LAST UPDATED: 4/1/26 – Snowshoe Gear Guide for Adventure Travelers

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If you’ve followed my adventures for a while, you already know I’m happiest when I’m deep in the wilderness. Most of the year, that means long hikes or challenging climbs, but when winter rolls in, nothing beats exploring snowy landscapes on snowshoes. That’s why I put together this snowshoe gear guide—to help you gear up confidently before stepping into the powder.

Snowshoeing may look simple, but staying warm, safe, and comfortable requires more than just strapping on a pair of snowshoes. From the right layers to essential safety items, having the proper equipment can completely transform your experience. This snowshoe gear guide breaks down exactly what I recommend bringing so you can enjoy the trail without the cold‑weather surprises.

Anyone can wander into the snow, but the right gear turns a tough trudge into an unforgettable winter adventure. With the proper layers, safety essentials, and comfort-focused extras, you’ll stay warm, move confidently, and actually enjoy the journey instead of fighting the elements. Think of this as your foundation for exploring deeper, staying out longer, and experiencing winter landscapes at their best. Let’s make sure you’re prepared for every step.

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The wrong equipment can lead to exhausted legs, cold extremities, and even dangerous trail situations. So before you start to plan your next adventure in the snow, make sure you review my guidelines and recommendations below so that you can choose the gear that is right for you.

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Finding the Right Snowshoes

One of the most important pieces of guidance that I will be providing to you in this snowshoe gear guide is how to choose the proper snowshoes that are right for you. Believe it or not, much more goes into choosing the right snowshoes than just finding a pair that fits your feet. In fact, there are factors involved in addition to size that can really make or break your experience on the trail.

To give you a good understanding of how snowshoes are designed and which features you should look for when you make your next purchase, I have outlined some general guidelines below that you should keep in mind as you look for your next pair.

Think About Where You Plan to Snowshoe

An important factor that you will need to consider when picking out the best snowshoes for you is what type of terrain you are planning on using them in. The type of terrain you plan on snowshoeing in will largely dictate what type of features you will need to look for in a snowshoe.

To give you a better idea of how the terrain will impact the type of snowshoe you choose, I have summarized some of the aspects in which the terrain can determine which snowshoe features are useful in my snowshoe gear guide below.

Flat Terrain

If you plan to do a majority of your snowshoeing on flat terrain, then you will have less need for traction features that are more useful when you are traversing steep inclines and declines. That doesn’t mean you won’t need any traction, but traction features will be less of a factor in your decision-making when picking the best snowshoe your you.

Instead, you will want to place more emphasis on features such as the binding type and size of the snowshoe, which will impact comfort and the ability to float on deeper snow.

Hilly Terrain

For those of you who plan on snowshoeing in hilly terrain, the traction features of your snowshoes will become more of a factor. You are going to want to have more than the minimal amount of traction so that you can traverse large inclines and declines safely without slipping.

In addition, you might want to consider looking at snowshoes that have features like heel lifts, which are designed to make climbing hills easier on your legs. You may also want to consider looking for snowshoes that are lighter and easier to lift with your legs as it will be difficult to lift heavier snowshoes as you climb hills on longer excursions.

Mountain Terrain

When choosing a pair of snowshoes that will be used in alpine terrain, the primary emphasis in your decision-making should be on traction features. After all, without the proper traction, snowshoeing in the mountains can be very dangerous.

There are specific snowshoe models that are designed for mountain use, and I would suggest you limit your search to that subset of models. These snowshoes not only have crampons on the bottom but also include additional traction features such as side rails and breaking bars for additional traction.

While proper traction is the most critical feature to look for, as long as the snowshoes you choose have these features, you may also want to consider the weight of the snowshoes to reduce the amount of work required to lift them on steep ascents as well.

Factor In How Much You and Your Gear Weigh

Another factor that you will want to consider when deciding which snowshoes to purchase is how much you weigh, with all of the equipment that you will be bringing with you. Your total weight will dictate how long the snowshoes you purchase will need to be to keep you afloat on top of the snow.

For instance, if you only weigh 120lbs, you won’t need snowshoes that are nearly as long as those of someone who weighs 250lbs. Every snowshoe manufacturer has slightly different suggestions as to what the weight-to-size ratio should be for snowshoe sizing, but I favor MSR’s snowshoe sizing recommendations above others because they are my favorite snowshoe manufacturer, and I have found their suggestions to be the most accurate.

