Should you remove the insoles when drying running shoes?

Yes, if the insoles are designed to come out. Lift them gently and let them air-dry separately from the shoes. If a footbed is glued in or resists removal, leave it in place and follow the care instructions for that model. Drying a wet pair is no reason to tear its construction apart.

Here, insole means the removable footbed directly beneath your foot. It does not mean the shoe's midsole or the fabric layer permanently fixed underneath. If you use prescribed orthotics, follow their supplier's care instructions too.

Why take a removable footbed out?

It lets you expose the underside of the footbed and the area it covers, rather than leaving those surfaces pressed together while wet. You can also check for trapped grit, a folded edge or a damp patch before putting everything back.

ASICS explicitly recommends air-drying insoles separately and returning them only when the shoe and insole are dry. That is practical manufacturer guidance, rather than a promise that every model will dry in a particular number of hours.

Footbed lifts out easily

Remove it gently. Keep left and right together with the correct shoes and air-dry the parts separately.

Footbed is attached or resists

Stop pulling. Open the shoe as its design allows and use the manufacturer's drying guidance.

Before the next run

Check both parts, including the underside. Refit the footbed flat, with no curled edge or trapped debris.

Set the shoes up to air-dry

Empty any standing water and loosen the laces. Open the tongue where the design allows, without forcing a stitched or integrated tongue. Put the shoes where air can reach them and lay the removable footbeds out separately.

ASICS recommends using tissue or paper towels briefly to absorb water, then removing the paper and continuing to air-dry. Damp paper should not become a permanent plug in the shoe. Its guidance also warns against radiators and tumble dryers. There is no need to invent a safe heat setting for an unspecified shoe.

If the pair is muddy as well as wet, deal with the dirt according to the upper's care instructions. That is a separate job from drying it. Our post-rain cleaning guide helps decide whether the shoe needs a light wipe or a more deliberate clean.

How do you know when it is ready?

Check the shoe's interior and both sides of the footbed rather than judging by the outside of the upper. Press gently with clean, dry fingers around the heel and forefoot. If you can feel moisture, allow more drying. Reassemble the pair only when both parts are dry.

The weather, airflow and how wet the pair became all affect the practical wait. Check for moisture even if the pair has had the night to dry. If your next run arrives first, use another suitable dry pair if you have one.

When refitting, check the heel is seated, the toes lie flat and the left and right footbeds are in the right shoes. Put the shoe on before heading out. A fold that was invisible on the shelf can be obvious under your foot.

Does this mean you need another pair?

No automatic purchase follows from a wet run. Start with the pairs and time you already have. If repeated wet sessions leave you with no dry, comfortable option, that is a practical reason to consider sharing the work between shoes. Our rotation guide explains how to think about that without requiring a separate shoe for every session.

Cinda can help you organise the shoes you own and discuss what each covers. It does not monitor whether a shoe has dried, so keep the physical check in your routine.