If there’s one thing that most home tinkerers, artisans, homeowners, and everyone else can agree on, it’s that walking around in a pair of wet boots isn’t much fun. Whether it’s walking in the rain, shoveling snow, or working on a project on a hot day, no one likes soft boots.
The good news is that the best boot dryers can help you dry your boots in a fraction of the time it takes to air dry. Inflating warm, dry air into heavy-duty insulated boots can turn them from damp to cozy overnight.
Before you start shopping for the best shoe dryer, there are a few things you should know. The following sections will detail the details of these time-saving and handy appliances to consider when shopping for the best boot dryer.
The best boot dryers come in many forms. Some are faster than others, while slower options provide more portability. It’s important to understand the difference.
If you are like many adventurers, you love sharing experiences with your friends. This means you’re probably not the only one wearing wet hiking or work boots. In this case, you might consider having your friend buy a shoe dryer to process his hiking or work boots.
Many shoe dryers can only handle one pair at a time, but there are some that can dry two pairs at once. While the most obvious use is drying two pairs of boots, you can also dry boot linings and gloves. Think about how useful it is to dry several things at the same time.
If you have a pair of expensive leather boots, the hot air blows off the oil, causing the leather to shrink and crack. While you can re-oil and brush them to restore their appearance, it’s best not to use heat at all.
Some shoe dryers have the ability to dry shoes with or without heating. With the flick of a switch, you can go from drying warm winter boots to more naturally drying expensive dress boots while maintaining lubrication and shape.
If you’re not into expensive leather boots, you’ll probably be quite happy with a permanently heated boot dryer. However, if you have a few good couples who occasionally see a puddle or two, you might want to consider a dryer with a heat cut.
Pro tip: If you’re worried about water stains on your expensive boots, wet them completely. While it may seem counterintuitive, soaking the entire boot allows the leather to dry at the same rate, avoiding water stains and marks.
One of the most important considerations when shopping for the best boot dryers is how long a particular model takes to dry your boots. While drying time is usually more related to how wet your boots get, knowing how long it takes for your boots to dry will help you choose the right shoe.
Silicone and PTC models are slow. They usually take 8 to 12 hours to dry wet shoes. Or some hot air forced dryers can get you back on the trail or job site in less than three hours. The power output and efficiency of dryers depends largely on how long they have to run before your shoes are ready.
If you didn’t consider port height when shopping for the best boot dryer, you should. Yes, most boots will fit any standard boot dryer tube, but taller shoes such as rubber hunting boots and wellingtons may require higher ports in order for the dryer to perform at its best.
The good news is that some models have pipe extensions that allow you to extend your vertical pipe up to 16 inches. These tubes provide enough headroom for tall rubber farm boots and hunting boots. If you find yourself wearing a pair of these boots when the weather changes, you might consider purchasing one of these.
Putting several pairs of heavy boots in the boot dryer can affect how well they sit on the pipes. They can block the suction fan and reduce the efficiency of the shoe dryer. If you can find a model with swivel tubes, you can avoid jamming everything together.
Thanks to the folding tube, you can put your shoes sideways on the dryer without compromising the efficiency of the dryer. These tubes allow the boot to sit properly so that it dries as efficiently as possible, and also leave room for another pair of boots, gloves or a hat without blocking the fan.
More of a suggestion than a feature, be sure to use a drip tray under your boot dryer. Few models come with a built-in drip tray, but you may want to purchase one separately. They go a long way in protecting your floors and minimizing wet and muddy messes while your boots dry.
Whether your boots are covered in a little snow or they’re heavily soaked, the drip tray will help protect your expensive floors from water stains. If you’re going to use a boot dryer in a room with carpeted or hardwood floors, you’ll definitely need a drip tray.
When shopping for the best boot dryer, there are a few extra features you might want to consider. Models with a timer allow you to turn on the shoe dryer in advance and forget that it is working. These time-adjustable styles are especially useful if you’re drying overnight or changing shoes before going outside.
Some models even have additional accessories that you can buy for the shoe dryer. You will find tubes for gloves and mittens. These attachments allow drying air to reach the ends of these hard-to-dry items and also help them retain their shape, which is important when it comes to expensive leather gloves.
You can even find accessories that can replace your deodorant. Some of them are installed in a line on pipes and eliminate odors as they dry.
Once you know what features the best boot dryer should have, you’ll be ready to see what’s on the market. Below is a list of some of the best shoe dryers. You can compare these models with each other with the most basic considerations in mind to make sure you choose the shoe dryer that best suits your needs.
If you are looking for a quality shoe dryer that gets the job done quickly, look no further than the original PEET Double Shoe Electric Shoe and Boot Dryer. This dual riser boot dryer uses convection to distribute dry, warm air over your boots. It works on leather, rubber, vinyl, neoprene, canvas, synthetics, wool, felt and microfiber materials. It comes with a set of extension tubes that allow you to dry a pair of high boots efficiently.
The Original is a convection electric shoe dryer, so it only slightly warms the air in the room, allowing it to rise through the tubes into the boots. It dries shoes silently for three to eight hours, while also eliminating mold and mildew and helping to prevent odor.
