Design Preview Specs – Vintage Ski Boot Warmer

Project Overview:

For my main project, I will be designing and manufacturing a ski boot and glove dryer—a functional device that ensures ski gear is warm and dry, whether before hitting the slopes or preparing for the next day of adventure. This project combines engineering principles with practical application, focusing on creating an efficient system that heats boots safely and effectively while minimizing drying time.

Beyond functionality, I want this device to capture the spirit of skiing’s golden era, drawing inspiration from the mountain towns and ski culture of the 1980s. The design will evoke a sense of nostalgia, making it feel like a classic relic from that time—something you might find tucked away in a cozy ski lodge or a well-worn gear room at a mountain cabin.

Inspiration:

This idea came to me after thinking about projects I could do related to skiing. My biggest problem with skiing has always been with my boots. I have pretty poor circulation, making a cold day skiing pretty miserable on my feet, so I thought, maybe if I had a way to warm my boots in the car before putting them on, the beginning of the ski day would be a lot more forgiving on my feet. This device could also be used for after skiing, getting all the moisture out of the boot so you’re ready for the next day. There are a bunch of examples of ski boot warmers to go off and I am inspiring my design based off of a design REI did, which is just a basic box with pvc pipes and a fan.

As for the aesthetic, I’m planning on creating the device that looks like it were invented in a Colorado Mountain town in the 80s. Many designs centered around skiing from the 80s have this distinct look. Lots of diagonals which represent tend to represent a simplistic mountain design, neon colors, the focus on fun/party, and acrobatic designs of skiers. The 80s/90s retro theme has always been apart of my life. With my parents growing up through their teens to late 20s in these decades, I’ve been around a lot of retro items from the 80s and 90s including clothing, artwork, old relics, and film pictures. I remember being able to go through my parents old things in my home and at my grandparents home. I was always fascinated with the feeling these objects gave me, knowing they were 20-30 years old, but having no concept of time, these relics felt ancient to me. Staring at old film of my parents, old kids toys, a colorful vintage Colorado Avalanche poster, etc made me curious about the past. I always wondered about what these times were like, what things, buildings, signs, clothes, technology looked like. This exactly what I want my ski boot warmer to look and feel like – a blast from the past.

Project Vision:

My main vision I have for my project’s functionality is to make it simple to use, portable, and of course effective.

The system is designed to use a 100W, 12V PTC heating element, which provides consistent and self-regulating heat, paired with a small fan to circulate warm air. This ensures even heat distribution and prevents hot spots that could damage the boots. To power the system, I’m using a 150W, 12.5A, 12V LED power supply, which converts standard 110V AC into 12V DC, providing a stable and efficient power source for both the heater and the fan.

To make the system more convenient and automated, I’m incorporating an inline 12V timer switch that allows me to control heating cycles. This way, I can set the system to run for a specific amount of time, ensuring that my boots are thoroughly dried and warmed without the risk of overheating or wasting energy. Once the set time is reached, the timer will automatically cut power to the heater and fan.

The entire system is housed in a wooden enclosure, which contains the heat while keeping the components protected. To effectively direct the warm air into my ski boots, I’m attaching PVC tubing, which will channel the airflow directly into the boot’s interior. When the system is turned on, the power supply delivers 12V DC to both the PTC heater and the fan. The heater warms up while the fan pushes the heated air through the PVC ducts and into the boots, ensuring a steady flow of warm air. As the PTC heater self-regulates, it prevents overheating, making the system both safe and efficient.

This design ensures that my boots are quickly and evenly warmed, in a simple and portable process, making them more comfortable before hitting the slopes and helping them dry properly after skiing.

As for my vision for the aesthetic, as said I want this device to feel like it was discovered in an old cabin in Aspen. With neons, diagonal designs, and old ski stickers/graphics. I’d also like to incorporate the simplistic mountain designs into the enclosure, instead of making just a bland cube. My thought is to shape the box like the diagonal lined mountains. I’d also like to figure out a way to attach my pvc so they’re diagonal or so that they don’t just look like a piece of pvc sticking out. I’ll probably paint the pvc to hide the white color as well. Lastly, I’m going to try to conceal a lot of the electrical components, as I don’t think they add anything to my aesthetic.

Fabrication Process/ Timeline:

As of right now, I am in the process of ordering my fan/heater, my 12V AC-DC adapter, and my inline timer switch. These items should be here before spring break. After I get these items, I will size my enclosure to the size of my components, creating as small of a design as possible. I will also most likely need to do a few heat transfer calculations to size my box and calibrate my timer to the time it should shut off it. I will be calculating how theoretically hot it will get in a couple different enclosure area options and decide on size based on how hot the box will get in 15-30 minutes. I don’t want the box getting too hot because too much heat for too long is bad for the boot liner. After I figure out sizing, I will manufacture my enclosure using wood. I’m using wood because it’s pretty cheap and it’s a decent insulator. This project doesn’t require very good insulation within the enclosure, I’m actually perfectly fine with some heat leaving through the walls so the boots don’t get too hot. My idea as of now is to make cut the walls of the box into the simplistic diagonal mountain shapes to add to the vintage ski aesthetic. The outside of the box will be covered in a collage of vintage ski stickers, decals, and/or artwork to provide more vintage ski aesthetics too the design. For the pipes the boots will slide onto, I plan on measuring my boot depth from the foot bed too the ankle opening and the diameter. This will give me the size I need to cut my pvc pipe – which I will buy from a local hardware store or try to salvage from the ITLL/IDEA FORGE. I plan on drilling holes in the pvc to allow for multiple stream heating and better heat/air flow into the boot. To attach to the box, I will cut holes the size of the pipe and seal it with heat resistant caulk/sealant.