Snowshoeing:
Best Resources And Reasons
For Snowshoe Hikes

By Diane Spicer

Snowshoeing = hiking + bigger boots.

Woohoo!! What a great equation!

Seems obvious to me now, but it took me awhile to put that outdoor equation together.

I used to feel trapped inside the overheated, dry as a desert house during the long snowy winters in upper Michigan, when temperatures dipped below zero for days on end and the snowstorms just kept coming.

And then one fine day, I borrowed a pair of old fashioned, hand made bear paw snowshoes.

My world has never been the same since.

And I mean that quite literally.

So let me share with you why you (and your loved ones) should try snowshoeing, along with some of the best tips on how to get started as a newbie snowshoer.

Best snowshoeing tips first!

To shortcut things, drop down to Snowshoeing FAQ.

Or use these buttons:

---

Or keep reading to pick up tips for making winter hiking on snowshoes not only enjoyable, but safe and comfortable.

More effort and gear required
compared with three season hikes

Snowshoeing a hike you're familiar with under mild conditions is going to be a completely new experience with "boats" on your feet. (I prefer to call them floats!)

That includes some of the gear you'll carry into the pristine winter wonderland.

This unique, low tech sport requires very little in the way of gear, but you will need to put some thought and experimentation into choosing rock solid snowshoe gear.

Why?

In wintertime, you have less margin for error: shorter daylight hours, more extreme temperatures, and more effort for less pay off.

Snowshoeing gear checklist

As for the physical effort required, you won't be shocked to hear that it takes more work on the trail, compared with summer hiking, partly due to your more rugged winter gear.

Your winter hiking boots are going to weigh more.

Your survival gear and Ten Essentials are going to set a minimum weight limit for you to carry on your back.

• But you'll want to carry more food, and more clothing for head, neck, hands and torso.

If you're not already using trekking poles, add them to your snowshoe gear list. Read why here.

Also carry backcountry navigational tools with you, like a personal locator beacon or satellite communication device, if you venture away from established snow parks or designated snowshoe trails.

• You may think you know the area well, but when everything is blanketed in snow, your usual trail markers are erased.

Best boots for snowshoeing

My most cherished possession for winter snowshoeing outings isn't my carefully selected pair of snowshoes, it's my boots!

My waterproof, insulated, clunky, absolutely not stylish, but uber-functional winter boots:

Baffin Snogoose Boots

If you prefer more of a traditional hiking boot look, take a peek at boots like these

Choose a great pair of snowshoes
with these tips

Here's some good news.

Snowshoeing has gained in popularity lately, at least in the United States. That means there are lots of good brands of snowshoes to choose from.

• That link shows you how to buy the best pair for your particular needs, taking you through features you need for various winter terrain.

Read about the brands I recommend here.

Or read my review of my new MSR Revo Ascents.

• They're best for elevation gain and backcountry terrain.

Try to be realistic about your commitment to this winter sport, and don't over or under spend for features that won't benefit you.

What to wear snowshoeing

Snowshoeing clothing needs to be warm, of course, but also needs to do these things for your hard working body:

• Soak up your perspiration and wick it away from your skin.
• Keep your core temperature protected from the cold.
• Layer easily over and under your other snowshoeing clothes.

All the tips you need to select the right clothes for layering are right here.

Here are suggestions for ways to keep your feet and hands warm, too.

Winter conditioning for snowshoeing

You will also be using different muscles, or perhaps I should say you'll use the same old hiking muscles in different ways.

• Be prepared for some soreness!
• Know how to handle inflammation.
  

And if you're the first person, or the only person (lucky you!!), to go in that direction, you'll need to break trail.

• That's when you work up a good sweat, all for a good cause.
• Take turns with your hiking partners!
  
• Be sure your quads are conditioned for the heavy lifting: foot + boot + snowshoe + snow.

Modify your hiking nutrition
for snowshoeing

Fact: You can't get as far on snow as you can on a dirt trail.

You'll be working hard (burning more calories) for less mileage.

Winter is the time when you should be carrying fat in your hiking lunch.

We've already covered how much harder you'll be working, and carbs alone won't be able to fuel your muscles.

