Best Ski Boot Dryers for Home or Travel
- November 1, 2020
If you love to ski, you need to own a good boot dryer. Let’s face it; wet and damp boots are never any fun to wear. In between your trips to the slopes, you can place your boots onto these dryers so that the next time you head out, your boots will be nice and dry and ready to go. Finding a good boot dryer isn’t difficult because there are lots of well-built, durable dryers on the market so finding the right one is easier than you think.
What Is a Ski Boot Dryer?
These devices usually consist of long tubes that you place your shoes on. In addition to shoes and boots, you can dry items such as gloves, socks, hats, and anything else that fits properly onto the dryer. While all dryers can be conveniently carried with you to your destination, some are more portable and compact than others. It’s a good idea to research the various types so you can decide for yourself which one will best suit your needs.
Shoe and boot dryers are usually electric and emit heat in order to dry everything properly. Most will also reduce moisture in the boots so that mold and bacteria don’t have a chance to grow. This means that your shoes and boots will not only be dry and look good but they’ll be well protected, last longer, and smell better as well.
Yet another advantage is that boot dryers come in all sorts of price ranges and you don’t have to spend a lot of money just to get one that does a great job. In fact, many of the portable ones are especially inexpensive so whether you want to spend $20 or $50 on a good boot dryer, there is something out there available to you.
Many of the dryers also come with both a heat and no-heat option so you can personalize your experience. Let’s face it; the sooner a pair of damp boots dries out, the closer you become to being comfortable once again. It can be frustrating to have to wait until boots dry before hitting the slopes again so a dryer exclusively devoted to making that happen certainly enhances your next ski trip and helps you get more out of it in the end.
Below are some excellent boot dryers for you to consider.
Comparison Chart
Best Ski Boot Dryers for Home and Lodge
| Dryer | Portable? | Est Dry Time | Drying Ports | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DryGuy DX | No | 2 Hrs | 4 | $$$ |
| Kendal SI-SD06G Dryer | No | 2 Hrs | 4 | $$$ |
| PEET Original | No | 8 Hrs | 2 | $$ |
| MaxxDry 4 Port | No | 2 Hrs | 4 | $$ |
| JobSite Dryer | No | 3 Hrs | 4 | $$ |
Best Travel and Portable Ski Boot Dryers
| Dryer | Portable? | Est Dry Time | Drying Ports | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DryGuy Travel Dx | Yes | 2-4 Hrs | 2 | $$ |
| Kooder Boot Dryer | Yes | 2-4 Hrs | 2 | $ |
| DryGuy Original | Yes | 2 Hrs | 2 | $$ |
Best Ski Boot Dryers for Home or Lodge
At a Glance
- Drying Ports: 4
- Dry Time: 2 hrs.
- Heating Method: Forced air (heats to 105°F)
Favorite Features
- 3 hour timer gives peace of mind to run at night
- Optional heat or no-heat switch
- Comes with 2 extension tubes for boots up to 16 inches
The Details
Made for boots, gloves, and even garments, this air boot dryer can dry four garments simultaneously. You get two removable extension tubes for accommodating boots up to 16 inches and the unit heats up to 105 degrees Fahrenheit to speed up the drying process. It even reduces the growth of mold and bacteria, which means that your boots and garments will get dry quickly without being damaged in any way or smelling bad.
The blower is whisper-quiet and you get both a heat and no-heat option, making it a very versatile dryer not just for your ski boots, but for other winter clothes and garments as well. Speaking of which, DryGuy also has a pretty cool dryer accessory specifically tailored for drying helmets.
At a Glance
- Drying Ports: 4
- Dry Time: 2 hrs.
- Heating Method: Forced air (2 heat settings)
Favorite Features
- Wall mounted unit gives a more professional appearance
- Tubes provide a lot of flexibility to fit nicely into a variety of boots and garments
- Timer and heat settings give you more control
The Details
The Kendal boot and glove dryer is unique amongst others in that it is meant to be wall mounted. The wall mount makes this dryer feel like more of a household appliance than a plug-in accessory. Nonetheless, the dryer works in a similar manner, with 4 long and flexible tubes to place inside your ski boots, shoes, gloves, or more. You can adjust the setting of the warm air being blown to either low or high depending on your needs.
