Technical T Shirt odour

Yes I know but, this has been puzzling me for some time.

I have a range of technical T shirts, the wicking ones.

Quality varies. I have a couple of nice quality ones I use for races or longer runs, and I have some mid price and some of the freebies picked up at races.

After a while, I can detect the whiff of BO within a minute of putting them on, so I get shut. I'm sure most running blokes are in the same boat.
It's as if the body heat activates the remnants of some microbes.
Some wash well and have been going for years and show no adverse signs.

The puzzle - I have about 3 of them that release the smell of honey. I put one on today, a Darwen Gala Fell race freebie.
Within 2-3 minutes of setting off, that slight hint of honey smell started playing around my nostrils.

Am I alone?

I suspect I am :D

Yep, I think you’re alone, all I get is eau de polecat, my running kit lives in the garage for this very reason, interestingly Mrs DTR doesn’t appear to smell at all and will quite happily bod along without raising a bead of sweat while I do a great impression of Niagara Falls

My wife always complains about the smell from my shoes when I've been running. Maybe my T-shirts aren't a problem because they aren't technical. :confused:

Now they would be called technical, but when I first started wearing Helly Hansen Lifa in the early eighties they absolutely stank, or at least I did. They used to be called, and sometimes still are Smelly Helly's.
Still a great bit of kit with or without the "technical" sales pitch bollocks.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Llani Boy

Now they would be called technical, but when I first started wearing Helly Hansen Lifa in the early eighties they absolutely stank, or at least I did. They used to be called, and sometimes still are Smelly Helly's.
Still a great bit of kit with or without the "technical" sales pitch bollocks.

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Guaranteed to cut the nipples clear off a ya if I recall, my mother always used to try to iron my long sleeved one, hence it was like a melted string vest :D

I buy the cheap ones from Mountain Warehouse. I find no problem with them as long as they're washed after each use.

"Smelly Helly" - yes, we all put up with that. They always have that well known pungent aroma, particularly around the wrists (long sleeved variety). A bit of Domestos in with the wash helps (but not completely).

But if you think Helly Lifa's bad after a run, you want to try going on a caving expedition in a remote area, where washing isn't an option. Eau de dead polecat.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Daletownrunner

Yep, I think you’re alone, all I get is eau de polecat, my running kit lives in the garage for this very reason, interestingly Mrs DTR doesn’t appear to smell at all and will quite happily bod along without raising a bead of sweat while I do a great impression of Niagara Falls

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Same with MrsWP. It's as if she hasn't any pores :D

I too experience smelly running tops. Mrs Noel is particularly vexed about this when I return from a run and try to stand in the kitchen for a few minutes.

I've heard wool is less smelly, but that doesn't help much if you're looking for something to wear when it's hot.

On the subject of smelly shoes, I spray my lunchtime running shoes (which I keep in our shared office at work) with athletes foot spray and that really does the trick. So I conclude the smelly stuff in smelly shoes must be fungal.

https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/webapp/...2825-washes%29

Long link but worth trying. It works (perhaps used along side normal products)

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Originally Posted by Derby Tup

https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/webapp/...2825-washes%29

Long link but worth trying. It works (perhaps used along side normal products)

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Have used this for some time - it works.

I just tend to apologise to folk if they’re not runners and I stop to chat with my kit on, amazingly I don’t reckon that I smelt the same when I raced bikes, the wind must blow the scent off, I have followed the occasional polecat in a peloton but not too often, I did once have the delight of being head down in a line out into the wind, we were proper hugging the kerb when I thought it had started to rain, but no it was the fella in front, peeing through his shorts without moving out of the line, lovely :rolleyes:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Daletownrunner

I just tend to apologise to folk if they’re not runners and I stop to chat with my kit on, amazingly I don’t reckon that I smelt the same when I raced bikes, the wind must blow the scent off, I have followed the occasional polecat in a peloton but not too often, I did once have the delight of being head down in a line out into the wind, we were proper hugging the kerb when I thought it had started to rain, but no it was the fella in front, peeing through his shorts without moving out of the line, lovely :rolleyes:

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You seem to have numerous salty experiences DTR! Any more you can share?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Llani Boy

You seem to have numerous salty experiences DTR! Any more you can share?

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Ironically LB my Great Grandfather was a midlands saltboiler so it’s in the blood ;)

Nikwax base layer wash with an eco version of Nappysan seems to get rid of the pong for me.

Make sure you're washing them right - non-bio, and no fabric softener. Don't leave them lying around damp - dry after use even if you're not washing them straight away. If the smell has taken hold, try Dettol antibacterial wash.
As for the honey smell, I have no idea!

I'm just discovering how bad these 'technical' shirts are, or at least mine. I've always run in old cotton t-shirts and nver had a problem with smell, even if not washed for a few runs. I've recently started wearing a techincal one (admittedly a freebie so maybe not top quality). It stinks to high heaven after just one short run! Back to the old cotton maybe.