At home, with all the comforts of hot running water, a soap dispenser next to the sink, and a handy clean towel, nearly everybody above the age of six washes their hands after going to the bathroom or before preparing a meal. Ingrained as it is, this habit is remarkably fast to disappear as soon as we wander beyond reach of indoor plumbing. It's too much fuss, some say, and clean hands don't stay that way for long in the backcountry. Well. . . yes. Some come in handy, reuseable travel cases that will hold a dozen or so wipes.
Most brands offer several styles with different ingredients.
If you buy wipes in bulk, carry only as many as you need in a sealed plastic bag to retain their moistness. Pack out all used wipes in a plastic bag with the rest of your garbage. The other option, waterless hand cleanser, comes to us off the shelves of auto-parts stores. Again, there are several brands to choose from, most in the form of gels or creams, but the key ingredient to look for is zinc pyrithione, an anti-microbial agent. Also read the instructions to make sure water isn't required.