How to dry work boots overnight. There is nothing better than taking an invigorating walk among the beauty of nature. Rain or shine, regular walking has many physical and mental benefits. But knowing that you have to put on wet shoes the next day to continue the adventure is very unpleasant.
Here at LOWA, we've put together a guide to help you dry your boots overnight so you can hit the trails in comfort and ease the next day.
START THE PROCESS ASAP
Once you return from your hike, the drying process for your shoes should begin immediately to ensure maximum overnight drying time is available.
CLEAN THEM FIRST
Before starting to dry the shoes, all traces of mud must be removed. This is because leaving dirt on your boots while you dry them can leave a permanent stain on the surface.
For more information, check out our blog on cleaning suede hiking boots, which has a detailed guide to the best way to clean them.
REMOVE THE INSOLE IF POSSIBLE
If your shoe inserts can be removed, it is best to do this as often as possible. This allows each stencil to be dried individually and more effectively.
Also, the entire boot can be dried more efficiently, as air can circulate through the shoes and get between hidden areas when removing the insoles. Many good-quality hiking boots should have this feature.
TAKE OUT THE LACES
This may seem a bit tricky, but to ensure your boots dry efficiently, it's best to remove the laces. Like insoles, laces can dry better individually and the air is more likely to reach the parts of the shoes normally covered by laces.
AVOID DIRECT HEAT
Ideally, drying your boots without indirect heat is the best and safest method. Sure, you may need a heater, wood stove, or fire pit to increase the overall area of the room or space, but the boots should not be placed directly in front of or near it.
This is mainly because too much heat can damage the outside of the boots, such as the glue or other materials that hold the shoes together. Using a hairdryer should also be avoided.
METHODS TO DRY BOOTS OVERNIGHT
There are several ways to dry your boots overnight, depending on the resources available to you.
USING NEWSPAPER OR KITCHEN ROLL
If you have any of these materials available, it's ideal to stuff your boots with them to absorb excess moisture. For newsprint, the best way to stuff boots is to remove the leaves and roll them into small balls.
The rollers should be fairly loose as if they are too tight, the water cannot be absorbed well. Another tip is to poke holes in the newspaper before crumpling it. Place the paper or kitchen towel all over the trunk, up to the leg opening.
Again, be careful not to overfill as the paper needs some space to absorb the water. You can change the paper towels or newspaper after a few hours to remove the first load of moisture before going to sleep, or as often as needed after the materials are soaked.
USING CAT LITTER OR RICE IN A SOCK
To use any of the above materials you will also need the correct size bucket to put your boots in along with the rice or cat litter. Fill the bucket to about an inch high with rice or cat litter and place the shoes in it.
Place the socks and cover the top with a lid and let it sit overnight. As with the newspaper method, you can substitute rice or cat litter wherever you like, depending on how much moisture needs to be removed.
USING A FAN
This is considered one of the most effective and safe methods of drying hiking boots overnight. The best way is to use an unheated fan with a long base.
To attach the boots to the fan, you will need a cord that you can hook onto the outside of the fan and the shoes.
Place a towel under the shoes to soak up any water droplets while the boots dry. If you can, it's more convenient to run the fan at night.
USING A TOWEL
Similar to the newspaper method, except a towel is used to absorb moisture. Make sure to clean your shoes beforehand, then place two corners of a towel in each boot. Then wrap the remaining two edges of the towel around the shoes to completely cover them.
The towel should be left for a few minutes to absorb the initial moisture and then removed. Repeat the process with a clean, dry towel and leave it on. As you might predict, it's best to use old towels for this method!
USING A BOOT DRYER
This is an excellent piece of equipment for anyone who has a pair of walking boots or shoes around the house. A good dryer should have about two horsepower to ensure there is the perfect amount of hot air to properly dry your shoes.
Simply insert the tube into the boot making sure it is pushed all the way to the edge of the toe box. Then turn on the dryer. For a completely dry boot, let it sit for one to two hours.
PUT THEM IN A DRY ROOM
This is essential to ensure that all your hard work is not wasted! If you take the time to dry your boots using any of the above methods and then place them in a cold, damp room, you will only end up with wet boots again.
Where you leave them overnight, make sure the room or area is dry and warm.
If you need new hiking boots for the season, take a look at our wide selection of lightweight boots for women and men.