Save Our Souls Atacama Shoe Dryer Review: A Practical Way to Dry Running Shoes

Introduction

If you run in the UK, wet shoes are simply part of the deal. Whether it is puddles on a wet road run or deep, boggy ground along the Cornish coast path, keeping running shoes clean and dry can become a near-constant chore. That is exactly the problem the Atacama shoe dryer from Save Our Souls sets out to solve.

After weeks of regular use, it has become a genuinely useful part of the post-run routine, and far more practical than the old radiator trick.

Who This Product Is For

The Atacama makes the most sense for runners who regularly finish with soaked or sweaty shoes. Trail runners, coastal runners, and anyone who trains through a wet winter will get the most out of it. It also appeals to people who care about shoe longevity, since good maintenance can noticeably prolong the life of what are, realistically, expensive shoes.

If you only ever run in dry conditions and your shoes never get more than lightly damp, you may not need a dedicated dryer at all.

Main Strengths

The headline feature beyond simple drying is the ozone mode. During ozone working time, only cool air circulates, which helps optimize the sterilization effect and keeps unwanted bacteria buildup at bay. That buildup is what leads to bad-smelling shoes, or worse, problems like athlete’s foot.

The unit is also genuinely simple to live with. It arrives in three pieces that push together without fuss, and it comes with a small dust bag for storage when not in use, a sheet of Save Our Souls stickers, and a quick setup guide.

How the Atacama Works

The base unit holds all the controls. A press of the power button starts the unit, and a default time setting of 200 minutes appears on the small screen. Time minus and plus buttons let you dial in exactly the duration you want. Next to those sit the ozone button, which activates sterilization mode and lights up a small green O3 indicator, and the drying button, which toggles between low and high settings depending on the temperature you want or how quickly you need the shoes dry.

Two upright pillars push into the base unit, and these are where the shoes go. The tops of the tubes are fitted with strategically placed vents that line up with the shoes to provide optimal drying conditions.

Everyday Use: After Wet and Muddy Runs

The biggest real-world win is after cleaning wet, muddy trail shoes. The routine that works well is to remove the insoles, hose the shoes off in the shower, and tip them upside down to drip dry for a couple of hours. From there, the Atacama takes over on the high setting for around 30 to 40 minutes, depending on how wet the shoes still are, followed by the low setting for another 20 minutes. After that, the shoes are dry and ready to go again.

The ozone feature slots neatly into this process. With a pair of shoes drying, pressing the ozone button stops the warm air and switches to cool air for 10 minutes to help with sterilization. Once those 10 minutes are up, the unit automatically resumes the previous drying mode and finishes the cycle without any further input.

For hot, sweaty runs, a short 20-minute session on the low setting is enough to air the shoes out and dry off sweat, helping to stop bacteria buildup before it starts.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The main consideration is the result itself: shoes come off the unit dry, quickly, and without the risks of improvised methods. Drying shoes on top of a hot radiator or, worse, in a tumble dryer can weaken the glues that hold them together, which directly hurts durability. A controlled dryer is a much safer option for the long-term health of your shoes.

One honest caveat applies. This kind of accessory only earns its place if you actually deal with wet or sweaty shoes often enough. Occasional users might get by with air drying and patience.

Buying Advice

At £95 from the Save Our Souls website, the price is the one real drawback, as it is a meaningful amount for a single-purpose accessory. If you regularly run wet trails and value keeping your shoes in good condition, the convenience and the gentler drying method justify the spend. Anyone on a tighter budget could reasonably wait for a discount or promotion before committing.

Conclusion

The Atacama turned out to be far more useful than expected. It dries shoes quickly and gently, adds a genuinely clever ozone sterilization mode, and replaces habits that can quietly damage expensive running shoes. For runners constantly battling wet and muddy conditions, it is an easy recommendation, with the price being the main thing to weigh up.