The other reason for adding some fat into your hiking nutrition is to give you extra calories to burn as you keep your core temperature stable in the face of cold windy conditions.

Plus, fat makes you feel satisfied with small amounts, and keeps hunger pangs at bay.

Here is a complete guide to what to eat and drink on a snowshoe hike.

A few more tools for you
before you go snowshoeing

Strapping on snowshoes to explore a wintry scene is an absolutely amazing experience, regardless of where in the world your snow falls.

• These tips on how to snowshoe will help you make the most of your winter outdoor time.
• Safety tips for snowshoers involve planning, smarts and flexibility. Read more here.
• Winter hiking tips, with or without snowshoes, are here.
• You can also download this free pdf  "What To Expect": a sheet of tips I hand out to folks who take my snowshoe classes, or are curious about how to get started as a snowshoer. 

Enjoy!

Now let's turn our attention to the motivation behind this type of winter hiking.

Is snowshoeing fun?

Heck, yeah it's fun!

Let's start this list of reasons to snowshoe with my favorite reason of all:

This winter hiking sport is an amazing opportunity to see places you can't get to during non-winter months.

• Snow covers brush, rock piles, small trees, and other obstacles. 
• All you have to do is walk over it all! (after planning a safe route, of course)

All of that walking is a great opportunity to burn tons of calories, allowing you to eat a hearty breakfast, lunch, second lunch, snacks and dinner.

After my most recent snowy adventure at Mt. Rainier, I consumed an entire plate of burritos, rice, and beans, washing it all down with chips and salsa, more chips and salsa.....I thought I'd never feel full again!

This, from a woman who is hard pressed to finish one burrito.

And the best part?

• The bathroom scale never registered this little episode of overindulgence.

So if I sound as if I'm advocating this winter sport as an excuse to enjoy good food, and plenty of it, I am!

If you're considering hiking for weight loss, you can't go wrong with a little physical exertion in cold conditions.

More great reasons to snowshoe

Being outdoors allows you to enjoy the tranquility and serenity of winter.

If you're lucky enough to be able to get away from the noise of human activity, you can marvel at the crunch of snow under your feet that shuts off the instant you stand still.

• Silence! Let it surround you and soothe you.

If you love to observe nature, winter is a marvelous time for you.

• Animals creep out of hiding places and go about their normal activity, because they don't even notice you as you blend into their surroundings.
• And the winter sunlight is so fragile, so welcome, that you see trees and rocks and streams with fresh, appreciative eyes.

Fresh snow also makes animal tracking much easier.

Snowshoeing for beginners

OK, that's 6 motivations!
Here are 2 more reasons to go snowshoeing.

Snowshoeing is one of the few sports that has no learning curve. You're going to go from beginner to competent snowshoer very quickly!

• You know how to walk, so you know how to snowshoe.

The first few minutes might be a bit awkward, but after you hit your stride you'll be whizzing along humming a snowshoeing tune!

Tip: Be sure to choose easy terrain and good weather for your first few snowshoe outings.

The very best reason to try snowshoeing

I've saved the best reason to snowshoe for last:

Snowshoes are not expensive, compared with skiing.

You can take up this sport by either renting a pair of snowshoes for the first few times, or buying a pair at your favorite gear store like REI.

A few more thoughts
regarding this great winter sport

Being able to walk easily over the snow is wonderful because:

• It brings a sense of peace not always achieved during hiking adventures in other seasons.
• And it gives a sense of freedom, too. You can explore, wander, backtrack (literally!), stop, stare, lick tree icicles, or ponder what that rabbit was doing as it laid down its tracks.

But winter hiking also brings responsibility for your safety.

• Be smart about where & how you snowshoe: plan a route you can handle in a short day. 
• Eat properly for winter exertion: more fat, less protein and plenty of carbs. More hiking nutrition tips here.
• Stay on marked routes until you're ready with a strong skill set to explore on your own. 
• Be prepared mentally and physically for the winter season risks, which may be quite extreme when the weather decides to exert its authority over you as a mere mortal.

Snowshoeing FAQs

Here are some questions that I get asked alot.

Just click on the question for a succinct answer and links to more detailed information about snowshoeing.

Home page > Types of Hiking >

Snowshoeing