One actually can swoon upon opening the dreaded football bag after those sweaty Friday night football games. And I don't mean in a good way. If your household is not involved in sports, you can't imagine the stench coming from those damp football spikes amid the other sweaty gear. Truly, the entire bag is a challenge. I've gone to all kinds of lengths in an attempt to cut down on the awful, gag-inducing smells. You can soak the sweat-infused shirts and even power-wash practice pants with a hose, but the smelly spikes pose the biggest problem. I will admit to powdering the insides with baking soda in hopes of neutralizing the stench. I have purchased air fresheners and tucked them into each shoe, but all that did was mask the odor.
When I saw the chance to try Stuffits, I couldn't call dibs fast enough. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Surely, my son's size 13s would make a fine test candidate. Whew. I am no longer afraid to open the gear bag on Saturday morning. The Stuffits do a number on the dampness and -- more importantly -- the odor. The cedar smell might not be as enticing as the Axe spray or body wash that lingers in the gear bag, but it is a welcome odor compared with the stench of an "untreated" shoe.
I notice my son voluntarily places them in his shoes after practice or games. Even he notices a huge difference. I wonder if they will last through basketball season, too⢠If not, I will happily purchase another set for basketball and then baseball season. These are worth it. I'd recommend Stuffits to any athlete.
-- Rebecca Killian
I'm not proud to say it, but I've inherited the sweaty foot gene in my family. I've tried multiple layers of socks, powders, creams and those little balls that are supposed to suck up any remnant of funk. While nothing can really change my DNA, Stuffitts make the best of a bad situation. Perfectly proportionate to my size 8s, down to their stitched-in "toes," the cedar-stuffed inserts managed to freshen my favorite running shoes overnight. And we're not talking about masking with a little fragrance. I sniffed hard and touched the lining.
I have to say I'm not normally a fan of cedar -- it can be overwhelming in large doses -- but this smell is more woodsy cabin than grandma's cedar chest. Best of all, the Stuffitts can be connected or separated, making them easy to sling over a doorknob or place side-by-side under the bed. Because they're bound to pick up bacteria, the outer wicking fabric zips off and can be thrown in the washer -- a great feature for my humble 5K training.
My husband wanted to get in on the action, and, even though my Stuffitts are too small for his shoes, they made significant progress in neutralizing his favorite beat-up skateboarding shoes.
-- Laura Lenk
My fellow testers offer athletes' takes on the Stuffitts. But more slothful people like me can benefit from the odor-destroying quality of this superior product, too. For example, my comfy leather Sketchers, sans socks, enjoy plenty of wear during the summer. It's amazing what a difference socks can make in absorbing sweat and odor. Even though I sprinkle the shoes with baby powder upon every use, these are some smelly shoes.
To try out the Stuffitts, I took a whiff -- don't try this at home, folks -- to gauge the odor level before inserting the Stuffitts. I waited 24 hours before removing the Stuffitts and putting my nose in again. Amazing! A clean cedar scent is all that remained. Even after wearing for a day, the smelly foot odor did not return as strongly as before. But happily, with the Stuffitts tucked inside, I know the odors will be held at bay.
Once unzipped, the fabric cover can be removed and tossed in the washing machine. The inserts are said to last six months before replacing, for a cost of $8.95 to $9.95, depending on size. This product is well worth the price. I plan on buying a few more for boots and sneakers.
-- Sally Quinn
Additional Information:Stuffitts Shoe Savers
Stuffitts Shoe Savers
The claim: This is a revolutionary new product that absorbs moisture and eliminates shoe odor -- not some chemically potent spray that merely masks it. Made of 100 percent cedar, these shoe inserts dry out shoes 25 times faster than air drying, eradicating odor by absorbing moisture and creating an inhospitable environment for the source of shoe odor -- bacteria. Stuffits come in four sizes, from children's to manly big-foot sizes.
Cost: $24.99
Where: Select specialty running stores or StuffItts.com
