I tested the world’s first hair dryer for winter hair and clothes. It turned my doubts into slush

When it comes to dual-use products, I’m the type to say, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” This applied when I first heard about the Hedgehog Go, which the company says is the world’s first dual-purpose hair dryer for both hair and equipment.

Designed by the Scandinavian creators of the Hedgehog dryer for drying outdoor gear, the Hedgehog Go is the compact 0.77 pound version. It comes with two hair drying attachments and outdoor gear like shoes, boots, gloves and hats – perfect for winter adventures like skisnowboarding and hiking.

The company adds that the two-in-one device can reduce static, add shine, and eliminate odors with its ionic technology. Using a motor that operates at 105,000 rpm (revolutions per minute), three speeds, an air flow of up to 60 miles per hour, and a temperature of up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, the Hedgehog Go claims it can dry hair in 5 minutes or less and boots or gloves in 10 to 15 minutes.

To find out if this is all 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 dries your equipment to 99%

Since I live in Los Angeles, where it doesn’t snow, I took a spray bottle to really wet my hiking boots, gloves and knit hat. Next, I installed the Hedgehog Go’s expandable hose adapter for the equipment. This is a great looking accessory with two hoses that can be twisted in the direction you need.

In the product manual you will find a table showing the recommended temperature and speed for different types of items. I used it as a guide.

Hiking shoes

I started with my hiking boots, inserting each hose into a boot and turning the unit on to the suggested temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit and speed 3. According to the instructions, you should not push the hose deep into the toe area of ​​the shoe.

The dryer has a built-in timer for up to 60 minutes, which I tested with my iPhone timer to ensure accuracy. I checked it every 5 minutes, and after 15 minutes the inside of the trunk was completely dry. The upper part of the boot and the tongue, where the dryer didn’t reach, were still slightly damp, but not so much that you would notice it with long socks or with pants tucked in.

Gloves

At this point, I wasn’t sure where to place the Go when it was inserted into my gloves, because I wasn’t sure it would be safe to leave it sitting on a table or counter. Then I found a photo in the press release showing the device lying on a wooden table, so I did the same thing, although in the future I would put a towel down first.

As recommended in the manual, I set the unit to 113 degrees Fahrenheit. He suggested using speed 2 or 3, so I went with speed 3 (I can’t wait). I checked the gloves every 5 minutes and quickly realized that I needed to move the dryer to the top of the glove to dry it completely, which I did every 5 minutes. After 15 minutes it was ready, but, like the boots, the outer edges that the dryer couldn’t reach remained a tiny bit damp.

A knit hat

At 99 degrees Fahrenheit, I chose speed 2 (speed 1 is also recommended) and placed the unit on the table where I dried the gloves. I checked every 5 minutes and, like the gloves, I realized that moving the dryer to the inside of the hat would help it dry completely. Again, it was dry after 15 minutes, but the outer edge was also a little damp.

For safety reasons and as stated in the manual, I kept a close eye on the dryer and never left it unattended. For leather, suede or other delicate materials, it is advisable not to use the temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

Hair: comparison with my hair dryer with a timed test

Turning the Hedgehog Go into a hairdryer is easy, as you simply twist the hairdryer nozzle. For fine or damaged hair, a temperature of 99 degrees Fahrenheit and speed 1 or 2 is recommended, while 113 degrees Fahrenheit and speeds 2 or 3 are for normal or thick hair. I have fine hair, so I selected 99 degrees and speed 2.

To reduce frizz, the Go says its built-in ionizer releases negative ions to neutralize static electricity and leave your hair smooth. My other hairdryer, the BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Tumble Dryeruses the same technology and has three heat settings and two speed settings, so I figured this would make for a perfect test comparison. However, it does not contain any temperature information.

Now for the most important test subject: my 2a/2b wavy hair which is so fine that it can easily be straightened with a simple hair dryer. I separated my wet, product-free hair into two sections, using the BaBylissPRO on the right and the Hedgehog Go on the left. For the BaBylissPRO, I wasn’t sure what heat setting to use, so I opted for medium to low speed and timed how long it took to dry my hair.

Here are the results:

For the BaBylissPRO, it took 6 minutes and 27 seconds to dry the right side of my head. For the Hedgehog Go left, 7 minutes and 58 seconds. I haven’t found one to be better than the other in terms of smoothness or frizz – both are equally great.

However, I would like to mention one major caveat: the temperature difference. At 99 degrees, the Hedgehog Go didn’t even feel warm to me, while the mid-temperature BaBylissPRO felt warm, so there was definitely a temperature gap. At low temperatures, the BaBylissPRO felt closer to the Go’s lowest heat setting.

Still, the Hedgehog Go took more than 5 minutes on my hair, which is a few inches longer than shoulder length. But compared to the warmer temperature of the BaBylissPRO, it did a great job, taking just 91 seconds longer.

In terms of noise, the Go was quieter at speed 1, but just as loud as the BaBylissPRO at speeds 2 and 3. The Go also had a nicer hand feel thanks to its sleek design.

Has the Hedgehog Go kept its promises?

Overall, the Hedgehog Go did a decent job of drying my winter gear in 15 minutes, leaving only slight moisture on the outer edges and in areas where the dryer didn’t reach. I think it would also be great for warming up your gear before heading out into the cold.

The company says its Go dryer can refresh boots and cleats after games and eliminate odors. I haven’t been able to test this feature, but I assume it works by drying sweat and preventing odor-causing bacteria from growing in this type of humid environment.

As for my hair, I found the Hedgehog Go comparable to my single-use hair dryer. Although it took over 5 minutes to dry my hair, my strands ended up smoother and with less frizz than if I let it air dry.

It’s lightweight, easy to use, and relatively quiet for a dryer. In terms of noise, however, it made a slight ringing sound that had my ears ringing for a few seconds after turning it off. If you are sensitive to this type of noise, this may not be the hair dryer/equipment for you.

The only other detail I would have liked is more information in the manual on where to place the dryer when in hats or gloves. A brief note on whether it is safe to place on a table or counter would be helpful.

Finally, is it worth the price? The Hedgehog Go costs $159, and I think it might be worth it for the right person. If you only go on snowy adventures occasionally and have plenty of time to let your gear dry near a heater or in the sun, it’s probably not necessary. But if you often travel to wintery places and don’t have the time or ability to dry out your winter gear between adventures, this might be useful. Plus, if you typically travel with a hairdryer, then you’ll have one less piece of tech to pack.