We reviewed Bruno’s portable clothes dryer – here's our take

We all know that browsing products online isn’t the same as taking them for a test spin, so we’re here to help. In our series of in-depth reviews, our editors pick out products you may be curious about. This time, we’re reviewing Bruno’s global voltage portable clothes dryer. Read our review to learn more about the travel clothes dryer, then head to Cathay Shop  and check it out for yourself.     

A little bit of background    

Ideal for those who live in rainy, humid places or travellers looking to keep their clothes fresh, this device helps speed up drying to make laundry less of a hassle. Supporting a voltage range of 100-240V, it’s compatible with global standards, meaning you can conveniently dry clothes wherever you go. At only 850g, it’s incredibly lightweight and compact, fitting easily into your suitcase. It also comes with a handy storage pouch for travel, a removable and washable 120cm drying bag that can be stored inside the main unit, as well as a stainless steel, multi-slot hanger for hanging up to eight garments at the same time. 

The dryer boasts an intuitive touch-control design with three buttons. The power button is for switching the machine on and off and cycling through gears, including two temperature settings: 65°C or 75°C. The timer button allows you to select among three, six and nine hours for your drying time, after which the machine automatically shuts off. The final button activates the built-in light, ideal for checking on your clothes even after lights out. Designed to be as unobtrusive as possible and to work quietly even as you sleep, the dryer’s noise levels are as low as 36dB in the 65°C mode. 

First impressions    

To use the dryer, begin by hanging the product on a hook with the built-in strap before opening the bottom cover and pulling out the drying bag. After unzipping the drying bag, you can hang your clothes inside using the included multi-slot hanger. Then, zip the bag back up, plug in the device, turn it on and select your temperature and time. Upon turning it on, the bag quickly inflates, releasing warmth and a quiet hum.  

True to its claims, the machine did dry my clothes quite quickly, especially when I didn’t put in too many items and spread them apart. When I placed one long-sleeve button-up and one pair of dress pants inside the bag, they were mostly dry after an hour. According to the manufacturer, undergarments usually take around thirty minutes to dry, while t-shirts and shorts take one to three hours, jackets and hoodies take three to six hours, and thick coats and winter pants take six to nine hours.  

Any cons?      

Setup can be a bit finicky, as you need to find a hook that’s high enough to fully extend the drying bag. This spot also has to be close to a socket, as the power cable is not very long.  

In addition, the manual mentions that it may be better to fold longer garments in half, but since the heat comes from the top, I found that shorter and longer items dried at different rates. When my tops were already dry, the bottom half of my pants was still wet. It would be better if the heat could be distributed more evenly throughout.  

After around three hours of drying, I noticed that the zipper and hangers were quite hot to the touch. Although the product is equipped with a temperature sensor which ensures the core temperature does not exceed 90°C, I would still recommend handling it carefully after it’s been on for a few hours.  

Final thoughts

This dryer is easy to use and works quickly, and I can see it being convenient if you don’t have a full-sized dryer at home, or just want to dry a few pieces of clothing. Although I didn’t get to trial it on holiday, I think it would be a lifesaver on long trips and active getaways, especially for hand-washed intimates, small towels and sportswear.