Soaking Boots - Some advice please

[Boddie]

My boots are soaking after todays walk. I stuffed them with newspaper but just pulled it out as it was soaked and so I restuffed the boots with newspaper again.

Airing cupboard a good idea or not, or is it just best to let them dry nowhere near a heat source?

Cheers

Boddie

[Diane]

I think leaving them to dry away from direct heat is the recommended method.

If they're so wet inside maybe you should look at some new boots. There's nothing worse than soaking feet when you're out on a walk. We have Brasher boots with a Goretex lining and they're so comfy and waterproof. Not cheap but the best I've ever bought.

[Boddie]

To be honest I wanted to have them soaking wet as I was testing the waterproof socks. Even if they are wet I can use them as the socks will keep my feet dry. Today I wore two pairs of socks - normal cotton then the waterproof on top. I submerged my boots for up to 30 seconds and the boots were soaked. The cotton socks, protected by the waterproof socks, were bone dry. The boots are not terminally wet but I don't want fungus to set in. I think tomorrow if the weather is good I will let them air outside.

[wildone]

Originally Posted by Boddie

I submerged my boots for up to 30 seconds and the boots were soaked.

Boddie, are the boots made of leather or of a fabric material? If fabric then it should do no harm to dry them in the airing cupboard. The one thing that concerns me is that they might shrink.
Best of luck

[Boddie]

If they shrank it would be a blessing in disguise. They are a size too big for me, hence the need for two pairs of socks and gel insoles. They are so comfy now though. Upper is leather and textile. They are basically military combat boots but not standard issue - maybe to special forces but not standard army issue. Tomorrow is riding day. I intend to put in 40 - 60 miles in the early morning on my touring bike so if it looks as if it won't rain I will leave them outside. Heres hoping for good weather in Brum but not in South London

[wildone]

Can we have some of that good weather in Cambridgeshire please. It is still quite a way north of the Oval! Want to see a bird ringer at work if possible. Have missed him each time this year. Always interesting to see what has been caught and any rung from abroad. To learn how far some of these little bundles of feathers have travelled always astonishes me. Best of luck with the boots but don't leave in the airing cupboard.

[Boddie]

No, I thank you for your advice and wish you good weather tomorrow.

[Adi]

The best advice to dry any boot leather or fabric is to let them dry out naturally, I dry mine in my back porch out of direct sunshine with plenty of moving air around them.

I don’t bother stuffing them with paper as over the years I have found it does not really help.

[Boddie]

Thanks Adi

They are outside now, devoid of any newspaper, sat on the window ledge and seem to be drying out nicely

[henrya]

Another plea from Cambridgeshire for lots more rain please! Wildone - sorry about your bird-ringing but there will always be another chance. The damage being done to wildlife by the low rainfall this year is not easily reversible.

henrya