Wild Bound

The first step in selecting a pair of snowshoes is determining what you will be using your snowshoes for.

Fill in the blank. “I plan on using my snowshoes for ___________.”

Right about now, you might be thinking, “I’m going to use them for Walking on the snow, DUH!”

There are four basic types of snowshoes:  racing, recreational, hiking, and mountaineering/back country. As the names for each type imply, they are used for different styles of snowshoeing.

• Racing-These snowshoes are used for running.  They have a sleek frame that is made from lightweight material.  This snowshoe is designed for running on packed snow or groomed trails.  The narrow size means you won’t float well on top of powdery snow.  Racing snowshoes usually have a special toe cleat for added traction while running
• Recreation–recreation snowshoes are used for gentle walking, like taking a winter walk in the park.  These snowshoes are ideal for flat to rolling terrain.  If you are just wanting to get outside this winter with no intentions to go on steep or icy terrain, recreation snowshoes are probably the best value for you.
• Hiking–For the backpacking enthusiast who wants to enjoy their sport year-round, you will be looking for a hiking snowshoe. These snowshoes are made a bit more ruggedly than the recreational snowshoes and are usually designed for better traction on slightly steeper terrain.
• Back country/Mountaineering–If you are planning on getting out in the back country, you want durable snowshoes that aren’t going to let you down when you are miles away from civilization.  Back country/mountaineering snowshoes usually weigh more than other models, but they are sturdy build and get good traction on a variety of challenging terrains.  Back country snowshoes have heavy duty bindings that are made to fit a bulky hiking boot.  These are more expensive, but necessary if you are planning on getting wild bound this winter.

Each of the four styles of snowshoes have been developed for a specific need.  While the styles may crossover for other purposes, you should buy look for a style that will best fit your needs.  You wouldn’t want to go on a back country camping trip with lightweight racing snowshoes.  Likewise, mountaineering snowshoes would be too bulky for regular running.

By knowing how you will be using your snowshoes most often, you will shop with a purpose and eliminate 3/4 of the snowshoe selection from your decision making process.

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This entry was posted on Monday, November 12th, 2007 at 3:35 pm and is filed under Winter Gear, snowshoeing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.