MSR Snowshoe Sizing Chart (linked above)

Your Total Weight	Packed Snow	Shallow Snow	Deep Snow
90-125lbs. / 41-57kg	22 in / 56 cm	22 in / 56 cm	25 in / 64 cm or 22 in / 56 cm + Tails
125-175lbs. / 57-79kg	22 in / 56 cm	25 in / 64 cm or 22 in / 56 cm	25 in / 64 cm or 22 in / 56 cm + Tails
175-225lbs. / 79-120kg	22 in / 56 cm	25 in / 64 cm or 22 in / 56 cm + Tails	30 in / 76 cm + Tails or 22 in / 56 cm + Tails or 25 in / 64 cm + Tails
225lbs.+ / 102kg+	22 in / 56 cm or 25 in / 64 cm	22 in / 56 cm + Tails or 25 in / 64 cm + Tails or 30 in / 76 cm + Tails	30 in / 76 cm + Tails or 25 in / 64 cm + Tails

Consider What Type of Snow You’ll Be Traversing

The final factor that you will want to consider when choosing a pair of snowshoes that are right for you is the type of snow that you will be snowshoeing in most regularly. In fact, this may be the most important factor of them all. The type of snow that you snowshoe in will largely influence what type of snowshoe you will need and what size you will want to purchase.

For instance, if you are planning on only snowshoeing on groomed trails with tightly packed snow, you are going to have much less need for flotation than if you are planning on consistently snowshoeing through deep snow in the backcountry. For more information on how the type of snow can impact your snowshoe choice, please refer to the information I provide in my snowshoe gear guide below.

Packed or Groomed Trails

If you are planning on doing most of your snowshoeing on groomed trails, then you aren’t going to need to worry about needing as much floatation on the snow. This means that you can afford to purchase shorter snowshoes that will be easier on your legs to lift. Believe me, this can be a huge benefit if you are planning lengthy snowshoe excursions.

If you are worried about the rare occasion where you head into the backcountry and need more flotation on deeper snow, many snowshoe manufacturers offer snowshoe tails that you can attach to your shorter snowshoes to provide extra flotation when needed. If you are interested, I discuss snowshoe tails in more detail later in my snowshoe gear guide.

Deep Snow

For those of you who plan to do a majority of your snowshoeing in deep snow in the backcountry or on ungroomed trails, then you might want to consider investing in longer snowshoes that will provide you with more floatation. Because you are getting longer snowshoes, you might also want to consider looking for snowshoes that are made out of a lighter composite material instead of regular aluminum frames.

If you are interested in learning more, I cover the different materials that snowshoes are typically made of later in my snowshoe gear guide. As for the length, you could get away with using shorter snowshoes with attached tails, but if a majority of your excursions are in deep snow, you will likely wear out the tails after a while, so it is more practical to invest in a longer pair.

Icy Trails

Not only can icy snowshoe trails be difficult to negotiate, but sometimes they can be downright dangerous. This is especially true if you are hiking on steep terrain. One misstep could lead to serious injury. That is why it is critically important to make sure that your snowshoes have the proper traction features if you are planning on spending a good deal of your time snowshoeing on icy trails.

If you are interested in learning more about traction control for snowshoes, I cover several important traction control features that you can look for in a snowshoe later in my snowshoe gear guide. In addition to traction control features, I would also suggest you look at slightly shorter snowshoes that are easier to control. The added control of a shorter snowshoe will be far more valuable on ice than the extra floatation provided by longer ones.

Which Snowshoe Components to Look For

Now that I have covered some of the basic questions you should ask yourself before deciding which snowshoes are right for you, it is a good time to start to talk about the features that differentiate snowshoes so that you will be able to decide what you would like to look for in your next pair.

Among other things, this includes the type of material that the snowshoes are made of, the type of binding on the snowshoe, and the traction and climbing features the snowshoes include.

Choosing the Right Material

One of the easiest ways to differentiate between one pair of snowshoes and another is by the material the snowshoes are made of. The type of material that your snowshoes are made of will not only play a big factor in how durable the snowshoes are on the trail, but will also largely decide how heavy the snowshoes are as well.

To give you a better understanding of the types of materials you will likely have to choose from when deciding on a pair of snowshoes to purchase, I have outlined some of the pros and cons of these materials in my snowshoe gear guide below.

Aluminum Frame

The most common type of snowshoe frame that you will find on the market is aluminum framing. Fairly lightweight and very durable, these snowshoes can take a beating on the trail and still function. They typically include a decking material made out of hard plastic, rubber, coated nylon, or urethane to provide floatation. They aren’t quite as light as some of the snowshoes with composite frames that you will find, but they make up for that in durability.

Composite Material

If you are looking for an ultra-lightweight snowshoe to use on the trail, then a composite snowshoe may be the way you want to go. These snowshoes are made up of a hardened composite material, with the frame and the deck forming one piece. While they are typically much lighter than aluminum frame snowshoes, composite snowshoes are typically not as durable and are often noisier on the trail.

