I just now also bought a Berghaus X-static with PowderDry. Wearing the two via swapping between them, for both being "medium" size the Berghaus is tighter but not as warm, there is simply heat escaping out when cold. The Cambia actually with the smooth-side-out adds warmth, as a bonus the PowderDry doesn't.

 I'm finding Cambia's "Pongia" to be very real, but otherwise as advertised. Is there a wash-in to convert Pongia to Cambia?

 I've also bought some Exertec (£5 !) expect them next day or so, and then decide which more I get, aiming to get to about 8 or 9 baselayers, to be used t-shirts in normal wear with fleece added with outside of a heated room.

I've obtained a spraycan of the Lifesystems AX Antibaterial fabric protector.

 I think I prefer the Cambia from a wicking and comfort perspective,  but Cambia smells in about 8-12 hours. I have proved the X-static fabric works but it's a rougher fabric for pulling on mid/outer-layers. So I'm going to try this Lifesystems stuff to see how well it works, if it works well I'll consider buying more Cambia.

1st step is a small test-spray on my cheapest Cambia (shortsleaved t-shirt) on the the rear seam to see for any discolouration....

I notice that Paramo are claiming to have treated their "Trek & Travel" fabrics with anti-pong stuff but no mention on the Cambia, which is odd, and probably for a reason.... 

The Lifesystems was mentioned a couple of years ago and some reported good results but the effects did not last as long as was advertised.

IIRC Lowe Alpine were / are pre-treating some of their base layers with it now.

I've been told a capful of Dettol in the rinse water works well and the smell (of the dettol) disappears when dthe garments dry. Might be worth trying or even a capful in the washing cycle just to see if it has the desired effect. Don't know whether or not it will damage the fabric in any way but would have thought that such a small quantity would not do any harm.

I have used the Nikwax Base Layer wash and find it is excellent for freshening up base layers.

Correct, Lowe Alpine are pre-treating certain items, I've seen the label on baselayers in Cotswolds, that's how I learned of the stuff.

 Dettol. That would be a deliberately not trying to bind itself to the fibres correct? Otherwise it would leave a toxic residue on many kitchen surface.

 Nikwax Base Wash - reviews indicated no effect, or at most to squeeze out any detergent left in the fabric. When you say freshen-up, you mean do a better job of cleaning than a regular detergent? 

Anyhow.... The Lifesystems AX spray-can states to wash garment, dry, then apply, dry, then claims 2 years or  35 washes but for boots 3 months, and a £6 can is 8 sq.metres. If one just squirted the smellier areas which is about 0.13 sq.metres means you get 62 applications, or 9.7p/application. If you were to wear a base-layer frequently and wash weekly, then that's 52washes/year, so you need to re-apply approx every 6 months, costing 14pence/year. That is still far far less than the cost of the X-static, so even if it didn't last 35 washes, but say 10 washes, is still 50p/year, and you thought such a heavily used t-shirt was used for 3 years is £1.50.  So really, big-picture, so long as it works well (I'll know in coming days), it's still more cost-effective than X-static. I wore X-static - it did tackle armpit pong but not the wider general smells from simply wearing many days. 

I like a lot of the Paramo stuff... except the Cambia.

It just does not dryout quick enough.

When I get a sweaty back from the rucksack, the top gets wet... and stays wet.
Most times my Mountain Shirt (although warmer) does a better job at drying.

I prefer a Helly Lifa or Gill i2 base layer... they dry out a damn site quicker.

Nigel - have not had extended experience of the base wash - wanted to try it particularly on some older tops which seem more odour prone than others (but I find them comfortable so do not want to get rid of them).

In my limited experience I would say it did what it claimed -  tops seemed to have been washed clean and fresh they were less prone to odour during exercise.

I don't intend to use it all the time just every now and again throwing a load of base layers in the wash to freshen them all up.

HTH

I picked up some Basewash at WWD, they were giving it away free if you bought some other large Nikwax (e.g. TX Direct 1L), I'll try it when I next get a few baselayers to wash.

By the way, if you happen to live in the Whalley area..... they give 20% reduction if you bring in your empties and they refill, not sure if applies to all Nikwax products or just the popular ones (Techwash, TX Direct, etc). 

OK, so far I've tried baselayers from:

• Paramo Cambia
• Berghaus X-static
• Trekmates
• Exertec

I've also tried the Lifesystems AX spray to reduce pong. I have some base-layers in the wash with the Paramo BaseWash, impact t.b.d.. Interim conclusion: 

• Paramo Cambia is comfortable "next to skin" and easy to slide over, the most comfortable. However it has high pong problems, to be a few hours "out the box" but the Lifesystems AX extends life to about 8-12 hours, i.e. it's tolerable til evening.
• Berghaus X-static. The anti-pong effect is very real, I tried it for days. But Berghaus make a coarse fabric which is harder to slide over. e.g. hold the sleeve down whilst you pull another layer up to control the venting - is harder than Cambia
• Trekmates. It claimed an Antibak coating to reduce pong. I'd say Cambia with Lifesystems was about the same as this, but Trekmates felt sticky plastic.
• Exertec. Sticky plastic.

My conclusion, so far, is I'd go with Paramo Cambia when you can cope with packing more spares and/or can wash them, otherwise go with the Berghaus to wear one t-shirt for days. 

I've got all the above baselayers in the washing machine with some Nikwax Basewash, to see what that does...... 

Nigel - Paramo pong must be a subjective problem - I've got pants & tops and don't stink.

However in acrylic I do stink.

 I see you haven't tried Merino wool products - I have Craghopper tops and must say they they are really good - they have that instant warm feel that man made doesn't have and are universally acclaimed as non-stink.

There are many sources of Merino.

There are many sources of Merino.

NO there aren't......

Unless you count many sheep, there is only one source.

There are however many merino products manufactured by numerous companies.

lol FB

I dont pong in my cambia even after a couple of days but its niff alert factor 9 if I wear my Montane Bionic teeshirt more than one day 

must be to do with how your body sweats and what bacteria you have under your armpits!

Just to add a further comment with regards ponginess.

I use Odaban deodorant which virtually reduces underarm sweat to 0, yet my Cambias still smell.  No other clothes that I have smell, I have Berghaus Tech-Ts which I have had for years and years, worn them on hot holidays and yet they still don't smell.

I have recently started using Nikwax Basewash and cannot praise it highly enough, all my base layers now smell mega fresh and are very soft, hard product to find but worth a look.

FB - yes am aware of Merino wool's claimed antipong, and now's a good time of year to wear them! However they're on my watch-list at TKMax, they have a full top+legs set but my size is always out-of-stock, fortunately the shelf is next to the window so a stock-watch is a walk-by. I notice M&S do Merino wool tops+legs, but a little too thick for my liking, because the base-layer is the last thing you want to remove to adapt to temperature, they're also in bright white! I see Merino items often sell for £30-£40 but are obtainable for £10-£20.

Have Craghoppers knee-height Merino wool socks.

Have on order, waiting stock for a month, Paramo Cambia long-johns. 

 ID - yes, I suspect the combination of fabric is likely to react different to each person.

Saga continues - the Nikwax Basewash has completed machine cycle, they have a strong lemon aroma, will know in a couple of days if that sustains an anti-pong effect. Actually, it's quite a cost-effective cleaner, about 50p/load, vs cheap detergent 16p/load. Not to be used for every wash necessarily but if works certainly every 1-in-3 say.

yes I have started using nikwash Basewax myself for my niks and my naks

good stuff

er yes but it is kit related (not much bollux around oh apart from the sheep thing above)