Anyone use Ozone to get rid of smells on a Kifaru pack?

Pezboat

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Mar 15, 2018
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Minneapolis
I've got a Shapecharge that I've been hiking with all summer. Has anyone used an ozone generator to eliminate smells on a pack? They're expensive as hell, so I obviously don't want to ruin it. I've had good results in the past using ozone on clothes, gear, etc. I know, I know. Play the wind. But this is for whitetail in MN. I'll be in a tree vs chasing them up a mountain. I'm always cognizant of the wind, but deer walk where they want to. Just wondering if anyone has tried this with good results. Thanks.
 

SniperHunter

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Mar 4, 2019
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Ozone and all the Odor repellent are gimmick IMO, playing the wind is the best thing to do IMO.
 
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Pezboat

Pezboat

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Mar 15, 2018
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Minneapolis
No. I'm not saying I use it in the tree or believe that the amount of ozone emitted by one of those portable contraptions is even enough to make a difference in the wild. What I'm asking is running an ozone generator inside a small contained area, like a 5'x5' box safe for the pack. Ozone has been scientifically proven to eliminate odors. Hospitals actually use it quite often to freshen up rooms. But it is also corrosive to certain materials like some plastics and elastic. It's also not safe to breathe. I'm just wondering if it will do damage to my pack.
 

Newt

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Jul 15, 2015
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NW Arkansas
I've not used ozone, but I have used baking powder and detergent to remove odors.

Last time I went elk hunting I was out sighting in our guns with the guy I went with. I had set my backpack in the bed of his truck I guess and as we were driving through his field a gas can tipped over and literally soaked the bottom half of my pack and all the gear I had inside.

I thought the smell would never come out it was so bad. So I just soaked the pack in a big tub of water, detergent, and baking soda, I think I may have even thru some mule team booster in there for kicks. Left it soaking for a day and then washed it out.

It took a few days of drying in the sun, but the smell went away.

I would say its a lot cheaper than an ozone machine - and I would have to say body odor could not have been stronger than that gas smell.
 

tdot

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Aug 18, 2014
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BC
I've never tried it on a pack, only on jobsites where we had to do some form of restoration work, due to floods, etc. In my experience it only works if you first remove the source of the smell. Blood, Sweat, etc. Then the ozone will remove the remaining smell. Air movement throughout the process seemed to help. If any of the original offending source material is left, the ozone doesnt seem to neutralize it.

And to be honest, I dont know if it removes the smell, or simply masks it. Humans have poor sense of smell, so I cant say what animals experience.

I'm not a restoration specialist though, so that was just from my observations of work from Companies I've hired.
 

mtholton

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May 9, 2018
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Location
Minnesota
I use it regularly for all my gear. It only seems to harm rubber/elastic. I don't have that on my packs. Don't think it solves all, but can't hurt. I can take stinky shoes, put them in my bag, and they smell fresh after a few mins. I also drilled a small hole in my bow case, and cover that with tape, but periodically stick the ozone hose into my bow gear to give it a quick blast pre season.
 
Joined
Oct 8, 2012
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It may work but so does washing it in your bathtub. I’d contact Kifaru and see what they recommend for washing the pack.
 
Joined
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I had a friend that did ozone fumigation as a side job and did it on a used truck I bought. When I got it, the truck that reeked of smoking, but after the treatment it was like new again—I never got another whiff of smoke smell. However, judging by this table, I would not recommend it on a backpack as it appears to rapidly harm nylon https://www.ozonesolutions.com/info/ozone-compatible-materials
 
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Joined
Apr 26, 2017
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304
I use it in my scent free totes and I have nylon gear that’s over 4 years old. I use baking soda in a spray bottle to wet down my pack tho. I think either are fine even tho it is proven that O3 harms nylon


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hikenhunt

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Jan 28, 2013
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Location
WA
Ozone is used in the wastewater industry because it reduces odors, oxidizes, and is a disinfectant. It will reduce or eliminate odors based on the human scale, not sure about on the deer scale. It also kills bacteria and viruses.
 

jwpenn

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Sep 21, 2015
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Southern NM
My pack Mystery Ranch Metcalf was thrown in the back of a horse trailer during a rain storm and the bag and hip belt soaked throughly in horse piss and I got to have that wonderful cover scent for my elk hunt for a number of days. I got home disassembled the pack and washed it in a tub with a brush and scent eliminating detergent. A little scrubbing and soaked it for a couple of hrs the set up looks and smells brand new. Id just follow kifaru's washing instructions which im sure are the same as MR and you'll get a new smelling pack.

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Turkey165

FNG
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Jul 31, 2017
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79
Location
Iowa
I have used for few years now, just to zap my hunting gear. It has worked great for me. It just freshens it up and makes it feel clean. I would try it. And yes, I still play the wind each hunt.
 
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