The Science of Clean: 43° Hockey Bag Kills Up to 96% of Bacteria

At 43° Sports, our mission has always been to prove that HEAT, just like a fever in your body, can eliminate harmful bacteria and safely sanitize and dry smelly hockey equipment. Now, we have the science to back it up.

A recent independent lab study titled “Sanitizing Hockey Equipment – Traditional Methods vs Innovative Heated Solutions” examined the effectiveness of various cleaning methods on hockey gear. The study was conducted in a controlled environment by a third-party research team and tested several approaches to bacteria control ranging from doing nothing at all to handwashing and using the 43° Sports temperature controlled hockey bag.

Independent testing by microbiologist Dr. David A. Narvaiz shows that the 43° hockey bag doesn’t just mask the smell of dirty gear, it kills the bacteria that causes it. In fact, the bag eliminated up to 96% of bacteria in gear that had already been washed and used again, something no other method tested could match.

“In pre-washed gear that was then used to play hockey, the 43° Sports heated hockey bag reduced bacteria by 96% in the shin guard and by up to 89% in the glove.

The (ABOVE) chart shows bacterial load in gloves and shin guards across each cleaning method. DRY USED, WASHED (using soap, bleach, & HOT water), SWEATY, and 43° HOCKEY BAG (after 12 hour HEAT cycle)

Gloves and other leather based gear (like goalie gear) that were hand washed only reduced bacteria by a modest margin due to the bacteria being tapped in the oils in the leather, but when cleaned in the 43° bag, that bacteria level dropped to nearly zero.

“The use of dry heat as provided by the 43° Sports bag offered consistent and significant reductions in bacterial counts.”

How the Testing Worked

Researchers collected bacterial samples from hockey equipment under three different conditions:

Used gear with no cleaning
Used gear + 43° Sports heated bag treatment
Handwashed gear
Handwashed gear + 43° Sports heated bag treatment

Each piece of gear was swabbed with a sterile 6-inch cotton swab immediately after a 1.5-hour practice. Swabs were applied to one-fifth of a 100 mm sterile Luria-Bertani agar plate, which was then incubated under a heated lamp for 24 hours. Bacterial growth was observed on all five pieces of equipment, with the highest levels found in shin guards, gloves, skates, and elbow pads. Helmets showed the lowest bacterial load (Figure 1).

Bacteria Cultures You Can See

The equipment was then cultured on petri dishes to grow and visualize bacterial colonies. The study included actual images of these cultures, offering a shocking visual comparison between dirty, untreated gear and gear treated with the 43° Sports bag.

In untreated samples, the bacterial colonies were dense and sprawling, clear evidence of heavy contamination. But in samples treated with the 43° bag, the cultures were nearly empty, showing a drastic reduction in viable bacteria.

Reduced More Bacteria Than Air Drying

The visual difference is undeniable: densely populated bacteria samples next to almost sterile dishes after one bag session even if the equipment was NOT hand washed prior and only aired out to dry and pause the bacteria growth.

E: Shows the most significant reduction of the bacteria in the shin guard from 1,433 CFU (colony forming units or number of countable bacteria) down to 293 CFU's for a total reduction of 79.6% in just 12 hours of heating in the 43° hockey bag with equipment that was NOT HAND WASHED PRIOR.

Drastically Reduced Bacteria in Pre-Washed Gear

The report also includes side-by-side photos of bacteria cultures grown from hockey gear under different conditions. These images clearly show the massive reduction in bacterial colonies when using the 43° bag, especially when used after handwashing in a bath tub with soap, bleach, and HOT water to get rid of dirt, dead skin, plastics, blood, and other particles the heat cannot eliminate.

E-F: Shows the reduction of Shin Guard bacteria from 2622 CFU to 101 CFU for a total bacteria reduction of 96.2%

F-H: Shows the reduction of Glove bacteria from 685 CFU to 72 CFU for a total bacteria reduction of 89.5%

Powerful Combo of Heat and Drying

During the experiment, the 43° Sports heated bag was set to HIGH and monitored for both temperature and humidity.

Temperature: The bag reached 60°C (140°F) a level scientifically proven to kill many types of harmful bacteria (Kim et al., 2019).

Humidity: The bag brought humidity levels down to approximately 20%, far below the 50% threshold known to inhibit bacterial growth (Qiu et al., 2022).

In other words, the 43° bag creates the perfect internal environment to sanitize your gear: hot enough to kill, and dry enough to prevent bacteria from regrowing.

8A: Displays how quickly and consistently the bag reaches maximum temperature and the bacteria-killing 60°C mark

8B: Shows humidity levels peak at 85%, before rapidly dropping moisture to a completely dry 18%

The Results: A Clear Winner

The results showed the 43° Sports bag delivered dramatic bacterial reduction in both used and pre-washed gear:

Shin guards: 96% bacteria reduction
Gloves: 89% bacteria reduction
Elbow pads and skates: significant reductions (79.6%) compared to air drying and storage in traditional bags

Even gear that had been thoroughly hand washed still retained harmful bacteria after use, but running it through the 43° Sports bag amplified the sanitation, making gear cleaner, safer, and ready to use again.

The 43° Sports bag uses dry heat at 60°C (140°F) in a sealed, low-humidity environment to safely dry and sanitize your gear from the inside out. And because the system traps air inside, it’s safe to use in cars, hotels, or your living room without releasing the stink.

Why It Matters

Hockey gear is notoriously hard to clean and the bacteria that builds up in it can lead to serious issues like ringworm, staph infections, and even MRSA.

Dirty gear isn’t just smelly, it can be dangerous. Lingering moisture allows harmful bacteria and fungi to thrive, which can lead to:

Skin infections
Rashes
Irritated lungs or eyes
Gear degradation

This study confirms that the 43° Sports bag is more than a convenience it’s a health and safety solution for athletes of all ages.

More Than Just Smell Control

Yes, it keeps your gear dry and odor-free. But more importantly, it protects players by reducing harmful bacteria, preserving the life of your equipment, and eliminating that nasty post-game stench from hotel rooms, cars, and locker rooms.

"In conclusion, the 43° Sports heated hockey bag offers a practical and effective method for reducing bacterial contamination on hockey safety equipment. Its ability to surpass traditional air drying and complement hand washing practices presents a valuable advancement in the pursuit of improved hygiene and health standards within the sport."

Ready to Upgrade?

Whether you’re a goalie, skater, parent, or coach there’s finally a proven way to clean your gear safely and effectively. No chemicals. No drying racks. No more excuses.

👉 Learn more and shop the 43° temperature-controlled hockey bag at 43degreesports.com