You get in from a wet run, kick your shoes off by the back door and forget about them. Next morning they feel fine from the outside. You pull them on and within a minute your sock is damp again. We've all done it, it's not the best idea.
That gap between "feels almost dry" (good enough?) and "is dry" is what this post is about. The honest answer to how long it takes depends on how you dry them, what the shoes are made of, and how damp your house is. Here are realistic numbers, including for the free methods, because some of them are perfectly decent.
What "dry" actually means
The mesh upper dries quickly. The slow parts are the insole, the foam midsole, the lining around the heel and the tongue. A shoe can feel dry to the touch while the insole is still holding water, and that hidden moisture is what gives you blisters and the smell. So when we say dry, we mean all of it, not just the bit you can see.
Air drying
It's free, it's safe, and it's what most runners do. In a heated UK house in winter, a lightweight mesh trainer usually takes somewhere between a day and two to dry fully. Padded, thick-soled shoes and anything with a waterproof membrane take longer, since that membrane keeps water in as well as out.
You can speed it up by pulling the insoles out and loosening the laces and tongue. That makes a real difference. It still isn't fast, and if you run on back-to-back days you're putting your shoes on again before they've finished.
Newspaper
This one earns its reputation. Scrunched paper pulls moisture out of the inside of the shoe, and it works better than doing nothing. Swap the paper every couple of hours at first, then leave fresh stuffing in overnight, and most shoes will be a lot drier by morning. Fully dry is another matter, especially around the midsole.
The downsides are the faff, ink transferring onto pale linings, and the fact that paper only dries what it touches. This is what your mum used to do when you were a kid and if you forget to change the paper... depending on how long it takes for you to remember, you could have a mould situation on your hands.. sorry, your feet.
Radiators and heaters
This is the fastest free method and the one most likely to ruin your shoes. Put a pair on a radiator and they might feel dry in three to five hours. Direct heat can also soften the glue holding the sole on, warp the upper and harden the foam in the midsole. Most shoe makers say not to do it.
It's also uneven. The outside dries while the inside stays damp, so you end up with a shoe that looks sorted and isn't. If you have no other option, keep them a good distance from the heat rather than sitting on the pipe. Hairdryers have the same problem on a smaller scale, and tumble dryers are best avoided altogether.
A dedicated shoe dryer
A proper dryer moves warm air through the shoe rather than around it. That's the whole difference. With the Atacama, you put a shoe on each tube, set it going, and it takes around 90 minutes. The air reaches the insole and the lining, which is where the moisture sits.
It also has high and low heat settings, so you aren't blasting your shoes the way a radiator does. If you dry in a warm room, you can drop it to low.
| Method | Typical time | Main catch |
|---|---|---|
| Air drying | 1 to 2 days | Too slow for back-to-back runs |
| Newspaper | Overnight, often not fully dry | Faff, only dries what it touches |
| Radiator | 3 to 5 hours | Can damage glue, foam and uppers |
| Atacama | Around 90 minutes | Costs money |
Times vary with the shoe and the room, so treat these as ballpark figures.
Why 90 minutes beats a day
It comes down to airflow more than heat. Heat sitting next to a shoe moves moisture out slowly. Air moving through it takes the damp with it.
The timing matters too. Ninety minutes is roughly a long run, or a bath and a cup of tea. Put the shoes on when you get in, and they're dry before bed. Compare that with a day or two of air drying when you're running four or five times a week through a UK autumn and winter. The numbers don't add up. You're always one session behind.
Does everyone need one? No. If you run twice a week and have two pairs to rotate, air drying might do the job if you can keep on it. But if you train most days, or you've had the same blister come back three times, damp shoes are a likely culprit. And if you are the type of person that wants to look after your kit, your feet and you enjoy having something convenient that you can rely on... you need an Atacama.
FAQs
How long does it take to dry running shoes naturally?
In a heated house, lightweight mesh trainers usually take one to two days to dry fully, and thicker or waterproof shoes can take longer. Pulling out the insoles and loosening the laces helps, but it's still slow if you run on consecutive days.
Can you dry running shoes on a radiator?
You can, but it isn't a good idea. Direct heat can weaken the glue, warp the upper and harden the midsole foam, and it often dries the outside while the inside stays damp. If you have to, keep them well away from the heat source.
Does stuffing running shoes with newspaper work?
Yes, it helps. Paper absorbs moisture from the inside of the shoe, and changing it every couple of hours speeds things up. It tends to leave the midsole and insole damp, so it's better for getting shoes drier than for getting them fully dry.
How long does the Atacama take to dry running shoes?
Around 90 minutes. It circulates warm air through the shoe, rather than around the outside, so it reaches the insole and lining as well as the upper. There are high and low heat settings, and low is the better choice in a warm room.