Smelly hellys

[sbrt]

Anyone know how to stop Hellys from geting too smelly.

Sometimes I have to wash my Hellys more than once to get the smell out of them Is there a pre-wash or some way to prevent this.

P.S. I dont usually have BO problems, honest.

[nikalas]

Has always been a problem with synthetic base layers that, although antibacterial treatment has helped, has never been completely sorted. Once the pong is there, getting rid of it is almost impossible. Go down the natural route, merino and silk baselayers, as they're far less prone to nasty niffs.

[Splatcher]

I think Nik's right - the only way to get rid of the ponk is to burn it to ashes. Most of my synthetic layers don't get too smelly, but when one does, I usually end up binning it.

[Hes]

I've had my Patagonia base layer top for over 10 years and its my favourite (I've travelled around the world in it and done masses of runs wearing it) but it does get a bit smelly now and again. I recently bought a helly and that was smelly after one day of running and I don't get BO either so I reckon their nickname is justified. My advice is to embrace the smelliness and just run far away from anyone or with smellier helly wearers so that you smell sweet in comparison. Anyway, its all part and parcel of being a fell runner.:wink:

Anyone know how to stop Hellys from geting too smelly.

Sometimes I have to wash my Hellys more than once to get the smell out of them Is there a pre-wash or some way to prevent this.

P.S. I dont usually have BO problems, honest.

[Hanneke]

I am with Nik on this too... all my gradually smelly synthetic baselayers have been binned as they got smelly and been replaced by merino. Thin merino is even good in summer and none of my merino baselayers have ever ponged! Some are about 10 years oold now, if not older... My first ones were bought in New Zealand, before they arrived here...

[Hes]

I've got some Smartwool merino base layers and they are really good but I save them for general use because they don't smell and cost a lot and I use my smelly ones for running. Perhaps I should rethink my fellrunning etiquette!

I am with Nik on this too... all my gradually smelly synthetic baselayers have been binned as they got smelly and been replaced by merino. Thin merino is even good in summer and none of my merino baselayers have ever ponged! Some are about 10 years oold now, if not older... My first ones were bought in New Zealand, before they arrived here...

[Martyn P]

I think Nik's right - the only way to get rid of the ponk is to burn it to ashes. Most of my synthetic layers don't get too smelly, but when one does, I usually end up binning it.

I've got a couple of hellys that no amount of washing will remove the smell from. A mate has told me (seriously) that rinsing them in water with a hefty splash of white vinegar will get rid of the smell. I don't know if I can be bothered, but that's the story!

[Twister]

Best to tackle the root cause of any problem. Go natural - no soap - just wash with water (apart from hands for obvious hygiene reasons you need soap) but everything else, just water, scrub as if you are using soap. It takes about 3 months and you don't get B.O. any more. Only the occasional swipe of a pit rock stick is necessary 1-2 times a week. I gave up soap over two years ago and my partner will testify that its made me and my hellys smell better. (actually the helly still smells a bit but nothing as bad as that acrid stale sweat smell that it used to have - and it no longer stands up on its own).

Another factor for me at least could be that I gave up wheat and refined sugar about a year and a half ago along the lines of the paleo style diet.

I don't work in an office or on a pig farm though. There maybe exceptions based on environment.

[Martyn P]

Best to tackle the root cause of any problem. Go natural - no soap - just wash with water (apart from hands for obvious hygiene reasons you need soap) but everything else, just water, scrub as if you are using soap. It takes about 3 months and you don't get B.O. any more. Only the occasional swipe of a pit rock stick is necessary 1-2 times a week. I gave up soap over two years ago and my partner will testify that its made me and my hellys smell better. (actually the helly still smells a bit but nothing as bad as that acrid stale sweat smell that it used to have - and it no longer stands up on its own).

Another factor for me at least could be that I gave up wheat and refined sugar about a year and a half ago along the lines of the paleo style diet.

I don't work in an office or on a pig farm though. There maybe exceptions based on environment.

I've heard this several times before, however I can tell you it doesn't work for everyone - it all comes down to your personal physiology. When I was in the navy I worked on nuclear submarines and we were not allowed to use a lot of personal hygiene products because it damaged the atmosphere (there were lots of other things banned, shoe polish, talc, marker pens etc). Loads of guys tried the au naturel route and most just ended up smellier than before. A nuclear sub is already a fairly crap place to be, this made it a lot worse ......

[sbrt]

Thanks for all the replies.

I am not sure about merino. I like it for walking, camping etc but am not keen on running in wool.

I may try a bamboo or coconut based layer but I do still love my hellys.