Scent-Lok Socks
 

I know how a lot of you guys feel about Scent-Lok and its effectiveness, and to be honest I'm skeptic too. I just don't trust the activated carbon as my main line of scent control. I do, however, use Scent-Lok Base Slayers and have found them quite effective and up until this year that was the only line of Scent-Lok I used. But, this year I tried the socks just because they would complete my "base layers" so to speak.

Well- I honestly think they ruined my hunt today. Under the use as directed they say something along the lines of effective up to 40 hours of field use. I initially questioned how well they would perform because, well, your feet stink, a lot. But today I did my complete scent control system- scent killer shower, deodorant, field wipes, Earth cover/eliminator and Acorn scent-wafer on my hat. And I got busted TWICE by two does. This is the first time since I really got religious about scent control that I was knowlingly busted by deer within sight. I was pretty frustrated and could NOT believe I got busted.

Anyway- As I was declothing, spraying myclothes, boots and hat down again before I put them back into the airtight tub- I walked myself through my steps to make sure I hadnt forgotten a step. Then bam it hit me. What do my feet smell like? I take off my socks and they stink, badly. I guess I should have known that but I put too much trust in them I guess and they ruined what was a promising hunt.

I honestly do think that they work, but only for only a day tops. Then they need to be re-washed and reactivated in my opinion. But enough with the rambling. What does everyone think? Thoughts, ideas, help and opinions are appreciated!:)

RE: Scent-Lok Socks
 

In my opinion, Scent Blocker/Scent Lok as well as any scent spray are just another thing you can throw into your bag of tricks. I believe they definately help but are not the be all end all of being winded by a deer. Personally i am also religious with my scent and hope it helps me in the woods, but if i get busted its impossible for me to blame it on scent control. Sometimes you get busted because you moved, squeeked etc. There a lot more to just scent for reasons of being busted. Just my thoughts.

RE: Scent-Lok Socks
 

I would not wear the same socks from morning to evening carbon or not I have posabley the most stinky feet in WV. Base layers are a great idea but they are the closest to you body and absorbe the sent first and will need reactivated more offten than say your carbon jacket or pants.

RE: Scent-Lok Socks
 

Well, I'm a Scent Lok basher. It's bullhockey. That said, it might not have been your feet. It can be your pack, stand, bow or whatever that stinks most. Your breath puts out more stinky molecules than anything you own. As far as your WAFFERS, they're man made chemical products. They can set a deer off in a heart beat. I know you don't want to hear that, but they're artificial. You're better off washing up, taking care of your clothing and going stinky free. Cover ups and attractants just attract attention IMO. Your best friend is the WIND.... PERIOD.

RE: Scent-Lok Socks
 

That why I dont breath when hunting LOL.

RE: Scent-Lok Socks
 

Would you mind sharing while you feel scent lok doesn't work? Especially given the power of activated carbon?

RE: Scent-Lok Socks
 

I did not belive it worked at one time myself. Mainly becauseI could not afford it.

RE: Scent-Lok Socks
 

Maybe you just have some serious swamp feet[&:][:'(] My socks work just fine.

RE: Scent-Lok Socks
 

I've been through this several times on this site. I worked in an industry that used activated carbon and dealt with the activated carbon for about 30 years. Carbon does absorb and hold such things as dyes, fatty acids etc. A PORTION of those can be released(a.k.a. reactivation) but it takes more heat that can be provided by a home dryer. These stinky fatty acids and oils from the human body are "NON volitile", they do not vaporize. To release these contaminents from a garment you'd have to dump enough heat in there that the fabric would burn. All these companies were called out by the feds on their claims and that's when they came out with the college test of using "REPLICATED" human odor. Even their adds and test tell you they use a volitile replicated human odor. Sure, you saturate something with a highly volitile substance it can be vaporized out. Try putting some bacon grease or sweat or other body oils in there. They aren't coming out in you home dryer. The garment is toast after a few sweats. Besides that, vapors coming off the body follow the rules of physics. They'll take the path of least resistance which is NOT through a dot of carbon. They'll flow between the carbon dots impregnated in the garment before they'll go through them. These suits are NOT solid carbon, they're just enoug dots fused to the fabric to say they have it in there.

It's a pure snake oil con job from day one. I worked with the International Fabricare Institute for months on tests designed to improve removal of voilitle substances from carbon. These were done to try and decrease the amount of fluids and contaminents left in carbon filters. Even after hours of heat or direct steam injection it is not possible to reduce the levels as they claim. YES, if you put in a volitile "REPLICATED HUMAN ODOR" it will come right out. Unfortunately for us, human odor and body fats and acids are NOT VOLITILE. 212 degrees and direct steam injection won't make them go away.

In my opinion Scent Lok is the biggest con to ever hit the hunting industry. It's snake oil from day one. I refuse to buy a garment, a pair of boots or even a dang hanky that says Scent Lok or Blocker or any of those gimmicks. They add $50 to a pair of boots and any advantages is gone in no time. You have to realize going in that these are not solid carbon sheets, just dots impregnated on the fabric. There are more spaces than dots.

RE: Scent-Lok Socks
 

Give it to em David! hahaha

RE: Scent-Lok Socks
 

David,

Since you have 30 years with experience with carbon and its abilities...what do you use for scent control. I dont have, nor plan on having anything "scent Lok" except my face mask. I bought it at Gander Mountain cheap and didnt buy it for the name, but rather its full face and neck cover.

I use Dead Downwind shower soap and shampoo, and use wafers to hang in branches surrounding the stand Im in.

Since you seem to be very knowledgeable on the subject...what do you find most affective in the woods?

