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Dry Wet Hiking Boots Safely: Six Steps Without a Radiator

Wet hiking boots should dry with loosened laces, insoles removed and normal room-temperature airflow. Follow REI's and Salomon's photo guides to protect leather, linings and adhesives.

3 min read2026-10-24

Original photo

AI-generated image: A Korean adult loosens wet hiking boots and removes the insoles to air-dry them indoors at room temperature

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What you need How to Style tip Photos & videos Sources

↗OriginalREI's room-temperature boot drying and storage guideREI Co-op→

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What you need

Wet hiking boots with removable insoles where possible
Soft brush or clean cloth
Absorbent paper and a ventilated room

How to

1. Take off the wet boots and set them in a place with normal airflow. Loosen the laces and remove insoles that the manufacturer allows you to take out.
2. Remove dirt with a soft brush or cloth. Salomon advises loosening laces and removing insoles; check model-specific guidance before immersing footwear in water.
3. If the interior is soaked, add a little dry newspaper or other absorbent paper. Replace it when damp rather than leaving wet stuffing in the boot for hours.
4. Place insoles and boots separately in a ventilated room at normal temperature. A fan can help airflow; avoid forceful hot air or a radiator.
5. Avoid putting boots beside open flames, radiators or heaters. High heat can dry and damage leather and weaken adhesive bonds.
6. Once the inside and insoles are fully dry, reassemble the boots. Check the tread, odor and visible damage, then store them in a dry, ventilated place.

One more tip

Never use a campfire, radiator, heater or hot hair dryer to rush drying. Follow the maker's material-specific advice and wait for the insoles and interior to dry before storage.

Photos, videos, and links

Nikwax's original cleaning video; see Salomon and REI for drying.

Sources and media

Salomon — Clean and Care for Hiking Shoes (updated 2025-04-04)
REI Co-op — Hiking Boot Drying and Storage Tips
Nikwax Outdoor Innovation — Footwear Cleaning and Waterproofing video (2019-11-21)

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Dry Wet Hiking Boots Safely: Six Steps Without a Radiator | PLAYAI STYLE