40 replies to this topic

[Sparkie]

In a fit of commitment, I did a one hour run in the pouring Sydney rain yesterday afternoon. Consequently, my shoes are soaked (water logged actually)....

How do CoolRunners normally dry wet shoes (preferably as quick as possible)?

[vat]

Mate, you did better than I did. The alarm went, I just laughed, turned it off, rolled over and went back to sleep.

I always found putting balled-up newspaper inside the shoes one of the better methods. Take the insoles out first, and stick the newspaper in. They'll draw the moisture out from the inside of the shoes, to supplement the exterior air drying.

[DrJH]

You don't dry them - they stay wet until you run again later that day (or the next morning). They'll soon be wet again, either from the continuing rain, or from sweat.

[Vinny]

Sparkie

I normally scrunch up newspaper, stuffing each shoe to the max, and then sit them in the drying cupboard. This can be a little slow, but provides "soft dry" shoes rather than the forced drying situation which leaves your shoes like concrete. I recall a thread on this last year sometime if you want to go hunting.

Regards.

[Stu Mac]

The newspaper in the shoe trick is the only safe way to dry them, if possible change the paper after the first hour to speed up the process. Don't use heat and try not to run in already wet shoes (blisters & further damage to your expensive shoes). Remember, you pay the big dollars for your shoes so you need to look after them.

[GaryO]

G'day Sparkie,

Most of my running is done during lunchtime & I'm in the rather fortunate position of having access to a computer room. I find that positioning my shoes on one of the server racks directly in front of one of the big air conditioners, the cool, flowing air dries my shoes out very nicely without them stiffening up. At home our clothes dryer has an airing rack which also gives a good result.

Glad to hear that you braved the elements. Running in the rain is a great feeling & has the added advantage of the footpaths being less crowded than usual. Gotta watch those umbrellas though. <_< I also love the looks I get when I'm heading up in the lift to the showers after a run, dripping from head to toe. I might not look pretty like that, but I sure do feel good about myself. :)

[daveb]

Dr JH your shoes obviously smell divine, just like mine! Sparkie, the manufacturers tell you to dry them "naturally" (ha!) but out of direct sunlight and never to wash them in a washing machine. For me, I rotate 2 pairs, one is always drying either from sweat or water, the other one is usually dry...mind you I am in Brisbane and things tend to dry fairly quickly even in shade. It's odd that some brands seem to hold a smell more than others, don't know why that would be but it is true. The smell isn't just sweat either, the shoes only seem to get really high once they've been soaked through and maybe sat in the car for a while (i.e not dried properly).

Ah well, such is life :D
daveb

[MPHinLondon]

Ahhh the runners smelly shoe. Was in the gym last night running as I didn't fancy getting drenched and I may be paranoid but I'm sure there is a reason why the treadmil either side of me was empty? :P

I'm thinking my beasts won't make it to 800-1000k, just over 500k now and they may have to be retired to the smelly bin...I'm sure this is to do with the sweat drencing they get each week.

I take my inners/orthotics out, and place them outside under cover, they dry quick enough, but "pooh baby, you stink" comes to mind :D

[haitch]

I have 3 pairs of shoes so i just let nature takes its course - they are dry by the time i want to wear them again.

[pastyboy]

Having lived in a city where the sun doesn't shine some months (Vancouver), the best trick is the scrunched up newspaper in the shoe trick. Replace the wet newspaper after a few hours with fresh newspaper. Works a treat.

Pasty

[Linno]

I also braved the rain yesterday afternoon and am trying to convince myself to do it again today. It sure beats the heat!
I rotate shoes and usually find that I have a dry pair available.
However I also keep an older pair for particularly wet and muddy runs.

[Obi-Wan]

I find that the shoe rotation trick does the job and that I always have a pair after being air dried for a day or so.

I'm just curious about what the effect on the shoes are if you wash them in the washing machine?? Does it stuff up the fabric or something, I can't imagine it would have any effect on the soles but basically I've got no idea?? I've never ever read the care instructions that come with them.

[daveb]

Nandis
I don't really know what the effect of the washing machine is but I guess there must be one if they advise against it (?)
Try it :D :D :D just joking
cheers
daveb

[Action]

All my shoes have gone through the washing machine a couple of times - usually at about 500km just to convince me not to buy a new pair just yet, and then at 1000k which is when I retire them in to day to day walking wear. No ill effects at all - to the shoes or the washing machine. Front loader, cold wash, in with a couple of towels.

[Looney Tune]

Become a lunatic like me. Have you discovered the Paul's Warehouse periodic buy one get one free sale? I have 13 pairs of Asics 2070 and 2080 in my cupboard. Some stores don't include these in the half price sales. However, if it is after the date that the next model comes out they usually will.
Wet shoes, no problem!

[Phantom Strider, retired]

Old newspapers get my vote too.

Worried about odour? Bicarbonate of Soda aka Baking Soda or Baking Powder sprinkled inside the shoe will take care of that.

[Luke SkyRunner]

We have had some problems with damp at home and last winter bought a dehumidifier. If you have a house with poor ventilation, dehumdifiers are great; if you are worried about wet shoes, they are also a great solution for drying your shoes!!

I was out for a couple of hours Wednesday and my shoes were suitably soaked. A couple of days sitting next to the dehumidifier and they are now completely dry.

In the past, I have also found newspaper to be the best option.

