Wet gear in the winter is the worst. This is especially true for boots and gloves. Nothing sucks worse than cold fingers and toes, and the key to keeping those digits warm is by keeping them dry. Enter the GearDryer Freestanding 12.
GearDryer is a Utah company founded by skiers, for skiers (and any outdoorsy types) and they launched their product late last year. I’ve got the GearDryer Freestanding 12 in my basement (there’s also a wall-mounted version). As winter has arrived and the ski season is about underway, it’s time to start preparing. When the storms line up and you’re skiing powder days on end, you need a way to dry your essential ski stuff night after night.
In the past I’ve balanced my ski-boot liners upside down over the floor vents of my house. Those days are over now that I have the GearDryer.
GearDryer Freestanding 12
The GearDryer Freestanding 12 features:
- 12 drying ports
- Free standing design
- Plugs into a wall outlet for power
- 6 boot Capacity
The first thing I noticed when I received the GearDryer is that it’s big. Really big. It’s made from heavy duty steel. And it can dry a ton of gear at the same time. To test, I put the entire family’s ski boots (3 pairs) goggles, gloves and more on the heating ports at the same time. If you have a family or roommates that ski, this dryer is a game changer.
Besides the size and volume of what can be dried simultaneously, the Gear Dryer is super versatile depending on how wet your gear is. There are five pre-programmed settings so you can choose from various dry times. It’s powered by a self-regulating heat element that maintains a constant temperature. Dual fans push 200CFM of warm air into your gear. There is an auto-shutoff function so you won’t burn your house down. The settings include 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, and 2 hours. If you hold the 15-minute button down for 3 seconds, there’s even a 24-hour setting. You can also choose to just push room-temperature air into your gear, or use the heat option. Overall it’s very efficient, uses low energy, and is easy to use.
Each port can also be modified depending on what you need to dry. You can make a port straight for gloves, or add the curved top for boots and shoes. Or you can remove the port rod entirely to dry flat items like fishing waders, goggles, or jackets. Plus, if you’re not drying a ton of gear, there are included knobs that block the airflow from unused ports to conserve energy and not allow wasted drying air to escape into the room.
The Test
Coming home with sweaty ski boots and snowy gloves to dry is one thing. So I wanted to see what the GearDryer can REALLY do. To test, I filled two ski boot liners up with water from the bathtub. Then I saturated two ski gloves the same way. With these four items soaked through, I wrung them out as best I could and placed them on the GearDryer. I then turned the heat on and set the timer for the maximum – about two hours.
I went upstairs, watched television, and when the two hours was up I returned to see how the GearDryer performed. All I can say is, color me impressed. Despite a total soaking, the boot liners and gloves were completely dry. There was still some moisture on the glove’s cuffs and the top of the boot liners. But areas where it counts (the boots’ toe box and the gloves’ fingers) you would have never known they got the faucet test just two hours earlier.
The Verdict
Goodbye cheap, plastic boot dryers. The GearDryer takes drying outdoor gear to a whole ‘nother level. Versatility is unlimited to the amounts and types of gear you can dry. Along with the solid construction, this appliance should last for years. Put it on your entryway, your basement, your rental condo or your garage. Heck even backcountry huts should have this GearDryer. It is a new standard.