This topic contains 54 replies, has 19 voices, and was last updated by 
raslas 15 years, 12 months ago.
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I have been toying with the idea of getting snowshoes but I know absolutely nothing about them. Don’t have a clue as what to look for when buying them or even what local stores carry them. Also wondering what an average price range would be. Any info would be appreciated.
hello raslas!
I had the opportunity the back in 08 to try a pair from this company;
Based right in wausau (not sure if they are made here or not), I also see they now sell off the web. I called and had a great conversation with the owner (just happened to pick up the phone) and he explained to me what the pack weight was, how they were designed, why they choose certain materials, etc.
I liked the pair I rented but did not buy only because I can’t afford the price tag. I was in Fleet Farm last winter and they had some other models for sale.
Here is a quick google search article that seems pretty good:
http://www.outdoor.com/gear/snowshoeing-gear/how-to-buy-snowshoes/
Have fun with what ever you buy!
We have 6 pair of Northern Lites:
2 Quicksilver 25’s
3 Quicksilver 30’s
1 BackcountryThe 25’s are great for kids or hiking on a used trail but for breaking a trail like you do geocaching the Quicksilver 30’s are the way to go. That’s why we have 6 pair- the kids started with the 25’s but as they got older they needed more flotation for deep snow conditions. The Backcountry was only because there were no Quicksilver pairs available when we wanted to buy. It’s often difficult to get a pair of Northern Lite snowshoes.There is no reason to spend the additional money for the Backcountry- there is no functional difference between them and the Quicksilver.
We like ours but they are a little more pricey than the heavier shoes you can get at chain stores. And the prices are up quite a bit from when we bought ours. But, we like them and they have quite a few miles on them. The bindings are great- once they are on they never slip off or slide. No matter what shoe you get it sure is fun to hike around in the winter woods. Especially at night by headlamp.
My wife have me a pair of these for X-mas a few years ago. Easy on and of ratchting binding system. She got them From Cabelas. Looks like they got pretty good deal on them right now. I know mine cost more when she got them. Mine were around $200 with out the poles and bag. GET POLES!!
I love mine!
Atlas Snowshoes @ CabelasOf course, the traditinal wooden shoes are great too. My father bought a pair of handmade ones from Lane Stowell. He is DNR biologist who moniters the Elk heard in Clam Lake.
I bought a pair at Fleet Farm about 3 years ago for about $80. I’m a big guy, so I knew the normal caned type wouldn’t work for me. I bought the type with aluminum frames and it has a membrane of some sort attached side to side. I don’t want to say that it’s rubber and I don’t want to say that it’s plastic. I’m not sure what it is. They’re very light weight, have ratcheting hinged bindings with aluminum gripper teeth underneath for slippery surfaces. I love them, but have not really put them to the test. I’ve only used them on short walks but have been off trail with them and so far they are holding up.
I don’t remember the brand name. As for what size and style to get, there was information on the tags that were attached to the snowshoes in the store.
I have the sporting-goods-store aluminum frame ones as described and they worked well. When I was out with CSI he had a pair from LL Bean that had a snap-in shoe. Those are easier to walk with–just one binding point up at the toe, so they pivot more like a racing shoe. However, the binding occasionally got jammed with snow. And of course you’re limited by having to have the special shoe/boot.
On the Left Side of the Road...@cheezehead wrote:
Atlas Snowshoes @ Cabelas
Mine were around $200 with out the poles and bag. GET POLES!!Just ordered these. I’ve been looking at these for a few days and finally made the plunge. I bought the combo (after debating about poles) which includes a carry bag and poles. With the $20 off coupon from their website and the current sale the whole package with shipping only ran me about $165.
As an avid outdoorsmen I’m hoping to also use these for hunting, getting in to cut wood, and CACHING (of course). I’ll post a followup after getting them and giving them a whirl. Of course this means I’m going to have to hope for more “craphas.”
@codejunkie wrote:
@cheezehead wrote:
Atlas Snowshoes @ Cabelas
Mine were around $200 with out the poles and bag. GET POLES!!Just ordered these. I’ve been looking at these for a few days and finally made the plunge. I bought the combo (after debating about poles) which includes a carry bag and poles. With the $20 off coupon from their website and the current sale the whole package with shipping only ran me about $165.
As an avid outdoorsmen I’m hoping to also use these for hunting, getting in to cut wood, and CACHING (of course). I’ll post a followup after getting them and giving them a whirl. Of course this means I’m going to have to hope for more “craphas.”
