Snowshoes Bring the Best Adventures

Snowshoeing offers a fantastic way to relish the picturesque snow-covered landscapes during winter. This specialized footwear distributes your weight over a larger surface area, preventing you from sinking deeply into the snow. This enables access to areas that would be challenging to reach with regular hiking boots. Whether it's open fields, rolling hills, or steep slopes, the right pair of snowshoes can make it all possible. Besides exploring nature, snowshoeing provides an excellent fitness workout that is both inexpensive and hassle-free.

What are Snowshoes?

Snowshoes are essentially platforms for your feet that increase the surface area you step on, minimizing sinking into the snow. Modern snowshoes have evolved significantly from the old wooden frames and rawhide lacing. Today's snowshoes are lighter, stronger, and come with features such as crampons (metal teeth) for icy snow and adjustable bindings that secure your feet. So, hang your traditional snowshoes above the fireplace and explore our modern selection.

What Snowshoes Should I Buy?

Your snowshoes should be suited to your weight, snow conditions, and the steepness of the terrain you'll be hiking in. Each snowshoe model specifies a recommended maximum load (weight), which you should not exceed. The "load" includes your weight as well as all your clothing, shoes, and gear when snowshoeing.

Snow conditions can help you decide if you're torn between two or more models. For deep powder conditions, snowshoes with a larger surface area will perform better as they "float" more easily on the surface compared to smaller ones. For steep terrain, features like heel lifts and long toe and heel crampons are beneficial for climbing and are typically found on specific mountaineering snowshoe models.

Remember, there's no bad weather, just an incomplete wardrobe. Dress appropriately for the weather conditions. Check the forecast, wear your comfiest winter boots, and layer up appropriately. It's a good idea to carry a backpack that can hold an extra layer along with essentials like sunscreen, water, snacks, and a first aid kit. Feeling unprepared? Head over to our Apparel Category to find snow gloves, snow trousers, snow jackets, and more!

Another sport that shares many of the same trails as snowshoeing is cross-country skiing. If you're interested in learning more, check out Cross Country Skis & Cross Country Skiing Equipment.