I am a total and complete noob. I usually spend my winters snowboarding, but I tore my ACL at the end of last season and I’m off the slopes this year. After my ACL reconstruction my ortho said it would be OK to snowshoe this winter but I have literally zero experience and know nothing about it. (I was just hoping to have some physical exercise and fun this year in the snow.) I am a 50 year-old woman, 5’6” 130 lbs. and I will be snowshoeing in the Lake Tahoe (Northstar) area. What equipment should I be looking at getting? In fact, where do I even begin? LOL

Hi everyone,

I’m a snowshoe newbie, and despite a lot of research (including the REI guide), I’m still feeling lost. I’ve read about snowshoes for powder, wet snow, flat terrain, hilly areas, and mountainous conditions. But is there a versatile snowshoe that can handle a bit of everything?

I live at around 11,000 feet in Colorado, where it seems mostly powdery. I’m not sure if that’s always the case through winter, though, since I’m new to the area. For context, I weigh about 150 lbs and might bulk up a bit for winter, but not by much.

Can anyone recommend a versatile snowshoe that would be a good fit for these conditions?

Thank you in advance!

I have limited experience and am looking to get fully into the hobby. As said in the title, I weigh 230lbs (size 13 boots) and plan to use these for mixed terrain. One primary venue would be hilly, unmaintained woodland roads and the surrounding forest. I'd also likely use them quite a bit while ice fishing or just for hiking on the frozen lakes (although I'm not fully sure how achievable that is throughout the winter).

I'm sure there are a number of hangups I'm not knowledgeable about so I figured it best to get advice from a community. Also, I'm looking for recommendations on shoes and sizing. Since I'm just getting started, I'd prefer to keep things relatively budget minded unless there's particularly good reason. I can always upgrade later.

Hey everyone. Like the title says, I am looking for an ultralight daypack with the ability to lash snowshoes. This winter I am planning on doing some backpacking trips. This will be the first time that I have winter backpacked. When I have previously snowshoed on day trips, I use a snowboarding backpack as a daypack. I like the ability to lash my snowshoes if I come across a trail that is hard packed, or there just isn't enough snow to need them. I would like to be able to find a nice ultralight packable daypack that I can stuff in my backpacking pack. But then I can use it if I want to venture away from camp. I am thinking somewhere around the 20-25 liter size would be nice. I don't know if such a thing even exists, but I figured someone on here could help me out. Or if some has another idea that I am not thinking about. Thanks!

Live between SLC and Provo. Looks like I'm going to hit up mirror lake next weekend, otherwise I would go there.

Anywhere else on your radars?

I've only been snowshoeing once in deep fresh powder with cheap rentals. I'm 5'11 170lbs 61 years in shape, bad knee (No ACL). No I never took an arrow to my knee. 😋

I haven't bought my shoes yet, I'm still researching. I really want to avoid as many newb mistakes as possible. f Nothing is off the table. Equipment, techniques, terrain, extra gear, and accessories. The title says it all.

Edit - Soooo do you bring stuff in your pack? What boots do you wear? Thigh-high wool socks? Thermals? Avalanche gear? Sat-phones?

Edit: Hit the stores and I bought:

Lowa Renegade/Evo boots (Gortex) - Versatile boots I can use when it snows in town too

OR Gortex Gaiters

Helly Hanson SOGN Cargo Snow Pants - Also can use for skiing. Wish they had more pockets, but on sale 50% off!

I’m looking to purchase some snowshoes! I’m a decent hiker and have some experience snowshoeing, though mostly on flat ground.

For a day hike I typically do 5-10 miles and up to 3k feet. I’m not totally sure how that translates to snowshoeing, but would like to get in a similar workout (or even more elev gain). I have poles.

5’8” + 120 lbs + pack maxes around 20ish lbs though it’s typically lighter. For boots I wear some big ol’ Sorels. Glacier model maybe? I look like I’m headed to hangout with penguins. Women’s size 8.

Would love to be able to buy through REI or Amazon!

Also would love any tips / tricks you have!

So I am in the Seattle area and am trying to look ahead into the more winter months. I've done multiple snowshoe overnighters in Oregon, but was having trouble trying to find some spots within an hour or two of Seattle. I'm looking for around five miles to camp and a lower avalanche risk area if possible. Back in Oregon I could pick a sno park on Hood and find good spots pretty easy. So something like that or comparable.

Any good places to snowshoe there? Preferably in the Lakewood-Laona or Florence-Eagle River Districts. Looks like a lot of trails there are no go because they’re groomed for skiing.

Hey everyone, I feel like I'm beating a broken drum, I've searched the subreddit and seen other people ask similar questions but I haven't quite found the answer to mine. I'm looking it upgrading my cheap, first pair of snowshoes and getting some nicer ones. For context the ones I have now are a $60 hardware store special that have been used and abused for the last 10 years. The ones I'm looking at currently are primarily the MSR lightning ascent and the MSR lightning Explore, and I've got to ask, what the heck is the difference. From doing some reading it looks like back in the day there was a little bit of difference between them with different bindings or the heel lifter but as it looks right now they look almost identical to me.

Im entertaining the thought of some other snowshoes as well like the tubbs mountaineer, and an atlas pair.