When the unit is running, all four tubes will be blowing air, so if you only have one pair being dried it is best to go ahead and place two of the tubes in each boot.
At a Glance
- Drying Ports: 2
- Dry Time: 8 hrs.
- Heating Method: Warm rising air (NOT forced)
Favorite Features
- Extremely quiet because there is no fan
- Energy efficient, using less electricity than a standard light bulb
- Simplistic design creates a longer lasting product
The Details
The PEET electric shoe and boot dryer is perfect for people who just want their boots dried without all of the fancy features that you don’t need. It has a basic but practical design that allows you to dry your boot. At a cheaper price point, this is a dryer that you can purchase without breaking the bank and it even eliminates moisture so that bacteria and mold don’t grow. Even better, it is built to dry all types of shoes and boots including those made out of canvas, neoprene, fleece, leather, vinyl, and many others.
Rather than using forced air (there is no fan), the PEET dryer sucks in air through the bottom vents, warms it, and the warm air gently rises up through the vents. Although it is not quite as powerful as forced air dryers, this unit is much more energy efficient and operates very quietly. PEET also has a very glove specific accessory that actually channels the air into the individual fingers on a glove.
At a Glance
- Drying Ports: 4
- Dry Time: 2 hrs.
- Heating Method: Forced air (heats to 105°F)
Favorite Features
- Heavy duty design increases drying times slightly
- Quicker dryer reduces growth of bacteria and mold
- Timer and no-heat options give full control and ability to dry other items
The Details
The MaxxDry heavy-duty boot dryer can dry two pairs of boots or shoes at a time and it heats up to 105 degrees Fahrenheit for extra-fast drying. You can dry gloves, garments, and numerous other items and it comes with a removable 16-inch extension tube in case you need to dry extra-tall boots. It comes with a three-hour timer and can dry most items in about an hour. You get both heat and no-heat options and a six-foot extension cord for convenience.
At a Glance
- Drying Ports: 4
- Dry Time: Up to 3 hrs.
- Heating Method: Forced air (warm air to 105°F)
Favorite Features
- 3 hour timer to avoid overydrying
- Cheapest 4 port option
- 2 year warranty for peace of mind
The Details
For the price, the JobSite shoe and boot dryer is one of the cheaper 4 port options so that you can be drying 2 pair of boots or gloves at the same time. Like the others, the fan powered air gives good airflow to prevent mold that causes poor odors. It is even super quiet so it doesn’t interrupt anything else going on in the area. It comes with a two-year warranty and can accommodate shoes, boots, ski boot liners, hats, gloves, and so much more. The warm thermal air is perfect for drying items from ski trips, camping trips, or hiking trips, among others.
Best Portable Ski Boot Dryers for Travel
At a Glance
- Drying Ports: 2 (1 pair of boots)
- Dry Time: 2-5 hrs.
- Heating Method: Forced air (heats to 99°F)
Favorite Features
- AC/DC adaptor means it can be used in the car, on the way to or from the ski area
- Compact, boot fitting size packs easily into boots or carry-on luggage
The DryGuy travel shoe and boot dryer works a little differently than other dryers do. This one is portable, which therefore allows you to take it with you wherever you go, and it is small enough to fit inside of your shoe or boot so it heats it up this way. It heats up to 99 degrees Fahrenheit and can even be operated in your car, which means that you can dry your boots on the way home from your ski trip.
Given the portability and price point, these would be lifesaving for any skier’s who are on the mountain multiple times per week or for traveling. The DryGuy DX travel dryer is one of the most cheap, effective boot dryers out there.
At a Glance
- Drying Ports: 2 (1 pair of boots)
- Dry Time: 5+ hrs.
- Heating Method: Warm air
Favorite Features
- Most affordable ski boot drying option
- Many vents allow even and widespread drying distribution
- Compact for travel
The Kooder shoe and boot dryer has 360-degree coverage to make sure that the entire shoe or boot is dried once the cycle is complete. The tubes are adjustable in order to accommodate boots and shoes of many different sizes. Simply place them inside of your shoes, turn them on, and the dryer does the rest.
Unfortunately, the Kooder dryer does not have an AC/DC plug to be able to use it in a car, so while they are portable and easy to travel with you can’t necessarily use them to dry or heat boots in the car. Also, they take a bit longer to dry, which isn’t surprising given how affordable they are.
