DryGuy Force Dry Shoe and Glove Dryer
If you are a runner in the Pacific Northwest, you know about wet shoes. I mean really wet shoes. Coming back from a run with puddles inside your shoes is pretty much the norm for a good 3-5 months out of the year. And this year has been quite spectacular when it comes to rainy day running. In the past, I would put my shoes near a heater vent and hope they would be dry for my next run. Often this drying out process would take a couple of days and would require alternating shoes to ensure a dry pair on the run. And then I got the opportunity to test out the DryGuy Force Dry Shoe and Glove Dryer.
First of all, let me just say – I love it! My first test of the DryGuy was after a very muddy, wet trail run. Before drying my shoes, I had to hose off the mud. Since that left my shoes literally dripping, I thought twice before throwing them on the DryGuy. I didn’t want water pouring inside and ruining it on my first try. So, once my shoes were no longer dripping, but still drenched, I put them on the DryGuy and turned them on for the longest amount of time (3 hours.) Even though the directions said dry time was typically 1-2 hours, I figured my shoes needed the full treatment!
My trail shoes drying out after a wet run.
The DryGuy blows warm air into the shoes with a gentle humming sound. I could hear it running, but it definitely wasn’t loud or annoying. In about an hour my shoes were mostly dry, but they still needed a little more time for the insides to be completely dry. I went ahead and left them on for the full 3 hours. When the time was up, the DryGuy turned off and my dry shoes were waiting for me. No need to pull out another pair of running shoes for my next run. This pair was dry and ready to go!
I also used the DryGuy after putting a pair of my old shoes in the washer. Instead of letting them sit for days slowly drying out, I put them on the DryGuy for an hour. That was all it took to get dry, wearable shoes. Awesome!
According to the DryGuy website, drying your shoes out after a wet run helps prevent bacteria, mold, and fungus from growing inside your shoes and causing odor. Yuck! All I need is more reasons for my shoes to get nasty and stinky. I would imagine that drying them out thoroughly would extend the life of my shoes, as well.
Not only does the DryGuy work quietly and efficiently, it is also pretty compact. It is slightly smaller than the dimensions of piece of notebook paper and just under 4 inches tall when folded up. It easily fits into a cupboard or drawer when not in use. It is also really lightweight. I like that it doesn’t take up much space when in use and even less when I’m not using it.
The DryGuy can also be used for gloves and boots, but since winter is over, I haven’t needed to use it for those items yet. In fact, I’ve gotten lucky and had some pretty dry runs lately, so surprisingly, I haven’t needed to use the DryGuy in the last couple of weeks. But, I am so happy to have it for the next time I need it, which I’m sure will be real soon!
The DryGuy Force Dry sells for $50 online. DryGuy also carries other drying products like a drying rack and travel dryers. If you run outdoors year round, I would highly recommend DryGuy for quick and easy shoe drying. It really does the trick!
In Seattle we get used to rainy days, but that doesn’t mean we put up with wet feet. DryGuy boot dryers and insulation products were developed in Seattle with one goal in mind: keeping feet and hands warm and healthy. We’ve tested our products in some of the wettest conditions imaginable, and as a result we’ve come to understand a few things about how the wet and the cold can affect your recreation and your health.
In 1994, DryGuy™ emerged with its trademark “Forced Air” dryers to solve the problem of cold feet and hands that are caused by uncomfortably wet boots and gloves. Today DryGuy is a leading supplier of footwear and accessory dryers and thermal layering systems. Our products are designed to keep you at an optimum level of “comfort inside & out.”
