Tips for Choosing Snowshoes for Winter Hiking

You are not the type of hiker that will let a little snow stop you. The white shrouded wilderness awaits and you will need a pair of snowshoes. You can sink to your crotch, known as postholing, with each step without them.

Colin Fletcher said, "Snowshoes allow you to travel (sweating hard, but sinking less than a foot at every step) across snow into which you would otherwise go on sinking forever if God had not arranged that human legs eventually converge." From: The Complete Walker IV.

Snowshoes fashioned from beautifully curved wood and strung with cross-hatching of leather or cord make good wall art today. Modern technology has made them lighter and stronger with aluminum frames. High tech bindings make them easier to wear and safer to walk in. Durable fabric replaces the leather platform or decking.

There are important things to consider when choosing snowshoes.

Flotation refers to how well the snowshoe keeps you from sinking. The heavier the user the more surface area needs to be on the snow. Do not forget to add the weight of your gear and body. The platform or decking on modern snowshoes is made from semi-rigid plastic or heavy duty coated nylon fabric. Plastic decks are quite noisy when they compress snow.

Traction is provided by crampons or cleats affixed to the snowshoe or boot. Consider the terrain you will be hiking on. Short cleats for clear and gently sloped trails. You may need up to inch long crampons for negotiating steep hills.

Tracking Ability relates to ease of walking in the snowshoes. The binding should hold the snowshoe securely to the boot. Modern snowshoes have a pivot system that lets you walk with as normal a motion as possible with feet that are four times larger.

Traversing ability is important when conquering hilly terrain. Choose the narrowest width that corresponds with your over all weight. That will insure that more platform will touch the snow giving you better balance.

Weight is a critical factor over longer hikes. It is true that for every one pound on your foot, it feels like five. Aluminum and fabric reduces those differences to ounces and every ounce counts.

Trek poles or ski poles are invaluable when hiking on snowshoes. They provide added stability and add the power of your upper body and arms to every step. In areas with suspected deadfall or concealed streams they can be used to probe ahead.

Hiking with snowshoes on is a skill. Your feet are four times their normal size so you must take shorter steps. The extra width forces you to use a rolling gait when walking (watch anyone wearing their pants really low for an example). The deeper the snow you are walking on the shorter your steps must be. Use a two-stage step in deep snow. Let the your forward foot pack the snow before applying your full weight.

Winter in the wilderness is beautiful. The right snowshoes will enable you to explore with a minimum of exertion and maximum safety.