I'm always at a loss for new gift ideas for the runners in my family.  I bought our first Peet shoe dryer several years ago on the advice of a local running store owner after I asked for suggestions for Christmas gifts for runners.  He recommended this shoe dryer. We already had every other possible running gadget/clothing/etc...so went ahead and brought one home.  With a husband and teenage son both running long distance daily in all sorts of weather (including rain and snow), it has turned out to be incredibly handy at times.  Even though they both have an assortment of running shoes for various terrain, conditions, training vs racing, etc., they can very quickly end up with 2-3 soaked pairs of training shoes when we start getting into the cold and rainy seasons here in the mountains.  While I think the PEET dryer was originally marketed to hunters, it perfectly resolves our soggy running shoe problems.

The PEET dryers are completely silent and work by slightly warming the ambient air so that it rises into the shoe.  This of course means a slightly slower drying time than it would if the dryer was forcing hot air into the shoe; however it won't damage your footwear like a higher temp dryer might.  The overnight drying of the shoes keeps the shoes from getting stinky with sweat, mold, and mildew...which keeps your expensive running shoes from deteriorating before they should.  But the best part is sliding your foot into a nicely warmed shoe or boot.

It's also great after sledding or playing in the snow.  Invariably, we always get snow down inside our boots.  The PEET dryer gives us toasty boots to put on next time.  When our teenage son went away to college, we had to get a 2nd PEET for him to take with him.