Rundurance

A few weeks ago, I stumbled across a website that claimed it had created an “odor-eliminating technology.” Essentially it is a treatment for sports clothing that could make anyone stink-free.  This company is Agion Active and my interest was high.  Anyone that runs with me knows I sweat like a pig, and it’s not uncommon for my shirts to smell even before the run has started.   Too much information?

Agion’s customized antimicrobial solutions incorporate silver ions in a zeolite carrier. The silver ions exchange with other positive ions (often sodium) from the moisture in the environment, effecting a release of silver “on demand”.

The patented multi-faceted zeolite crystal carrier provides a three dimensional release mechanism (Figure 1) that provides efficient release of silver ions independent of particle orientation in the substrate.

Anyways, I’ve tried every type of detergent and sometimes I just can’t get the smell out.  I’ve tried special detergents that were designed specifically for runners and bikers, and even those have not successfully removed my sweaty stench.  Heck, I’ve even tried washing with vinegar and baking soda (I saw that on Runner’s World once).  I don’t recommend you bother with that.

So I contacted Stink At Nothing and asked for a free sample shirt to test out their product.  I promised an honest review on this site, and they were more than happy to oblige.  About a week later, I got my shirt in the mail.

I decided I would give this shirt the ultimate test.  I would wear it for 50 miles  running without washing it.  I live in Texas and it’s already above 90 degrees everyday, so this was a tall order.  I also decided to wear it in the sauna at my gym a few times, for extra measures.

The first thing I noticed when I recieved the shirt was the strange texture.  It wasn’t like most wicking shirts I’ve worn, or any running shirts in general. It was smoother, and felt a little plastic.  I immediately had my doubts.  Had I seen this in the store, I wouldn’t have purchased it.  But here it was, and I made a commitment to test it, so I went ahead with it.

My first run went well, about 10 miles of hills in some intense heat.  I went through about 40 oz. of water, and I sweated profusely the entire time.  To my amazement, the shirt did not smell bad at all.  I mean, if you stuck it up to your nose it didn’t smell like roses, but there was no noticeable stench that carried more than an inch or two. I left the shirt in my car until the next day, where I put in another 10 miles – this time on a treadmill.  I followed that up with 20 minutes in the sauna, where I really put this shirt to the test.  After that day, it smelled a little more.  But nothing like what most shirts would smell like at that point.

Over the next week, I continued to put the shirt to the test.  One thing I noticed was that the strange texture I noticed in the beginning was not bothersome at all.  There was no chafing, and the shirt stayed fairly cool in the heat.  I can’t say I loved the way the shirt felt, but it also caused no problems. After 50 miles of running over the next week, it was time for the final test.  I left the shirt in my car overnight, with the windows up.  The next morning I got inside and the car was surprisingly OK.  It did smell a bit, but nothing compared to when I’ve accidentally left gym clothes or running shoes in the car before.  The shirt smelled, but not overly bad.  I took it and washed it with regular detergent and it was as good as new.  My experience with most shirts is that once you let it get bad, washing never returns it to a fresh smell – but this time it did!

Overall, I give the shirt two thumbs up.  It did what they said it would, it eliminated odors.  It also held up to some intense heat, carried a lot of sweat on a couple of long runs, and gave me no chafing.