At a Glance
- Drying Ports: 2
- Dry Time: 2 hrs.
- Heating Method: Forced air (up to 105°F)
Favorite Features
- Power of home-use boot dryers while still being portable enough to travel with
- Foldable arms for more compact storage or portability
- Same forced air power as other DryGuy boot dryers for quick drying
This shoe and boot dryer can dry almost anything in one to two hours and comes with special ports for large shoes such as ski boots. The unit shuts off automatically after three hours in case you forget to turn it off and the forced air removes moisture quickly so that no mold or bacteria has a chance to grow. It can accommodate shoes and boots made out of many different materials and makes the perfect addition to the rest of your skiing equipment. It also gets up to 105 degrees Fahrenheit for fast drying.
This dryer is similar to the DryGuy Dx, with the main differences being it has less dry ports, but can fold down into a more packable size to take with you on your travels. At a lower price point than the 4 port dryers, this unit is still a powerful ski boot drying companion.
More Ski Boot Dryers
What to Look for in Ski Boot Dryers
Portability
Skiing is often synonymous with traveling. For many skiers, having a boot dryer that can travel with them on ski trips is essential. Portable ski boot dryers are often cheaper, however they take longer to dry boots as they usually have a little less power. Decide what level of portability you would like and look for dryers accordingly.
Drying Method
Boots are dried through airflow and heat. Many boot dryers have a strong fan that blows air through the vent and into your boots or garments. This method is called “forced air” and is usually the quickest and most effective method of drying your ski boots. Alternatively, some dryers simply heat the air and let the warm air naturally rise and circulate on its own. While this method still works, it can take substantially longer to fully dry your boots.
Dry Ports
The number of drying ports is important. Ski boots get wet and sweaty, but so do gloves, socks, helmets, and all kinds of winter apparel. You might want the ability to dry and warm more than just your boots. Remember 2 ports is really just 1 pair of an item.
There are useful accessories for most boot dryers than can turn 1 or 2 drying ports into several smaller ones, which is useful for drying multiple pairs of gloves while also being able to dry your boots. Think about your needs accordingly as you search for a dryer and related accessories.
Dry Time
Obviously, one of the most important aspects of a ski boot dryer is how quickly and thoroughly they dry your boots so you can get back out on the mountain in comfort. Small and portable boot dryers almost always take longer, as do dryers that do not utilize forced air. While most dryers can get the job done overnight or over the course of 5+ hours, only a handful can truly dry your ski boots in 2 hours or so.
Accessories
As mentioned, there are numerous accessories for boot dryers that work specifically with certain products like gloves or boots. These can enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the boot dryer you have. Additionally, you may consider placing your dryer on a rubber mat or similar, so that as pieces of snow and ice melt, they don’t get the floor beneath the dryer soaking wet.
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Ski Boot Dryer FAQs
Should you remove the plastic shell when drying ski boots?
While you do not need to separate your liner and boot shell to dry them, doing so can help expedite how quickly your inner liners dry out.
Can you use a ski boot dryer for gloves, helmets, hats, or other boots?
Absolutely! In fact, that's a huge benefit of owning a boot dryer. Wet hands are just as bad as wet feet, so drying both your ski boots and gloves at the same time is a great idea.
Do ski boot dryers help with smelly feet?
Yes! A primary benefit of ski boot dryers is the ability to quickly remove moisture so that mold and bacteria don't begin to grow. The presence of these things causes bad odors, so putting your boots or gloves on the dryer as soon as possible keeps them feeling and smelling fresh.
Can you plug a ski boot dryer into your car?
Most ski boot dryers are NOT compatible with car usage. However, some of the portable ones, like the DryGuy DX Travel dryer have the AC/DC adaptor necessary to plug into the car. Using a boot dryer on your car trip to or from the ski area is a game changer!
Final Thoughts
Having a high-quality boot dryer on hand is a miracle worker in many circumstances, especially if your goal is to stay on the slopes as much as possible. It feels good to know that when you take a break by the fire with a drink in your hands, you can be drying your boots at the same time so that you can get one step closer to being on the slopes again. Boot dryers are easy to use and fairly inexpensive as well so they make a great complement to all of your other ski gear. In fact, they are one of the cheaper ways to ensure you have a great day on the mountain.
