Stewing in your own juices

Cotton shirt?

Dietary habits are a big factor in body odor. I'm not sure if any clothing will stop this fully. The smell comes form bacteria living in the fabric that come from you to begin with. A synthetic made with silver may help counteract the bacteria growth for the short term but will smell after awhile.

Synthetics stink because they retain the odor from previous wearings. You cannot wash it all out either – it is in there, waiting for your body heat to activate the stench once again.

Simply put, unless the fabric has silver or other technology to stop BO, it ain't going to happen in synthetic clothing.

I say don't worry about it – unless sniffing your arm pits is labeled a weapon of massive destruction ;-)

I now just get new shirts yearly (I don't wear AP when hiking so my shirts get bad)

Or you buy a wool blend or silver blend….

PS: In summer I just carry a ul cotton tank top to sleep in. It doesn't reek and I don't all sweaty in it while sleeping.

Hi Brett

> I am using Crystal stick deodorant along with Burt's Bees spray deodorant

Forgive me, but er-yuk.

How about skipping all these chemicals which only try to block your body from its natural healthy process of sweating, and just have a quick rinse before settling down for the evening? Sure, feels pretty grim for a few seconds, but you feel a whole lot better afterwards!

Yes, both my wife and I do this, even in very cold weather. Even been known to jump into the creek – briefly.

Cheers

Currently, here in Houston, it's hot and humid. I wear a Smartwool Microweight T or Icebreaker Tech T Lite for running/walking for exercise. They work fine, feel drier then synthetic shirts (even when soaked with sweat), and don't smell. I find them more comfortable than any synthetic T I have ever used, even in the heat and humidity.

Caffin +1, again. I fully concur.

Not shirt in the world will make you not feel 105 degrees. Or 100. Hot's hot. I vote for the synthetic with silver.

wool and washing up and nylon seems to do better than poly and capeline.

IMHO, just about the worst thing you can do is lather yourself daily with chemicals — then quit 'cold turkey' when you hike — and foolishly expect not to stink!

Very few people truly need to use deodorants. The vast majority of users have simply fallen prey to ad campaigns. A much more sensible way is simply to skip the chemicals altogether, and simply bathe more often. You might try decreasing the usage in stages while increasing the frequency of bathing — then simply bathe once a day or every other day — when your body has strengthened its natural bacteria-fighting ability — an innate ability that's likely dulled down over the years by your daily chemicals usage!

Once you have weaned yourself from daily deodorants — you may find yourself not stinking much when on the trail (esp. when combined with bathing in rivers/streams). Also, you may find that when you use deodorants "as an assist" ONLY when on the trail — and not on a daily basis — they may be that much more effective.

Often, LESS IS MORE. Makes more sense to try taking away deodorants and let your body do what it's designed to do — versus allowing chemicals to dull down your body's natural defenses — then add yet another layer of technology (e.g. buying garments with silvered threads)…

I never use it, occasionally I dab on some cologne as I step out the door, but I keep a close eye on my stink-o-meter too… I don't like to stink, I hate polypro. I spent three days in that stuff and couldn't tolerate myself.

Roger….Crystal stick deodorant along with Burt's Bees spray deodorant are not antiperspirants. They are natural deodorants, with the crystal one being a hunk of whatever out of the ground.

They are both pretty far from being chemical stews as they go.

My experience is pretty much the same as others who have commented on this thread. Once the temp is >85F, especially with high humidity, there is really nothing that will be "comfortable". The best solution to smell is some form of bath when you have finished for the day and skip the chemicals.

As to what shirts… the best I have found was a Terramar Micro Mesh Tee because it's more air permeable than anything else I have tried while still protecting me from sunburn, doesn't smell *worse* than I do thanks to VisaEndurance (silver), wicks well, dries quickly, and was cheap.

I would also note that shirt color (or the ColdBlack treatment) can make a big difference when you are in the sun.

–mark

Okay,

1. Anti-perspirants clog your sweat glands. Not really deodorants and not the stuff I use.

2. Crystal Stick and the Burt's Bees stuff is pretty much chemical free or as close as you can get without rubbing yourself with patchouli.

3. I have changed my diet up so that I only drink water, milk, craft/homebrew beer and sometimes tea with maybe one can of caffeine free soda once or twice a week. Working on the foods.

4. The quick rinse and shower idea is good but what do I do for the other 10+ hours and want to stop off in a town?

Thanks for all the info. I was just wondering if there were shirts out there that help mitigate the heat more than others and it seems like people do have their favorites. I think silver blend is what I am having to go to but it is hard to find something in a XL Tall. Medalist might be long enough. Or buying a really thin and cheap white cotton T but I would like stuff to do double duty if I can. I am also going to try to track down a cheap thin wool T that might fit and see how that goes also. I am already using nylon and wool so maybe a synthetic will round it out. And don't worry, I am going with white.

