Scent-Blocking Hunting Clothes – Eliminate Your Scent and Remain Hidden

For any passionate hunter, staying undetected is essential to success. One of the main ways hunters achieve this is by camouflaging their appearance with patterned clothing. However, visual detection is not the only threat. Smell is just as important. As textile technologies have evolved, scent-blocking clothing has become increasingly commonplace, and many hunters are embracing anti-odor fabrics wholeheartedly. From breathable natural fibers to additive anti-odor technologies like Polygiene’s solutions, there are several ways to integrate scent-blocking properties into apparel.

What is scent blocker clothing?

Scent blocker clothing is hunting apparel designed to reduce and eliminate smells in the textiles worn by hunters. Manufacturers typically block odor by employing certain materials or integrating odor-eliminating additive technologies like Polygiene StayFresh™.

Hunters naturally produce scents and smells that can alert animals to their presence and make hunting prey extremely difficult. Whether caused by sweat, odor-causing bacteria, or other natural processes, hunters must manage these smells.

But scent management is nothing new. Hunters have always understood the importance of minimizing the smells they give off and have utilized various methods to do so. These include using unscented detergents, scent-neutralizing sprays, or using natural odors, such as dirt, earth, and dung, to mask their own scent. Scent blocker hunting clothing is simply the most recent and most advanced manifestation of these tricks and techniques.

Benefits of scent blocker hunting clothes

Scent blocker clothing boasts three main benefits.

  • Don’t give yourself away

The single biggest benefit of scent blocker apparel is that it reduces the likelihood of prey detecting your presence and position. Most animals (but deer and elk, in particular) rely on a fine-tuned sense of smell to detect predators and potential danger. They are likely to flee if they smell a human scent, making it hard to get close enough for a clean shot. This is especially important with bow-hunting, as you usually need to be that much closer to the target. With scent-blocking clothing, you minimize the likelihood of detection and increase the chance of making a successful kill.

  • Pack light for backcountry adventures

Hunters often go out on extended trips into the backcountry and need to pack lightly. Every item of clothing and equipment carried needs to be optimized and offer premium performance. In this respect, scent-blocking clothing is an excellent option. By eliminating and preventing smells, it enables hunters to pack less clothing. You can wear your scent-blocking gear more often without worrying about smells, so you don’t need to pack multiple changes of clothes and benefit from a lighter, more manageable pack.

  • Manage smells while away from civilization

Scent blocking is not just about the prey. Eliminating unpleasant smells at the source improves your comfort and makes for a more enjoyable experience. Crucially, it’s also more pleasant for anyone you’re hunting with, particularly if you are sharing a tent or cabin!

Adam Foss image

The science behind the technology

Scent blocking apparel solutions work in various ways and utilize different technologies. However, brands implement scent-blocking properties in their products in three main ways.

  • Polygiene additive technologies

Polygiene Freshness solutions eliminate smells at the source, ensuring fabrics stay odor-free and fresher for longer. Additive technologies are integrated into textiles at the point of manufacture, making them highly effective and long-lasting. They also guarantee 24/7 protection. For hunters, there are two Polygiene scent blocking technologies to know about. Polygiene StayFresh™ is an antibacterial additive based on silver ion technology that eliminates odor-causing bacteria and prevents their growth. Polygiene OdorCrunch™ is a silica-based solution that tackles environmental odors by capturing, crunching, and neutralizing them.

  • Natural fibers

Some natural fibers feature antimicrobial properties that limit and reduce the odor-causing bacteria in the textile. Merino wool is arguably the best-known of these natural fibers. It is also an effective temperature regulator, helping wearers stay warm in cooler weather while ensuring the material breathes in cooler weather. This makes sweating less likely and discourages bacterial growth.

  • Activated carbon

Activated carbon is regularly used in scent-blocking apparel. It benefits from a porous structure that traps odorous molecules and prevents their release into the air. While effective, carbon needs regular reactivation to remain effective. Reactivation usually involves heat drying the clothing to release the odors and restore the carbon’s odor-capture capabilities. Consequently, activated carbon requires more regular maintenance than additive technologies and isn’t as well-suited to longer backcountry expeditions.

Types of scent-blocking hunting clothing 

You will find this technology in almost every piece of hunting apparel you can think of. Most hunters now recognize the importance of odor-eliminating technology and will take steps to mask smells completely. With this in mind, wearing a scent-blocking jacket but regular trousers is somewhat counterproductive. The benefits associated with the jacket’s scent-blocking features are undermined by the scents coming from untreated items of clothing.

