How to dry paddling gloves

1.) I would be hesitant to advise you to put them in the dryer. I've never tried or experienced it myself, and my evidence is completely anecdotal, but I've heard that the neoprene has the potential to turn brittle if exposed to forced heating.

2.) The two main things to consider when drying out gloves like this (as well as other things like boots, socks, etc) is this:

1. Absorption - Try to absorb as much water as possible by stuffing them with old newspaper or dry towels.

2. Ventilation/Circulation - You want warm (but not hot), dry air to be able to reach the wet surfaces of the gloves. I've turned mine inside out and they seemed to dry faster, but it depends on how rigid and easily inside-out-able your gloves are. If you can prop them up, get them next to a warm air vent if you've got one.

Another tip (although this wasn't asked in the question) is to keep the smell from neoprene things like this (they often start to smell pretty bad if sweat is allowed to sit in them for too long) is to dry them out thoroughly every time. If you've sweated pretty heavily in them, gently rinse them with cool water and possibly mild soap depending on the material and then let them dry. This will prolong the life of your gear and make them not stink like a sock.

EDIT: To answer the addition to your question: I think silica gel could certainly help, and I've got a friend who has used it successfully on hiking boots, but it definitely took a lot longer than the absorption/air drying method.

posted over 10 years ago

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Blackbear‭

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