If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, we may receive an affiliate commission. Learn more about our policies and reviews.
We want you to visualize something. You're going to be late for work because you accidentally snoozed your alarm a couple of times. You barely managed to get a shower in, iron your shirt, and get ready. However, before you leave the house, you remember that your shoes are all wet from the walk you took last night through the snow-covered driveway. Now, the pressure kicks in! So, isn't it amazing that we are here to prevent this sort of anxiety by introducing you to the best boot dryers in 2024?
So, what is a boot dryer? Well, as the name suggests, it is a device that dissipates heat and dries your shoes off. However, the versatility of this handy gadget stretches far wider than footwear. You can also use it to dry off your gloves, hat, and socks. Today, we'll be giving you a complete 101 to the best shoe dryers and equip you with all the expert tips and tricks that will help you go about buying one.
Our Picks of the Hottest Boot Dryers of 2024
Everlasting Comfort Boot Dryer — Best Overall
Everlasting Comfort’s boot dryer is surely a standout pick with many versatile features. It incorporates a hybrid forced airspeed drying technology that can dry gloves, boots, and clothes within 80 minutes. There are four extendable tubes that can instantly dry multiple garments at once. The front tube has a height of up to 17.5 inches while the rest measure 16 inches lengthwise.
This boot dryer includes an optional heat switch that heats your garments safely for a quick dry. It has a built-in ozone deodorizer that works on eliminating heavy odors from the garments. Additionally, you get to have four drip trays that store all the water and prevent your floors and carpets from getting wet.
Pros
- Only 80 minutes of drying time
- Ozone generator to purge odors
- Adjustable drying angle
- Automatic turn-off timer
Cons
- The dryer airflow can be further improved
PEET Boot Dryer — Runner-Up
This boot dryer by Peet works quietly and uses minimal energy. It has two vertical drying ports of 10.5” each assembled on a sturdy base that uses convection warm air to rise through your boots and gently dry in three to eight hours. Also, these boot dryers have great deodorizing abilities so they kill bacteria to help prevent odors.
This advanced dryer also acts as a warmer and is compatible with most materials including rubber, vinyl, leather, canvas, microfiber, and so on. The only downside of this product is that it has no power on/off switch so you’ll have to plug/unplug it again and again. On the positive side, you are backed by an incredible 25-year long guarantee so you are all good to go.
Pros
- Exceptionally quiet
- Energy-efficient
- Great for all materials
- Comes with a 25-year guarantee
Cons
- Only dries one pair of boots at a time
- No power on/off switch
DryGuy Boot Dryer — Honorable Mention
DryGuy features one of the most powerful boot dryers out there. Their central rotary fan functions silently and distributes the heat of up to 105°F evenly throughout your boots for quick drying. It comes with a three-hour timer, but we would recommend setting it for one to two hours as that’s the maximum time it will take to dry.
This robust machine has four forced air tubes measuring up to 16-inch in length that can handle two pairs of boots at a time. However, they can also be used for warming other garments such as gloves, hats, and ice skates. Furthermore, these boot dryers have a heat/no heat option. So you can either safely heat your garments or dry them at room temperature.
Pros
- Incredibly strong
- Silent application
- Fast-drying power
- Three-hour timer
Cons
- Can’t turn off individual idle tubes
- Occupies significant floor space
JobSite Boot Dryer — Editor's Pick
Jobsite’s electric boot dryer works on the principle of 360-degree thermal air rising through the tubes into your boots and maintaining consistent heating inside. It also acts as a dehumidifier and prevents your shoes from moisture. The expected drying time is eight hours for damp and overnight for truly wet footwear. You can also warm your shoes for thirty minutes before wearing them.
This boot dryer has a durable base that can accommodate most footwear, gloves, hats, and more. There are two drying ports, each with a height of 10.5 inches. This one runs so silently that you would doubt it’s actually working. Although it doesn’t have an on/off switch, there’s a built-in LED light indicator to let you know when it’s turned on.