As such, you will see this technology in:

  • Jackets – offer warmth and protective coverage for the upper body. Scent blocker jackets should incorporate the technology into every part of the fabric.
  • Pants—The technology prevents odors from escaping while out on the hunt. Scent-blocker pants must be durable and comfortable. Reinforced areas for regular contact points, such as the knees, are a welcome addition, as are adjustable features for enhanced comfort.
  • Vests – a great layering option, they typically sit against the skin and, as a result, benefit from scent blocking technology. 
  • Base layers—similar to vests but better suited to colder weather—are the first line of defense for scent control. 
  • Backpacks and equipment bags – hunting gear and equipment can carry scents and will give away your presence and position if not stored well. For this reason, manufacturers have started to integrate scent-blocking solutions into bags and equipment cases.
  • Gloves and hats – often overlooked when it comes to scent control, gloves and hats can be a significant source of odors. Designed to warm the body, they can harbor odor-causing bacteria that give the game away if you’re not careful.
Adam Foss image

Examples of scent-blocking clothing 

Polygiene works with several hunting brands that manufacture scent-blocker clothing. These include:

Sitka 

Renowned for its exceptionally high-quality gear and beloved by hunters across the US and around the world, Sitka is headquartered in Bozeman, Montana. Having quickly established a reputation for exceptional performance-focused hunting apparel, it has now partnered with Polygiene to deliver stand-out scent-blocking clothing for all kinds of hunters.

Forloh 

Designed for adventurous spirits, FORLOH hunting gear prioritizes technical innovation and high-quality, reliable construction. 100% designed, sourced, and stitched in the USA, the brand’s clothing has won numerous awards and now features Polygiene technology for even more effective zero-odor performance. 

Element Outdoors

Focusing on delivering stand-out performance at an affordable price point, Element Outdoors boasts a fantastic selection of clothing that primarily utilizes Polygiene OdorCrunch. From base layers to scent-blocking pants, the brand has everything you need to ensure you stay undetected while out hunting.

Stone Glacier 

Stone Glacier manufactures durable and functional hunting and outdoor clothing and equipment, much of which incorporates Polygiene StayFresh technology to block odors. From base layers to zip-off pants, its odor-control clothing ensures you get the most from your hunting adventures.

Pnuma Outdoors

Headquartered in Texas, Pnuma Outdoors designs and manufactures hunting apparel that leverages the latest fabric technologies to improve performance. This includes Polygiene odor-eliminating solutions. Made to last and extensively field-tested, the products are a fantastic option for all hunters and will keep you warm, dry, and well-protected in challenging conditions. 

King’s Camo

King’s Camo recognizes that hunting is an active sport and that smells caused by sweat and the odor-causing bacteria that thrive in warm, damp environments are a serious performance issue. As such, it incorporates Polygiene StayFresh into its XKG series of hunting apparel.

Adam Foss image

Polygiene anti-odor textile technology

Polygiene solutions are proven in the field and utilized by an increasingly large number of hunters to improve performance. While Polygiene StayFresh uses silver-ion technology to prevent bacterial growth and eliminate odors caused by bacterial metabolic processes, Polygiene OdorCrunch captures, crunches and disperses environmental odors, such as cooking smells and smoke. Together, they are a highly effective scent blocking mechanism.

But don’t take our word for it. There’s plenty of positive feedback from experienced hunters, too. One such hunter is Adam Foss.

“I’ve been fortunate to roam some of North America’s most beautiful and remote mountains with a camera or bow in hand. These expeditions typically last 10-14 days in the backcountry of Northern BC, Yukon, Northwest Territories or Alaska,” Adam explains. “When base layers from my most trusted gear manufacturer, Sitka, started utilizing Polygiene technology, I was thrilled. With the help of Polygiene, I can take a single upper and bottom layer into the mountains. Polygiene makes a noticeable and significant difference compared to other non-treated synthetics.”

Scent-blocking hunting clothes with Polygiene technology

Polygiene is at the forefront of developments in textile technology and enables clothing manufacturers to drastically improve performance in new and exciting ways. Hunting clothing and scent-blocking apparel are prime examples.

To learn more about our technologies, check out the Polygiene StayFresh and Polygiene OdorCrunch solution pages, or reach out to our expert team to discuss your anti-odor needs.