CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.
I conducted timed tests to see how long (and how well) the Hedgehog Go dried my hair and winter gear. Zain bin Awais/Anna Gragert/CNET Composite; Ada Summer/Imagine Photographer/Getty Images
In the matter of products with a dual purpose, I’m a “I’ll believe it when I see it” kind of person. This applied when I first heard about the Hedgehog Go, which the company says is the world’s first dual-purpose dryer for hair and gear.
Designed by the Scandinavian creators of the outdoor gear-drying Hedgehog Dryer, the Hedgehog Go is the compact, 0.77-pound version. It comes with two attachments for drying hair and outdoor gear like shoes, boots, gloves and hats -- perfect for winter adventures like skiing, snowboarding and hiking.
The company adds that the two-in-one device can reduce static, add shine and remove odor with its ionic technology. Using an engine that operates at 105,000 rpm (revolutions per minute), three speeds, airflow up to 60 miles per hour and a temperature up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, the Hedgehog Go says it can dry hair in 5 minutes or fewer and boots or gloves in 10 to 15 minutes.
To find out whether all of this is too good to be true, and if this $159 dryer is the key to living in a winter wonderland, I put it to the test.
It gets your gear 99% of the way dry
Since I live in Los Angeles, where it doesn’t snow, I grabbed a spray bottle to thoroughly wet my hiking boots, gloves and a knit hat. Then, I twisted on the Hedgehog Go’s extendable hose adapter for gear. It’s a funky-looking attachment with two hoses that can be twisted in whatever direction you need.
The extendable hoses can truly be twisted in any direction. Anna Gragert/CNET
In the product manual, there’s a chart showing the recommended temperature and speed for different types of items. I used this as my guide.
... continue reading