The Outdoor Industry's 'Cool Tech' War to Combat Sweat Odor

Many are deeply concerned as the Korea Meteorological Administration forecasts this summer to be hotter than usual. The concern primarily stems from sweat odor, a common summer nuisance. In response, the outdoor industry has introduced advanced cooling T-shirts that not only feature cooling functions but also effectively combat sweat odor, targeting consumers stressed by sweat smell.

Various outdoor brands such as Merrell, K2, Wide Angle, and Black Yak have differentiated themselves by offering products that not only provide a cool wearing experience but also combat unpleasant sweat odor with everything from deodorants essential for underarm care, to powders made from grinding jade, eucalyptus extract, chitosan, and green tea natural ingredients.

A Merrell representative stated, "Many are concerned about sweating just by standing due to the forecast of an unusually hot summer. Hence, the outdoor industry is showcasing products that not only provide excellent cooling effects but also effectively care for odors, allowing for a more comfortable summer free from the worries of sweat and sweat odor."

# Merrell, Perfect Underarm Sweat Odor Management with Deodorant Tape

Global lifestyle outdoor brand Merrell has launched the ‘SUMMIT COOL ICE T-shirt’, worry-free of sweat odor with exceptional cooling effects for the hot summer. The T-shirt features deodorant tape with excellent odor absorption applied to the armpit area, where sweat easily accumulates, effectively capturing summer sweat odor. This deodorant tape effectively neutralizes and eliminates body odors such as sweat and ammonia while also inhibiting bacterial growth.

In addition, the yarn and processing technology applied with Merrell's proprietary M-Select COOL ICE technology maximizes the cooling sensation upon skin contact. This technology lowers body temperature by absorbing sweat from the skin during activity, providing a continuous cooling effect and has the advantage of quick drying. Also, the fabric's backside is treated with Phase Change Materials (PCM) printing for temperature control, offering a refreshing coolness throughout wear.

# K2, Adding Scent Function with Powder Made from Ground Jade

K2's COOL 360 series ‘COOL 360 Short Sleeve Round 1’ product features cold stone powder, a fine powder form of jade containing cool ingredients applied to the fabric, providing not only cooling but also antibacterial and scent functions. The product back utilizes the burnout technique to burn parts of the material, offering a refreshing sensation and breathability.

Besides, the COOL 360 series includes long-sleeve tees, round necks, long-sleeve shirts, and pants products such as ‘COOL 360 Hiking Tights’ and ‘COOL 360 Shorts’ with PCM cooling materials applied to ultra-lightweight materials, enabling cool cooling full coordination with cooling products alone.

# Wide Angle, Antimicrobial and Insect Repellent with Eucalyptus Extract

Wide Angle's ‘Ice Flow’ line processes natural ingredients extracted from eucalyptus trees, the main ingredient in gargle products, into fine capsules and applies them to the fabric, quickly eliminating sweat or heat generated by warmth, maintaining a comfortable state. Following Wide Angle's independently developed cooling feature ‘Cold Stone’ material in 2015, this special line enhances the refreshing feeling on the skin contact surface, with the eucalyptus natural ingredients applied to the fabric featuring antimicrobial and insect repellent functions.

The ‘Ice Flow Cooling T-shirt’, the flagship product, mixes moisture-wicking quick-dry materials with eucalyptus cooling materials. The 'Steady S T-shirt' is a polo shirt that applies the cooling function of Yak Ice processing and the deodorizing function of Yak Fresh yarn, making it ideal for summer cool biz looks.

# Black Yak, Effective Odor Removal with Yarn Made from Natural Ingredients like Chitosan and Green Tea

Black Yak's Yak Ice series reduced sweat odor concerns by using Hyosung's Creora Fresh yarn with cooling technology. Creora Fresh yarn is antibacterially treated with natural ingredients like chitosan and green tea, effectively capturing the summer nuisance of sweat odor. The cooling technology is enhanced through a dissolution processing method using sugar alcohols like Xylitol and Erythritol, which generate coolness on skin contact by undergoing an endothermic reaction when dissolved in water.

# NEPA, 'Moisture Wicking and Quick Drying' Feature.... Easily and Wittingly Expressed

NEPA released a viral video of the Ice Cold series of functional wear, 'Superior Cooling of Jang Ki-yong', featuring actor Jang Ki-yong as a model. With the concept of 'unparalleled superior cooling', two videos themed around weekend hiking and office romance express the Ice Cold series' Hyper Cooling System, which gets cooler as you sweat, and the 'Moisture Wicking and Quick Drying' feature through relatable office life stories in an easy and fun way.

The character ‘Deputy Jang’ transformed into Jang Ki-yong becomes a superior 'Cool Guy' by wearing the Ice Cold series that cools down heat and quickly absorbs sweat during moments of heat and sweating in office life. The copy ‘If you can't change the company, change your clothes’, ‘If you can't change your body, change your clothes’ and the features of the Ice Cold series visualized as characters like 'Cooling' and 'Quick Dry', highlight the product's advantages in an easy and fun way.

# Eider, Cooler than Short Sleeves!

Eider introduced the 'Ice Long Tee' this year, a functional long-sleeve T-shirt that's cooler than short sleeves. The Ice Long Tee emphasizes the message 'cooler than short sleeves', applying the self-developed 3D cooling material ICE-T, which also offers excellent UV protection. Especially, the logo color attached to the sleeve ends changes when exposed to UV rays, adding a visual effect.

In addition, Eider has also launched Ice Denim Pants and walking shoes with cooling materials, enhancing competitiveness through product diversification of the 'ICE-T series'. By segmenting the functional cooling line, Eider proposes cool and stylish Ice Total Coordination styling from head to toe.