If you are looking for a simple and affordable convection electric shoe dryer, check out the original JobSite shoe dryer. JobSite can handle one pair of boots at a time, but you can also use it to dry gloves, hats, and skates after the boots are dry. It has a modular tube system with extensions for taller boots.
While the JobSite Original Shoe Boot Dryer is silent, the switch has an on/off LED indicator. Boots can take up to eight hours to get wet, while really wet boots can dry out completely overnight (10 hours or more).
Between the dirt, sweat and water that a wet pair of boots can contain, very strange smells can come from the depths. The original PEET shoe dryer with disinfectant and deodorant module helps to prevent bad odors. This boot dryer comes with a removable module that can be installed in line with the tube, allowing convectively heated air to rise to dry wet boots and deodorize them.
The original boot dryer with disinfectant and deodorant module will quickly do its job and take care of your boots within three to eight hours. If your hat or gloves start to stink, PEET can handle that too.
Wet boots and wet gloves sometimes require extra firepower to make sure they are comfortable when you need them. The Advantage 4-Shoe Electric Express Boot Dryer from PEET takes a high-tech approach and offers more customization options and functionality than standard convection dryers. It has a heating switch and a programmable timer with LED display.
Advantage is suitable for all types of equipment, including extensions for taller boots or ski boots. You can also double the dry extension of the hip waders if your fishing gets a bit slippery. The centrally mounted fan and coil suck in air to heat it up and then blow dry, warm air through your equipment.
The unique and highly efficient Kendel Shoe Glove Dryer is a wall mounted model with 4 long tubes that fit both the tallest and shortest shoes and dry in just 30 minutes to 3 hours. Drying in the drum.
Although the unit can be wall-mounted, installation is not required for operation. It comes with a 3-hour timer and Aroma activated charcoal absorbs odors while your shoes, gloves, hats, ski boots and high boots dry. Depending on how damp your laundry is, you can also set this shoe dryer to low or high. Unfortunately, this model does not have a silent displacement.
If you are looking for a fast and efficient high capacity shoe dryer, be sure to check out the DryGuy DX forced air shoe dryer and clothes dryer. This shoe dryer uses forced hot air to dry up to four heavy boots at once, and its 16″ extension helps keep high boots upright while drying.
This DryGuy DX forced air dryer uses a center-mounted fan and heating coils to create an air temperature of 105 degrees Fahrenheit to dry most items in two hours. The temperature and dry warm air also help eliminate odors and reduce bacterial growth. It has a switch to control the heating and a timer adjustable up to three hours.
If you prefer to dry wet shoes and boots using a more direct heat source, check out the KOODER shoe dryer, shoe dryer and foot dryer. This PTC Electric Boot Dryer slides inside your shoes and creates 360-degree heat to dry your shoes while you sleep.
The KOODER shoe dryer helps your wet boots or boots keep their shape while drying as it has a length adjustment that allows the shoe dryer to fill the entire shoe or ski boot. Heat also helps reduce odor and bacteria, keeping your work or hiking shoes smelling fresher than otherwise.
With so many options to choose from, choosing the perfect shoe dryer for your intended use can be tricky. One of the best options overall is the PEET convection shoe dryer because it can dry a pair of shoes overnight and is suitable for leather, rubber, vinyl, neoprene, canvas, synthetics, wool, felt, and microfiber material. Or the JobSite boot dryer dries shoes, gloves, hats and skates in just over 10 hours. Plus, this model has a silent working volume.
We researched the most popular shoe dryers in their respective categories and found that the best models depend on their type, power, drying time, temperature settings and other features that individual brands include.
When looking for the best boot dryers on the market, the most popular types among users seem to be convection/forced air dryers due to their ability to control odor as well as ease of use. Although PTC dryers are less popular, they are also good for drying ankle boots and 360 degree boots. Regardless of the type, the above paddles can dry 1 or 2 pairs of shoes at a time in as little as 30 minutes or all night.
While most options only have 1 heat setting, some picks have heated or non-heated options. Other special features we have chosen include extension tubes, a timer, length adjustment, a centrally mounted fan and coil, and an LED display.
By now, you should know how the best boot dryer can greatly improve your comfort after a wet hike, but you may still have some questions. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about the best shoe dryers, so be sure to check your answers here.
Most boot dryers use electricity to heat the air inside the boots. Just plug in the dryer and insert the boot into the tube.
If it is a PTC model, plug it in and put the heater in the trunk. The dryer will do the rest.
This depends on a number of factors, including how wet the boots are and the type of dryer you purchase. Generally speaking, the best shoe dryers can dry wet shoes in eight hours.
Yes, boot dryers help reduce bacteria inside boots by creating a warm and dry environment.
Any appliance can catch fire, but the best shoe dryers have built-in temperature controls that keep the dryer from rising above a certain temperature (usually around 105 degrees Fahrenheit).
Shoe dryers do not require special care. Just wipe down the surface with a household cleaning cloth, and if your machine has a fan or air intake, vacuum it to make sure it works at its best.
Post time: May-12-2023