Snowshow buying 101 – Snow will be here soon…

photo by M.Prinke

Now that the cold is here it has got me thinking about snowshoeing.  When you go to the store looking for snowshoes they come in every size, color, and style you can imagine.  I hope I can help you leave the store with a pair that will work for you…

How snowshoes work

Snowshoes allow you to walk on top of snow by spreading your weight over a bigger surface area.  This will allow you to hike, run and climb even in the deepest powder you can find.  The general rule of thumb is the heaver the person or the drier the snow requires a larger snowshoe.

Picking the right snowshoe

First thing you need to look at is usage. Things to consider – How often will they be used, type of snow you get in your area most (dry or wet), how far will you be hiking, how much gear you will be carrying.  All these will help you pick a snowshoe matched for your usage.

How often will they be used/how far will you be hiking – If you are only going to be hiking 3-4 times a year and not hiking deep in the bush you can get away with a recreational snowshoe. If you plan on hiking deep in the woods, climbing steep terrain, or using them every weekend you might want to look into a more rugged snowshoe. Both rugged hiking and recreational snowshoes will look the same the only difference is how they are build and how much they cost.  A rugged hiking snowshoe will be made with a higher grade aluminum frame and stronger hardware but will come with a much higher price tag ($200+).  The recreational snowshoe will be plenty strong for casual use and can typically be found for between $100 and $200.

Once you have decided on a type, next step figuring out what size you need.

snowshoes are sized by weight.   This is how much you weight with boots, coat, pack and all the gear you plan to have with you.

Here is a general size chart:

Keep in mind this is just a starting point and snow type will play a huge factor in size. If you fall right on the edge of a size go with the smaller size.  Smaller snowshoes are much more maneuverable.

• Wet snow = smaller snowshoe
• dry sow = larger snowshoe

Bindings

Bindings are the most important part of the snowshoe. You want bindings that will remain pliable in cold weather and that are easy to strap in to and tighten up with gloves on.

Other things to look at: The binding will pivot on the frame by a rod or a rubberized strap or two.  The rod pivot system will allow the snowshoe tail to drop (and drag) with every step. This keeps snow from building up on the top of the webbing and you won’t be kicking snow up with every step. The strap binding system still pivots just not as freely as the rod system.

I would suggest trying to find an outfitter or someplace that rents snowshoes (cross country ski resorts, some golf courses do this in the winter) or a demo day at a local outfitter and try different types and styles to see what works best for you.     Just remember if you can walk you can snowshoe!

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