Pros
- Noiseless operation
- Even heat distribution
- Saves power consumption
Cons
- No auto shut-off timer
- Takes a little longer to dry
KOODER Boot Dryer — Also Consider
Kooder boot dryer is a top-tier product with a durable smooth-to-touch surface. It also works as a dehumidifier and removes excess moisture. This product comes with a sturdy 15-inch power cord that can bear up to 20kg and won’t get unplugged when accidentally pulled.
With a reach of up to 7.2 inches tall, these boot dryers are designed to fast-dry and warm various types of garments. The blowholes allow for consistent drying by offering 360-degree uniform heating. Also, there is a built-in PTC heater inside the drying unit that prevents overheating and shuts down once the maximum temperature limit is reached. However, the drying time is a little long, ranging between one to three hours.
Pros
- Tough and long-lasting
- PTC generator prevents overheating
- 360-degree uniform heat distribution
- Compact and portable design
Cons
- Doesn’t have a timer
- Not great for extremely wet boots
Finding a High Quality Boot Dryers: A Buyer's Guide
Now that you know all about the best that the online marketplace has to offer when it comes to boot dryers, here is a comprehensive buyer's guide section to help you buy one.
Why Do You Need a Boot Dryer?
First thing's first, let's kick off the doubts about this impending purchase! Here are three reasons that make boot dryers essential:
Shoes that last
Do you know that water is terrible for your shoes? Whether you've got a pair of leather boots or something that's a combination of fur and suede, your boots will soon turn to dust if you keep exposing them to water. By simply drying them off on a dryer after slogging through wet surfaces, you can greatly improve their lifespan.
An impression that lasts
No one likes sharing a desk at work with a guy whose shoes stink like a skunk. This bad odor is because of a combination of two things. Number one, it is due to the overall exposure that your shoes get in the form of dirt and what-not.
More importantly, it is due to a large number of sweat glands on your feet. This moisture buildup can cause your boot's insoles to stink. Not to mention, shoes with too much moisture buildup can also cause infections to break out on your foot. So, isn't it great that you can knock this issue out of the park by investing in a good boot dryer?
What Are the Different Types of Boot Dryers?
Broadly speaking, there are two types of boot dryers:
- Temperature coefficient boot dryers
- Forced hot air boot dryers
Let's now take a closer look at the features that set these two types apart:
Temperature coefficient boot dryers
Temperature coefficient boot dryers are meant to be placed inside your footwear. It sits there like a foot and chugs out heat from all sides to give your boot a full 360-degree drying experience. This makes them more compact and travel-friendly. However, the heat settings on these bad boys aren't that good.
Forced hot air boot dryers
When it comes to long-term investment for the home, you should look no further than a forced hot air boot dryer. Larger and a lot more powerful than their temperature coefficient cousins, these types of boot dryers utilize the principle of convection to spit out heat from their tubes. You can hang your shoes on them and expect a perfect drying job each time.
Factors to Consider When Buying Boot Dryers
Now that you know all about the two types of boot dryers, here are two key things that you must consider when in the market for these devices:
Capacity
When you're buying forced hot air dryers, you can opt for ones with the capacity to dry more than one boot. Such devices will have more than two rods or come up with attachments. This is great if both you and the spouse need their boots dried off for the next day. You can even utilize the extra rods to dry off your socks, hat, or gloves.
Size
The size of your dryer matters as this will determine what type of boots you can dry with it. Hunting and rain boots tend to be a bit taller when stacked up against your regular work or casual ones. Bigger boots will require taller rods that you can hang the boot over.
Drying time
A quick journey through your new boot dryer's product description will enlighten you about their drying time. This is a measure of how long it takes for your boots to dry off completely on normal heat settings and you must go for one that meets your needs.
Buying Tips for the Best Boot Dryers
Noise
Your boot dryer is supposed to suck out the moisture from your footwear, not wake the neighbors up. So, we recommend going through some customer reviews to get a better idea of how quietly your new dryer functions.
Timer
If you tend to leave your boots on the dryer overnight, it is worth investing in something with an auto-off function to prevent overheating and excess power usage. Ones with timer settings are also great for this purpose.
Safety
On the safety side of things, you must consider whether your new boot dryer is compatible with the type of shoes that you normally wear. So, for example, if most of your boots have fur on them and the dryer you're considering has customer reviews that talk about burnt or damaged fur, ditch that boot dryer.
