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Wear More, Wash Less: Fight The Funk With Polygiene

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It seems that one constant of every outdoors sport is the ever present threat of that funky, lingering body odor smell that lingers in almost every synthetic fabric after a while.

Whether you’re wearing your ski baselayers for a few days back to back, or dealing with a mountain bike jersey that has sat in your trunk for an extra long weekend, you know that stench we’re talking about. It used to be that once your gear had that unique smell, it was relegated to days on the trail when you were alone, or at the very least, with friends who became accustomed to that little extra aroma. However, Polygiene, a new anti-microbial and anti-stink technology, is taking the outdoors market by storm. Their unique silver chloride nano treatment not only neutralizes odor causing bacteria, but it lasts for the life of your gear, making sure you get the most out of each piece of treated apparel, while having to wash it less often. We’ve picked our favorite Polygiene equipped apparel for every season, so you can keep charging hard on all your adventures this year.

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Mountain Equipment Eclipse Hooded Zip Shirt $180

Mountain Equipment Eclipse
Image used with permission by copyright holder

We originally picked this mighty baselayer up at this winter’s Outdoor Retailer Show, with plans for ski touring around our Wasatch Mountains home range. Since wearing on a few ski resort days, backcountry ski tours, and winter camping, we can say the Eclipse Hoody is easily the best baselayer for any mountain sport on the market right now. The grid fleece is Polygiene treated; we put it to the test wearing it more than ten times without washing it. Conditions ranged from snowy Utah mountains to blustery days in Joshua Tree, California. The next to skin fit, scuba style hood, and asymmetric zipper all contribute to make the Eclipse our favorite next-to-skin layer for all conditions.

Dakine Thrillium Jersey $50

Dakine Thrillium
Image used with permission by copyright holder

For long days ripping bike park laps, the Thrillium is the perfect option. A not-too-snug fit fits well over pads (we all wreck sooner or later), and the wicking material and Polygiene treatment ensure that you won’t be smelling like the trail when you hit the bar after a day on your bike.

UV Buff $25

Buff UV
Image used with permission by copyright holder

In all of our outdoors apparel collection, there isn’t anything quite as versatile as a Buff. From ski day face mask to desert sun guard, our UV blocking Buff goes everywhere. The Coolmax fabric wicks moisture faster than anything else we’ve tested. Since they’re constantly around our necks (or occassionally on the dog), this is an important factor, as its almost always sweaty. After pulling extended duty on bike rides and blocking glare fly fishing, ours is still stink free.

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Austin Parker
Austin Parker
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Austin Parker is a former contributor at The Manual Parker is a powder skier and sport climber and is no stranger hauling…
Soldier Mountain opens 250 new acres of skiable terrain in Idaho
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If you're a big fan of skiing in Idaho, you're in for a real treat. Soldier Mountain has just opened up another 250 acres of skiable wilderness in the Bridge Creek area (Soldier Mountain Bridge), and skiers all over the country are bouncing with anticipation to experience these new trails. With the addition of freshly carved cat roads and groomed bootpack trails, guests can enjoy this sprawling mountainside that has been off-limits for decades.
David Alden, the General Manager for Soldier Mountain, stated that it's been something everyone has wanted for a long time. "The Bridge Creek area is so close to our existing terrain and so visually inviting that nearly every guest who visits Soldier has looked at that area and wished it were accessible. Now it is. It is a huge step for Soldier Mountain."
This ambitious undertaking, named the Bridge Creek Sidecountry Project, is just one step in a series of leaps and bounds for the resort, including the opening of their new Snow Training Center.
"The Bridge Creek Sidecountry Project elevates Soldier Mountain to one of the most challenging and terrain-intensive ski areas in Idaho," Alden said. "The newly accessible terrain encompasses mid-angle glades and steep, north-facing trees and ridges, adding technical sidecountry to Soldier Mountain's world-class cat ski operation and our legendary inbounds bowls, glades, and groomers.
This project is just a piece of the puzzle to put Soldier Mountain on the map. There are two other major updates to the resort, one including a brand-new TRAX side-by-side UTV, which will haul guests to the top of the Bridge Creek on select days. This UTV is said to be a faster, nimbler way to move skiers into the backcountry than a traditional snowcat, but when the TRAX is unavailable, skiers can trek up the bootpack trails on foot.

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Cell service isn't always available when hiking or backpacking in the wilderness, but know there's a better way. And no, I'm not talking about satellite connection. While that tends to be better than regular cell service, there's nothing is more reliable right now than a walkie talkie. Two-way radios are coming back into the mainstream scene, this time, through trail runners! Here's why you should use a walkie talkie while trail running, how to be prepared, and our personal recommendations for the best one to use.
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While out on the trail, it's easy to feel disconnected. Maybe that's the point, but if anything goes wrong, you might be in real trouble. Quick communication can be lifesaving if you or someone in your party happens to fall into a high-stakes situation like getting lost or breaking an ankle. Having a walkie talkie on hand and knowing that you can reach out to someone will increase your peace of mind while you're out on the trail.

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Shenandoah National Park: Fire managers plan to burn approximately 40 acres of Big Meadows and 20 acres in the park's headquarters. Weather permitting, the burn will start on March 11 and end around April 30th.
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Cape Cod National Seashore: Prescribed burns will occur at Fort Hill in Eastham during the second week of March. The affected area will be 14 acres along the hillside adjacent to the upper parking lot at Fort Hill.
George Washington Carver National Monument: From March 10th to the 14th, this national monument plans a prescribed burn of about 100 acres to reduce woody species. While the area will be open to visitors, the Carver trail will be closed.

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