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Ask A Bear: Ditch the Deodorant In Bear Country?
Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'
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Q: I am getting ready for my first long hike. I was wondering if the smell of deodorant attracts you or any of your family? Do I need to use a crystal deodorant or can I stick with my regular stuff? —Lori Bartlett, Gunnison, COA: Ooh—are you wearing Secret? I hear it's strong enough for a bear, but made for a woman.
But seriously, humans: Like all cosmetics, I could potentially be attracted to deodorant, especially the fruity, heavily-scented kinds. If you're just dayhiking in bear country, I wouldn't worry about it, because I'm hopefully going to be alerted to your presence by noise or another sign before I detect deodorant.
But there is some cause for concern if you're camping or backpacking in bear country. My recommendation is to skip the deodorant. Besides, you're camping after all, and the sooner you accept your own natural musk, the better a time you'll have. This will save you from having to store another superfluous smelly item in the bear canister.
If you absolutely can't go without deodorant while camping, I'd recommend an unscented baking soda variety. But try to ditch the deodorant. You'll smell more like me, and I think I smell great.
—BEAR
Got a question for the bear? Send it to askabear@backpacker.com.
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READERS COMMENTS
Stay away from the bacon scented deodorants.
To avoid animals getting into your pack, use unscented deodorant or hang it with your toothpaste and food. Most animals will flee if they detect human scent - any hunter worth their salt his tell you that - so if you want to see more wildlife, especially deer, then using scent-free deodorant will improve your odds. Not using any at all will cause you to be a lonely hiker.
I chuck the toothpaste too.
You are going on a hike out in the natural world. Why would you be wearing any chemical deodorant?? I take a toothbrush and toothpaste. Soap, shampoo and deodorant are for when the hike is done. the less you have to put in the bear bag the better.
Some people have such bad body oder that it would attract a bear more than the deodorant.
The antiperspirant Certain Dri does not smell and stops sweating for 72 hrs. It is just Aluminum Chloride in a roll on form, nothing added.
Try a deodorant stone or crystal deodorant. They have no scent, last for a couple of years, and actually work.
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