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Prevent Sweat Stink in Expedition Gear

You’ve just invested in a top-tier expedition jacket. It’s lightweight, breathable, and built to withstand the elements. Yet after your first week-long trek, it’s nearly unwearable due to persistent odour. It’s a frustrating problem many adventurers face: expensive high-performance gear ruined by stink.

While the exact number of those affected is unclear, anecdotal evidence suggests that a significant minority struggle with persistent odour in synthetic gear despite regular cleaning. This variation stems largely from differences in individual sweat chemistry and the bacterial composition on the body.

However, with the right approach to hygiene and care, you can keep your clothing fresh and functional for years. Here’s how to protect your valuable expedition clothing from sweat odour.

Posing on a glacier serac: sweat is inevitable, stink doesn’t have to be! (Author in the orange jacket.)

Personal Hygiene: The Foundation of Odour Control

Sweat is odourless. The characteristic smell emerges when bacteria break down compounds in sweat. Effectively managing these bacteria prevents the development of long-term odours.

Daily Routines: Building a Strong Defence

  1. Cut Armpit Hair Shorter armpit hair reduces the surface area where bacteria flourish. Use a trimmer to maintain neatness. Complete shaving is fortunately not necessary.
  2. Wash Daily with Antibacterial Products Use a tea tree-based body wash under your arms during every shower. Tea tree oil provides natural antibacterial properties that help reduce odour-causing bacteria.
  3. Daily Deodorant Strategy For everyday wear, choose a microbiome-supporting deodorant roll-on every evening. I’m using Nuud, which I can strongly recommend for its unique formula using microsilver and zinc oxide to neutralise bacteria for extended periods. These deodorants avoid harsh ingredients like aluminium chloride or alcohol, and support skin health by maintaining balance in your microbiome.

Preparation starts at home: maintaining a simple yet effective hygiene routine, like trimming and washing with antibacterial products, lays the groundwork for a fresh expedition.

Before Expeditions: Special Preparations

  1. 14 Days Before: Switch to Nuud. If not already using Nuud, replace your regular deodorant with Nuud two weeks before an expedition. Its formula neutralises odour-causing bacteria for 3–7 days per application. Apply every 3–4 days during this period to establish maximum effectiveness.
  2. 7 Day Before: OPTIONAL Use Hibiscrub. For those who need a deep bacterial reset, Hibiscrub is a medical-grade chlorhexidine wash designed to eliminate bacteria completely. Use it sparingly—only in heavy sweat-prone areas, like armpits, maximum once or twice per year. Avoid using it if you have sensitive or dry skin, or if you shave your armpits, as it will cause irritation. Rinse thoroughly to prevent residue, and avoid getting in your eyes, ears or near sensitive skin.
  3. Post-Hibiscrub Care: Hibiscrub wipes out all bacteria—good and bad. To help rebuild your skin’s natural defences, apply a probiotic cream or deodorant like Evolve Pure Prebiotic Roll-On immediately after rinsing. These products encourage the regrowth of beneficial bacteria, restoring balance and preparing your skin for Nuud’s ongoing protection.

Why It Works

  1. Tea Tree Oil: Breaks down odour-causing bacteria without disrupting good bacteria. Its natural antimicrobial properties target harmful strains while maintaining skin health.
  2. Microsilver and Zinc (Nuud): Neutralise odour-causing bacteria by disrupting their cell walls and converting sweat compounds into odourless salts. The non-nano silver particles in Nuud remain on the skin’s surface, ensuring they don’t penetrate the body. This provides lasting protection without compromising safety.
  3. Chlorhexidine (Hibiscrub): Eliminates bacteria entirely, providing a clean slate before expeditions. This ensures that odour does not start during critical activities. The medical-grade formula offers thorough cleansing when it matters most.

Safety Considerations

  1. Microsilver and Zinc in Nuud: The non-nano-sized particles remain safely on the skin’s surface, making them suitable for regular use. These particles are too large to penetrate the skin barrier or enter the bloodstream. Zinc oxide, widely used in skincare and sunscreens, has no known long-term health risks when applied topically.
  2. Chlorhexidine in Hibiscrub: While highly effective, chlorhexidine can cause dryness or irritation if overused or applied to broken skin. Using it sparingly and only once before expeditions minimises the risk of dry skin while maximising its antibacterial benefits. This targeted approach provides protection when needed most.
  3. Probiotic Recovery with Evolve: Using a prebiotic product like Evolve after Hibiscrub helps restore the skin’s natural microbiome, replenishing beneficial bacteria while avoiding irritation. Its gentle formulation is ideal for recovering skin balance post-Hibiscrub.

