or is it just mine?
was fine for a year or so, but now cannot be worn without stinking the next day (its ok while i wear it)
i've even stopped taking it on trips with me for fear of asphyxiating people...

any tips for stopping it smelling?

PS, i'm not a smelly bugger!

I found that hanging Lifa garments on the washing line for several days of rain, sun and wind is the best method of getting rid of the smell.

No Marv, they just stink after a while. I threw mine away in the end and now use Icebreaker stuff which is merino, doesn't get stinky and is brill for keeping you hot, cool, whatever! And I'm not a stinky person either (although I think there may be a few people on this site that would disagree with me on that - pee off JJ and Bobs!)

phew! once i've paid for my next trip, i'd better start looking for a replacement...

shame, as the body hugging shape would look loads better on me now, than it did when i started wearing it ; )

Ive had a few stinky baselayers which is a bit of a nightmare when wanting to wear them more than once, i finally stumped up the cash for a long sleeve berghaus x-static zip tee, it was £36 (i think RRP is £40) but its fantastic and doesnt smell,

It does however have a slight pickled onion smell when new but that goes after time.

I shal definately be getting a short sleeve version soon...the only real problem is the lack of neutral colours i think it comes in, red and black and blue and black ;o(

Its just my experience but:

Wash at 60degrees with mild non bio detergent and air dry.

Do not wear deodorant as this actually makes it worse - particularly if deodorant is a spraycan type.

Dab of aftershave/perfume on skin detracts slightly.

I take a t-shirt, a wet wipe and scented nappy bag with me if I think I might need to appear fresher (ie in the pub). Take off HH Lifa and place in scented nappy bag (cheap Tesco ones are fine and also useful for dog doings if you have a dog). Tie up bag. Wipe over with wet wipe/facial wipe whatever. Replace top with new clean T-shirt and away you go.

mine stinks after a while and thats a pretty similar story for my dryflo tees. I'm looking to buy the berghaus x-static ls tee, hopefully benefit everyone.

My Lifa smells pretty quickly, but all my LA dryflo/Craghoppers smell after a day of use too.

Am using Patagonia Capilene which is a little better, did 3 days without killing anyone, but that's only because everyone else was wearing worse stuff.

Go for Icebreaker, their Merino wool stuff is great. You can wear it for days without ponging and it's really comfortable.
Howie's also do some nice Merino and Merino/Lycra gear - www.howies.co.uk

Try soaking it overnight in half a bucket of water with five or six drops of Tea Tree oil then washing it normally. Tea tree has natural antiseptic qualities and will kill the bacteria that are threatening to leave you friendless!

i'll have a look into all the options, thanks!

If you really don't want to stink merino wool is the answer. You can wear it for two weeks and only smell slightly like a wet sheep! I've tested most of the different synthetic wicking layers on the market and they all start to smell after a day or two, some after just a few hours. The ones with X-Static or other silver threads are pretty good when new but I've found the effect wears off after many washings and they start to smell almost as quickly as other synthetics.

It's not the base layers that smell.
It's us...

As these garments have always been known as 'smelly-hellys' amongst my friends, I am surprised that you were surprised! I have masses of Helly kit, so a good percentage of my sport is done in Hellys and I agree that their biggest disadvantage is the pong. Actually I think they perform excellently, especially the sport weight items, and I have a few methods of odour-management to help matters. The simplest if slightly timeconsuming method is to give them a quick rinse at the end of day, preferably with a small drop of soap (washing up liquid is ideal). If you give them a good squeeze and then flick them rapidly (think matador with red cloak - but faster) the majority of the water shakes out and they will dry overnight in all but the dampest/coldest conditions. In my non-scientific tests, they dry faster than both polyester & tactel nylon items of similar weight. As washing like this may be impractical for multiday activities, the next best thing is to get them airing as soon as you can after use. Otherwise... get used to it! Human beings are mammals too you know...

I would agree with the comments about merino wool though. But there are plenty of activities in which that stuff is just too warm.

I have Hellys that are (um) 15+ years old and they don't smell. Maybe it's just some people whose skin reacts with the fabric?

chees for the tip. most of my multiday stuff is cycling, and i have a few tops which are ok.

if needs must i take the HH. recently spent 4 days hiking in france and wore an addidas t-shirt (wicking type, not cotton), which while synthetic, didn't smell really, even though i sweated like a pig...

i agree that the HH works very well.

Let's give 'em due credit...

'Smelly Hellys' were revolutionary in their day, but there are so many less pongy alternatives to choose from these days.

I used to suppress a hearty chuckle when people washed and tumble-dried their Hellys, without reading the instructions. The look on the face of a big strapping bloke when he fishes a Helly the size of a baby-gro out of the drier is priceless!

The best baselayers EVER are the Sandstorm Polo tops by North Cape, made with Polartec PowerDry fabric. I think Laeking Outdoors in Coniston sells them ... that's where I bought mine about a year ago, and I've worn it for about two hundred days in total since then. It never smells, not even after a week or two (honest!!), and they have near-magical wicking properties. Plus mine only displays a small amount of wear.

I know several people who use Helly Hansen baselayers and they are universally loathed for how much they smell! There are even tales in our Fell Club about a member who walked the Pennine Way with only one HH baselayer ... and was kicked out of a pub for smelling so bad at the other end. =D