I do plan on using them in hilly and mountainous areas in Western Alberta with deeper snow, that's why I'm looking at these ones.

TIA

I bought a pair of snow shoes a couple years ago to go out in the Sierra’s when I can’t hike or run, but I haven’t. Can anyone recommend a certain trails better for snowshoes? And how do you figure out whether it’s packed and you need crampons or powder and you need snow shoes? I’m sorry if these are dumb questions I’m coming from the world of running and hiking.

Recently came across trekking skis (i.e., Altai Hok/Kom, BD Glidelite, OAC XCD/trekking skis) as a potential alternative to snowshoes. Covering more ground on flats and skiing down slopes seems more efficient than snowshoeing (I alpine ski). I have seen complaints about these types of skis being a lack of control and losing momentum on downhills. I would imagine they are worse on steep slopes, mixed terrain, and ice. They seem like a great compromise between BC skis and snowshoes, as I love the speed/efficiency of skis but hate having to bring ski boots along with my normal winter hiking boots.

Does anyone have thoughts/experience with these skis vs. snowshoes? How critical are snowshoes on steeper slopes where I imagine such skis would start to fail?

Hi! Great big fat guy here. I weigh ~255-260 depending on dinner the night before. I'm what you might call a "ten essentials absolutist," (every fucking one, every fucking time) plus I carry extra food and equipment for my dog. When I go hiking, my day packs typically weigh north of 20 pounds, and my overnight bags usually crack 40.

Though I'm a fairly avid hiker, I've only been snowshoeing a handful of times. Each of those times, I borrowed equipment. I'm looking to buy my own this year.

Cascade Mountain Tech Navigator 36's seem perfect for my purposes (their max weight rating is 300 pounds), but they don't have a heel bar. Metal snowshoes with heel bars are expensive, and I don't want to pay $300 for a set of snowshoes if I don't need to. In case it matters, I live in Washington State (lots of big hills to climb, and the snow is super wet).

Do I need heel bars? At what other brands should I look?

Just wondering if anybody had a ruptured achilles and if so what the timing was to return to snowshoeing.

I am thinking that the snowshoeing timeframe would be the similar to a return to hiking. Hiking won't work as the hills will be covered in snow. :)

I am thinking that snowshoeing doesn't really stress the achilles as the snowshoe keeps the foot flatter when it moves, but this is just a guess until I try with a snowshoe on.

I am looking at around 12 weeks after rupture to try.

I’ve never used poles while snowshoeing before but after the 2+ feet that got dumped on Iowa last winter I definitely want some, but I also what to be able to use them for hiking. Eventually I may get separate pairs for each, but I don’t want to start there.
What do you all suggest?

hi y'all Im 217 and assume my packweight will be 30-40 so definitely on the "plush" side of things. Didnt know if 25 + tails would be sufficient. Ill be in new hampshire so probably most likely White Mountain area. Looking to start on some packed trails and learning how to winter camp. Nothing crazy day hiking 1-2 day trips and def not trying to get into mountaineering or some such. Also looking at buying some Revo Explores wondering what thoughts anyone would have on those for what Im looking to do. Sorry if this isnt super specific just found out I have to move up North and have no idea what Im talking about tbf.
Thanks!!!!!

Hi! So this winter I'll be joining an ongoing albatross study on a Pacific atoll. Albatross aren't the only seabirds that nest on the islands, as there is a species of petrel that nests in burrows in sand. The challenge is when surveying albatross on foot in sandy areas, it's easy to accidentally collapse a petrel burrow (there are protocols in place if this happens). Past biological technicians have built their own snowshoes using scrap plywood and rope or snowshoe bindings they brought with them, and that has reduced burrow collapses dramatically. Problem is, the plywood delaminates in the moist conditions and there's not a ready supply of waterproofing paint. So, finally getting to the main question: is there a quality snowshoe made specifically for sandy conditions? If not, can anyone recommend a style of snowshoe that would work better than others? The only thing previous technicians have said is that the bindings don't need the teeth on them for grip. I weight 190lbs if that matters in regards to sizing. I know nothing about snowshoes, so any help is really appreciated!

I have a couple of friends who want to do more this winter, just don't feel like spending all day driving North. I'm thinking places like Nashoba or Wachusett.

Title says it all. New to snowshoeing, and am having a hard time finding info on snowshoe size for my weight. With pack, up to 260 pounds, and I hike in the Adirondacks. Can I get away with 27”? Do I need 30? Do I need larger than 30”? Thanks in advance!

I’ve been very casually looking for snow shoes for my husband and I the past couple of years. We live in Minnesota and usually deal with quite a bit of snow on our property and live on a lake that’s very active in the winter. Someone threw these in a bag and donated them to Goodwill and I paid $10.99…for BOTH and the bag. What did I just get? What are these best for? Thank you for tolerating my complete ignorance. I’m in shock/excited. 😆

Hi, I was at my local Columbia Sportswear outlet store yesterday, and they had insulated waterproof boots. In the vein of "if it seems too good to be true," does anyone have any experience with Columbia's waterproofing? How does it hold up? Thanks

I live in upstate NY and want to start snowshoeing this coming winter. I’ve never tried it before (I have done x-country skiing tho). Is there a particular brand or type of snowshoe I should buy?