Stuffitts Shoe Savers

I sweat. A lot. Especially in the hot, humid Alabama summers.  Even if I run at 5:00 am I'm dripping wet after a few miles. Alright, enough of the visual. The fact is though, that in addition to my clothes being soaked, so are my shoes. I used to dry them out in between runs by stuffing them with newspapers. It's a simple solution that works pretty well, but it can be pretty messy and does nothing to help with the odor.

About a year ago I saw an ad for a product called Stuffit Shoe Savers, which I learned were shoe inserts designed to absorb moisture and eliminate odor. I'm usually a skeptic when it comes to things like this. They sounded like a gimmick and were a little pricey to boot. But I was really tiring of the newspaper solution, so, with some trepidation, I ordered a pair and some replacement inserts from their their website.

The Stuffitts ($24.95/pair) arrived a couple of days later. The first thing I noticed was how good they smelled. The inserts are breathable pouches filled with red cedar chips, which is great if you love the outdoors like me. Each insert is squeezed into a nylon sleeve the shape of a foot, which is then "stuffed" into one's shoes. The "feet," which come in various sizes, are attached to one another by a nylon leash about 48" long. This is a feature I like quite a bit, since it makes carrying them (and the shoes) easy and provides a way to hang  them up. I have a habit of dangling mine from the nearest doorknob.

Do they work? The answer is yes, very well. The cedar chips do an excellent job of quickly sucking the moisture out of my shoes and neutralizing the stench. I never timed it myself, but the company's website says they absorb "nearly 100% of wetness and odor-causing bacteria, doing most of the work in under an hour." I have no reason to doubt this claim.

Suggestions for Stuffits? In fact, I would like to see them modify the design a little. The current method has it so the end of the sleeve is permanently stuffed with something to make it look like toes. This means the cedar can't get to the tip of the shoe. Despite this, I haven't noticed the toe of my shoe remaining wet, so perhaps it's just not necessary.

Aside from the product itself, I'd also like to see the company provide more information on their website. I know it's a simple product, but there's not a lot to go on. For instance, you'd never know how often you should change out the cedar inserts unless you can read the fine, blurry print on the product picture. Incidentally, the recommendation is to replace them every six months ($9.95).

Do I recommend Stuffits? Whole heartedly, yes. Minor quibbling aside, the product does what it claims and the cost isn't all that unreasonable after the initial purchase. In fact, I think I'm due for some new inserts!

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Disclaimer: This product review has not been solicited, nor have I been compensated in any way by the manufacturer. This blog's terms of use disclaimer can be viewed here.