[at-l] Summer shirt

[StewartHolt@earthlink.net (Stewart Holt)]

How about summer pack straps?

My son and I were on the AT in NC, TN, and VA this summer and wore
coolmax shirts. After a week and a half, I started smelling an
acetic acid odor and quickly discovered it was coming from the
sweat soaked straps and being magnified and broadcast by the highly
efficient odor radiator (coolmax).  His straps were doing the same
thing. We had used these packs every summer for the last 6 years
without noticing this. This was the end of July and beginning of
August, it was in the high 90s in the valleys. It was the hotest I
have felt it on the trail!

When we got home we took off the straps and soaked and washed them
for a good while. I made a final rinse with baking soda, since
acetic acid seemed to be involved. This eliminated any detectable
odor from the straps. A few weeks ago, I hiked for 6 hours or so
and got pretty sweaty and the odor was beginning to come back. Does
anyone have any ideas of how to more permanently get rid of the
odor?

It could be a worse smell. It reminds me of my 15 years of almost
daily darkroom work. The idea to ignore it sounds good, but I would
rather eliminate this unusual odor.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Linda/Jan Benschop" <athummingbird@ellijay.com>
Newsgroups: local.at-l
Sent: Wednesday, November 13, 2002 7:13 PM
Subject: Re: [at-l] Summer shirt


> I am wondering if some vinegar would help in the wash.  A
combination of
> vinegar and baking soda was the only thing that worked for me
after a house
> fire and that horrible smoke smell.  Frankly, when I hike I just
stop caring
> about the odor.  Do other folks notice a stink?  Guess I just
have gotten
> used to it....which may NOT be a good thing.
>
> Hummingbird
>
>
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