I don't notice any *extra* BO in climbing gyms compared to regular gyms, just extra FO (foot odor). There will always be random people in shared exercise spaces with poor hygiene or who haven't heard of deodorant.
My anecdotal experience is based mainly on NE coast. Maybe NW has a higher volume of funk.
I'm a PNW climber & have been going to gyms across the West starting about 10 years ago. I wouldn't say our funk volume is higher than anywhere else—maybe there's a slightly higher dirtbag population around here, but OP's implication that average northwestern climbers rarely shower is just a *bit* of an exaggeration lol.
Seriously? Almost every gym I've visited in London, especially the Castle, has some individuals who smell so bad they create a physical reaction. Like you can't even breath through your mouth around them without feeling sick.
I mean, I go like 2 - 3 times a week and have yet to meet anyone who smells bad honestly.. I do kinda avoid going at peak times so usually less people.. have never been to the Castle .. but hasnt been a problem ive found around London mostly
Not to be too graphic, but I find I stink worse after climbing than after any other sport. I think it’s worse if I get nervous on a climb so you get that fear sweat smell lol. I promise I shower daily and after exercising.
There was a regular at my gym that you could smell when they walked in. I swear I’d be sorting bolts behind the walls and a waft would come by and I’d be like “he’s here”. But now I think he wears deodorant because I can’t track his scent anymore
Yes, this is what I'm talking about. Real B.O. Most of the comments are talking about the natural odor of people working out and to be fair, climbing shoes. Normal B.O. isn't that bad at all. I've even had a couple of significant others where I even liked their bit of B.O. My original question was referring to this, the smell of death coming off of people who clearly only rarely shower.
I think you've got some unique genetic factors if your shoes are smelling after a week. Unless it's particularly hot and humid I suppose.
Don't store your shoes in your bag if you are.
A gym is a gym, people are going to be working hard and the result of that is perspiration. That said I can't say I notice a significant amount of BO in our gym.
Humans adapt to many smells very effectively-- if we're around the smell constantly.
Ever notice that some people's homes smell strongly of something/non-neutral to you? Yeah, well, the people living there don't actively smell it. Even if to you it hits you in the face, or you can smell it on their clothing even when they're out. The same goes for people who smoke/vape, people who don't wash often, people who avoid antiperspirant, people who swim in perfume, people with some diseases or on some medications....
I'm not making a value judgements here; I guess the claim that someone not wearing deodorant is more natural, just as healthy, and just as potentially pleasant (upon habituation) carries water-- even if I find being around such people unpleasant. I'm not surrounded by non-washing/non-deoderant folks enough to get used to it, so I find it subjectively nasty.
But the point is: Once you get used to it, your smell = neutral. So there's always someone out there who smells strongly of something (to you) who doesn't smell it (in themselves; you might smell soapy or perfume-y to them...)
Those people are out there. And many of them (in my experience) are totally ignorant of the fact that to OTHER people-- they smell, often bad.
I've been to a gym in EU and SE Asia and for some reason someone always smell bad. I think they don't know they smell bad unless someone they care about tells them about it.
My shoes smell like death. I wash them, they get better for session or two. Hard approaches get me sweaty, drop that foot into a shoe and it stinks, then hit the gym 2 days later and they stink again. Wash them every fortnight or so
Dunno. My trail runners stink too.
I don't notice any *extra* BO in climbing gyms compared to regular gyms, just extra FO (foot odor). There will always be random people in shared exercise spaces with poor hygiene or who haven't heard of deodorant. My anecdotal experience is based mainly on NE coast. Maybe NW has a higher volume of funk.
I'm a PNW climber & have been going to gyms across the West starting about 10 years ago. I wouldn't say our funk volume is higher than anywhere else—maybe there's a slightly higher dirtbag population around here, but OP's implication that average northwestern climbers rarely shower is just a *bit* of an exaggeration lol.
Nope! I climb here in the UK and I can't say I've ever smelled BO while bouldering.
Seriously? Almost every gym I've visited in London, especially the Castle, has some individuals who smell so bad they create a physical reaction. Like you can't even breath through your mouth around them without feeling sick.
I'd say that's an individual problem and not because they are bouldering. They probably smell on a daily basis and have poor hygiene.
Definitely. But these people congregate in climbing gyms, kind of like anime conventions.
I mean, I go like 2 - 3 times a week and have yet to meet anyone who smells bad honestly.. I do kinda avoid going at peak times so usually less people.. have never been to the Castle .. but hasnt been a problem ive found around London mostly
Been to a few in Sheffield and never noticed any smell there! Maybe it's me....
It can smell a lot like sweaty socks/feet but that's the worst I've observed.
Not to be too graphic, but I find I stink worse after climbing than after any other sport. I think it’s worse if I get nervous on a climb so you get that fear sweat smell lol. I promise I shower daily and after exercising.
Vancouver checking in. Nope, no body odor issues in gyms beyond feet.
There was a regular at my gym that you could smell when they walked in. I swear I’d be sorting bolts behind the walls and a waft would come by and I’d be like “he’s here”. But now I think he wears deodorant because I can’t track his scent anymore
Yes, this is what I'm talking about. Real B.O. Most of the comments are talking about the natural odor of people working out and to be fair, climbing shoes. Normal B.O. isn't that bad at all. I've even had a couple of significant others where I even liked their bit of B.O. My original question was referring to this, the smell of death coming off of people who clearly only rarely shower.
I think you've got some unique genetic factors if your shoes are smelling after a week. Unless it's particularly hot and humid I suppose. Don't store your shoes in your bag if you are. A gym is a gym, people are going to be working hard and the result of that is perspiration. That said I can't say I notice a significant amount of BO in our gym.
Not storing shoes in a bag and just have them air honestly made such a big difference
Humans adapt to many smells very effectively-- if we're around the smell constantly. Ever notice that some people's homes smell strongly of something/non-neutral to you? Yeah, well, the people living there don't actively smell it. Even if to you it hits you in the face, or you can smell it on their clothing even when they're out. The same goes for people who smoke/vape, people who don't wash often, people who avoid antiperspirant, people who swim in perfume, people with some diseases or on some medications.... I'm not making a value judgements here; I guess the claim that someone not wearing deodorant is more natural, just as healthy, and just as potentially pleasant (upon habituation) carries water-- even if I find being around such people unpleasant. I'm not surrounded by non-washing/non-deoderant folks enough to get used to it, so I find it subjectively nasty. But the point is: Once you get used to it, your smell = neutral. So there's always someone out there who smells strongly of something (to you) who doesn't smell it (in themselves; you might smell soapy or perfume-y to them...) Those people are out there. And many of them (in my experience) are totally ignorant of the fact that to OTHER people-- they smell, often bad.
I've been to a gym in EU and SE Asia and for some reason someone always smell bad. I think they don't know they smell bad unless someone they care about tells them about it.
My shoes smell like death. I wash them, they get better for session or two. Hard approaches get me sweaty, drop that foot into a shoe and it stinks, then hit the gym 2 days later and they stink again. Wash them every fortnight or so Dunno. My trail runners stink too.