I learned the FIRST purely military method of drying tactical boots when I was still a recruit in a mountain rifle sniper platoon.
We had breakfast with fresh flatbreads baked on a fire and coffee, and our instructor talked about the need to keep our feet dry in order to avoid “trench foot” in our field winter conditions:
“To dry our boots overnight,” he slowly and clearly explained to us, “we can take NEWSPAPER OR TOILET PAPER! Both absorb moisture well. Roll them up tightly and stuff them into our boots overnight. BUT! We can improve this method by also taking SALT, it also absorbs moisture well! AND THAT’S NOT ALL! Also, we can take some hygroscopic GRAIN OR FLOUR. Roll up a multi-layered ball from a newspaper, pour salt and flour/grain, wrap it tightly and put it in your shoes overnight. In the morning, carefully pull out this wet roll with the dough inside and BAM! — I already have dried shoes, and you, gentlemen recruits, have… fresh… baked… cakes for breakfast!
THE SECOND truly effective way to dry shoes is to dry them with silica gel. You collect them (put them in boxes for shoes, optics, etc.) or buy a bag of cat litter and pack them in old socks or bags (the first can be dried in the oven for 3 hours – 150 ° and reused). Silica gel will dry your tactical shoes well overnight.
And the THIRDmethod is microfiber towels, for example from Decathlon. They also perfectly absorb moisture, BUT ALSO the SMELLS of your shoes, so I do not recommend using them as a towel after drying.
Take care of your health, guys!
Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Armed Forces!
Senior EWSA instructor
Vasil aka “Vasilych”