Snowshoes
Showshoes have been an integral part of winter transportation for millenia. In recent years snowshoes have ceased to be thought of as an annoying winter necessity and have been popularized for recreational and aerobic use. Their relative lightness and compactness compared to cross-country skis also makes them the transportation choice of winter backpackers and campers.
By spreading your weight evenly across a large, flat surface area, all styles of snowshoes will let you travel across the snow without sinking or struggling. However, certain factors need to be taken into account before purchasing a pair, including the type of snowshoeing you plan to do, your budget, the size you need and the special featuers that are important to you.
Types of Snowshoes
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- Less expensive.
- Not as sturdy.
- Great for beginners.
- Ideal for flat, even, groomed terrain.
- Adequate for moderate distances (3-4 mi.)
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- More technical design.
- Aggressive traction.
- Tougher construction.
- Designed for steep, icy conditions.
- Good for long, difficult treks.
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- Lightweight.
- Durable.
- Maneuverable.
- Designed for speed in good conditions.
- Not adequate for climbing.
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Frames and Decking
The development of new high-tech products and composite fibers has produced highly efficient shoes.
- Frame Materials
- Aluminum
 is the most popular frame material in today's shoes.
- Frames may also be made of wood or high-tech materials such as carbon fiber.
- Wooden snowshoes perform well, but require a lot of maintenance and are prone to breakage.
- Frame Shape
- Symmetrical
- Oval (bearpaw style) -- Standard, common and time-tested for reliability and stability.
- Diamond -- Allow for a very natural walking stance, keeping feet close together.
- Asymmetrical
- Interlocking -- Fine for aerobic/running shoes and for packed snow because they keep you from hitting your ankles.
- Offset -- Easiest and most natural walking because, again, shoes can remain close together.
- Decking
- This is the flat surface of the snowshoe that allows you to walk on the snow without sinking.
- They were once made of rawhide, but are now commonly made of synthetic materials.
- Synthetics give the advantage of being strong and light, offering better floatation and less upkeep.
Bindings and Hinge Design- Bindings attach your boots to your snowshoes and they determine how much control you will have. They consist of nylon straps that go over the foot and around the heel. Most bindings are capable of accommodating a wide variety of shoes and boots.
- Choose by stiffness: rigid, flexible or semi-rigid.
- Flexible bindings allow for a wider range of foot placement on the shoe.
- Rigid bindings are the best for continuous overall control.
- Semi-rigid bindings keep the foot in line and provide control and a limited range of foot placement.
- Bindings for running shoes tend to be lighter.
- A more heavy-duty shoe will have much more durable bindings.
- Hinges act as the link between your bindings and your snowshoes.
- Choose by hinge design: free-rotation, fixed-rotation or variable rotation.
- Rotating bindings pivot where they attach to the decking, under the balls of the feet. This allows you to walk easily and climb hills.
- Fixed bindings are connected with rubber or Neoprene bands that spring back up with each step, allowing for a more comfortable stride. They are perfect for stepping over obstacles and going backwards. They are suitable for racing and recreational snowshoeing.
- Variable rotation is the most versatile because it can be adjusted depending on what type of snowshoeing you participate it.
Traction Devices- Crampons and cleats are toothed traction devices on the undersides of snowshoes. A few large teeth provide traction by gripping onto hard-packed, icy and steep terrain while many smaller teeth provide the best grip on packed snow.
- Located at the toe or heel, or they may be frame length or integrated.
- Recreational snowshoes are light on traction, which is usually located at the forefoot.
- Mountaineering models have aggressive traction at both forefoot and heel to assist in climbing.
- Aerobic snowshoes have extra cleats at the toes for traction when pushing off.
- Toe or instep crampons pivot with your feet and dig in as you walk or climb, while heel crampons are shaped like a V and slow your descent by filling with snow.
- Traction bars provide lateral stability, and help reduce side slipping when traversing hills or uneven terrain.
Sizes- As a general rule, size depends on the size of the user, terrain and snow conditions.
- The heavier the person or the lighter and drier the snow, the larger the snowshoe needs to be.
- Get the smallest size that will support your weight.
- Five standard sizes (based on weight) -- bigger sizes are more buoyant:
- When to go bigger: You will need more floatation in fluffy powder than on wet, packed or icy snow. Up your size by one level. The same goes if you plan to break trails.
- When to go smaller: More compact snowshoes are ideal for packed trails or tight places, and smaller snowshoes are less awkward and easier to deal with for carrying and storing.
New Ideas
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Kahtoola Flight System
The Kahtoola Flight System is a novel way of approaching the snowshoe/snow hiking boot system. - The Kahtoola boots slide over your favorite running shoes -- no need to worry about a comfortable fit.
- Made of Neoprene and Hypalon to keep your feet warm and dry even when the weather is uncooperative.
- The boots themselves are have plenty of traction and can be used on trails with ice or hard-packed snow.
- The boots snap into a bracket on the deck -- no straps or buckles to fumble with in cold weather.
- At about 5.5 lbs for the whole system, they're not quite lightweight enough for winter camping. However, their versatility and ease of use make them a great choice for recreational use.
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Manufacturers
Related Products
External Links - Wikipedia -- A good history of snowshoes and some usage information.
- Carl Heilman -- The site sports an early-90s look but also great, to-the-point advice on choosing a shoe, by type and design.
- Snowshoe Mag -- Equipment reviews, beginner info, articles, calendars; a great overall resource, regularly updated.
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Shopping Directory
