In this guide
After rain / drying
How to air-dry sneakers after rain
Loosen the laces, take out removable insoles and leave the shoes open in a dry indoor spot. If you use newspaper, replace it when wet. Check inside the toe before putting the pair back together.
This setup follows selected Nike drying advice. Use it when your model allows it. Leather, suede, waterproof membranes or electronic shoes need their own instructions. Floodwater, mold and chemical spills need more than drying.
Find a place before you start
Choose a dry, ventilated indoor spot away from direct sun and heat. Have newspaper ready if your pair allows that method, and another pair to wear while these dry.
Rain only? Start below. Mud as well? Use a material-appropriate clean first. Being wet does not by itself mean the shoe needs a full wash.
Set up the shoes
Open them up
Loosen or remove the laces so the tongue can move forward. Lift out an insole only if it is designed to come out, and lay it beside the shoe.
Open the shoe; lay a removable insole beside it. If it is glued or resists lifting, leave it in place. Add newspaper if permitted
Crumple newspaper loosely and place it inside, reaching the toe. Keep heavily inked areas away from the lining and do not push the shoe out of shape. No suitable paper? Keep the shoe open for air-drying instead.
Leave the opening exposed
Set the pair and any loose insoles in your dry indoor spot. Skip the dryer, oven and hot hair dryer; heat can damage shoe construction.
Check and replace wet paper
Feel the paper when you return. If it is wet, take it out and put dry paper in its place. A wet plug left inside is not a finished drying job.
Check the inside, not just the outside
Toe lining or insole still feels damp: leave the pair open and keep drying, with removable insoles separate.
Outside looks dry, inside is damp: wait. Do not box the shoes or put the insoles back yet.
No dampness noticed: check the toe and insole again before reassembly. Touch can miss deeper moisture; if unsure, allow more time and wear the other pair.
What if drying is taking longer?
There is no dependable countdown for every shoe and level of wetness. Keep checking the inside rather than turning up the heat to meet a deadline.
Pause this routine if color transfers, the shoe changes shape, a seam lifts or the sole starts separating. Record the model and the change for the maker. For fixed versus removable insoles, see the insole guide.
Ready to put them away? Only move to the storage checks after the pair is fully dry.
Source & how this guide was made
Nike: The 2 Best Ways to Dry Your Shoes Without Damaging Them (November 18, 2021): opening the shoe, newspaper, replacement checks and indoor location. This guide uses the unheated route; it does not adopt the source’s appliance setups or time estimates.
Reviewed November 2, 2026. AI-assisted research and original teaching illustrations. The cutaway shows a checking location, not a moisture measurement. No hands-on drying test or reader trial.