Foam Material

The most recent innovation in snowshoe material is an EVA foam solution. Snowshoes made out of EVA foam are ultra-lightweight and very quiet on the trail. For those who like to walk with pets, they are also very pet friendly, as accidentally stepping on a tail or a paw with these snowshoes is much less painful for the pet.

The downside of EVA foam snowshoes is that they typically have far less effective traction features than you will find on aluminum frames and composite snowshoes. So if you are planning on doing any snowshoeing in hilly mountainous terrain, they might not be the right option for you.

Deciding on the Proper Binding

In addition to deciding which type of material to look for in a pair of snowshoes, another very important factor that you will need to consider is the type of binding provided. The snowshoe’s binding is what secures the snowshoe to your boot, and it plays a large role in how you will be able to walk with your snowshoes on.

While some types of binding might be practical for shorter adventures on groomed trails, they will be less efficient on longer excursions in alpine terrain. To give you a better understanding of the types of bindings you will likely have to choose from when deciding on a pair of snowshoes to purchase, I have outlined some of the pros and cons of these bindings in my snowshoe gear guide below.

Fixed Bindings

One of the most common types of snowshoe bindings that you will find is what is referred to as the fixed binding. Fixed bindings attach the full length of your boot to the snowshoe deck and typically allow only a small amount of flex when walking in the snowshoes.

This type of binding allows you to maintain the most natural walking motion when in snowshoes, which makes them perfect for shorter excursions on flat, groomed trails. However, the inability of your foot to pivot in these bindings does make it much more difficult to ascend large hills or mountainous terrain because your foot is unable to pivot and push off on your toes.

Rotating or Pivoting Bindings

If you are going to be doing a significant amount of your snowshoeing in hilly mountainous terrain, then I would strongly suggest that you invest in a pair of snowshoes that allow your foot to pivot much more than fixed bindings allow. Depending on the brand of snowshoes you are looking at, there are several different terms that you may encounter for bindings that allow your foot to pivot.

These brand-specific terms are based largely on the pivoting technology that the manufacturer has developed and may include such terms as pivoting, floating, or rotating bindings. Despite the different names, the purpose of these bindings is to allow your foot to pivot when you walk to make it much easier on your legs when ascending and descending steep hills.

Looking for the Proper Traction or Climbing Features

For those of you who are eager to get out and explore the mountains with your snowshoes, some of the most important features that you will need to consider when deciding which snowshoes are best for you are the traction and climbing features that the snowshoes have.

After all, nothing can be more dangerous when snowshoeing than not having enough traction in steep and dangerous terrain. To give you a better understanding of the types of traction and climbing features you will likely have to choose from when deciding on a pair of snowshoes to purchase, I have outlined some of the traction and climbing features you will find in snowshoes in my snowshoe gear guide below.

Toe Crampons

The most common traction feature that you will find on snowshoes is toe crampons. These spike-like features are typically made out of metal and are the primary source of traction for most snowshoes. They enable you to dig into the snow when climbing hills so that your snowshoes don’t slip.

Like their name suggests, the toe crampons are typically located directly underneath your toes when your boot is connected to the snowshoe bindings. If you are planning on doing a lot of snowshoeing in hilly or mountain terrain, I would not even consider purchasing any snowshoes that don’t have toe crampons included.

Heel Crampons

Some models of snowshoes provide additional traction for hill climbing by placing an additional set of crampons underneath your heel position on the bottom of the snowshoe. Like toe crampons, heel crampons are designed to give your foot traction while navigating hills and mountain terrain.

Unlike toe crampons, which are designed to dig into the snow while your feet are pivoted forward during an ascent of a hill, heel crampons are designed to give your snowshoes traction while your feet are planted in the snow. This provides you with lateral stability as you navigate tricky terrain.

Side Rails

A popular traction feature that you will find on many models of alpine snowshoes is the side rails. These rails are designed to give your feet a lot of lateral stability when ascending and descending steep hills and tricky terrain in alpine regions.

In my opinion, side rails are much more efficient in providing lateral stability for your snowshoes than heel crampons are, so if you are deciding between a model with side rails and a model with heel crampons and are concerned about lateral stability and traction, I would suggest going with the pair that has side rails.

Breaking Bars

Another common traction feature that is often found on composite snowshoes and aluminum frame snowshoes that have a hard composite or plastic deck is what we refer to as breaking bars. Breaking bars are forms that are built into the deck and are designed to help you gain traction in the snow.

They are typically raised, horizontal bars that are built into the deck material and assist with traction by making it more difficult for the snowshoes to slide in the snow.

Breaking bars can be especially beneficial when descending hills by preventing your snowshoes from acting like skis and preventing you from sliding downhill. If you plan on doing snowshoeing on steep hills, I would definitely recommend looking for snowshoes that have breaking bars incorporated.