[Obi-Wan]

Action,

I just put my shoes through my front loader and like you said, I couldn't notice any difference except that they look cleaner, smelt nicer and felt a whole lot more comfortable. :)

[MPHinLondon]

I have to admit, I used Actions words of wisdon (again..) and my runners now look like they now may make it to Canberra afterall..just!

[Stu Mac]

Looney Tune
13 pairs!!!!!!!! My goodness, you are a lunatic and obviously you don't have a wife/husband that asks why you have so many running shoes :)

Stu

[Action]

after 6ft on Saturday I put my Asics through the wash again - with some red towels. Oops. Pink Asics. :) Not that wise, MPHaz!

[MPHinLondon]

Action, that's the lamest excuse I've ever heard mate!

It's ok to wear pink runners if that's your thing, actually I heard Jonny F was at SFT...hmmm

[Jogger]

We got a new fire, so I put mine in front of it :

 DSC01864.JPG   441.75K   24 downloads

[luckyguy]

JoggerKev, on Jul 1 2008, 09:54 AM, said:

We got a new fire, so I put mine in front of it :

DSC01864.JPG

Nice heater JG. Though looks as if those runners have seen better days?

Ditto for me. I wipe mine over with an old towel and stick them in front of our combustion fire - not a problem. No smell because I dry them straight away.

[chilliman]

JoggerKev, on Jul 1 2008, 09:54 AM, said:

We got a new fire, so I put mine in front of it :

Carefull Kev and LG, if you do it too often they shrink and crack.

Still prefer the newspaper method mentioned above changing after an hour or so then another change about 6hrs later then usually dry over night. Seem to hold better shape and they don't smell.

Edited by chilliman, 01 July 2008 - 11:53 AM.

[Bellthorpe]

I also put mine in front of an open fire. Can't say that I've noticed any degradation.

[EyeoftheTiger]

Is it just me or does using the newspaper method to dry your shoes cause them to smell really really bad !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[chilliman]

EyeoftheTiger, on Jul 1 2008, 01:08 PM, said:

Is it just me or does using the newspaper method to dry your shoes cause them to smell really really bad !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you dry them properly from new I find they never smell with newspaper. However once "things" start growing in there, the problem may be hard to solve without soaking them in something like Napisan to kill any bacteria.

[EyeoftheTiger]

Does putting bi-carb soda in your shoes really get rid of the smell ???

[luckyguy]

chilliman, on Jul 1 2008, 11:52 AM, said:

Carefull Kev and LG, if you do it too often they shrink and crack......

No doubt chilliman - if they're too close. The Key is to place them far enough away to dry without scorching.

If shoes are dried straight away, you can usually avoid the smell, which is associated with bacteria that feeds in moist dark places. Over time there numbers increase and the smell being the bi-product of whatever is growing in there, increases as well. EEEEwwwwwww yuk.

[EatEm]

Same as chilli .... newspapers and a brush when the mud is dry
and no applied direct heat (open fires, radiators, heating vents etc)

Also - pull any inner sole / lining out so that teh whole shoe dries out .....

Edited by EatEm, 01 July 2008 - 04:30 PM.

[DuckGirl]

I've always put my shoes over the ducted heating duct to dry and so far havent noticed any problems.

[chilliman]

DuckGirl, on Jul 2 2008, 03:23 AM, said:

I've always put my shoes over the ducted heating duct to dry and so far havent noticed any problems.

DG, maybe you should change to DuctGirl on CR


I do find if I leave my shoes near the combustion heater, even at a distance, they seem to feel much tighter and stiffer than leaving them on the otherside of the room with the newspaper method. Maybe my heater's just too hot !

[DuckGirl]

chilliman, on Jul 2 2008, 01:01 PM, said:

DG, maybe you should change to DuctGirl on CR

Very funny, thanks chilli.

[chilliman]

DuckGirl, on Jul 3 2008, 12:16 AM, said:

Very funny, thanks chilli.

Love the Avatar !

[RunLikeForrest]

I put mine outside in the air - they're under a section of roof so they just dry out naturally. Have to tap them before you put them on though - the lizards like to nest in them

[Jogger]

When its a sunny day they go on my front fence:

 334551587_image_00139.jpg   357.46K   19 downloads

[sammo86]

dont do what my mum did to a pair of mine when i was a kid.
it was a family holiday and my joggers were soaked so they went right up close to the OPEN FIREPLACE to dry out...i protested but she maintained that "mother knows best".
cut back to lounge room post dinner and a ten year old boy sits weeping over the charred, melted remains of his favourite joggers...a chunk of wood had fallen from the fire and toasted the poor things alive...tragic moment in a childs life

[DontStop]

I'm a big advocate for alternating two pairs of shoes. Not only don't you get stressed about them drying, but from what I understand, some midsole cushioning can take more than 24 hours to fully decompress after a decent run. Giving each pair a day off can therefore mean that you're stressing the midsole less, which may actually result in your shoes being good for more kms.

Actually, now that I think of it, I'm currently using 3 pairs: Vomero 2, Vomero 3 and DS Trainers.

[NvrGiveUp]

I find stuffing them with newspapers work really well. But make sure u take the inner sole out to it drys completely.

and really stuff them shoes with news paper.

[Morley]

I have 2 pair of shoes as well. Stuffing with paper helps and I've been known to attack them with a hair dryer. Cheers.