassed by it.

While playing around with different treatments I discovered Defense Soap. Designed for fighters and athletes, this is product that’s supposed to protect your skin from all kinds of harmful organisms. Ringworm and folliculitis are just a few of the aliments that it can prevent.

I can’t claim that Defense Soap cured me, simply because of the fact that I was using other treatments at the same time, but it definitely did help to protect me from getting infected again.

Why Defense Soap is great for travelers

Most people going on vacation aren’t too worried about folliculitis. There’s no reason to be. However, there are plenty of reasons to worry about things like food poisoning and various strains of the flu. Getting sick in a foreign country sucks.

Washing your hands isn’t enough to protect you.

When you ride on a packed bus other people are going to sweat on you, spreading whatever microorganisms are in their bodily fluids.

The same thing happens when someone inevitably coughs on you, or when you go to a club and dance.

You’re getting covered in all kinds of germs.

That’s where Defense soap comes in.

After going to the gym, or visiting somewhere that leaves me feeling gross, I like to take a shower and use this soap. There’s nothing special, no secret trick. I just lather up and rinse off.

This, and a healthy diet, have been my only two defenses against sickness. I haven’t taken any medications or used any supplements.

Despite this I wasn’t ill for my entire first month in Peru. The country known for making backpackers sick was no match for me and my soap.

It protected my body from all of the harmful bacteria that lurks on doorknobs and ATM keypads. As long as I used the soap I was safe.

How do you know that it actually worked?

To be fair I don’t have any empirical evidence that shows a correlation between Defense Soap and my health.

With that said, I do have some personal experience that can prove this is an effective product.

After my first month I ran out of soap. Once I switched over to regular body wash I started getting sick. I had a terrible fever, my nose was always clogged up, and I felt horrible all the time.

It took me a while to realize that I was getting sick due to the lack of Defense Soap.

Despite the fact that there are no stores, that I could find, in Peru that carry this, I did manage to locate a knock-off.

After a few days of use my symptoms subsided and I began to feel better.

Is Defense Soap really that much better than traditional cleaners?

If you’re going sightseeing in Western Europe you can pack Irish Spring and be just fine. But if you’re headed somewhere that’s a little dirtier, and more humid, I’d recommend packing at least one bar of Defense Soap. Anyone who plans on working out, rock climbing, or visiting the jungle will want to have this on hand.

It isn’t a magic cure-all that excuses you from using common sense, but it can limit your exposure to germs and bacteria. This is especially useful for anyone who is planning on lifting weights or exercising while abroad. Gyms and fitness centers are breeding grounds for microorganisms. You have to use caution and protect yourself after visiting them.

If you’re going on a short trip I’d suggest bringing one bar. If you’re traveling for a few weeks or a month order the five pack.