Think twice before throwing those wet footy boots in the dryer tonight. Not only can it ruin your shoes, but your dryer will also be worse off as well.
That’s where the Mistral Shoe Dryer comes in handy. Available at Bunnings for just $19, it dries two pairs of shoes at a time faster, and has quickly become one of those purchases people wish they’d known about sooner.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The Mistral Shoe Dryer is available at Bunnings for $19 and dries up to two pairs of shoes or gloves simultaneously overnight.
- It uses gentle heat at a maximum of 50°C to dry shoes from the inside out, preventing odour and extending the life of your footwear without causing damage
- A dedicated shoe dryer is far safer than a clothes dryer, which can warp soles, damage glue and shrink materials.
- Tradies, parents of school-age kids, and sporty households will benefit most.
- At $19, it’s an affordable winter essential, with premium options like the DryGuy Force Dry DX available for those who need faster drying times or greater capacity.
How the Bunnings shoe dryer actually works
The Mistral Shoe Dryer uses gentle heat to dry your shoes from the inside out, tackling moisture at the source rather than just warming the surface.
Simply place your shoes on the dryer, switch it on, and in a few hours, they’ll be dry and ready to wear.
Who would benefit from the Bunnings shoe dryer?
Almost anyone who wears shoes in winter would benefit from a shoe dryer. Tradies and outdoor workers who spend long days in wet conditions will never have to slip into damp boots again.
Parents of school-age kids, especially those who play sports or have a habit of jumping in every puddle they find, will appreciate having dry shoes ready to go by morning.
And for sporty households juggling footy boots, training shoes and wet weather gear on rotation, the ability to sort the whole family’s footwear in one go overnight is a real time saver.
Shoe dryer key features:
At 30W and with a maximum temperature of 50°C, the Mistral Shoe Dryer is energy-efficient, quiet, and safe to leave running while you sleep. The gentle heat won’t damage your footwear and is suitable for most shoes, boots and gloves.
Shoe dryer reviews from customers
The Mistral Shoe Dryer hasn’t garnered many reviews on the Bunnings website, but shoe dryers as a category have a passionate following.
For a sense of what customers think, reviews of the DryGuy Force Dry DX, a premium forced-air model also available at Bunnings (and Amazon), paint a clear picture of just how much people love this product.
Australian reviewers on Amazon are overwhelmingly positive, particularly parents of sporty kids. One reviewer put it plainly: “We’ve got kids that play a lot of football and are constantly coming home with wet boots that would never dry before the next training session and would always end up stinking out the car.”
For families in that situation, the verdict is clear: “A shoe dryer is a must-have for people who do sports on consecutive days.”
The theme continues for younger kids too, with one parent noting it’s “especially when kids jump in puddles during winter at school, and we need them dry for school by the morning.”
It’s not just for footwear either. One buyer found it “essential for boxing gloves”, while a tradie simply said it “makes drying work boots much easier.”
Shoe dryer FAQs
The best shoe dryer depends on your needs and budget. For most Australian households, the Mistral Shoe Dryer at $19 is an excellent entry-level option. If you need faster drying times or have heavier gear like ski boots or helmets, a forced-air model like the DryGuy Force Dry DX offers more power, though at a higher price point.
Yes, when used correctly, shoe dryers are highly effective. By circulating gentle heat from the inside out, they tackle moisture at the source rather than just warming the surface. This means shoes come out genuinely dry, not just less wet, and the consistent heat also helps prevent the bacteria and odour that build up in damp footwear.
A clothes dryer is generally not recommended for shoes. The high heat and tumbling action can warp soles, damage glue, and shrink materials. A dedicated shoe dryer uses a much gentler 50°C maximum temperature, making it safe for leather, synthetics, mesh and most other materials without causing damage.
