Polygiene got its start in the healthcare industry in 1999, but expanded to fitness apparel in 2007 with the creation of Polygiene Odor Control Technology. To be honest, I’d never heard of it—at least until I was able to meet the company’s CEO, Christian von Uthmann at this summer’s Outdoor Retailer.

I write a lot about big-name outdoor brands, specifically about what new gear they’re releasing in my coverage of Outdoor Retailer, held twice a year. But I don’t write much about the fabric technology that goes into making the apparel we love, specifically Polygiene, which focuses on allowing clothing to be worn many times before a wash is necessary. As someone who wears out fitness apparel quickly with frequent washes that leads to pilling, I was intrigued.

A lot of people finish their workouts drenched in sweat, so I found it hard to believe that just because someone was wearing Polygiene-treated apparel, they wouldn’t need to wash their clothes after each wear. Like most people, I questioned von Uthmann, “But what about the smell?”

He responded with a full run-down of the history of the company as well as how the fabric technology works, but ultimately let the apparel speak for itself. He sent me home with a pair of Polygiene socks and a Polygiene-treated Patagonia Women’s Capilene 3 Midweight Crew. I’ve had plenty of opportunities to wear both, and was overall impressed, but more on that later.

How it works

In short, “Polygiene is an odor control technology based on silver salt, a highly effective, naturally occurring anti-bacterial agent. It stops odor-causing bacteria from settling into any material. Without bacterial growth, there’s no need to worry about odor,” the brand stated. “Engineered to provide fresh-all-day confidence, Polygiene is perfect for people who demand natural odor control that lasts as long as the clothing, footwear, or gear itself—wash after wash after wash.”

Also, it’s not supposed to cause any skin irritation, and it’s eco-friendly. The Polygiene technology is active only on the surface of the material, so skin irritation is not likely. Thanks to the company’s history in the healthcare industry, the technology has high standards for skin safety and hygiene. In regard to the environment, it’s bluesign approved, as well as included on the Oeko-Tex list of approved products. The technology also uses a low concentration of natural silver salt made from recycled silver. In addition, the clothing needs to be washed less, decreasing each wearer’s environmental footprint.

The list of companies Polygiene has partnered with seems almost endless, but includes Patagonia, Arc’teryx, Polartec, Burton, La Sportiva, Athleta, New Balance, Buff, Ortovox, Outdoor Research, and L.L. Bean.

“Patagonia is a milestone partner for Polygiene because they represent a balance between performance and environ­mental responsibility—exactly the same ethos of our brand,” von Uthmann stated on the website.

Reviews

I’ve been reviewing the Polygiene-treated socks since August, and it’s safe to say they’ve become my go-to pair, even when I’m just getting dressed for work (in an office). But the majority of my testing was completed during days spent hiking this summer, specifically on a long weekend backpacking trip. Although I had packed four pairs of hiking-specific socks, I started day one with the Polygiene pair. I ended up wearing them daily, only changing into a second pair for sleeping. By the end of the trip, they only had a mild odor despite hiking many miles each day. They’ve since become my favorite pair of socks, both on and off the trail.

As stated above, I was also able to check out the Polygiene-treated Patagonia Women’s Capilene 3 Midweight Crew, which has been ideal for morning runs and daytime hiking during the fall in Michigan. Because long-sleeved layers is what my wardrobe is lacking, the shirt has been worn almost daily since I received it. I’ve only had to wash it a few times, one of which was because I spilled food all over myself, not because the shirt had a bad odor.

It should be noted that I typically wear the shirt while running, and even though I only cover a few miles at a time, it’s enough to work up a sweat. After my runs, I hang the shirt over one of my kitchen chairs and allow it to air out. Although the clothing comes with great odor control, you can’t expect to shove a damp shirt back in your gym bag and have it not smell. When I did this, I noticed a slight odor, but not something strong enough to prevent me from wearing it again before a wash. Best results come from allowing it to air dry for an hour or so.

No, these products aren’t cheap. But when you consider that you’re washing your clothes far less frequently, therefore allowing the clothes to be replaced less often, the price makes sense. Because Polygiene has partnered with some of the biggest outdoor brands in the industry, these are apparel items that weren’t necessarily cheap to begin with, so the fabric treatment is only further increasing the quality of the clothing. I consider the fabric technology to be ideal for thru-hikers or anyone else who will be outdoors for multiple days in a row, all while trying to pack light. Next time you’re shopping for a pair of running tights, hiking socks, or new base layers, check out Polygiene-treated apparel.

Main image courtesy of YanLev/iStock Secondary image courtesy of Patagonia