The Woodsman's Journal Online: The Science of Drying Boots©

Let’s face it, it’s the beginning of “mud season” through out most of the United States above 40^o north latitude, and probably elsewhere above that latitude as well, and your boots are going to get muddy and wet!

In the past, or today in the wilderness, or wherever central heating is scarce, how do people dry out their boots or shoes when they get wet? And is there anything you must be careful of?

The answer is yes and very carefully! Leather boots can shrink or crack if dried too fast, or at too high of a temperature, and syntheticsand modern glues don’t like high temperatures much either, and can melt. And never forget that shoes and boots can accidentally get bumped in too close to a fire and get scorched, or even have the toes burnt off – that happened to me once, not fun, not fun at all.

So, here are some tips from old magazines that might help us today with this question

Method one, set the boots or shoes upside down on a tripod, a single stake or three stakes driven into the ground, near but not too close tothe fire, and a couple of inches above the ground.

Remember, and this is essential, you don’t want them to get too hot, just warmed up to “room” temperature, or about 70^o F (21^o C). If your hands get too hot when you hold them near where your boots or shoes are, then they are too close to the fire.

Hanging them on a stake, a tripod, or on three stakes will prevent them from getting accidentally knocked into the fire or pushed too close to the heat. Also, a tripod or three stakes will help hold the boots open, keep the tongue out and allow air to circulate. Insert a flattened piece of wood, or a piece of bark into the boot to create a chimney effect will pull air up on the warmed side, before sinking down on the side away from the heat.

Method two, pour dry, warmed pebbles, sand or even loose dirt into your boots or shoes. The crucial word here is “warmed”, not “hot”, I gave this advice to someone once, but he didn’t hear the word “warmed” and instead poured blazing hot pebbles into his sneakers, which promptly melted! You can also stuff them with dry grass, leaves, or paper to help you soak up the wetness.

So, next time your cold, wet feet are shoved into damp muddy boots or shoes, with still more miles to go, I hope these tips help.

Don’t forget to come back next week and read “Seeing The Elephant ©”, where we will talk about how and why people end up lost in the wilderness.

I hope that you continue to enjoy The Woodsman’s Journal Online and look for me on YouTube at BandanaMan Productions for other related videos, HERE. Don’t forget to follow me on both The Woodsman’s Journal Online, HERE, and subscribe to BandanaMan Productions on YouTube. If you have questions, as always, feel free to leave a comment on either site. I announce new articles on Facebook at Eric Reynolds, on Instagram at bandanamanaproductions, and on VK at Eric Reynolds, so watch for me.

That is all for now, and as always, until next time, Happy Trails!

Sources

Becker, Bob; Popular Mechanics, January 1933, page 134, https://books.google.com/books?id=QuIDAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA134&dq=drying+boots+fire&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiQvcSBvNGEAxWZnokEHZDzBrs4ChDoAXoECAYQAg#v=onepage&q=drying%20boots%20fire&f=false, accessed February 28, 2024

Brimmer, F. E.; Popular Science, May 1921, page 119, https://books.google.com/books?id=ZioDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT3&dq=drying+boots&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjE8-DD6tCEAxW2EGIAHRNnCTs4ChDoAXoECAUQAg#v=onepage&q=drying%20boots&f=false, accessed February 28, 2024

Brooks, Bob; “Camp in the Snow...And Like It!”, Boys' Life, January 1952, page 13, https://books.google.com/books?id=TS93gdDzk24C&pg=PA13&dq=drying+boots+fire&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiQvcSBvNGEAxWZnokEHZDzBrs4ChDoAXoECAcQAg#v=onepage&q=drying%20boots%20fire&f=false, accessed February 28, 2024

Curtis, Sam; “Take Care of Your Boots”, Boys' Life, February 1989, page 14, https://books.google.com/books?id=1GYEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA14&dq=drying+boots&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiNsdnt7NCEAxUHLFkFHZbbD2M4HhDoAXoECAQQAg#v=onepage&q=drying%20boots&f=false, accessed February 28, 2024

Hoag, John Edwin; “The Tricks of Camping Out”, Popular Mechanics, July 1926, page 53, https://books.google.com/books?id=fdgDAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA51&dq=drying+boots+fire&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiqo86svNGEAxX7FVkFHZBfBdE4FBDoAXoECAcQAg#v=onepage&q=drying%20boots%20fire&f=false, accessed February 28, 2024

Masia, Seth; “You & Your Gear: Breaking in Boots”, Backpacker, Winter 1973, page 16, https://books.google.com/books?id=_d8DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA16&dq=drying+boots&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiJlJ2V6tCEAxUPFFkFHRjQChMQ6AF6BAgNEAI#v=onepage&q=drying%20boots&f=false, February 28, 2024

Wikimedia, “Muddy shoes”, July 31, 2009; by Tim Parkinson, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Muddy_shoes.jpg, accessed March 1, 2024