Backpack cleaning/De-scenting

[stykbow67]

My new Kifaru Late Season showed up last week and I've been wearing it for my workouts to get it broke in and fitting just right. The problem is it's 90+ and high humidity so I sweat it up bad! I was thinking using a big plastic tote with luke warm water and some unscented soap and just hand washing and hanging it out to dry??? Any other thoughts or ideas??

Steve

[Lefty]

That how i was my pack

[POk3s]

I put my pack in the tub . Filled the tub with water and squirted some unscented liquid laundry detergent and then weighed down my pack. A tote will work just the same.

[cnelk]

Wash it in Baking Soda

[ElkNut1]

Interesting that folks worry about what their packs smell like? I've never washed a pack in my life, I have packs I've sweated in & packed countless deer & elk out with it, I've never cleaned a thing. I honestly believe some get too carried away & worry about trivial stuff. Keep the wind in your face & hunt. Your scent will dissipate in a matter of minutes as you move through areas plus there's just no way to eliminate the many odors that are around & on us. When the wind is bad back out do not put yourself into a bad situation where being winded will get you busted.

I know, I offered no cleaning tips! (grin)

ElkNut1

[>>>---WW---->]

I agree with Elknut 100%. If they can smell your pack, they can smell you. There is no such thing as cover scent!

Have you ever seen a roadkill skunk while driving? You may not smell a thing until you drive past it. It all depends on the direction of the wind. Same thing goes for your stinky pack. LOL!

When ever this subject comes up it always reminds me of a true story I once heard.

This guy was out hunting one day when he sighted a bear out in a meadow feeding on an old rotten elk carcus. The bear had his head buried in that rotten/stinking elk. The wind wasn't right but the hunter figured there was no way that bear could ever possibly smell him with his head buried in that rotten smelling thing. WRONG!!!!!!!!! As soon as the hunter stepped out in that meadow and got in the scent path, the bear raised his head and looked directly towards him.

It is truly amazing just how well animals can smell things. And even more amazing how they can discriminate between several different odors at the same time.

[Lefty]

,..... I honestly believe some get too carried away & worry about trivial stuff. Keep the wind in your face & hunt. ,.......

I understand Im an exception to the general archer elk hunter when it comes to scent control, ( and where and how I hunt too )
I dont take scent as a trivial On a trapping trip in a western state years back with a new partner he wore hip boots to make coyote/fox sets. We kept records. Our first checks he out produced me on fox and coyotes, after 4 days I wore boots.
As trappers we tried to increase tha scent plume for our trap set , placing lure up high and spacing sets Just the opposite with hunting, narrow the down wind scent plume and decrease the streagth

Keeping gear clean realy isnt that hard.

While I may lack expierince with only 4 years in archery hunting The number of big bulls that have been down wind 3, 18, 27, or 45, 60 yards and the litlle 6x6 that blew snot on me something is working. Yes Ive been busted too, I just belive extreem scent reduction it matters

[pointysticks]

i'd leave it alone until you get it bloody.

then soak it in lightly detergented (<<----betcha didnt know that was a word ) water. all i do after that is put my hose nozzle on "jet" and blast it as clean as i can. hang dry.

[cnelk]

If cleaning an item gives you a peace of mind regarding scent control, by all means do it.
It can only help and not hurt.

Hence the reason I wear clean socks and underwear.....

[pointysticks]

If cleaning an item gives you a peace of mind regarding scent control, by all means do it.
It can only help and not hurt.

Hence the reason I wear clean socks and underwear.....

clean socks AND underwear?? luxurious!

me, cleans socks or underwear.

just kidding..some good advice here. amazing how long it takes to dry out a pack..at least for me.

[POk3s]

I had never cleaned my pack either except spraying it down after using it as my "quartering table". BUT I had to send my pack into badlands and they told me I had to wash it lol. It still smells like bear, deer, and elk but I washed it so I hope they don't send it back with still blown out zippers!

[JGH]

Funny story:

This year's Spartan Race in Colorado Springs ... I took my usual do-all pack with a change of clothes.

Just in the gates of Ft. Carson (the venue for the event) we were told to put all packs in a pile and a dog would sniff them for ammunition residue, etc.

Gulp! At any given time, I couldn't 100% say that there isn't a spare round of .22LR hidden in some pocket on that pack. And the last time I used it, it was to haul out a cow elk.

That dog came along and looked at that pack with the oddest expression. As I was sure I was going to be "busted" the handler was distracted by something else and pulled Ol' Roy along. He kept looking back at that pack. He hadn't had elk steaks for a while, I guess.