Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

Shoe dehydrator

Search
Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Shoe dehydrator

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 02-09-17, 09:45 PM
  #1  
Secret Squirrel
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Southern Calif
Posts: 587
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 93 Post(s)
Liked 35 Times in 21 Posts
Shoe dehydrator

After searching for a consistent method to dry out my cycling shoes, I decided to cobble together something from parts from the bin. I used a pc can, a plastic storage box, and a 9 volt wall wort power supply. Drilled some vent holes for intake and exhaust. A pair of washed shoes dryed completely overnight. Even with the humidity at 90%(raining)
Throw in a dryer sheet and you can add a little bit of laundry smell.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
20170209_174509-373x280.jpg (43.4 KB, 173 views)
Secret Squirrel is offline  
Old 02-09-17, 10:32 PM
  #2  
longbeachgary
Senior Member
 
longbeachgary's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Beautiful Long Beach California
Posts: 3,589

Bikes: Eddy Merckx San Remo 76, Eddy Merckx San Remo 76 - Black Silver and Red, Eddy Merckx Sallanches 64 (2); Eddy Merckx MXL;

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 143 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Nice shoes
longbeachgary is offline  
Old 02-09-17, 10:54 PM
  #3  
qajaq
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Long Island NY
Posts: 111

Bikes: TREK Domane 5.2 Giant Defy Wilier Triestina Cento

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 35 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts
Hey Secret Squirrel nice bit of craftsmanship. Cabela Boot Dryer has worked well for me. Originally acquired for wetsuit boots.

Cabela's Boot and Wader Dryer by Peet® : Cabela's

Completely soaked shoes dry overnight. Also good for dive/kayak/wetsuit/ski boots. There is also a glove adaptor. No fan just warm air convection.
qajaq is offline  
Old 02-09-17, 11:01 PM
  #4  
FBinNY 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,725

Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter

Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5793 Post(s)
Liked 2,585 Times in 1,433 Posts
We have a dehumidifier in the basement. I simply hang wet clothes and shoes above the exhaust oriented so the air is blowing into them, and they dry in no time.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site

An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.

Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.

“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN

WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FBinNY is offline  
Old 02-09-17, 11:37 PM
  #5  
goenrdoug
Senior Member
 
goenrdoug's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Southern California
Posts: 1,416

Bikes: 2019 Supersix Evo, 2002 Trek 2000

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 273 Post(s)
Liked 45 Times in 32 Posts
Nice. Same shoes and I dried mine overnight by removing the insole and stuffing them with newspaper after the ride and then changing the newspaper before bed. Dry in the morning.

Of course, I like your method -- and I have some old PC fans.. hmm
goenrdoug is offline  
Old 02-10-17, 07:29 AM
  #6  
TimothyH
- Soli Deo Gloria -
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Northwest Georgia
Posts: 14,779

Bikes: 2018 Rodriguez Custom Fixed Gear, 2017 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2015 Bianchi Pista, 2002 Fuji Robaix

Mentioned: 235 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6844 Post(s)
Liked 736 Times in 469 Posts
Run on air only, no heat.

Many appliance manufacturers sell the racks as optional add-ons.

TimothyH is offline  
Old 02-10-17, 07:31 AM
  #7  
topflightpro
Senior Member
 
topflightpro's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,570
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1851 Post(s)
Liked 679 Times in 430 Posts
Stuff them with newspaper or pages from a phonebook. It will suck the water out very quickly. (You will want to change out the paper after a couple hours.)

I keep a stack of newspaper and phonebooks in my garage just for this purpose.
topflightpro is offline  
Old 02-10-17, 07:56 AM
  #8  
macca33
Senior Member
 
macca33's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: West Gippy, Australia
Posts: 607

Bikes: 2017 Ridley Noah SL - Candy Apple DA9000, 2011 CAAD10 Berzerker Ult6800, 2013 FOCUS Mares CX Ult6800

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Newspaper works every time!


