RE: Follow up on carbon clothes
 

Personally, I think the effectiveness can neither be proven or disproven. The carbon clothing has been very effectively marketed. That, along with enough people saying "a deer directly downwind never smelled me" has led to enormous sales. I would argue that often a deer not smelling the hunter is due to thermal routing. The deer doesn't smell the hunter because it's not breathing the actual down-wind. Even still, the hunter feels all warm and fuzzy about his marvelous carbon suit. In the end, the evidence is still inconclusive. To say that it sells because it works is false causation, IMO. Take a shower and spray down with scent killer and go shoot a huge buck downwind of you.

That said, I own and use a scent lock suit. Ya never know! ;)

...and the polarization of America continues. ;)

RE: Follow up on carbon clothes
 

I'm not about to say one way or the other if I think the stuff is 100% effective or 100% deffective, but I know one thing is for sure.....for every story of someone not wearing scent control that hasn't showered in a week and killed a buck 15 yards downwind there is one just like it for the guys with the carbon. I use the stuff, I've seen more deer from my stands in all directions, I have to believe that carbon had something to do with it....I've also been winded only twice in my 3 years of wearing carbon....my rate wasn't anything close to that before. HOWEVER, I only became very scent conscious about 5 years ago, so I still don't have much to base it on. Either way, if it doesn't work an you're still scent conscious(scent free soap, deodorant, shampoo, laundry, etc.) you're carbon clothing will not be hurting you as it'll still be washed scent free anyway....it just won't be adsorbing.

RE: Follow up on carbon clothes
 

Here is the problem I have with that statement. I PAID for a scent elimination product, and paid handsomely. I have a Cabela's catalogue in my hand. In a number cases adding Scentlok to the garment will at least double the cost. In other cases it will usually be half again as much as the garment without Scentlok. What other piece of equipment would a guy spend that kind of extra money for if it contributed zero to your success?

I wouldn't argue your experiences using scentlok. You were there, you know how it things went down, I wasn't. But could it be, you have become a more savy scent conscious hunter as time has past? Better preparation in all phases of your hunting life, a better understanding of the Whitetail, and practicing precautions that perhaps were overlooked in days gone by?

I have used Scentlok and did not really notice any change in the animals reaction. I certainly have had animals that appeared to be down wind from me while not wearing a Scentlok garment that never reacted to my presence. It is these type of experiences that have cause me to wonder about the effectiveness of the product well before I ever read any scientific information on the subject.

It makes no difference to me what someone's preference is in regarding to the bow they shoot, the camo they wear, or whether or not they put their faith in the Scentlok industry. It is just that for me, until there is irrefutable evidence that they work I am not paying the extra money for the stuff.

RE: Follow up on carbon clothes
 

That's exactly why I buy $15 MOPP suits from Sportsmans Guide . They have way more carbon than ScentLok , it isn't bonded to the garment thereby reducing what it may be doing , and they're disposable . Carbon isn't 100 % as Rack's post pointed out , but I've seen way more deer downwind since I started using them . My supposition is that carbon clothing merely reduces the amount of scent escaping into the air thereby making it harder for the deer to wind you . I still bathe in scent reducing products before going afield though . You can't be too careful .

RE: Follow up on carbon clothes
 

The stories like Jason's lead me to wonder... Is the fact you see more deer wearing the carbon than before more because of the suit OR because you're more scent conscious than you were before OR have you gotten a bit more experience at seeing deer (believe it or not, some newbies can't see deer standing right in front of their nose) OR have you simply gotten better at selecting stand locations?

There's all kinds of reasons to be seeing more deer that YOU can take credit for, rather than ascribing all the credit to your clothes.

RE: Follow up on carbon clothes
 

So if everyone were jumping off a bridge............[&:][&:][&:]

RE: Follow up on carbon clothes
 

Last year I bought a used set of scentlok on Ebay. With it I used the usual combinations of scent free soap, shampoo etc. To tell you the truth I was very disappointed since I got busted several times. I hunt in mountainous country with a lot of swirling winds so often times upwind and downwind don't come into play so much. This pretty much convinced me that there is a life span of usage for scentlok and how long it is depends on how hard you hunt and under what type of conditions. I'm always a sucker for a new gimmick, so this year I'll give the No trace clothing a try. There is a store selling some on Ebay for a decent price and I'll let everyone know how I think it works come hunting season.

RE: Follow up on carbon clothes
 

What's the word I'm thinking of ?
Oh yeah , ...

Duh !
:D
:D
:D

RE: Follow up on carbon clothes
 

LOL.........:D:D

RE: Follow up on carbon clothes
 

Sure, I've matured as a hunter and have become a much, much better hunter as I've studied whitetails and applied what I've learned. There is no doubt, but that's exactly what I was saying.....
....I don't have enough 'pre-carbon' experience to make a solid justification. I think the stuff works....maybe not 100%, but it helps....at least in my mind!:D


[quote] I think a fair majority of people that try carbon clothing find it helps and continue to use it. Following the masses may have gotten them to try it, but they keep buying/using it for some other reason. That's my opine, anyway.