Why does La Sportiva recomend not using news paper? I tried using this trick last year after a fun day of post holing and it seemed to work really well.

mfox79 wrote:Why does La Sportiva recomend not using news paper? I tried using this trick last year after a fun day of post holing and it seemed to work really well.

Maybe liability issues? There are idiots out there would put newpaper in their boots and dry them in front of a fire, and there goes the boots.

mfox79 wrote:Why does La Sportiva recomend not using news paper? I tried using this trick last year after a fun day of post holing and it seemed to work really well.

I think it has something to do with the ink clogging the goretex lining? I don't know if this is true or not...

I'm sure there is a better way, but I set the boots on their side on the floor and put a fan next to them, aiming the airflow into the top of the boot and down inside. Certainly slower than a heater or something, but it will eventually dry them out, especially if the fan is somewhat powerful.

I get my boots wet all the time living in the tropics. I would avoid any heat sources including the sun. Just open up the boots, remove the laces if posible and put the boots in a relatively warm and dry space and put one of those small personal fans next to the so it blows air in and over the boots. They should be dry in a day.

divnamite wrote:

mfox79 wrote:Why does La Sportiva recomend not using news paper? I tried using this trick last year after a fun day of post holing and it seemed to work really well.

Maybe liability issues? There are idiots out there would put newpaper in their boots and dry them in front of a fire, and there goes the boots.

You mean you don't light the paper on fire to help the boots dry faster?

When I was a kid my dad had a set of Soapstone "boot-dryer" blocks with a leather cord on them. He would heat them up on the stove or by the fire and then place them in the boots. They dried nicely. It was also nice to put warm boots on in the AM if you were camping. It may not be recommended for boots that use glue though.

Taking the footbeds out seems to help speed up the drying process a little - at least it does in my gore-tex lined Nepals.

JHH60 wrote:Taking the footbeds out seems to help speed up the drying process a little - at least it does in my gore-tex lined Nepals.

Approximately how long did it take your nepals to dry?
After a full week, with the foot bed out, and at a room temperature of about 65*F, the inside was still damp. It concerns be because I don't want the lining inside to mold/rot because of the extended period of time it is wet. I put white paper (no ink) inside and it helps, but it still takes a long time to dry.

I will try the fan out next time they are wet, unforuntately I don't have one at the moment.

CanadianSteve wrote:

JHH60 wrote:Taking the footbeds out seems to help speed up the drying process a little - at least it does in my gore-tex lined Nepals.

Approximately how long did it take your nepals to dry?

If it's just sweat then they dry overnight. If I actually get a lot of water inside then it can take several days. That is a nice thing about plastics (though they aren't as comfy).

I'm taking my Nepals to Rainier this summer, planning on 5 nights camping with multiple summits (weather permitting). Of course, I may just end up sitting in the tent or shelter for a few days hoping to not freeze to death like I did in 2010...

What are some field tricks for drying the boots out overnight? Put them in a t-shirt and bring into my sleeping bag? Insoles out and tongues pulled, sitting in the sun (when possible) for sure. Bring a microfiber towel and stuff it in overnight, then let the towel dry during the day? Put a chem heater wrapped in a thick sock (to keep from getting too hot) into them?

They will have a fresh coat of Snoseal.

And no, I'm not going to use doubles. So given that constraint, what's the best way?

I was in knee deep spring snow with my Salewa Ravens with gaiters and they never wetted out after 8 hours in that junk. I've completely submerged goretex boots in water near the top of the boot for an hour and not wetted out. Of course they are synthetic uppers instead of leather.

pvnisher wrote:I'm taking my Nepals to Rainier this summer, planning on 5 nights camping with multiple summits (weather permitting)... What are some field tricks for drying the boots out overnight?.. And no, I'm not going to use doubles. So given that constraint, what's the best way?

I don't think there are any really great tricks to field dry your boots. Try to keep them from getting too wet in the first place. Gaitors aren't cool looking, but they will protect your boots from getting too wet. Nikwax seems to make the best boot wax for Cascades snow. Bring a pair of camp shoes so you can take your boots off to air them out. Pull the insoles out and open the boot up to air out. Try to camp on dry land.

builttospill wrote:I'm sure there is a better way, but I set the boots on their side on the floor and put a fan next to them, aiming the airflow into the top of the boot and down inside. Certainly slower than a heater or something, but it will eventually dry them out, especially if the fan is somewhat powerful.

Airflow is the best drying method. It removes odours too.

Here's what i use, not my idea. I added a car kit though. On the mountains I usually dry the footbeds in my sleeping bag (when I'm not wearing doubles or ski boots)