I think you will really enjoy them!! The one draw back thou is they don’t fit a Pac boot(Sorels, Icemans) very well, but if you don’t need a heavy boot if your hiking and moving. $165 is a HECK of a deal! Thou I have no idea how their polls are and the bag will come on handy, I don’t have one for mine.
I was looking at snowshoes at Dunham’s just for the hell of it. I have never worn snowshoes in my life and they look cumbersome and difficult to walk in.
When I used to think of snowshoes, I used to think of a tennis racket tied to someone’s boot – lol.
Maybe next year. I don’t think I’ll be out enough in the snow to warrant me getting snowshoes.
I have never tried walking in snowshoes but someone told my husband that it is really a work out and you can’t go very far without stopping for a rest! Don’t know if this is so but sure would like to hear some other opinions.
Walking in deep snow withOUT snowshoes is a real workout, too! We’ve never used snowshoes, but when we would cross country ski, it sure was a lot easier being on top of the snow rather than going down into it. Breaking trail is the hardest thing to do no matter what you’re using.
Can you find a place to rent before buying? Or have someone who can lend you a pair of snowshoes? From what it sounds like here, if you plan on walking in the snow for any distance, snowshoes are the way to go. Even the short hikes for caches that we did in the past two winters would have been easier with something on our feet besides boots.
@raslas wrote:
I have never tried walking in snowshoes but someone told my husband that it is really a work out and you can’t go very far without stopping for a rest! Don’t know if this is so but sure would like to hear some other opinions.
This is one of those things where there are apples and oranges. I have a pair of wooden and sinew snowshoes with leather bindings. Big, lots of flotation, but HEAVY. And I used to use a heavy pac type boot too. That’s a lot of weight on each foot and if you’re going a long way it really adds up. Now we have the Northern lites and they weigh nothing compared to my wooden shoes. I also use a wool sock and a pair of cordura thinsulate boots and that is SO much lighter than the pac boots. So, the combined weight difference makes snowshoeing so much more fun. There is a trade-off with the smaller shoes and that is you lose the additional flotation in deep and powdery snow. But I’ll trade the flotation for the lighter weight 90 percent of the time.
We’ve also found that the older members of One Paddle Short like to use trekking poles with snow baskets on them for additional stability (the younger half is not much interested in using poles). We also added gaiters to our equipment and they are really nice when breaking trail in the deep stuff. Finally, snowshoeing is a lot of work and one mistake we used to make is to not remember to bring lots of drinking water. You don’t think of that in the winter but you really need it if you’re going to snowshoe any distance.
I know the snowshoes appear to be expensive at first but really what else are you going to get into for a winter activity for a couple hundred bucks? Downhill skiing? Don’t think so. Snowmobiling? Not a chance. Cross Country skiing? Most folks use trails and some of them have fees. All you need to snowshoe once you have the shoes is winter snow and a woods to explore. Better yet add a full moon.
@sandlanders wrote:
Can you find a place to rent before buying? Or have someone who can lend you a pair of snowshoes?
I have rented both snowshoes and cross country skis at Bubolz Nature Preserve (Appleton) and Heckrodt Nature Preserve (Menasha). Both were part of school field trips and the equipment needs to be used on site.
I also used the old wooden (heavy) kind when I was younger and the newer models are way lighter and easier to use.
@codejunkie wrote:
@cheezehead wrote:
Atlas Snowshoes @ Cabelas
Mine were around $200 with out the poles and bag. GET POLES!!Just ordered these. I’ve been looking at these for a few days and finally made the plunge. I bought the combo (after debating about poles) which includes a carry bag and poles. With the $20 off coupon from their website and the current sale the whole package with shipping only ran me about $165.
As an avid outdoorsmen I’m hoping to also use these for hunting, getting in to cut wood, and CACHING (of course). I’ll post a followup after getting them and giving them a whirl. Of course this means I’m going to have to hope for more “craphas.”
Snowshoes arrived yesterday. Quite a large box for a relatively small package. Tried them out by “street light” last night walking around the various snow conditions in the yard. After 200-300 feet, my initial impression is “AWESOME”. They fit fine with my larger boots (i.e. 12EEE 800 grams thinsulate) but would work with a variety or boot styles. The adjustment straps are easier to work and seem to stay tight. Very lightweight. I’m glad I got the 9.5 x 36 because when walking through the light fluffy snow (12-13″) I still sank about 3″. After making the trek with the snowshoes, I walked most of the same trek and sank all the way to hard ground.
Ya, it’s going to be like walking in sand until it warms up a bit and the snow settles and gets a crust. There are a few disignated snowshoe trails around here and it doesn’t take too long to get packed down and is almost easier to trek with out shoes.
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