Where to Get It

For my fellow Norwegian adventurers, I strongly recommend Karma as a both physical and online store that stocks a wide range of eco-friendly products and offers quick shipping. For international readers, Nuud and Evolve are available from their respective official websites, ensuring access to authentic products worldwide.

Clothing Care: Preventing Odour Build-Up

Drying out gear at basecamp: proper airing between wears is key to keeping bacteria and odour at bay during expeditions.

Expedition clothing requires special care to prevent odour from embedding in the fabrics. Sweat and bacteria can be remarkably stubborn, especially in synthetic layers, requiring specific treatment approaches beyond regular washing. Regular washing alone often provides a false sense of security. While your gear might smell fresh when cool, body heat quickly reactivates bacteria embedded in the fabric fibres. This can release odours within minutes of wearing—even before you begin to sweat.

Pre-Expedition Preparation

Pre-wash your clothing with technical gear detergent like Grangers Active Wash. These specialised cleaners target body oils and bacteria without compromising technical properties. The careful formulation preserves your gear’s breathability and water-repellent finishes, maintaining essential performance features. Unlike regular detergents, technical cleaners protect DWR (Durable Water Repellent) coatings and prevent membrane clogging in waterproof-breathable fabrics.

During Expeditions

Air out garments overnight in well-ventilated areas whenever conditions allow. This prevents bacteria multiplication in damp conditions. In humid or extreme weather, where airing isn’t feasible, pack quick-drying, odour-resistant layers like merino wool to mitigate bacterial growth.

Deep Cleaning

Every few months, soak heavy rotation synthetic layers in white vinegar and water (1:4 ratio) for thirty minutes to eliminate persistent bacteria. Then, wash them with a technical detergent.

Minimise Wool Washing

Avoid over-washing merino wool garments. Instead, air them out regularly to maintain their antibacterial properties and extend their lifespan.

Storage Solutions

Proper storage between expeditions preserves gear condition and prevents odour development:

  1. Clean Before Storage Always wash and thoroughly dry gear before long-term storage. This prevents bacteria from developing during inactive periods.
  2. Climate Control Store in a cool, dry environment away from direct sunlight. Use moisture-absorbing sachets in humid climates. This protects technical fabrics from environmental damage.
  3. Air Circulation Hang items with space between them to maintain airflow. Avoid compressed storage in stuff sacks, which can trap moisture and encourage bacterial growth.
  4. Seasonal Transitions Before storing seasonal gear, perform a deep clean and ensure complete drying. This preparation maintains gear quality between uses.

Choosing the Right Fabrics

Merino wool in its element: naturally odour-resistant and perfect for staying fresh on multi-day expeditions, even in the toughest conditions.

Merino Wool: Natural Odour Protection

Merino wool, featured in brands like Brynje and Devold, provides natural antibacterial properties. Its complex fibre structure creates a hostile environment for bacteria. The microscopic scales on wool fibres trap bacteria within their structure, preventing them from multiplying and producing odour. Additionally, wool’s natural lanolin content provides antimicrobial properties. These features combine to maintain freshness throughout multi-day expeditions, even in challenging conditions.

Synthetic Fabrics: Managing Quick-Dry Materials

Synthetic materials like polyester excel in moisture management, drying significantly faster than natural fibres. However, their smooth fibre structure creates an ideal environment for odours. The microscopic spaces between synthetic fibres trap sweat and skin cells, providing perfect conditions for bacterial growth. These materials require vigilant care to prevent odour retention. Pair synthetic layers with consistent washing routines and proper airing to maximise their quick-drying benefits while minimising odour build-up.

Real-Life Lesson: From Stink to Success

Before my three-week MASSIV hike a few years back, I invested in a top-of-the-line Fjällräven jacket. Its G-1000 material and Greenland wax finish made it breathable and waterproof, an ideal companion for mountain trekking. However, without proper preventive measures, unpleasant odours built up quickly over the weeks, leaving the jacket unsalvageable.

Fast forward to now: My Brynje Expedition jacket is still going strong after three years of heavy use. The difference? I adopted the hygiene and clothing care routine outlined here. By managing bacteria and odour properly, I’ve extended the life of my expensive gear while staying reasonably fresh on even the most challenging adventures.

In Conclusion

Through diligent personal hygiene, informed fabric selection, and proper maintenance, your technical gear can remain fresh and functional throughout demanding expeditions.

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Gunnar Florus Mountaineer