Now Mark, what is the actual model of the Terramar called?

I think part of being happy in the outdoors involves an adjustment in thinking, of expectations. Each to their own, but I mostly just don't worry about it. Smell however I smell on the trail, folks adjust their sense of what's normal after a few days out. I carry a scentless wetwipe to clean up a bit before going back to ~civilization (especially handy if you hope to hitch a ride …).

> actual model of the Terramar called?

It was called the Micro Mesh Tee. Looks like it has been discontinued. The "pioneer crew" looks the closest by the description… but I thought my shirt was more than UPF 15. I have burned in UPF 15 shirts, but haven't burned in my Micro Mesh Tee.

–Mark

If it's hot enough that just about everyone is taking off every piece of clothing possible, no, there's nothing you could put on that would cool you off.

I realize and accept that I'll be sweaty and hot, and am quite happy in a wool 2 (150-ish weight merino). Great for the anti-stink, soft, real nice piece.

Cheers-

Hi Brett

> Crystal Stick and the Burt's Bees stuff is pretty much chemical free or as close as

Ahhh… EVERYTHING is a chemical. Salt, water, oxygen, and even Crystal Stick. EVERYTHING. About the only thing which is 'chemical-free' is a hard vacuum.

No, I am not being pedantic. If you are going to use scientific terms like 'chemical' then you need to also abide by the scientific meaning. No weasel words.

Cheers

>EVERYTHING is a chemical.<

Thanks Roger. If you hadn't said it I would have.

It is presently 106F (41.11C) here is south Texas as 6:30 p.m. Being just inland from the Gulf of Mexico, I can talk about "hot and humid."

I've recently taken to using an aluminized umbrella for my travels outdoors. Carrying your own shade really helps. It is still hot, but I find it cuts the edge off the heat a little.

Just a thought.

-Mark

A long sleeved, loose fitting and loose weave cotton shirt will keep you cooler than any synthetic T-shirt in short or long sleeved. The field workers here wear them all day long in our daily 100+ degree weather and manage to survive the summers working 12 hour days under full sun.

Think Middle Eastern type clothing, the fashions came from function.

Benjamin is spot on in regards to deoderant. I weened myself off using the crystal and now I use nothing. I hardly smell at all even when sweating all day long. Occasionally have to wipe down with a wet towel but it sure beats having goop in my pits.

I HIGHLY recommend UnderArmor Heat Gear. It's basically the same thing as wearing nothing at all, but you still get the sun protection. It's kind of rubbery and does get a bit of a funk, but many of my syntehtics are worse. The best part is that it dries in minutes so you can wash it a lot.

Mine started to fall apart after 300 miles, but it was worth it. Worked great in the Sierra, but a looser syntehtic shirt that can still hold sweat is better in the desert.

Benjamin is spot on in regards to deoderant. I weened myself off using the crystal and now I use nothing. I hardly smell at all even when sweating all day long. Occasionally have to wipe down with a wet towel but it sure beats having goop in my pits

Good for you, Dustin! It never ceases to amaze me just how darn easy it is for Madison Ave. to get people to spend money on stuff that they don't need at all — simply by scaring them into thinking they do! 98% of folks really can (and should) wean themselves off deodorants.

Next mission: Get people to stop wasting money on bottled water!

A quick search on google came up with a possible alternative, Bamboo fabric (don't laugh), dependant on the mix it has the following properties, feels like cashmere, cool in summer, warm in winter, eco freindly, highly UV resistant (90%>), fast drying and oudor free (as much as merino). Plus it's aroud the same price as merino products, I've got some trunk briefs and Tee's on the way for use at work (boilerhouses + papermills – VERY HOT and HUMID conditions).
http://www.ShirtstOfBamboo.com came up on google if your interested, a long sleeved shirt for $30, not bad.

But I am one of those people that do need a deodorant. It is not that is truly horrible but I am noticeably musky by the end of the day. Even moreso when it is warm. The crystal stick really doesn't even cut it for me but I use it because it is the least toxic option for me.

That is why I ruled out cotton as something to go to when it is warm because while it may be slightly cooler to wear it, it does nothing for odor.

I ordered one of the Terramar shirts as per Mark's suggestion to see how it preforms. While that is going on I am still trying to screw up the courage to take my Wool 3 longsleeve out in 90F+ temps to see how it does.