I am training for 2 mountain hunts this year. Probably 3 days a week, I am wearing my hunting boots while training. It is very hot and humid here now. As a result, my boots are getting extremely wet on the inside. It take a very long time for them to dry.

Any advice on how to dry them quicker without damaging them?

A PEET (or similar brand) warm air boot dryer. It uses convection to create a soft flow of air through the boots and will definately be ready to go the next a.m. The best $29 you will spend!

These are the type of dryer that has two posts that stick up from the base and you place the boot (upside down) over the posts.

Here are a few.....

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UT...f=pd_sl_78dzdnbdd_ee

I thought I read somewhere that those were bad for your boots. I have used one on rubber boots but not leather boots.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
I thought I read somewhere that those were bad for your boots. I have used one on rubber boots but not leather boots.

I would think being perpetually damp is even worse for your boots. Lots of folks up here use the boot dryers. Some even come with glove attachments to dry ski gloves and such.

I have done some reading on the matter. Heated dryers are not good for the boots.

I have one that hAs the option of blowing room temperature air. I forgot I had it. It has dried them nicely.

Hey Larry brother-in law Sargent major 27 years retired says news paper stuffed firm in boots helps dry helps keep form ..hopefully this helps

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
I have done some reading on the matter. Heated dryers are not good for the boots.

I have one that hAs the option of blowing room temperature air. I forgot I had it. It has dried them nicely.

Did the articles you read say why heated dryers are not good for boots?

Basically bakes the leather which can cause cracks among other things.

I agree with Larry. An accelerated drying will do damage to the leather. The newspaper trick is an old one and it does help.

Larry, I am training for a single elk hunt in CO and like you, I wear my hunting boots. My hikes are with a 65lb pack for 1 to 2 miles every day or so. Temps have been in the low to mid-90's and my boots get pretty wet. All I do is loosen the laces and put them in front of a small fan for a couple of hours or so. They are always dry the next time I slip them on.

I have used a peet dryer for 26 years on leather work boots and hunting boots and never had a problem with cracking,just warm toasty boots in the morning.

I would never use either direct or high heat, it WILL wreck your boots. The PEET convection models are great because they are just moving warm air through the boot.

The key is just air, not necessarily hot. I just bought some PVC and made mine myself to fit over the HVAC vents in my house. Looks like the peets.

I have always used the Peet boot dryers and never had a problem. Used them in hot and cold weather. Haven't done any research but I would rather risk the chance of cracking than leaving them damp/wet for very long.
I use and have good luck with Cabelas Meindl AK. Hunter boots. I just have two pair at $350 each and break in and switch off while training. If a pair did fail right before a hunt, I have a back up pair that are broke in and ready to go. It's a system that has eased my mind on the boot situation.

quote:

Originally posted by chupacabra:
Hey Larry brother-in law Sargent major 27 years retired says news paper stuffed firm in boots helps dry helps keep form ..hopefully this helps

My father died 45 yrs. ago and this post hit me like a ton of bricks. He was a railroader and I remember him coming in from work in the morning and reading a section of the newspaper then stuffing it in his work boots. THANKS FOR THE MEMORY!

PEET dryer works great for leather boots IME

If your air conditioning is on at home, just loosen up the laces and place them over the vents where the cool dry air can blow into, dry towels work great both inside and outside
I use peet driers and I do not see a problem as long as you don't leave them on for extended periods of time since the air is slightly heated short use should have no affect

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
I am training for 2 mountain hunts this year. Probably 3 days a week, I am wearing my hunting boots while training. It is very hot and humid here now. As a result, my boots are getting extremely wet on the inside. It take a very long time for them to dry.

Any advice on how to dry them quicker without damaging them?

Mostly I want to congratulate Larry on actually putting in the foot work, many don't, you'll have a much better hunt experience for it.

2nd the PEET or put some absorbent towels in and change them out when wet or moist

Dumb question but once your hunting boots are broken in, can't you just train with athletic shoes for hiking shoes depending on the activity?

quote:

Originally posted by larrys:
The key is just air, not necessarily hot. I just bought some PVC and made mine myself to fit over the HVAC vents in my house. Looks like the peets.

You aren't pumping wet boot smell through your house are you?

No. The air is coming out the vent, not going into it. No worse then the Peet type.