Great ingenuity though.


cheers
macca33 is offline  
Old 02-10-17, 08:15 AM
  #9  
redfooj
pluralis majestatis
 
redfooj's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: you rope
Posts: 4,206

Bikes: a DuhRosa

Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 537 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
redfooj is offline  
Old 02-10-17, 09:42 AM
  #10  
Hiro11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,608

Bikes: 2022 Specialized Allez Sprint custom build, 2019 Giant Defy Advanced Pro 0, 2018 Seven Mudhoney Pro custom build, 2017 Raleigh Stuntman, various others

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 782 Post(s)
Liked 475 Times in 238 Posts
Originally Posted by topflightpro
Stuff them with newspaper or pages from a phonebook.
Yeah, newspaper is the pro tip here. It works better than a boot dryer.
Hiro11 is offline  
Old 02-10-17, 09:47 AM
  #11  
OneIsAllYouNeed
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Seacoast, NH
Posts: 756

Bikes: Chinook travel/gravel/family tandem, Chinook all-road, Motobecane fatbike

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 232 Post(s)
Liked 34 Times in 25 Posts
Originally Posted by Hiro11
Yeah, newspaper is the pro tip here. It works better than a boot dryer.
Newspaper is great, but kinda messy. I use a bag of cedar chips for the same effect, but in a reusable form. The ones I use are on Amazon for <$10. "CedarFresh Natural Shoe Deodorizer ReFresh Cedar Bag Inserts for Shoes". I keep them with my cycling gear and just toss them into my shoes after rainy rides.
OneIsAllYouNeed is offline  
Old 02-10-17, 10:00 AM
  #12  
Bikedud
Sapient
 
Bikedud's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: NW, Georgia
Posts: 759

Bikes: Just a bunch of bikes.

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 60 Post(s)
Liked 10 Times in 7 Posts
I do the newspaper method and then turn the shoes upside down on top of an ac/heat outlet so air will blow into them all night. Even if the air isn't hot, they are perfectly dry the next morning.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
grid.jpg (62.3 KB, 110 views)
Bikedud is offline  
Old 02-10-17, 10:02 AM
  #13  
joejack951
Senior Member
 
joejack951's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Wilmington, DE
Posts: 12,100

Bikes: 2016 Hong Fu FM-079-F, 1984 Trek 660, 2005 Iron Horse Warrior Expert, 2009 Pedal Force CX1, 2016 Islabikes Beinn 20 (son's)

Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1242 Post(s)
Liked 94 Times in 65 Posts
How is newspaper messy? When I commuted and had to deal with wet shoes sometimes 10X a week (rain every day, to and from work) I had balls of newspaper that I'd reuse several times before they started to disintegrate, and then they'd go in the recycle bin. My dad taught me the trick when I was a kid playing soccer. I'd be one of a few kids who'd have dry shoes for the next game when we played tournaments with multiple games a day.
joejack951 is offline  
Old 02-10-17, 10:10 AM
  #14  
Secret Squirrel
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Southern Calif
Posts: 587
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 93 Post(s)
Liked 35 Times in 21 Posts
I have to admit that the other options of:
Dehumidifier (Expensive and loud), newpaper (don't get the paper), and dryer rack ($90 for my dryer) passed through the design options.
In the end I wanted an "daily driver" option to address the issue of "stinky/wet shoe" and was economical to run. Less than 1 watt, I can run the fan all day and you can't hear the fan at all. Fan life expectancy: 35000 hrs.
I plan to put it on a timer.
Secret Squirrel is offline  
Old 02-10-17, 10:11 AM
  #15  
goenrdoug
Senior Member
 
goenrdoug's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Southern California
Posts: 1,416

Bikes: 2019 Supersix Evo, 2002 Trek 2000

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 273 Post(s)
Liked 45 Times in 32 Posts
Personally, I learned the newspaper thing from the instructions that came with my shoes (new last month) from Sidi. It explicitly said not to dry them with heat or blow driers or anything that would dry them too quickly as that could cause the leather to crack or break down more quickly... I'm sure there's a PDF of that online somewhere...
goenrdoug is offline  
Old 02-10-17, 10:14 AM
  #16  
joejack951
Senior Member
 
joejack951's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Wilmington, DE
Posts: 12,100

Bikes: 2016 Hong Fu FM-079-F, 1984 Trek 660, 2005 Iron Horse Warrior Expert, 2009 Pedal Force CX1, 2016 Islabikes Beinn 20 (son's)

Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1242 Post(s)
Liked 94 Times in 65 Posts
Originally Posted by Secret Squirrel
newspaper (don't get the paper)
I don't get the paper either but get weekly ads from the supermarkets using the same type of paper. I also order a lot online and the brown packing paper used in some shipments works just as nicely.
joejack951 is offline  
Old 02-10-17, 10:17 AM
  #17  
indyfabz
Senior Member
 
indyfabz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,255
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18424 Post(s)
Liked 15,580 Times in 7,337 Posts
Originally Posted by topflightpro
or pages from a phonebook.

