The Freshmaker in sports clothes:

When the R&D crew at Brooks started developing the products three years ago, they were focusing on clothes that enhance thermoregulation – keeping the body from overheating or getting too cold, said Stan Mavis, senior vice president of product. Odor control was not the objective.

The researchers incorporated silver fibers – a natural conductor – into fabrics such as polyester and nylon. The fibers move heat away from hot spots, such as under the arms, to other parts of the garment.

It turned out that the silver-integrated fabric also had anti-microbial properties. "The silver ions stab the cell wall of the bacteria and 'electrocute' the bacteria naturally," Mavis said.

Kill the bacteria, eliminate the odor.

Brooks put the clothes through 80 to 90 washings to see how long the smell-control quality could last. And it did, Mavis said.

Test subjects worked out as they usually would every day in the HVAC shirts for a week to 10 days. The shirts weren't washed between workouts. They were stink-free the entire time, Mavis said.

Mavis tested the shoes in his household. "Teenagers tend to wear their athletic shoes for everything. My teenage son lives inside the house, but his shoes stay outside," Mavis said.

I am going to try this out. I am very skeptical about this. If true, it's terrific. But until I can smell it to believe it, I have my doubts.