Similar to our Wall Mount 12 GearDryer, the Freestanding 12 GearDryer also has 12 individual ports that can dry up to six pairs of boots or shoes at once. But, thanks to it’s horizontal port arrangement, the Freestanding 12 is perhaps even more versatile than the Wall Mount when it comes to drying different types of gear—especially helmets and goggles. This is because you can remove ports and set all kinds of gear (like a full face helmet) directly on top of the dryer's air ports.

Unless you’ve got a house full of winter-loving kids or regularly entertain guests at a ski cabin, the ability to dry six paris of boots at once may seem excessive. But really, thanks to the customizable ports that can be adapted to dry a wide range of gear items from boots and gloves to helmets and goggles, the freestanding 12 is actually ideal for drying two complete ski kits (2 pair boots, 2 pair gloves, 2 helmets or two pairs of ski goggles).

Here's a few tips for how we like to setup the Freestanding 12 GearDryer to dry two complete ski kits.

How to Dry Ski Boots with the GearDryer Freestanding 12

The trick to dry gear is to promote as much air flow as possible. Dry air forced into a ski or snowboard boot via the GearDryer facilitates the process of diffusion. Because there is a higher density of water vapor and water molecules within the boot they are passively transported out of the boot thanks to the drier air being forced into the moist space by the GearDryer. Science! 

Bottom line: the trick is to position gear items so that air can easily enter and exit to minimize drying time.

As you can see, alternating boots between other items of gear helps each port accomodate gear.

If your ski boots are particularly drenched, (we're looking at you pond skimmers) remove the liners from the plastic shells. The key to drying ski or snowboard boots is to position the boots on a GearDryer port with the 45-degree fitting pointing toward the toebox. If you have customized foot beds, you may also want to remove these and permit them to air-dry to ensure the GearDryer hits all the nooks and crannies of your equipment.

How to Dry Gloves with the GearDryer Freestanding 12

The best way to dry gloves on the GearDryer Freestanding 12 unit is to remove the 45-degree fittings and slip your damp glove or mitten over the straight section. Remember, air flow is key here, so you want to ensure that moving air can reach the fingertips of gloves and then escape via the cuff or gauntlet. Pro tip: make sure there's a gap between the gauntlet of the glove and the GearDryer so air can easily escape. 

How to Dry Helmets with the GearDryer Freestanding 12

There are two ways to dry helmets with the Freestanding 12 GearDryer : 1) Simply remove the 45 degree fitting from the end of two drying ports and set the helmet over both ports. Avoid using just one port for helmets as air circulation via the port can become blocked if it rests against the top of the helmet. 2) Our preferred method for helmets, especially full face helmets, is to completely remove 2 or 4 ports and simply set your helmet on top of the dryer above the port holes. By directing 4 ports of airflow into a full face helmet you'll accomplish quick and effective drying.

Anyone who's dealt with sweat drenched helmets knows the material can get super stinky in no time. And, putting on a helmet still wet with sweat from the previous day is not what we'd call fun. Drying helmets with GearDryer ensures a dry helmet each time you ride and helps fight bacterial odor. 

 

In the image above, you can see a helmet positioned over two vertical ports with the 45 degree fittings removed.

In the image above, the full face helmets on either side of the GearDryer are positioned over port holes where the tubes have been removed entirely. 

How to Dry Ski Goggles with the GearDryer Freestanding 12

One of the advantages of the Freestanding GearDryer unit over the Wall Mount system is the ability to safely dry ski and snowboard goggles. It's no secret the foam padding on goggles gets soaked from snow and sweat, and a little airflow goes a long way towards getting them dry. To do this, remove two ports from the GearDryer and gently rest your goggles (with lenses attached) atop the two ports. We recommend drying goggles with ambient air only. 

Take a moment to ensure that the goggle strap is not blocking airflow. Having dry goggle lenses is one of your best defenses against dreaded goggle fog. Moisture between lenses is the culprit of foggy goggles, so the ability to completely dry your goggle lenses overnight is a real bonus of the Freestanding GearDryer system. 

Once fully loaded with two complete ski kits (2 pair boots, 2 pair gloves, 2 helmets), your GearDryer will look something like this.

The trick to staying warm is staying dry, and being warm and comfortable is important for having a great ski day. Use GearDryer to ensure your gear is bone dry and ready to go each time you ride. Keeping warm makes the great days even better!

If you're looking for tips on how to configure your Wall Mount GearDyer system for drying full ski kits, please visit this blog post.