I have seen that many people store hunting clothes and Scent Lok garments in plastic "rubbermaid" bins so they don't pick up external scent between hunts. I have noticed that most plastic bins that can be purchased at Walmart etc. smell like plastic. Won't that plastic smell get in the clothing? Isn't that bad? What is a better solution?
Good question. I know there are a lot of people that use rubbermaid tubs to store stuff. They definitely have a smell, but more importantly to me... they are FAR from air tight. If air gets, so is everything else. A better solution is to use scent bag that has a few layers of separation and several seals. There are lots of them available, check them out. Here are a few links... Hunter's Specialties Bag This is the one I use. Scent Lok bag
Go to the grocery store and pick up some of the XL ziplok bags. They are about 3ft by 2ft and work great.
Garbage bags are treated with a chemical that has an odor. It's supposed to reduce the smell of your garbage. I wouldn't use them. I use the Hunters Specialties scent safe bags. They are a little pricey but will last forever. I use the giant ziplok bags for my boots ,pack and other accessories; then I put the ziplok in a plastic bin in my truck while traveling to and from hunting spots.
Do yard bags have chemical smells too? That is what I usually use. What are the dimensions of them Hunter Specialty bags? I'm just trying to get an idea of how much stuff I could fit into one.
I use the rubbermaid containers mostly because of convenience, portability, stack-a-bility in garage, etc...but agree that they are not air tight - I frequently keep my clothes hanging in tree outside to "air out"
i use the rubbermaid stuff for several things, I store perishable brewing grains in them and don't have a problem, I weight the lid to keep the seal... for camo I have taken my tubs are scrubbed them out and actually put dirt in 'em for a couple days then sweep it out... pretty much removes the plastic smell to my nose and if you keep a brick on the lid it is air tight enough...
This! Zip them all the way shut minus maybe 1 to 2 inches, press all the air out, then seal. No air, space saved. no scent getting in, etc. I got a 4 pack for like $10, and they even have handles. I am going to get alot more this year to be able to seperate the outfits even more. This past fall, I used a three bag system. I had two sets of camo I used, which I interchanged out. I would have one complete set, everything from socks to the outer jacket in one bag, and the other set in another. My HSS vest would be in a third bag. I'd wear one set one day, along with the vest, change at the truck each time...then the next day wear the other set. Makes it less imperative that I wash my clothes EVERY night to have more than one set. Camo is a softspot of mine that, no matter how much I have, I am always browsing for more. Another tip (if you use baking soda as much as we do), is go to Sams Club and buy a 12 lb bag of it for $5 rather than individual boxes of it. one bag will last several seasons, and it is good to douse in your clothing bags/containers, inside your boots, to wash your clothes in, etc...IMO, it works as good as many of the products out there.
Wash your new Rubbermaid containers out with hot water and some kind of scent eliminating soap. Then let them sit outside to air out for a couple of weeks. Dry them out and then add dried leaves on the bottom of the container before you start adding your clothes. Has worked well for me. Another way is to put mud on the inside of the Rubbermaid container and let it sit outside for a couple of weeks. That seems to take that rubber type smell away pretty quickly.
Yessir, they do. Preservatives to keep the stuff from dry rotting (I believe). The HS bags are plenty big enough for about everything you'll need. I can put 3-4 different suits including my boots into one bag. That's everything from my base layers to heavy outerlayers. I've never needed more room.
I have always used the Rubbermaid bins with a Scentlok type bag to hold my clothes. When I am not using the bags, I load the bins with earth scent wafers (since I don't use alot of scent blocker type clothing) to help cover up. Just don't want the clothes being tossed onto something I wouldn't carry in the woods.
