The funk

[BillyBob58]

I wouldn't go as far as saying expect it. I have used my TQ for over a year and a half now and not washed it yet, it doesn't smell at all, and no, it's not that I'm use to the smell. I just don't have bad BO. Everybody is different, some people just naturally put of more BO than others. I knew a guy in HS that could run up & back on the basketball court and smelled to high heaven. It was just his body.

[Edit] By the way Taylo, I'm not saying you naturally smell more than others, it could also have been something you ate. Just ask anyone who likes ramps or garlic.

I agree. None of my down items stink, except for some- and some hammocks- that seem to get a slight wet dog smell if they get a little damp. But even that is gone as soon as they are completely dry.

Then again, I don't much hike in hot weather. None the less, in the past I used to stink to high heaven after a few days on the trail, hot weather or not. But have you tried either Merino or Alpaca wool underwear/socks, or silver impregnated synthetic underwear or thin sock liners? When I use these, I do not have any "can't stand myself" experiences at all. The difference is dramatic.

On my last trip hiking in the Sawtooths end of August, after several days of sweaty hiking, my socks (Alpaca) and clothing(merino) did not stink. True I did wash up once or twice, but still I hiked and sweated all day in these clothes.

But when I used to hike in Polypropylene long johns, and later other synthetics and regular wool socks, it was disgusting.

[wisenber]

I talked to the shuttle driver that picked me up on this trip. He said generally, the hikers who have been on the trail the longest smell the least. It's the new ones who haven't sweated out their bad diet yet that stink the worst.

Having seen what they eat, I think they pretty much replenish whatever bad diet they had before starting.

[USMCStang]

I've found the a wipedown with a wet handkerchief, clean clothes to sleep in, and a few hours by a campfire signifigantly reduces or eliminates any hiking funk for me.

I generally don't change into clean clothes until after I've set up camp and had a meal...it gives time for by body to cool down and my sweat to mostly dry up.

The thinking man's alternative is to never bathe, even at home, then it's ALWAYS day 6.

[taylo]

The thinking man's alternative is to never bathe, even at home, then it's ALWAYS day 6.

Best idea yet

[nothermark]

I wonder what happened to the 3 sets of underwear so you could wash one and let it dry and have a spare idea. Ditto change of clothes and a set of long underwear for sleeping. Amazing what a pint of warm water, some soap and a bandanna can do for you.

[Knotty]

I has this corpsy foot in my bag after 8 days in the Linville Gorge.
True....you do quit smelling except for the occasional waft on a roll-over in the TQ.
Shug o'Stink

Shouldn't there be a toe tag on there and a bunch of CSI guys poking around?

[The Wolf in a Hammock]

Those disposable ear plugs work great if you put them in your nostrils at night

[FLRider]

Shouldn't there be a toe tag on there and a bunch of CSI guys poking around?

CSI: LVG?

Maybe we could get MacEntyre to play the smarter-than-everyone lead investigator......

[Caribou Bentspoke]

I has this corpsy foot in my bag after 8 days in the Linville Gorge.
True....you do quit smelling except for the occasional waft on a roll-over in the TQ.
Shug o'Stink

Reminds me of the feet that keep turning up on a beach in British Columbia.

[body942]

+1 on deoderant (my old thread HERE
+1 on bathing, at least every other day
+1 on evening wipe down (LOVE the minty freshness of Doc Brommer's on my steamy trail towel)
+1 on cleanish, smokey bedtime clothes.

I sweat, ALOT, but I don't get particularly funky.