Ski Boot Dryer: How to Dry Ski Boots Properly
When you go skiing, warm and damp feet come about all by themselves. After all, they sit in tight boots for many hours and have to perform properly while doing so. This does not necessarily have anything to do with a pronounced tendency towards sweaty feet. On top of that comes the moisture from outside. Because ski boots are not always one hundred percent tight either. Snow and water can get inside over time and additionally cause wet feet.
A ski boot dryer gets this moisture out again. In Austria the device is often called Schischuhtrockner, the same thing is meant. Here you can read how to dry ski boots correctly, which socks prove themselves and what matters with the dryer.
- Why wet ski boots are a problem
- How do I dry ski boots correctly?
- What should you look for in a ski boot dryer?
- The right socks
- Drying ski boots: the methods compared
- BORA boot dryers: Made in Austria, also for ski boots
- Frequently asked questions about the ski boot dryer
- Starting the ski day dry
Why wet ski boots are a problem
It is not the boots that smell, but strictly speaking the metabolic products of bacteria and fungi. These microorganisms feel comfortable in a damp, warm climate, and that is exactly what prevails inside the ski boot. Fresh sweat is odourless to begin with. We know this from the T-shirt: freshly sweated through it does not smell, after one or two hours in the sports bag it does.
The material suffers too. Moisture penetrates, and at temperatures around freezing point water that remains in the material can freeze and cause cracks. If the inner boot does not dry properly, its pores close up over time. The boot can then breathe even less, the feet sweat even more, and the boot gets even wetter. A vicious circle.
And then there are the cold toes. They get cold first, because in the cold they are not supplied with blood as well as the rest of the leg. In a damp boot this happens even faster.
How do I dry ski boots correctly?
After a day of skiing, correct drying decides how long the boots last.
1. Take out the inner boot
With most ski boots the inner boot can be taken out, separately the inner and outer boot dry faster. Put your hand on the back of the boot. At the back of the inner boot there is often a small loop, and then you simply push the inner boot away from you. Putting it back works like this: squeeze the heel of the inner boot together, push it in about halfway and press the rest in with your hand.
2. No direct heat
Many people put the boots on the radiator or near an open fireplace. That does dry quickly, but too much heat makes the material brittle and fragile. Low-quality electric boot dryers also work with too much heat.
3. Newspaper as a stopgap
Newspaper absorbs the moisture from inside the boot. Change it regularly until the boots are completely dry. With the thickly padded inner boot of a ski boot this takes a long time, however.
4. Air them, but not in the cellar
Fresh air helps to draw the moisture out slowly and gently. Avoid damp or badly ventilated rooms such as the cellar, because their climate slows down the drying process and encourages the formation of odour.
5. An electric boot dryer
Anyone who regularly has to deal with wet boots is best served with an electric boot dryer. It dries more efficiently than newspaper and means considerably less effort.
What should you look for in a ski boot dryer?
The temperature. Look for circulating warm air below 50 °C. With the BORA the warm air stays below that, this does not harm the inner boot. If you have custom-fitted insoles in the ski boot, be careful with other people's dryers, for example in the hotel. Check the temperature with your hand or ask, so that the insoles do not melt.
Drying from inside. It is important that only the inner boot is dried and ventilated and the outer boot is not touched at all. This makes the boots last longer. The warm air openings go directly into the toe, and the toe points upwards. The moisture goes away downwards, and so the dry air comes from above all the way down. This works with the ski boot just as with a motorcycle boot, gloves can also be put on.
Hygiene and odour. Damp boots are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and fungi, which cause the unpleasant smell. With the BORA the air is drawn in through an aroma tin, cedar, lemon or green tea are available to choose from. With Desindistery the warm air additionally becomes disinfecting.
The material. The devices are built from stainless steel, for reasons of hygiene and because they can be cleaned more easily. A device made of iron can rust, and who would hang their gloves on a rusty bracket?
The power consumption. A small device needs only 45 watts including heating, that is not even half a light bulb.
The right socks
Just as important is the quality of the socks. Good is a sock of thin to medium thickness, not an old tube sock. A thick sock makes the boot only even tighter and presses the foot into the shell. Merino wool lets the air circulate, synthetic socks, which do not do that, can close the pores of the inner boot in the long run.
One more thing after skiing. Wash the feet and change the socks before you slip into the everyday shoes. Otherwise the moisture goes out of the ski boot and into the everyday shoes, and there you soon have the next odour problem.
Drying ski boots: the methods compared
| Method | Duration | Gentle on the material | Against odour | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| On the radiator | medium | no, heat damages | no | low |
| Newspaper | long | yes | hardly | very low |
| Hairdryer | short | no, too hot in one spot | no | low |
| Electric boot dryer | overnight | yes | yes, with disinfecting solution | low in operation |
Home remedies such as baking soda or a tea bag in the boot show success against odour only in the short term. Of the methods for drying, a high-quality boot dryer is the most effective, and in everyday use it causes the least effort.
BORA boot dryers: Made in Austria, also for ski boots
The BORA dries, warms, ventilates, scents and disinfects any footwear gently and sweat-free, the disinfecting effect with Desindistery, which is available separately. It is switched on via the timer that is built into every device. It can be set to up to four hours, alternatively there is continuous operation, for example with a plug-in timer. All devices, including those with feet, are suitable for wall mounting. On every boot dryer of the BORA series there is a five-year guarantee, without registration.
All models are suitable for ski boots, from the BORA 2 for two pairs to the BORA 10, the solution for large families, hotels, clubs, mountain huts and ski cellars. Which one fits depends only on how many pairs you want to dry at once.
Frequently asked questions about the ski boot dryer
Are you allowed to dry ski boots on the radiator?
Better not. Even if it is quick, too much heat makes the material brittle and fragile. Look for circulating warm air below 50 °C.
How do I get the smell out of the ski boots?
The key lies in dehumidifying the boot from inside. Odour arises when moisture stays in the material and bacteria find a breeding ground in it. Anyone who dries the boots after every day takes away the basis for the odour. If it persists anyway, a skin condition can be behind it. A dermatologist clarifies that.
Why is the boot so tight on the first run?
Ski boots are made of plastic, and that contracts in the cold. Anyone who fastens the buckles tightly in the warm boot room has a boot that is too tight outside. Therefore close the buckles properly only outside and loosen them in the lift or at lunch.
Can I use the BORA for other shoes as well?
Yes. It dries any shoe, whether ski boot, motorcycle boot or sports shoe, and gloves can be put on as well.
How do I store ski boots over the summer?
After the last day of skiing, pull out the inner boot and let it dry well. Before putting them away, close the buckles, namely in the normal setting for skiing, then the boot keeps its shape around foot and lower leg.
Starting the ski day dry
The decisive thing is drying the boots from inside after the sport. Anyone who takes out the inner boot, does without too much heat and reaches for a gentle boot dryer starts the ski day with warm, dry feet, and the expensive ski boot lasts longer.
