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I timed the Hedgehog Go dryer to see if it lives up to its promises. Zain bin Awais/Anna Gragert/CNET Composite; Ada Summer/Imagine Photographer/Getty Images
While adventuring out in the snow when hiking, skiing or snowboarding may be a fun time, it comes with one setback: soaking wet winter gear once you're back inside. This is a problem the Scandinavian creators of the outdoor gear-drying Hedgehog Dryer aimed to solve, especially with the new Hedgehog Go device.
Described as the world’s first dual-purpose dryer for hair and gear, the Hedgehog Go weighs less than a pound and comes with two attachments, one for hair and the other for outdoor gear such as shoes, boots, gloves and hats. With an engine operating at 105,000 revolutions per minute, three speeds, airflow up to 60 miles per hour and a temperature up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, the Go says it can dry hair in 5 minutes or fewer and boots or gloves in 10 to 15 minutes.
To find out whether this $159 dryer is the perfect winter companion, I put it to the test on my own hair and wet winter accessories.
How it performs on wet winter gear
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.
Hiking boots
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