Washbag Packing Guide: What to Take on a Weekend Away
By TOBS | Luxury Grooming Products for Men | Taylor Old Bond Street | Published: 2026-10-15
Category: How-to Guides
Build a weekend washbag that actually fits. Follow this step-by-step packing list for a men's travel grooming kit, from shaving cream to brush care.
Quick answer
Pack for a weekend away by working from the skin out: start with a shaving cream that suits your skin, add a brush and razor you can replace individually, then layer in leak-proof containers and a small towel. Keep the bag to one layer so nothing gets crushed, and leave the full-size bottles at home.
Start with the products that touch your skin
The core of any weekend washbag is the shaving and skin routine you already trust. If you have sensitive skin, a cream formulated without common allergens removes guesswork. The Jermyn Street Shaving Cream Tube 75ml is a modern fresh fougère made for sensitive skin, and the 75ml tube size is designed for both home use and travel. That matters because a tube packs flatter than a tub and is less likely to crack in a soft bag.
Do not swap three products at once the night before a trip. Change one item, use it at home first, then pack it. A weekend is too short to troubleshoot a reaction or a lather you have never built before.
Choose a brush and razor you can maintain
A brush is the item most likely to be left behind wet, which is how bristles get musty. The Traditional Pure Badger Shaving Brush is handmade in England in imitation ivory and is sized from S at 9.5cm with a Ø17mm knot up to XL at 13cm with a Ø24mm knot. For a weekend bag, a small or medium brush takes less room and still lifts stubble and builds a rich lather. The brand notes these measurements can vary because of the nature of the product, so check the listed size rather than assuming.
If you already own an Edwardian shave set, the Super Badger Mach3 Edwardian Shaving Set individual items let you replace just the razor, brush, or chrome stand instead of buying a whole new set. That is useful for travel because you can pack the brush and razor and leave the stand at home.
Pack in layers so nothing leaks or crushes
Put solid and dry items at the bottom, then creams and liquids upright in the middle, then anything fragile on top. Squeeze the air out of tubes before closing them; a tube that is half full of air expands with cabin pressure or a warm car and pushes product out of the cap.
Use one small zip pouch inside the washbag for anything that can leak, and keep that pouch sealed. A washbag with a single large compartment is fine for a weekend, but a bag with at least one internal pocket keeps a wet brush away from dry clothing.
Trim the list to what a weekend actually needs
Two nights means two or three shaves at most, so one tube of cream, one brush, one razor, and one small towel is enough. Skip the full-size shampoo and decant what you need into a travel bottle, or use the hotel's supply and save the space.
A common mistake is packing for a week because the bag has room. Weight is not the problem on a weekend trip; bulk is. Every extra item makes it harder to close the bag without pressing a wet brush against a clean shirt.
Weekend washbag packing steps
- 1. Lay out your daily routine: Put every product you use on a normal morning on the bed, then remove anything you will not use in two days. A weekend needs two or three shaves at most. Checkpoint: if you cannot name when you will use it, leave it out.
- 2. Decant or choose travel sizes: Move shampoo, cleanser, or toner into small leak-proof bottles, or take a tube designed for travel such as the 75ml Jermyn Street Shaving Cream Tube. Squeeze air out before sealing. Common mistake: filling bottles to the brim, which forces liquid out when the cap is pressed.
- 3. Add the shaving core: Pack one cream, one brush, and one razor. A small or medium pure badger brush fits a weekend bag better than a large knot, and it still lifts stubble for a close shave. Checkpoint: the brush should sit flat, not bent, inside the bag.
- 4. Protect against leaks: Place all liquids and creams upright in a single zip pouch inside the washbag. Keep that pouch sealed and separate from dry items. Common mistake: laying tubes sideways against clothing, where a loose cap can stain fabric.
- 5. Pack the fragile and wet items last: Put a small towel, if you take one, and any wet brush on top or in an outside pocket. Never seal a damp brush against dry clothes. Checkpoint: shake the closed bag gently; if you hear loose items sliding, repack so nothing presses on the brush.
- 6. Do a final zip test: Close the bag without forcing it. If you have to press down to zip, remove one item rather than compressing everything. Next step: unpack and dry the brush fully as soon as you get home.
Products that earn their place in a weekend washbag
- Jermyn Street Shaving Cream Tube 75ml: Jermyn Street Collection shaving cream is allergen-free and specially formulated for sensitive skin; the 75ml tube is ideal for home or travel. A tube format packs flat and the sensitive-skin formula removes the risk of a new cream irritating your face mid-trip.
- Traditional Pure Badger Shaving Brush: Handmade in England in imitation ivory, this pure badger brush creates a rich lather and gently lifts hair and stubble; available in S, M, L, and XL with knot sizes from Ø17mm to Ø24mm. Choosing a smaller knot size keeps the brush compact in a weekend bag without giving up lather quality.
- Super Badger Mach3 Edwardian Shaving Set (individual items): Individual replacement items for Edwardian shave sets: Gillette Mach3 razor, super badger brush, and stylish chrome stand, in imitation ivory or black. You can pack only the razor and brush for travel and leave the stand at home, and replace one worn item instead of the whole set.
