5 Alternatives to the Comgrow SH01 Filament Dryer Box (Including Better Value Picks)

If you’re shopping around for a Comgrow SH01 alternative, the big question is whether you want the cheapest workable dry box, a more capable multi-spool system, or something that solves a different problem entirely. The SH01 sits in a very busy part of the market: decent enough for PLA/PETG/ABS, priced around £42.74, and rated 4.4★, but there are options that are cheaper, more advanced, or simply better suited to specific printing habits.

1) SUNLU Official Filament Dryer S4 — £124.99 vs Comgrow SH01 at £42.74

This is the premium option, and the price jump is huge: roughly £82.25 more than the Comgrow. That extra cash buys you a much more advanced system with support for up to four spools, auto humidity control, fast heating, and temperature balancing. In practical terms, that means this is not just a storage box with a bit of warmth; it’s a serious drying station for anyone running multiple printers, lots of exotic filaments, or a small print farm.

Build quality should be better than the budget-tier dry boxes simply because the S4 is designed to do more and do it more consistently. The higher rating of 4.7★ suggests users are generally happy with the performance, and that matters if you’ve ever had a spool of nylon or TPU ruin a print because it picked up moisture. The downside is obvious: for a hobbyist with one or two spools on the go, this is overkill. It’s larger, more expensive, and you’re paying for capacity and control you may never use.

Verdict: choose the S4 if you print a lot, rotate through multiple materials, or want the most capable option here. If you’re only drying one spool at a time and mainly print PLA, it’s hard to justify the cost.

2) 3D Printer Enclosure with LED Light, Dustproof Tent — £39.99 vs Comgrow SH01 at £42.74

This one is not a filament dryer box in the same sense, so it’s a different kind of alternative altogether. At £39.99, it’s actually a touch cheaper than the Comgrow by about £2.75, but the practical job is different: this is for keeping your printer in a more stable, dust-free environment rather than actively drying filament. The 4.6★ rating is strong, and for certain materials or printer setups, an enclosure can be more useful than a dedicated spool box.

The real-world benefit is temperature stability around the printer. That can help reduce warping on ABS and similar materials, improve layer consistency, and keep dust off your machine. The LED light is a nice quality-of-life bonus. But unlike the SH01, this won’t dry wet filament sitting on a spool. If your issue is stringing, popping, or brittle prints caused by damp filament, an enclosure alone won’t fix it.

Build quality here is about the frame, fabric, and zip access rather than electronics. Generally, good enclosures feel sturdy enough for the money, but they’re not a replacement for a proper dry box. This is best thought of as a companion product, not a direct substitute.

Verdict: choose the enclosure if your bigger problem is print environment control rather than filament moisture. It’s a smart buy for ABS and general dust protection, but not a true SH01 replacement.

3) SUNLU 3D Filament Dryer Box S1 — £29.99 vs Comgrow SH01 at £42.74

This is one of the strongest value alternatives because it’s £12.75 cheaper than the Comgrow while still doing the core job: keeping filament dry during printing. The 4.5★ rating is slightly better than the SH01, which is a good sign for a product in this price bracket. It supports 1.75mm, 2.85mm, and 3.00mm filament, so compatibility is broad enough for most makers.

The main practical difference is that the S1 is a simpler, more budget-focused machine. You’re likely giving up some refinement in the controls, build feel, or drying consistency compared with pricier units. That doesn’t mean it’s bad — far from it — but it may be more “good enough” than “feature-rich.” For PLA, PETG, and ABS users who just want a dependable dry box without spending much, that’s often exactly what you want.

Build quality should be perfectly acceptable for the price, though you shouldn’t expect the same sense of robustness as a premium multi-spool dryer. The lower price makes it a very sensible first buy for newer makers or anyone with just one active spool at a time.

Verdict: choose the SUNLU S1 if you want the closest thing to a straight Comgrow alternative but at a lower price. It’s probably the best value pick on this list for most hobbyists.

4) SUNLU Official Filament Dryer S1 PLUS with Fan — £25.49 vs Comgrow SH01 at £42.74

At £25.49, this is the cheapest option here, coming in £17.25 under the Comgrow. That’s a big enough saving to matter, especially if you’re equipping a new workshop or buying accessories on a budget. The 4.2★ rating is lower than the SH01, which suggests it’s decent but not as universally well-liked.

The key feature difference is the fan. In drying terms, forced air circulation can help improve consistency by moving warm air around the spool more effectively. That can be useful if you’ve had uneven drying in more basic boxes. It’s also marketed as portable and easy to use, which suits makers who only need occasional drying rather than a permanent filament station.

The trade-off is that this is a more budget-oriented product, so the build quality and overall refinement may not feel as solid as the Comgrow. With cheaper dryers, the usual compromises are noise, control simplicity, and how well they hold temperature over longer sessions. For common filaments like PLA and PETG, it should still do the job well enough, but if you’re drying more demanding materials, you may prefer something more substantial.

Verdict: choose the S1 PLUS if price is the main driver and you want a simple, functional dryer. It’s the best “save money now” option, but not the most premium-feeling one.

5) Sovol SH01 Filament Dryer Dehydrator Spool Holder — £41.99 vs Comgrow SH01 at £42.74

This is the closest direct alternative in the whole list, and at £41.99 it’s actually 75p cheaper than the Comgrow. That small price difference means the decision comes down almost entirely to brand preference, user feedback, and small design details rather than budget. The 4.2★ rating is a bit lower than Comgrow’s 4.4★, but not dramatically so.

Functionally, it’s aiming at the same job: a dry box and spool holder for 1.75mm, 2.85mm, PLA, PETG, TPU, and ABS materials. The practical impact is that you’re unlikely to see a huge difference in everyday use if both units are working properly. For most buyers, this becomes a question of which unit has the better layout, easier spool loading, clearer controls, or more reliable temperature behaviour in real use.

Build quality is likely comparable rather than dramatically different, which is exactly why this is a sensible alternative. If the Comgrow is out of stock, the Sovol is the obvious “same sort of thing, basically the same money” replacement. The slightly lower rating may make some buyers hesitate, but it’s still in the same general quality bracket.

Verdict: choose the Sovol SH01 if you want a near-direct swap and the Comgrow isn’t available. It’s the least disruptive alternative and the easiest one to recommend for people who just want the same sort of dry-box experience.

Which alternative is best overall?

If you want the best value, the SUNLU S1 is probably the sweet spot: cheaper than the Comgrow, well-rated, and still fit for purpose. If you want the best overall performance and don’t mind paying a lot more, the SUNLU S4 is the clear heavyweight. If you want something closest to the Comgrow SH01 without overthinking it, the Sovol SH01 is the easiest like-for-like replacement.

One final tip: if your filament is already very wet, any dryer box works better when used for longer than you think. A dry box is great, but it’s not magic — badly stored filament may need a proper drying session before you’ll see cleaner, quieter, more reliable prints.