Recently bought some nice Asolo boots at the REI used gear sale. They had some laffy taffy on the sole, which I didn't think would be a problem. After removing the taffy and soaking the soles in vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and a number of strong solvents, as well as sanding away some of the rubber with a dremel tool, they still retain a sugary candy smell, though it's fainter than before. I actually have to bring the sole to my face to smell it now, which took a lot of doing. Do people think this is going to be a problem? I'm going on a 7 day backpacking trip in the Sierras next week, and I'm leery of being molested by bears, raccoons, and the like.
I can see the headline now, "Bear Molest Hiker Due to Laffty Taffy Smelling Boots." Well, that might be too long. We'll work on it. In my opinion, I think you'll attract animals anyway, even if you didn't have sugary candy smelling boots because you're still carrying food in your pack. If you hang or store your food somewhere I might store my shoes with your food if you're that paranoid. Otherwise, hike on!
Edited by ETSU Pride (08/01/1409:13 AM)
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It is one of the blessings of wilderness life that it shows us how few things we need in order to be perfectly happy.-- Horace Kephart
Recommend volunteering to clean out the lion exhibit at the local zoo. Armed with that scent even the bears should give you a wide and respectful berth.
Recommend volunteering to clean out the lion exhibit at the local zoo. Armed with that scent even the bears should give you a wide and respectful berth.
Cheers,
Brilliant.
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It is one of the blessings of wilderness life that it shows us how few things we need in order to be perfectly happy.-- Horace Kephart
Yeah, not really worried about being bothered while I'm hiking. Really only while I'm sleeping as I keep my boots with me under my tarp. I've had kit foxes steal my socks, friends have had a bear sniff around their tent all night because of a sealed candy bar, etc. It would be better to have boots that don't smell like candy, but I guess I'll just try it and see what happens...
Yeah, not really worried about being bothered while I'm hiking. Really only while I'm sleeping as I keep my boots with me under my tarp. I've had kit foxes steal my socks, friends have had a bear sniff around their tent all night because of a sealed candy bar, etc. It would be better to have boots that don't smell like candy, but I guess I'll just try it and see what happens...
I'd just store it with your food. I'm assuming you hang your food?
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It is one of the blessings of wilderness life that it shows us how few things we need in order to be perfectly happy.-- Horace Kephart
You can cover the area with black gorilla tape. Use short strips about 1/2 x 1 inch. Big pieces tend to come off. After a few miles of walking on pavement the tape conforms to the sole.
I'm using a bear canister, so I can't hang them. Or I could, but it will be in the Sierras and there won't always be trees. I also didn't have camp shoes, but I bought some flip flops. I guess I'll just stow the boots with the canister.
Your boots smell like laffy-taffy? Consider yourself lucky. After a hard summer of hiking, my boots have begun to smell like a mixture of ammonia and sewage.
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