Grace D. Plunk: I Took the NO STINK Challenge

I’m working with Microban on this post. Thanks for supporting RER.

Hello! How’s it going? Over here it’s going nice and hot. Just like I like it.

But we should talk about the ~~elephant~~ skunk in the room…. me.

I don’t really excel in many things. But if I were to ever win a world record for something it would be one of the following:

Run Eat Repeat’s Potential List of World Records:

1. LOUDEST Redheaded Mexican

2. Most watermelon consumed in a lifetime

3. Smelliest sweat

Today we’re talking about #3 – how I somehow manage to smell so bad my running clothes smell even after a good wash. Yes, I’ve tried the fancy sports laundry detergents that are supposed to combat smells. The have helped a tiny bit, but it almost seems like they mask the smell and it comes back.

So, I was very interested when someone from Microban reached out and asked me to try a running top made from their Microban Odor Control Technology. Basically – this workout gear WON’T SMELL.

Ummmm… Challenge Accepted.

I was skeptical and actually told my contact on the phone that I smell. She was fully confident the shirt she would send me would not smell even after a few days of running in it and NOT washing it.

I started to laugh when she added, “As long as you’re not training for a marathon or anything like that… you should be fine and it won’t smell.”

I’m not officially training for a specific race but I am training to run a marathon in the fall. So my mileage is fairly high and it’s summer. I wasn’t sure this would work!

She sent me a short sleeve tech tee made of 100% Polyester treated with Microban’s ZPTech and Scentry Technology.

Microban isn’t a brand of workout gear – they work with companies who sell those clothes. The company works with more than 250 partner companies, including many iconic international brands, including Fila®, Puma®, Calvin Klein®, Teva®, Reebok®, Terramar Sports®, New Balance®, Spanx®, Under Armour®, Hook& Tackle® and 5.11 Tactical®.

I wore the shirt for 3 runs and 1 strength training session.

It was HOT on my runs and I definitely got the shirt sweaty. After a run I usually throw my sweaty running gear in the hamper. Since I would be wearing this again I put it on the towel rack in the bathroom one time and left it on the sink another time. I didn’t make a big effort to ‘air it out’ by hanging it up.

After four sweaty workouts I left it on top of a dresser in my closet. This wasn’t for any specific reason other than – I’m lazy. I needed to write this post before washing it so I could double check if it smelled after a day or two.

Did the Microban shirt smell after 4 sweaty workouts and NO washing or hanging to dry / air out?

No.

Not at all. Seriously. This was extra surprising to me because I smelled myself after one of the runs in the shirt and my underarm situation was not pleasant.

I asked Vegas to confirm the shirt didn’t smell so he could back up this claim, but he was too busy rolling around on the bed. So you’re going to have to take my word for it.

I’m impressed with the fact that the shirt didn’t smell after all those workouts and kinda being thrown in a pile. I’m definitely going to look for this in other gear.

You can get running and workout gear that won’t stink too! They work with so many different companies your favorite running brand might already offer clothes with this technology. Look for shoes, apparel and other workout gear with Microban Odor Control Technology (sometimes it’s in the product description or details).