Heel Lifts

The final traction and climbing feature that I am going to cover in this guide happens to be my favorite feature out of all the features that I have seen in snowshoes that are on the market. When you are in very hilly or mountainous terrain, it is very easy to wear out your legs climbing hills in snowshoes.

To help alleviate the stress on your calves and other leg muscles during long excursions with a lot of hill ascents, many snowshoes have a feature that you can use called Heel Lifts. Also referred to as Climbing Bars or Televators, these flip-up bars allow you to rest your heel with your foot in a climbing position to reduce the stress on your calves and other leg muscles during steep incline sections. Believe me, this feature is an absolute must-have if you are going to be snowshoeing in the mountains or anywhere with a lot of elevation gain.

Choosing the Right Winter Boots for Snowshoeing

While people tend to place most of their attention on choosing the right pair of snowshoes when they are picking out equipment, an equally important piece of equipment that often gets overlooked is the boots that they use. I have explained how choosing the correct snowshoes for your snowshoeing excursion can make a big difference in how enjoyable the experience is for you.

The same can be said for choosing the correct boots to wear. If you choose the wrong boots, your snowshoeing adventure may be uncomfortable at best or miserable at worst. Before you pick out a pair of boots to use when you go snowshoeing, I would recommend reading the advice I provide below to ensure that you choose the right boots for you.

Warm and Weather Resistant

The most important factor that you will want to consider when choosing the right boot to use when snowshoeing is whether the boots are both warm and weather-resistant. Believe me, there is nothing worse than being on a long snowshoeing excursion and having cold, wet feet.

Having boots that look good is important for many people, and I do understand that you don’t want to go out on the trail with a fashionable pair of boots that will end up soaking wet and give you wet feet. The boots you choose should be warm winter boots with a waterproof rubber sole that will keep your feet dry.

You also want to have boots that go up above your ankle so that you don’t have a gap between your snow pants and your boot. This will allow you to cover the top of the boot with the gaiter of your snow pants and prevent snow from getting inside your boot and melting.

The Correct Fit

While the warmth and weather resistance of the boots you choose is critically important in making sure that you are comfortable out on the trail, those aren’t the only factors that you need to consider to make sure you are comfortable. You will also want to make sure the boots you choose are the right fit.

For instance, if you choose a boot that is too small for your toes to move, your toes will likely get cold on a long excursion. Being able to move your toes inside your boot is important because it helps to make sure your feet stay warm.

On the other hand, if you choose a boot that is too big for you, it will be difficult to fit your boot inside your snowshoes, and it will be awkward walking with snowshoes while you are out on the trail. When choosing the right boot, you really want to make sure you find the Goldilocks version of a boot. Not too big to be too cumbersome, but also not too small to restrict the movement of your foot within the boot.

Light Weight

Speaking of the right fit of the boot, another factor that you will want to consider when choosing the ideal boot for you to use while snowshoeing is the weight of the boot. This is especially important if you are planning on going on long snowshoeing excursions.

The heavier the boot, the more work is required to lift your feet. Your feet already need to lift your snowshoes, which can be a lot of work when walking through snow. If you wear a heavy boot, this can add work to an already strenuous exercise and tire you out quite quickly.

When choosing a boot, I wouldn’t sacrifice warmth and weatherproofing in favor of weight completely, but I would suggest keeping weight in mind when choosing between two similarly warm and waterproof options.

View Boot Recommendations on Amazon.com

Wearing the Proper Base Layer for Snowshoeing

Believe it or not, the winter jacket and snow pants that you choose for your snowshoe excursion may not be the most important pieces of clothing you wear to keep you warm. Even with the warmest jacket and snow pants in the world, you can still get miserably cold out on the trail if you aren’t wearing the right base layer underneath.

Before you even begin to decide on which jacket and snow pants to put on, you will want to review the advice on base layers in my snowshoe gear guide below to make sure you are protected.

Choosing the Right Winter Clothing for Snowshoeing

Once you have the right base layer picked out, you are ready to start thinking about the other cold-weather gear you will need while out on the trail. This includes obvious gear such as a warm jacket, snow pants, a hat, and gloves.

However, it also includes some gear that you might not have considered. If you want to learn more about my cold-weather clothing recommendations for snowshoeing, I have included a list of the gear I suggest in my snowshoe gear guide below for you to review.

Other Snow Shoe Gear I Recommend

In addition to finding the right snowshoes for your next big snowshoe excursion, you are also going to want to make sure you have the other necessary gear with you to make your adventure a success. This includes support equipment such as snowshoe poles, snowshoe tails for deep snow, a snowshoe bag or backpack to keep your gear organized, and a water bladder or container to hydrate yourself on the trail.

Before you start packing for your excursion, make sure you read the recommendations in my snowshoe gear guide below to ensure that you have all the support equipment you need to make your trip a success.

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