What is this "phonebook" thing you speak of?
indyfabz is offline  
Old 02-10-17, 10:20 AM
  #18  
indyfabz
Senior Member
 
indyfabz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,255
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18424 Post(s)
Liked 15,580 Times in 7,337 Posts
Originally Posted by goenrdoug
Personally, I learned the newspaper thing from the instructions that came with my shoes (new last month) from Sidi.

If you continue to read instructions that come with products you will never be able to ruin something up due to your failure to read the instructions and then start a thread on BF complaining about how much the product sucks. Just sayin'
indyfabz is offline  
Old 02-10-17, 10:20 AM
  #19  
mcours2006
Senior Member
 
mcours2006's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Toronto, CANADA
Posts: 6,204

Bikes: ...a few.

Mentioned: 47 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2012 Post(s)
Liked 409 Times in 235 Posts
Heating registers work great. But are you guys talking about shoes getting wet from riding in the rain, or sweat? If it's sweat, you sweat enough to require a shoe dryer?
mcours2006 is offline  
Old 02-10-17, 10:44 AM
  #20  
Secret Squirrel
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Southern Calif
Posts: 587
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 93 Post(s)
Liked 35 Times in 21 Posts
Sidi shoe drying link:
https://motonation.desk.com/customer...dis-?b_id=5366

I still don't want to deal with paper.

My motivation for airing my shoes out stems from riding to work (wet coastal air) and a wife with better sense of smell than I have. oh yeah... reading about the potential for shoe related foot ailments.
Secret Squirrel is offline  
Old 02-10-17, 10:47 AM
  #21  
Dan333SP
Serious Cyclist
 
Dan333SP's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: RVA
Posts: 9,308

Bikes: Emonda SL6

Mentioned: 97 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5721 Post(s)
Liked 261 Times in 99 Posts
Originally Posted by mcours2006
Heating registers work great. But are you guys talking about shoes getting wet from riding in the rain, or sweat? If it's sweat, you sweat enough to require a shoe dryer?
I do when I ride the trainer

I usually stuff the shoes with paper towels and leave them in front of my box fan, but that stinks up the whole room.

Maybe @Secret Squirrel can add a little air duct that runs outside with his shoe dehydrator box (like an electric dryer) so the neighbors can enjoy the stench.
Dan333SP is offline  
Old 02-10-17, 10:53 AM
  #22  
WhyFi
Senior Member
 
WhyFi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,520

Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo

Mentioned: 354 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20810 Post(s)
Liked 9,456 Times in 4,672 Posts
Shoe jerky is the best, most bang-for-the-buck recovery snack.
WhyFi is offline  
Old 02-10-17, 10:56 AM
  #23  
Flip Flop Rider
Senior Member
 
Flip Flop Rider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: South Carolina Upstate
Posts: 2,109

Bikes: 2010 Fuji Absolute 3.0 1994 Trek 850

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 762 Post(s)
Liked 555 Times in 322 Posts
boot dryer, wouldn't be without them. bought 2 in fact

https://www.amazon.com/PEET-Dryer-Or...rds=boot+dryer
Flip Flop Rider is offline  
Old 02-10-17, 11:11 AM
  #24  
Dan333SP
Serious Cyclist
 
Dan333SP's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: RVA
Posts: 9,308

Bikes: Emonda SL6

Mentioned: 97 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5721 Post(s)
Liked 261 Times in 99 Posts
Originally Posted by Flip Flop Rider
boot dryer, wouldn't be without them. bought 2 in fact

https://www.amazon.com/PEET-Dryer-Or...rds=boot+dryer
You need one of those to dry your flip flops?
Dan333SP is offline  
Old 02-10-17, 11:33 AM
  #25  
DaveQ24
Senior Member
 
DaveQ24's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 831

Bikes: Enough plus 1

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 364 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Originally Posted by Flip Flop Rider
boot dryer, wouldn't be without them. bought 2 in fact

https://www.amazon.com/PEET-Dryer-Or...rds=boot+dryer
$40 at amazon. Check out Wal-mart around the end of February into March - picked one up a couple of years ago at that time of year for $8 - their regular retail was $28 IIRC.
DaveQ24 is offline  


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

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.