And besides, my feet don't stink. Do yours???

quote:

Originally posted by scottfromdallas:
Dumb question but once your hunting boots are broken in, can't you just train with athletic shoes for hiking shoes depending on the activity?

Really? Have you ever seen a pair of boots come apart on a trip? I have. I would prefer it not happen to me.

Train in athletic shoes? Now there is an idea. Train with something that weighs about 1/4 of what the average boot weighs. That will really help you prepare for the mountains.

just for training I'd try wearing a plastic bag over my feet to keep the sweat from going into the boot.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:

quote:

Originally posted by scottfromdallas:
Dumb question but once your hunting boots are broken in, can't you just train with athletic shoes for hiking shoes depending on the activity?

Really? Have you ever seen a pair of boots come apart on a trip? I have. I would prefer it not happen to me.

Train in athletic shoes? Now there is an idea. Train with something that weighs about 1/4 of what the average boot weighs. That will really help you prepare for the mountains.

I did preface it with dumb question. Enjoy the soggy boots.

Seriously, good luck on your hunt.

quote:

Originally posted by scottfromdallas:
Dumb question but once your hunting boots are broken in, can't you just train with athletic shoes for hiking shoes depending on the activity?

No matter how well a pair of boots fit they still will act differently on your feet than a pair of sneakers and it's a good idea to have your feet get reacquainted with those unique fit issues. In other words your feet need to wear into the boot as much as the boot has to wear into your feet.

+1

So tru, so tru. Se it every year, some hunters showes up with broken in boot, less than a week old......3 days later, PAIN, and maybe a hunting trip down the drain, because your feet and boots where not worn in.

My boots are well broken in with hundreds on miles on each pair. The problem that I am having now is that it is so damn hot that at the end of my long day (Sundays 3-3.5 hours) I can literally pour sweat out of my boots. I do not recall this before. My big toes are a little touchy afterward. I have never experienced this either. I am hoping it is the sweat. It is way too late to try something else.

That's a long time straight Larry. I suggest taking along several pairs of socks and rotating through them every time you take a breather. Walking with wet feet is bad juju. You'll eventually start sloughing off skin. Dry socks=happy feet. It's probably both sweat sunning down your legs and your feet sweating In Florida, that could just be condensation though.

Place boots in the sun as often as you can, fully opened. They will help dry and disinfect. The salt from sweat will deteriorate the boot much faster than forced air. Having a second pair to rotate is an excellent idea. Use a hair dryer on low!
If your toes are feeling it now. I would make sure the boot is a full size longer than normal. Going downhill with a load, will put the pressure on your toes. Many lose their toe nails. Walking with your toes curled in is no fun. Speaking from experience.
With elevation your foot will swell in size and especially after hard work at the end of the day. Make sure there is room to wiggle. Snugly lace for downhill.
Whatever culmination of things that cause your boot to get wet on the inside, will make it hard to dry in the field. Make sure to take a large oversize Gortex socks. Wear them over your regular socks and your feet should stay fairly dry. Change socks the minute you feel your feet are damp. Rinse socks with biodegradable soap in the evening, hang inside the tent. They will be dry by morning to reuse.

I have had the same peet dryer for over 25 years and have never seen ill effects on my boots, sounds like you are going to wear them out before the boot dryer will anyhow, get the boot dryer and try it and you will be happy

Something to consider, is how do you plan to dry boots once out on your sheep hunt?

On warmer and colder weather mountain hunts here in Northern BC, I've used newspaper and plastic garbage bags to help dry out my boots.Minimal weight and can have other uses if not needed.

The newspaper comes along in a sealed ziploc bag, and one full sheet goes into each boot at night. Helps draw moisture out of the boot.
Sometimes the boots need to go into a garbage bag, and into the bottom of the sleeping bag overnight.
Helps keep them warm and dry a little. I use this more on late season hunts when it's near/below freezing. Boots/laces that aren't frozen in the morning, is a beautiful thing.
I really don't like drying boots near a fire, too easy to screw up a pair of boots.

The best method for this is to have TWO pairs of boots. You wear one pair while the other air dries. Rotating two boots will last will make each pair last a good 10-20 % longer than if you just wore one until they're done.

Barring that however, putting them in front of a floor fan, stuffing with newspaper and hanging inside the dryer by the front door using the laces so they don't tumble about on the cool/delicate setting are all methods I've used that worked.