Your Base Layer Smells. Here's What Actually Works

Picture this: day three of a week-long training camp. You're sharing a tent with three other people. Everyone's wearing the same two polyester base layers they packed. By now, the smell is… let's just say you're all very aware of each other.

I've been there. Standard-issue gear is almost always polyester, nylon, spandex, or some blend of all three. And after a day or two of sweating through hot days and damp, chilly nights, those shirts start to reek. There's no getting around it. You're stuck with that stench – yours and everyone else's – until you can finally get to a washing machine.

Same goes for any multi-day trip. Hiking, bikepacking, traveling light – it doesn't matter. If you're wearing synthetic base layers and you can't wash them, you're going to smell. And so is everyone around you.

What Actually Works

Here's what changed things for me: merino wool.

I know, I know – "odour resistance" sounds like marketing talk. But this actually works. Merino doesn't hold onto smell the way synthetics do. You can wear it multiple days in a row, through sweat and grime, and it stays fresh. Not perfect, but way better than anything else I've tried.

That means more comfort for you. More comfort for the people next to you in the tent, on the trail, or sitting beside you on a long bus ride. And honestly? That matters.

Pack Less, Stay Fresh Longer

The other big win: you don't need to pack as much.

If you're doing a week-long trip and you want to feel halfway human, you'd normally need to bring a pile of shirts. With merino, two shirts will get you through that same week without a wash. You're not gross. You're not that person everyone avoids in the hostel common room.

For regular travelers, this is huge. You can pack a small cabin bag with two merino shirts and be set for a week. No checked luggage. No laundromat stops. Just pack light and go.

Why This Matters

Whether you're on a multi-day mission, a weekend in the mountains, or just trying to travel smarter, odour-resistant gear makes everything easier. You carry less. You stay comfortable longer. And you're not subjecting yourself – or anyone else – to that synthetic-shirt stench.

Merino isn't magic. It's just a tool that works in the field. And once you've tried it, it's hard to go back.

That's why we build everything at Hemcroft around merino. We've been there, we know what works, and we're not interested in selling you something that doesn't hold up when it counts. If you're ready to ditch the stench and pack lighter, check out our base layers – they're built for exactly this.