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After getting drenched yesterday in a weirdly localised storm cell on my ride, I have two utterly sodden winter boots which are still damp after newspaper and the night in the airing cupboard. So, I'm after a boot dryer - ideally one which just blows air in the them to dry them out.
Loads on Amazon and I don't trust any of the 5 star reviews to be real, so any suggestions on one that works?
I had one like this that worked well
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B085NF54Y9/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_p-TMFbNMRKKSK
It didn't cost such a crazy amount though 😳
strange I was looking at this recently too ;
https://www.whalleyoutdoor.co.uk/product/sidas-drywarmer-pro-usb/
Watching this thread for interest
I had a cheap octopus type fan heater from ebay (like this https://adax-solaire.co.uk/product/st12t-analog-footwear-boot-dryer-shoe-heater-220w-wall-mountable/).
Was totally useless. Therefore the only help I can be is to stop you making the same mistake I did!
Just fired up the Little Hotties one I got from Costco today.
Was totally useless. Therefore the only help I can be is to stop you making the same mistake I did!
That's good... every time i think I'll buy one I think "it might be crap"
That’s good… every time i think I’ll buy one I think “it might be crap”
+1
I was thinking about something like this one..
But £80 seems steep...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01LZEF17K
Bought this cheap and cheerful one a month or so ago for my occasionally sodden mtb shoes but mainly the plastic football boots and trainers my kids play in (pet hat of mine)- which seem to be all you can get for sensible money.
When wet inside and left to air dry it takes many days by which time they stink!
edit!Dryer
So far so good with the dryer.
picked up one from the (ex) Clas Ohlson shop in Manchester a few years back.
gets used a surprising amount, great bit of kit.
I had a cheap octopus type fan heater from ebay (like this https://adax-solaire.co.uk/product/st12t-analog-footwear-boot-dryer-shoe-heater-220w-wall-mountable/).
Was totally useless. Therefore the only help I can be is to stop you making the same mistake I did!
We bought the more expensive one from that same company - https://adax-solaire.co.uk/product/adax-neo-st3d/ and it's pretty good really - it might take two goes but you can be sure of riding in dry shoes the next day (and we dont' have an airing cupboard so that's not an option).
Husqvarna boot dryers - not that warm that they dry out the leather on expensive hiking boots. I've used them for the last few years, damp goretex hiking boots are dry the next morning, soaking wet boots that have been hosed out might take 1 1/2 - 2 days.
https://www.husqvarna.com/ie/parts-accessories/boots/shoe-boot-dryer/544964001/
@footflaps that's the one I have. Think I paid £59 for it about 16 months ago. I've not regretted a penny. In addition to my bike shoes it's also used for walking boots, my daughters horse riding boots and two lots of swimming gloves.
I ought one of these: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Aironaut-USB-Battery-Powered-Shoe-Dryer/333489502380?hash=item4da585f8ac:g:NiYAAOSwSw5eLWwb
works really well. I use a small powerbank to run it and if i want it to warm the shoes i ust stick the fan near a radiator!
it's really about moving air through the shoes and not just heating them.
I have the one Pedlad linked above, it's excellent. No need to spend more.
If you have a reasonable length commute (driving) like I do, stick boots in passenger footwell with heater directed on them full blast. Appreciate this isn't the most convenient method though.
footflaps, that one is exactly the same as the little hotties one in Costco that's on sale for £43.
Well I just dried mine out last night with a desk fan pointed down to blow into them....
I have the MaxxDry one...
Fantastic piece of kit! I use it for boots, gloves, shoes... it is running every day this time of year. I frequently get wet shoes commuting, both kids seem to be puddele-seeking missiles.
Would not be without it!
In true recommend the one you bought style...
I got one of these 3 years ago as I was fed up with how long it took to dry my winter spd boots when they got drenched. Seems to do the job fine, my wife has now begun to appreciate it as an inspired purchase since we can use it to quickly dry out the kids shoes/wellies when they get soaked!
I cobbled something together with a couple of 75mm PC fans and old 12v laptop PSU. Shoes on radiator, fans in shoes and just leave running for a couple of hours. It is noisy though.
Not getting them wet in the first place is even better. I use Vaude bike gaiters when I know it's going to be a wet ride and I've never had wet shoes when using them.
Quintessential STW answer there: don't get them wet in the first place.
😀
Agreed, just sit on the turbo for 6 months you maniacs!
Seriously though, I also have the one that pedlad linked to and for £20 it's bloody good. Dries out shoes in just over an hour, not especially loud either.
And another Pedlad imitator here. Works a treat, and surprisingly quick.
I have the MaxxDry one. It's bloody brilliant. So good, I'm considering a second one. It gets used a lot. Even if shoes aren't wet as such, they go in there for a blast of cold air to stop the sweat making them stinky.
I have those husqvarna ones too. Very pleased with them. As mentioned above, they don't get too hot, so less concern about damage to delicate fabrics.
Another Clas Olsen owner here. It's identical to this.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alpenheat-SCHUHTROCKNER-UNIVERSAL-DRY-MO/dp/B00ANHTTWA/ref=sr_1_61?dchild=1&keywords=boot+dryer&qid=1604094522&sr=8-61
Except I paid around £20 not £90.
digital plug timer like this, so that I can leave the unit switched to “ON” and then let it run for 2, 4 or 8 hours.
That's what I did, which helps a lot. After an hour, I set mine to alternate on / off in 15 minute blocks to avoid the risk of overheating the element (I didn't like the thought of leaving it on for 4+ hrs at a time).
1 hour (which the longest setting on my Class Ohlsen 'warmer') is nowhere near enough to dry boots in my cold garage. If you were using in a warm room (utility room etc) then I would imagine things would dry a lot quicker.
They're not a panacea though. A warm radiator and some old newspaper is far more effective, but a) my wife won't let me bring the stinky boots into the house and b) who reads paper newspapers these days?
Another Maxxdry here but was £50 about this time last year when I bought (still expensive for what it is) wouldn’t be without it though
footflaps, that one is exactly the same as the little hotties one in Costco that’s on sale for £43.
Yep that looks identical apart from being black!