Scent-Lok, Scent Blocker, Scent X or what?

[Chris_Wallace]

So what does every one use for the upcoming season just two and a half weeks away?

I picked up my new pants and jacket of the Dream Season model made by Scent Blocker, the Outfitter Jacket, gloves, hat and full face mask. The first reason being it has awesome water repelling properties, its super quiet and I really like the over/under pockets. The second reason I went with Scent Blocker rather than scent lok this year, is that we are doing some filming this fall, looking to score some good footage if the animals would like to cooperate with us, I met Terry, he seemed like a class act guy, so I got an application, putting my time in with scouting and will put in a lot of time this fall in front of the camera and hopefully things will work out.

So what does everyone else use and why?

[EXTREME]

I have used Scent-Lok for a few years now, and have been impressed with the suit. I feel that scent eliminating clothing has some effect on scent but not completely. I do feel that it makes a hunter more "aware" of your scent, and therefore makes you a better hunter. Tough to fool a big bucks nose everytime.

[jlm]

I agree, they are a good tool to use but they are not the end all. I have owned a couple of brand names and all are pretty good. However, I currently do not use them anymore. After the research that has been done on scent eliminating suits, and with my own experience, I feel that I actually have an advantage in not using them. It saves me money and it makes me more careful controlling my scent. One thing that I tended to do when wearing them was push the limits a little with wind direction thinking that the suit would make a difference....wrong. I have blown a couple of opportunities with my false confidence! Once a mature deer catches you, you will more than likely NEVER see him again. So I say use them if you feel it helps, however, I see no real advantage to them. Just my 2 cents!

[Chris_Wallace]

well put, JLM, I realize they are not the end all, I shower before I go out evrytime in scent free soap, deodorant, I would much rather freeze to death walking to stand than sweat. I still spray down once I get out of the truck and than again when I am at stand, all of my equipment gets a decent spray too. The more you prepare, the better your off.

[Eric Wettschreck]

To each their own and good luck to everyone this year. I have a hard time swallowing the high dollar sent lock stuff. I've been bow hunting for years without it and, no monster trophies, but I've shot my share of good size deer.

Just my $.02

[jlm]

One big issue that many overlook is our breath! Beleive it or not, much of our "human stink" comes from our breath...even if you have nice fresh breath. Anyone have recommendations or some sort of cover-up that they use? Anything would be better than chewing on dirt or pine needles...lol!

[sheepheadslayer]

gin tastes and smells like pine needles

[jbdragon17]

I have heard that an Apple is nature’s breath freshener. I have been (quietly) chewing on apples in the deer stand for a few years.

[Chris_Wallace]

I was rading that 60 percent of our scent can be traced back to our mouths, deadscents makes a spray that is taste free that your supposed to spray into your mouth every forty five minutes, its about 10 bucks. Otherwise you have gum o flauge, comes in a package kind of 12, they kind of taste like dump though. I was thinking about getting some of the wintergreen tobacco free chew maybe that would help, it would be kind of interesting to find out how much one's breath is contained inside the carbon face masks. Any one know?

[leechlake]

I got really interested in the "scent suits" last year (I've had one for three years) and did some research including contacting two companies with some questions. There is a fantastic article in the FM archives on the effectiveness of carbon suits. In a nutshell, this article/research paper says that once they absorb odors they can not be "regenerated" unless they would be cooked at a temperature that would melt the suit. Obviously, a drier doesn't work. It used an example of the carbon filters used to clean tap water. If they could be regenerated then they could be heated in a microwave or boiled and they would be regenerated.

When I contacted the two scent companies, Robinson Labs was the only company that got back to me. They provided some information, from an "independent" lab and when I looked at their info and the article I noted above, I've been convinced they do not work (again, I own one and use it sometimes).

As you said in your intro you got the clothing due to some benefits and the scent elimination is just a bonus. You'll get some people that swear by them and some that don't, I just go by the scientific evidence I've read and it seems obvious to me they don't block scent once the carbon is saturated the first time. Check out the fm archives, you'll find the article interesting and you can draw you're own conclusions.

[kc0myy]

I have went to grander mountain and sports mans warehouse. All I want to buy is a light camo jaket for ealy in the bow season. All I find it scent-lok blocker and scent blocking clothes. and they are a lot of money. Do you know were I just found a plain camo jaket? WALMART thats all I need. It is cazy with all this new stuff coming out. It sounds like it really does not work. I have been thinking about that under armour. Have any of you guys or gals use this?? With our smelly breath. what about apple juice???

[lunker651]

I don't use scent loc or scent blocking clothings. I just have 3-4 camo clothings in different colors. I'll pick out a set that will blend in, the most, to the area I'm hunting. That night I'll spray it with scent killer and put it in a fresh plastic bag for tomorrow's hunt. When it's time to hunt I' ll wear it only when I'm gonna go to the tree stand, spray some more scent killer. I'll do it over every nite. But the main thing here is the wind directions, never hunt the stand if the wind direction is not right. Scent killer sprays and some kind of coverscent is all I really use. The human breath does give out alot of our scent but that is where I count on the wind directions, to blow it away. No matter what you use, if you don't hunt by the wind than you usally will have no chance of beating the whitetail's nose. Hunting by wind directions is the best way to hunt.

[Long Gray Line]

If you want something just as good, maybe better, for a lot less $, just google a search for "chemical suit army" and see what you get. You'll find the military's chemical suits (charcoal lined, camouflaged, pants and jackets) for as low as $20. It's the same thing as the way higher priced brand names and at this price you could buy a new suit a year. They run big as they're meant to be worn over the uniform with a lot of overlap. These things are designed to keep out the nastiest blood, nerve and blister agents and have a much thicker layer of carbon/charcoal than the commercial clothing. It only comes in woodland or O.D. (until the army gets switched over to the ACU's) so I wear mine as a liner under better blending patterns.

[jlm]

The only down side is that they are very hot! Best if worn later in the season. Otherwise this is a great option!

[Long Gray Line]

JLM - You are spot on with the warmth thing. They can be toasty, you should try wearing a chem suit when you're doing military training in the Mojave Desert!! 5 gallons of water a day per person. Oh, and if you like the people around you, have them up wind when you finally take it off. That's how good the scent blocking is! The warmth is obviously a good thing later in the year. It's like having scent blocking long underwear.