Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Commuting
Reload this Page >

How do you dry out your shoes?

Search
Notices
Commuting Bicycle commuting is easier than you think, before you know it, you'll be hooked. Learn the tips, hints, equipment, safety requirements for safely riding your bike to work.

How do you dry out your shoes?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 04-01-08 | 08:21 AM
  #1  
jterribili's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Seattle, WA

Bikes: Kobe Chapparal

How do you dry out your shoes?

when you commute in the rain, how do you dry out your shoes? I have a pair of Cannondale shoes (with cleat) that I use along with my Forte Campus pedals. Although I don't mind biking in the rain (rather welcome it in fact), I do hate putting on a wet, soggy shoe the next day expecially if it will be a little cold in the morning. Short of buying another pair of shoes, what is the best way to dry?

I have tried packing them with newspaper so they keep their form, but that does not dry them too quickly.
jterribili is offline  
Reply
Old 04-01-08 | 08:31 AM
  #2  
pinkrobe's Avatar
DNPAIMFB
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,655
Likes: 0
From: Cowtown, AB

Bikes: Titus El Guapo, Misfit diSSent, Cervelo Soloist Carbon, Wabi Lightning, et al.

Take the insoles out and place the shoes and insoles in a warm place overnight. If you still use a CRT monitor or TV, they work wonderfully as shoe dryers.
pinkrobe is offline  
Reply
Old 04-01-08 | 08:31 AM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,277
Likes: 3
I have a space heater in my cube. Just don't tell building management.
DataJunkie is offline  
Reply
Old 04-01-08 | 08:36 AM
  #4  
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,724
Likes: 106
From: Washington, DC
I use high top Totes so they don't get wet in the first place.

Paul
PaulH is offline  
Reply
Old 04-01-08 | 08:37 AM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 959
Likes: 0
From: Texas
I pack with newspaper loosely. And change the packing once an hour. Takes about three changes. Learned the trick on bikeforums.net
bike2math is offline  
Reply
Old 04-01-08 | 09:15 AM
  #6  
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 118
Likes: 1
From: Austin, TX

Bikes: Trek 930, Redline Conquest, Surly LHT, Surly Troll

I have had good luck with newspaper. I really pack it in there, though, and I figure that provides more material to absorb the moisture. The shoes will be just barely damp in the morning but nothing that soaks through a pair of socks.
Txthroop is offline  
Reply
Old 04-01-08 | 09:17 AM
  #7  
DCCommuter's Avatar
52-week commuter
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,929
Likes: 1
From: Washington, DC

Bikes: Redline Conquest, Cannonday, Specialized, RANS

I use a boot dryer.
__________________
The United States of America is the only democratic nation in the world to deny citizens living in the nation's capital representation in the national legislature. District residents have no vote in either the U.S. Senate or U.S. House of Representatives. www.dcvote.org
DCCommuter is offline  
Reply
Old 04-01-08 | 09:25 AM
  #8  
Junior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Txthroop
I have had good luck with newspaper. I really pack it in there, though, and I figure that provides more material to absorb the moisture. The shoes will be just barely damp in the morning but nothing that soaks through a pair of socks.
"REALLY PACKING" could stretch out shoes.
jcpom is offline  
Reply
Old 04-01-08 | 09:54 AM
  #9  
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 118
Likes: 1
From: Austin, TX

Bikes: Trek 930, Redline Conquest, Surly LHT, Surly Troll

Originally Posted by jcpom
"REALLY PACKING" could stretch out shoes.
Well, ok, within reason. And since my shoes are mostly synthetic materials they probably won't stretch like leather could. Also, all leather shoes would certainly take longer to dry than mine.
Txthroop is offline  
Reply
Old 04-01-08 | 09:55 AM
  #10  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
From: Seattle, WA

Bikes: Giant OCR1

Originally Posted by Txthroop
I have had good luck with newspaper. I really pack it in there, though, and I figure that provides more material to absorb the moisture. The shoes will be just barely damp in the morning but nothing that soaks through a pair of socks.
+1

Furthermore, change the newspaper after a few hours. The first batch tends to get soaking wet quickly, and having fresh dry newspaper in there really speeds up the final drying process.

If you have a warm, but not too hot, place to put your shoes in addition to stuffing them with newspaper, that helps too.
vaticdart is offline  
Reply
Old 04-01-08 | 10:12 AM
  #11  
n4zou's Avatar
Scott
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,393
Likes: 1

Bikes: Too Many

Originally Posted by DCCommuter
I use a boot dryer.
+1
You can make your own shoe dryer.