RE: Scent-Lok Socks
 

I buy and wash with Neutrogena Fragrance Free Unscented soap. It cleans the heck out of you with no smell anditcost half what "HUNTER" soaps do and does a better job.Cost about $3.50 a bar I think. I was my clothes with unscented laudry detergents without brighteners. They're becoming harder to find so now I buy some commercial grade hunting clothes wash. I use unscented antiperspirant deodorant. I do use a scent killer spray. I spray everything, bow, clothes, stand, backpack straps, fanny pack,Hunter SafetySystem, you name it.. it get's sprayed often. I loved the Whitelightning but can't get it here so just buy HS Strut stuff or something like that. I hang and air out clothes. Sometimes I put pine, apples or leaves in the tubs with my clothes. My biggest scent control item is mother nature, Hunt the Wind. If it's wrong, stay home or go somewhere else.

RE: Scent-Lok Socks
 

Its really quite simple, if it says Scent Lok on it, its a rip-off. Go to Meijer and get some basic hunting socks.

RE: Scent-Lok Socks
 

Thanks for the info. everyone. I still believe in the effectiveness of the socks and BaseSlayers, but as for now that's all I'm going wear. I honestly do think it was my socks that busted me out because on opening day, I had two does walk across my entrance path in the morning and then 9 cross my entrance path to my blind in the afternoon. Yet yesterday the doe that completely busted me out walked across my entrance path. The other doe that 'busted' me out never could quite figure out what the deal was. She knew something wasn't quite right and was pretty nervous and just walked out of the area. The doe that officially, actually busted me out took off out of the area- she KNEW what was wrong.

But I'm going to reactivate them tonight and wear them tomorrow and we shall see what the results are!

RE: Scent-Lok Socks
 

You know, they make foot powders for stinky feet. They also make baking soda that helps.

RE: Scent-Lok Socks
 

I've seen the foot powders in magazines, books etc. Will simply dumping some baking soda in your boots make a significant difference? If so, I think I'll have to give it a try.

RE: Scent-Lok Socks
 

Baking soda is famous for it's ability to absorb odors. It will make a huge difference.

RE: Scent-Lok Socks
 

Boy I did not know we had a bonified GOD DARNexpert, guess I will just throw all my carbon stuff out. Man I wish I would have know.

RE: Scent-Lok Socks
 

What kind of boots were you wearing?? Try some rubber boots and spray some coon urine or some other cover scent on them before you walk to your stand.. They shouldn't be able to smell your feet through those socks, rubber boots, and coon urine....

RE: Scent-Lok Socks
 

There are soooo many grades of Activated Carbon and the absorption rates that grade can yield. Who is pulling Quality Assurance on the stuff? It is also scientifically proven that (at a molecular level) it STOPs absorbing. Then what? A new outfit? I am sure it works for a season or two depending on how much odor it absorbs. I, like many hunters, don't have the money to buy new outfits every other year or so. Use the wind.

RE: Scent-Lok Socks
 

Joke about it all you want. I don't care. I'll save my money for another couple sets of camo or boots or a new bow. Activated carbon is not some new miracle product. It's been used for decades for all sorts of thing, like filtering fluids, blood, air... you name it. The problem is that the filtered agent has to be forced through thecarbon by way of pumps and pressure for it to do it's work. Some old sad sack loose fitting camo garment isn't going to hack it. Not an expert at all, just worked with it for 30 years. That may be longer than you've lived, I don't know. I know enough to understand that scent control garments aresnake oil and the hunting community has bought it lock stock and barrel.

RE: Scent-Lok Socks
 

thanks for posting up your opinions Dave...i have seen the inside of a carbon suite and they do place small "dots" of carbon lined in the suite...it is not sheets of carbon...thus, if there are areas of no carbon then our scent can get out!!

baking soda! i do think that it may absorb odor....but if you put it in your boot..sprinkle it in...get it out before you hike around in your boots. your feet will come out smelling SOOOO bad it will make your dog pass out!! not joke...

RE: Scent-Lok Socks
 

I wear a pair Rocky's. Actually, I'd like to wear rubber boots, especially during the bowseason. But these Rocky's are so comfortable and I like to do a lot of walking and climbing while hunting and they fit like a glove.

I do, however, spray down my boots, top and especially bottom with Scent-A-Way earth. It usually works pretty well as I have deer cross my entrace path quite often and don't pick up a thing.

RE: Scent-Lok Socks
 

FINALLY SOMEONE actually says it on this site... Man i completely stand behind u, i think the whole SCentlock works to an extent but they capitalize off it. Come on why do u need 2 0r 3 layers if the crap works so well (base layer, top layer.) Scent lock socks under scent lock boots. Come on if its so great whys it take so much.

RE: Scent-Lok Socks
 

Rubber boots are the way to go man, nothing escapes from them and they don't have much of their own scent. tuck your pants into them as well.

RE: Scent-Lok Socks
 

Thanks David. You honestly just saved me a boat-load of money. Everybody I know/talk to that hunts, wears Scent Lok. So I was going along the lines of "it must work". Now that I've read what you said, the only things I'll be purchasing will be the Base Slayers, and thats because they're fairly cheap!

I AM VERY INTERESTED in the Under Armour's new scent control product (UA Capture) though. I wonder how it does?

RE: Scent-Lok Socks
 

I wear Scent-Lok, and I agree with those who say it works to an extent. I think it has helped me, but I still go with scent-free shower and sealed bag for my clothes, rubber boots, as well as spray down with scent-away. I don't believe in completely beingscent free, but reducing the amount of scent is key. I don't believe I've truly been busted in the last 2-3 years...as far as I know, not saying I haven't.

One thing I noticed you said was you spray your clothes before putting them in a sealed bag/container. I've thought about doing that too, but I was affraid to put them away damp, I didn't know if it would start tomildew. What do you think?