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Stink Test: 'Polygiene' T-Shirt TestMay 22, 2014, 11:50 am / Categories: Packs
By Steve Graepel
A Scandinavian company called Polygiene makes anti-stink treatment for synthetic fibers that it claims is
environmentally friendly and effective. To test it out, last month I pitched a sweat-soaked, Polygine-treated
shirt in my manky gym bag.
If it isn’t effective, we would soon find out.
Sweat doesn’t stink. It’s the odor-causing bacteria that does. The microorganisms hole up between the
fibers of our clothes while moisture is wicked away. Add oils and dirt, fabric softeners and detergents, and
workout clothes become a house of funk where bacteria can “reek” their havoc.
The author testing the Polygiene-treated La Sportiva Peak T-Shirt
The outdoor industry has been trying to bench the stench for a while with many anti-microbial options on
the market. Outdoor manufacturers know that to really prevent stink, you must stop bacteria from growing.
Both wool and silver have natural antibacterial properties. But for some people allergic to wool or others
who prefer the quick-drying properties of synthetics, silver, activated carbon and other treatments have
become common.
Unfortunately, silver can be environmentally caustic (through strip mining, leaching ore with low amounts
of cyanide, and arsenic emissions). Environmentally conscientious companies are looking at new ways to
harness the antimicrobial qualities of silver.
Silver chloride is one answer. The naturally occurring salt recycled from electronic parts is used by
Polygiene as an anti-stink treatment for synthetic fibers. It has slowly been making its way west into North
American markets.
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I’ve been wearing La Sportiva’s Polygiene treated Peak T-Shirt and, judging by my month-long gym bag
test, it works.
I wore the T-Shirt for 20 hours over two weeks without washing. I tested it on 3-hour runs, spinning,
mountain biking, weight lifting, and then I stuffed the shirt in a gym bag next to my funky shoes.
I appreciate my family for enduring the test, but thanks to Polygiene, they were none the wiser. I simply
aired out the shirt, gave it a sniff test, shrugged my shoulders and threw it in the gym bag, repeat.
The shirt never developed an odor. I was impressed.
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According to the company Polygiene silver salt is bonded to the fabric at the factory and won’t wash out
for the life of the garment. Because of the anti-stink properties, you can wear Polygiene fabrics longer
between washes — a good thing if you are days between a proper shower.
A side benefit is that garments last longer and less energy and water are used for laundering.
Polygiene is Bluesign-approved, which means it meets stringent requirements for textiles claiming to be
environmentally friendly and sustainable. It also doesn’t interact with the body’s own natural bacteria, the
brand states. And if the silver does somehow wash off, it naturally binds to sulfides, creating silver sulfide,
an inert compound that’s environmentally safe.
Polygiene odor control technology is available in clothing made by Outdoor Research, Arc’teryx, La
Sportiva, and Patagonia. If wool isn’t your bag, or you are partial to synthetic but fed up with the stench,
keep an eye out for the orange Polygiene logo.
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Stanley Law · · MilpitasI'm really curious if it acts as an anti-bacterial or acts a bacterial growth inhibitor.These two things sound the same but they're inherently different. Anti-Bacterials workby actually breaking down bacteria to impede growth. Anti-Bacterial properties, as weknow, aren't the end all and be all as bacteria can grow immunity/resistance to theseeffects. Bacterial growth inhibition, by removing a specific environmental growth factor,is different and something that bacteria cannot become resistant/immune to.
We do not need one more thing giving rise to drug resistant bacteria.
I'd rather go for a shirt that dries super fast and has some super wicking action thatpulls sweat away from my arm pits, and other sweat prone areas, to help it dry.Bacteria can't grow where it's dry, Bacteria can't grow where it's super cold, Bacteriacan't grow where it's super hot.Reply · Like · Follow Post · May 22 at 8:57pm
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Steve Graepel · Johns Hopkins-universiteitHowdy,
Good point - in enough doses, silver can be toxic to bacteria and there is someresearch that in not enough doses, bacteria can become resistant to silver.
Silver chloride, though, is naturally occurring salt (common in our water supplies) andas I understand it, inhibits the growth of bacteria.
Side note, I live in one of the drier climates in the lower 48 (12" of rain a year) and mysuper wicking clothes still rack up stink. Even if the fabric moves moisture quickly, aslong as you are sweating, its going to be a moist environment.Reply · Like · · Follow Post · May 22 at 11:30pm1
Jörg Löhken · · Top Commenter · Works at None of Your Fucking BusinessDo they also sell a spray or something similar, that can be applied to clothes nottreated before birth?Reply · Like · Follow Post · May 24 at 12:20am
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