Find a metal box your shoes will fit in, a rural metal mailbox will be fine.
A metal desk drawer will work as well.
Install a lamp holder and an incandescent 20 to 40W bulb. A large box will require a higher wattage bulb.

The bulb will produce enough heat to dry out your shoes.
n4zou is offline  
Reply
Old 04-01-08 | 10:15 AM
  #12  
GATC
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,839
Likes: 184
From: south Puget Sound
I really like these mesh shimano mtn bike shoes. They let the water out when it's pouring, and they also dry faster in the office while I'm working. Very seldom are they not dry at the end of the day if I take the insole out when I get in in the am. There have been some biblical rainstorms where they don't dry at home over night but for some reason those have only been on the trip home, not the way in. Either way, I wear wool socks, and if they aren't dry when I need them, it's not too bad. Frequently I have to put the gloves on the (gas) water heater at home. Rarely do I think to put the shoes (sans insoles) there.
HardyWeinberg is offline  
Reply
Old 04-01-08 | 10:25 AM
  #13  
cccorlew's Avatar
Erect member since 1953
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,000
Likes: 38
From: Antioch, CA (SF Bay Area)

Bikes: Trek 520 Grando, Roubaix Expert, Motobecane Ti Century Elite turned commuter, Some old French thing gone fixie

I have an old Alsop ski boot dryer that works like a charm.
In my office i have a small fan under my desk that works well. Our office is pretty warm.
cccorlew is offline  
Reply
Old 04-01-08 | 10:29 AM
  #14  
cyclezealot's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 13,237
Likes: 75
From: Fallbrook,Calif./Palau del Vidre, France

Bikes: Klein QP, Fuji touring, Surly Cross Check, BCH City bike

Unfortunately shoes just don't dry out that quickly. Standard gear one takes on a road gear, usually does not include hair dryers. Unfortunately.
__________________
Pray for the Dead and Fight like Hell for the Living










^ Since January 1, 2012
cyclezealot is offline  
Reply
Old 04-01-08 | 11:17 AM
  #15  
mtnwalker's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,963
Likes: 7
From: Sunnyvale, CA

Bikes: '84 Centurion Accordo RS, '06 Gary Fisher Marlin, '06 Schwinn Fastback 27, '06 Litespeed Teramo

First I take out the insoles and blot them with a towel then let them hang to dry. Then I take the towel and blot out the inside of the shoe until its just barely wet to the touch. I then let the shoe air dry for the rest of the day underneath my desk in the office. By the end of the day the shoes and the insoles are typically dry to the touch.

I used to stuff newspaper in the shoes too. But then I figured that the newspaper hinders the evaporation process. Blotting out the shoes with a towel and letting the tiny bit of moisture evaporate has worked for me better.
mtnwalker is offline  
Reply
Old 04-01-08 | 03:43 PM
  #16  
Selfish bitter clinger.
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
From: Red Stick

Bikes: Surly 1x1 commuter, Specialized Epic, Litespeed Ultimate, Nishiki Sport, Trek zx6000, Fisher Sugar team issue, Surly Big Dummy, 1984 Trek 400, Trek 820, kabuki road bike.

If you haven't tried the newspaper you are missing something truly amazing. It really works. I get it in there pretty good and change it every hour or so if I'm in a hurry for the shoes to dry.
JoebikerLa is offline  
Reply
Old 04-01-08 | 03:51 PM
  #17  
Junior Member
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
If you're at home, set them on their sides in front of the refrigerator (with the opening toward the grate). The constant airflow will have them dry by the time you wake up.
BootsyC is offline  
Reply
Old 04-01-08 | 04:02 PM
  #18  
BarracksSi's Avatar
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 13,863
Likes: 6
From: Washington, DC

Bikes: Some bikes. Hell, they're all the same, ain't they?

Get a second pair of shoes.
BarracksSi is offline  
Reply
Old 04-01-08 | 04:58 PM
  #19  
wb647's Avatar
Freddie fenders are cool
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Minnesota
Best thing I've found- - https://www.peetshoedryer.com/

You can dry gloves on it as well. I have one at home and one at work.
wb647 is offline  
Reply
Old 04-01-08 | 06:30 PM
  #20  
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,369
Likes: 0
From: Reston, VA

Bikes: 2003 Giant OCR2

On heavy rain days, I wear my dive boots. Neoprene's great.
Mr. Underbridge is offline  
Reply
Old 04-01-08 | 07:23 PM
  #21  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 514
Likes: 0
From: Brookline, MA
Since I bought waterproof shoe covers, my shoes have never been wet

Link
GRedner is offline  
Reply

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.